Dead Equestria

by Crystal_Wishes

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Adventure, Horror, Derpy Hooves, Alternate Universe, Thunderlane, Sad, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 49224

A new evil has overrun Ponyville. It doesn't rest, it doesn't sleep, it doesn't need healing, they only want fresh food.

Looks like somepony found Trot Smiles. First.

Something has destroyed Ponyville, turned its resident into monster who crave for flesh, only a few are left to fight off the new evil living in their town. Thunderlane is among the few survivors, and he has to find his little brother who is still alive and is somewhere in town, but he knew that wasn't his only missing, for if he and his fellow survivors lost their life, he will never find his brother, and most importantly, their former selves will suffer a fate worst than death.

Published 2020-02-17 03:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-08-04 01:56:45 UTC

Pilot: The starting Point

“Quick! We gotta go!”

“But what about her!?”

“Abandon her, it's your fault why she's in that state!”

Three griffons immediately left a fatally injured purple unicorn mare and her cart. The mare also had purple mane and tal and has crimson eyes, on her flank is a cutie mark of a compass with a sack. Her name is Golden Trade, a wandering trader. She was laying on her side in a path, bleeding profusely from her neck. She was one her way to a town when she was attacked by the band of griffons and rob of her products, one of them who hold was threatening to stab her with a machete accidentally slashed her neck, forcing the griffons to leave her, knowing she wouldn't survive her injuries.

They are half-wrong.

Her pet dog, Losty had been hiding under the cart. When he heard the griffons leaving, he went out of his hiding place to find his master, only to find her dying in agony. He slowly approached her, he made eye contact with Golden's tearful eyes.

“L-Losty...” Golden managed to utter his name despite the pain she felt. She wanted to say something to her dog, knowing this was the last moments of her life “I.... Love you... Go find a new master.... F-For i'm going to enternal sleep” she finally closed her eyes, one tear manage to go out of her left eye.

Losty whimpered and nuzzle his dead master's muzzle. No one or pony loves him more than her, she have taken good care of him and treated him like her family. Now, he must do something to bring her back as a thank you for all what she has done to him.

6 years ago, he was given a gift during when he was attacked by an animal, his owner saved him from that animal and gave it a proper burial. The animal had a strange appearance and it closely resembles the corpse of a snake. However, when he was bitten by it, he didn't die, but something went inside his system, infecting all of his blood cells in just one day. He considered this a gift, for he gained a few new abilities, one most that he couldn't secret from his master is that he can't be killed.

He's gonna use this gift to get his master back.

Open his mouth and put his cautiously pierced the skin of his master's neck, letting out a few blood as the gift flow into his master's body.

He seperated himself from his master, knowing the gift is now in the process of reviving her.

Master's coming back

The limp and unmoving body of Golden began to twitch, mostly her hind legs. This was good news for her pet, for he knew she was stirring up from her sleep. Golden slowly opened her eyes, revealing her crimson red eyes, she let out a moan.

“L...Losty?” she called her pet in a whispered tone. Losty reacted by happily wiggling his tail barking at her. He jumped at her, playfully licking her cheeks. “Ah! Okay, okay boy!” she used her magic to seperate him from her and placing him down on the path. She slowly stood up on her legs. She look back at Losty, giving him a smile “Come on, let's go”

“Losty, do you have any idea how I got this injuries?”

They are just 1 miles away from their destination when Golden decided to look at herself on a pond, revealing her disheveled and bloody appearance. Golden looks at Losty, who cock his head at her. She gaze back at the water.

“It's funny, I didn't even feel anything. With all of blood, I would have also bled to death by now” she put a hoof at the spot where Losty bit her and frowned “and is this a bite mark?” she turn her head at her pet “Losty, did you bit me?”

He didn't say anything.

Sighing, she went back to look at her reflection, noting the blood coming from her forelegs just below her horn which ran down to her muzzle and to her mouth, she also found a grisly wound on her side with a lot of blood flowing out.

“This is... too much, and I have not enough money to pay the hospital. Oh, Golden Trade, you got this, you just need to think how to conceal this!” she looks at her cart “maybe I should use one of the dresses” she went to her cart, only to find a few dresses “What in the- Where are my other merchandise!?” she glanced at her pet, only to see Losty clocking her head. Golden groaned in frustration “dang it! Atleast there a few left and I cast my pouch with an illusion spell” she levitate out a stone with her magic and uncast the spell and the stone turns into a lavender pouch “If somepony robbed of my goods, they won't do the same with my bits!” she smirked. She put the pouch into her saddlebags.

“Maybe I can use my illusion spell to hide my wounds!” her eyes sparkled at her idea, only to be interrupted by a painful headache “Ow!” she clutched her forehead below her horn “It's the plot headache!” she joked to herself, smiling in pain.

It take her only 1 hour to reach Richville. As soon as she enter the town, she immediately went to a nearby pharmacy and bought some painkillers, much to the owner's curiosity since headaches aren't common in the town.

She parked her cart just by an inn “Losty, can you please stay here and watch the cart for me okay?” Losty barked, earning a giggle from his owner “don't worry, i won't be long” Golden opens the door and went inside the building.

Losty obeyed his owner. He stayed sitting and guarding Golden's merchandise for a few minutes.

Until a blue streak pass through the area.

Losty barked and run to where the streak went, leaving Golden and her cart.

“Okay, have a nice day to you, Mrs. House”

Morning went out of the inn happy “Losty, I have good ne-”

The spot where Losty once was when she left was empty.

“Losty!?” she looked under her cart but Losty wasn't there as well “Losty, where are you!?” she galloped off to a random direction, passing by local ponies. She soon found herselfs using a tracking spell which leads her a grass field.

“Losty!” she shouted, running into the field “Losty, where are you!?”

As she run, she trip on her hooves and fall to the ground “Ow!” she felt weak and her headache came back, an itching feeling occur in her eyes.

“Ow, ahh.... H....urts.....ah” she rose her head from the ground and coughed “L-Losty... where are you...?” she stood back to her legs and began to gallop.

Oblivious to her, she leaves splats of blood where she coughed.

Golden starts to feel itchy on her neck where a bite mark was located, forcing her to halt to clutch it with her hoof “AHHHHHH!!!” She quickly take off the dress she was wearing, throwing to the green grassy ground. She grit her teeth in pain, tearing through her gums and giving her more extra pain “Oh Celestiaaaaaa this hurts.... Ah...”

Nausea then decides to join up with the pain. Golden soon was retching and throwing up gallons of blood, her neck didn't feel itchy, instead it felt like as if her neck was no longer there. “L-Loooosty” she called out in a haorse voice “My doggy..... H-Help me....”

“I'm glad you came back, Sword Slasher” her ears perked up. She heard a voice! A voice means a pony is nearby. The sick unicorn mare, Golden Trade glanced at the direction where the source came from.

Three ponies, two stallions, and one mare can be seen talking to each other nearby, oblivious of Golden's presence. The mare, an opal blue pegasus hugged one of the stallions, who was wearing the armor of a royal guard from Canterlot. Golden was happy, for she knew this ponies could help her.

“H-Heeeeeeeelp...Meeeeeeee....” she attempted to yell, unfortunately it came out as a moan of pain. She slowly stood up and hobbled towards the trio.

And Golden felt hungry.

Golden knew she ate a few food from the inn served by the owners, it was weird for her to become extremely hungry. Her vision began to change as well, everything in her eye vision gradually turn crimson red, her calls for help turn into moans, half of her brain had shut down, and her eyes that shouts help turns into the eyes of a predator, a dead predator.

“HRRRAAAAAEEEEELPMEEEEEEEEEE!”

The meeting

It was dawn when he got a letter from a friend to meet him at a cafe somewhere north of Ponyville. He would reject it at first but if it's important, then he had no choice but to go and find out why he was needed.

That is why Thunderlane is inside the said Cafe. It was surprising to see there are a lot of ponies despite there are only a few outside but it doesn't matter for him cause it wasn't his concern.

His concern is why she hasn't arrived yet.

“Sir, are you going to order?” he didn't even notice the waitress approached him.

“Nope, just waiting for a meeting to start,” he told her casually.

“Okay, sir” the mare went back to her job. Thunderlane was about to go back to have a staring contest with the table when he heard the bell of the door rang. He glanced behind him, hoping it's the pony he was waiting for. saw his friend and- oh...

Behind his friend is the one in charge of a squad of pegasi, one famous for their acrobatics.

“Hey, Thundy” his friend smiled at him in amusement.

“Windy, can you explain why in the hay is the captain of the Wonderbolts is standing BEHIND you?” Thunderlane asked, standing up from his seat.

The captain of the Wonderbolts chuckled “You don't really understand why I'm here” she approached him and smiled “congratulations, Thunderlane, you are now an official member of the Wonderbolts” she said, offering him her yellow wing. He glanced at his friend, who was stifling a laugh due to his expression. He looked back at the authority in front of him.

“Did I heard that properly?” Spitfire snorted in amusement.

“Yes, and you're not dreaming. Do you need a slap as evidence? It's very effective these days” Thunderlane stared at the pegasus. His smile appeared and in a blink of an eye, he quickly hugged Spitfire.

“Thank you so much, Ms. SPITFIRE!” He swore he almost cried.

Everyone in the Cafe stood up from their seats or stopped doing their jobs to stomp their hooves in applause, smiling at Thunderlane. His friend decided to add it into the hug.

“Okay that's enough, can you two please let go of me?” the two let go of her and broke the hug “Are you ready to meet your new teammates, Thunderlane?”

“Sure!” he said with a bright smile.

Spitfire chuckled “Good, and make sure you remember all the procedures, we don't want to have a second 'Rainbow Crash' in our academy” she then turns to his friend “And Windy Breeze, thank you for helping me meet him”

Windy blushed “It's nothing, Spitfire, I don't want you to look for him all over Ponyville”

This was one of the moments, Thunderlane considered one of the best moments in his life, all of those training as a trainee, all of those sweat, he was glad they didn't go to waste. For Windy, she was happy to see her friend happy, and for Spitfire, well she was amused to see a trainee's reaction when she told him they are now officially a Wonderbolt.

Everyone in the Cafe, customers, and the staff of the Cafe stomp their hooves in applause, congratulating him. Thunderlane felt proud, his dreams have come true.

However, all the good atmosphere changed drastically when they heard an ear-piercing scream. Everyone, including Thunderlane, Spitfire, and Windy jumped in surprise.

“what was that?” Windy exclaimed.

“It's coming from outside!” Spitfire immediately ran up to the glass window. Everyone near the wall of glass was already looking. “Oh Celestia”

“What is it? What's wrong, Captain?” Thunderlane and Windy approach Spitfire and see what made her terrified.

Ponies outside are panicking, galloping in random directions, a house was lit on fire, a pegasus stallion sprawled on the ground unmoving, and an earth pony sinking her teeth into the neck of a unicorn mare as she stood frozen, her mouth hung open in pain, several are screaming, and a few jumped out of their house, a few even had wounds; bite marks.

This was very new to Thunderlane; every weird event that had happened in his town are just was far different than this one, this one was bloody, evidence by the pool of blood and a few bloody hoofprints on the street, fires rarely took place during chaotic incidents (not to mention the Parasprite Infestation which devastated both the town and a city named Fillydelphia).

He was snapped out of his mind when they heard someone slammed the door. Everyone glanced at the entrance to see a yellow earth pony filly who was missing a part of her neck, she was bleeding from her nose and she let out a moan.

“Are you okay?” Spitfire immediately rushed to help the filly. The captain of the Wonderbolts glance at Thunderlane and Windy “This filly needs to be brought to the hospital immediately, she might go into a shock!” before anyone could even react, the filly suddenly bit Spitfire, the latter screaming in pain at the sudden attack and piercing of the filly's teeth.

“Captain!” Windy ran past Thunderlane and went to Spitfire's aid “Sweet Tomato, please stop! You're hurting Spitfire!” she took hold the filly's waist, attempting to pry her off from Spitfire, however, to Windy's surprise and horror, the filly was more strong than an adult earth pony and completely ignored Windy as she savored Spitfire's blood and chewing the meat inside her mouth.

Windy glanced back at Thunderlane and yelled “Thunderlane, help us!”

“Huh!?” the stallion blinked and quickly went to help “O-Okay!” he went for Sweet's neck and tries to pull her “Whoa, she's strong like a fully grown adult earth pony!”

The only reply was Spitfire's scream.

“O-O-Okay, okay! Take the filly, then talk later!” one of the customers, a cream earth pony mare decided to help them. With the help of two pegasi combined with the strength of the earth pony, they're able to slowly pull the filly away from Spitfire, albeit painful, as orange skin which was still attached to Sweet's mouth was forcibly ripped from Spitfire's neck.

“Hold on, Spitfire. Thunderlane, and you, pull harder!” Windy commanded them. Thunderlane was reluctant, seeing the damage they caused to Spitfire's neck, he decided to put a hoof to Sweet's mouth, intending to cut the skin from the teeth of the filly.

When they are successfully pulling the filly off her, Spitfire gasped in pain and stumbled backward, hitting the table Thunderlane used earlier. She was slack-jawed and quickly put a hoof to her wound as she felt searing pain from it.

Like Spitfire, Thunderlane, Windy, stumbled backward, while the earth pony ends up falling to the ground, hugging Sweet.

“Urgh, stop struggling you spoiled bra-Ah!” Sweet bit the mare's hoof, causing her to let go of the filly. Sweet shambles towards Spitfire and lunged at her, the latter had no time to dodge. Spitfire yelped when the filly lurched to her neck, making stumble and crash into the glass window. Panic sets in quickly as a mare nearest to them scream.

“NOOO!” Windy shut her eyes and covered her ears with her hooves, attempting to block off the screams.

“Oh, Horseapples!” the earth pony mare gasped out. She looked to where once a glass window. The earth pony looked down at the bite mark on her left hoof, she decided to ignore the pain to help.

Meanwhile, Thunderlane stood frozen, thinking of his current situation.

What caused Sweet Tomato to attack the captain of the Wonderbolts? Is she under the influence of a mind-control spell? he snapped back to reality as the filly, Sweet Tomato jumped and lurched into the earth pony mare's neck, a young mare was sprayed in blood as she stood watching, completely paralyzed by fear.

“Let go of me!” as if Sweet didn't hear her victim yell at her, she opened her mouth and took a small chunk of the mare's neck.

In the midst of chaos and the screams of Sweet's second victim. Spitfire stood up, much to everyone's surprise, including Thunderlane and Windy.

“Captain Spitfire!” 'Spitfire' snapped her eyes open, staring at the one who called out her name. Windy slowly approach the said 'Spitfire' despite the fact a filly is making lunch on another pony “Captain, you don't know how much I was-”

That was all she could say when all the words she was going to say next was forever forgotten when 'Spitfire' bit her jaw.

“Windy!” Thunderlane approaches his friend but bumped into a ziggurat blue Pegasus mare wearing a white shirt.

“Hey, watch where you are go- AH!” the mare was tackled by the same filly, having finished eating the neck of her second victim. Thunderlane stared at filly and her kicking third victim, witnessing a small innocent filly pull out a chunk of flesh using her mouth. He then heard a growl and glanced at the source.

THUD!

Windy's limp body fell to the floor as Spitfire stared at Thunderlane with a bloody mouth with flesh hanging before falling to the floor. She stared at him as if waiting for him to do something but then she charged at him.

“Ahh!” Thunderlane quickly galloped for the door, he quickly shut it as soon as he got outside, blocking another scream from inside the Cafe.

“Oh, Celestia”

Ponies ran around the town, escaping whatever is chasing them, the unicorn mare before was now being eaten by the same attacker he saw when he inside the Cafe earlier, taking out what seems to be a kidney, which almost made him retch and throw up his lunch.

He heard a groan behind, only to see Spitfire bust through the door and breaking it as if made out of the sand. Thunderlane spread his wings and quickly soared upwards.

He was terrified of what he was seeing.

Ponyville was in chaos.

“Rumble!” he didn't see Rumble but instead remembered him. His brother was at school. He didn't want to let his little brother get hurt.

He flew to the direction which leads to the school, determined to which his little brother.

It will be my fault if something happens to him he thought as he watched ponies running on the streets. He could identify most of them but they're not important. He had to get his little brother out of the school and quickly get out of Ponyville are his mission.

Something heavy fell on Thunderlane's back. He looks behind him to see what fell on his back.

Laying limply on his back was Strawberry Sunrise.

“Hey, Strawberry, wake up!” he said but to his horror, he was greeted by snarl “Not you too!” she got hold of his right wing and bit down. Thunderlane began to squirm as his focus on flying was now focused on the mare “Strawberry, stop it, please. Ow, it hurts!” with his right wing under the assault, he began to lose altitude. He glanced back at his front to see he was about to crash to a roof of a house “Hay no!” he tried to avoid the roof but failed. He felt his body hit the roof headfirst before falling into a second-floor hallway.

“Owww...” he moaned, holding his head with his left hoof. He heard a nearby door open followed by a mare's alarmed voice.

“What in the hay happened here!? Thunderlane is that you!?” he looked up to see an earth pony mare and a Pegasus Stallion looking down at him with concern.

“Rough landing, Dusty,” he told her, rolling into his back, making him face the sky from the hole of the roof.

“We are just mating in our bedroom when we heard you crash!” said the stallion, kneeling to check for any wounds “I'm might not be a doctor but you probably broke some of your bones”

“Oh, thanks for telling me, Zephyr” he said with sarcasm dripping out from his voice.

Zephyr looks back at Dusty, who stood behind him “Dusty, call for help, quickly!”

Dusty nodded and was about to leave when Thunderlane yelled.

“Stop!” Thunderlane raised his hoof “Don't leave!”

“Thunderlane, don't pressure yourself!” Zephyr told him.

“Don't go outside!” Thunderlane told them.

Zephyr raised an eyebrow “What do you mean?”

They heard a crash coming from behind the door behind Dusty. All three heads glanced at the door, hearing the sound wood hitting the floor. Dusty decided to investigate it, reaching a hoof to hold the doorknob.

Thunderlane knew Strawberry Sunrise fell with him when he crashed into the house, she acts just like Sweet Tomato, and Spitfire; ravenous for flesh and blood for unknown reasons, he doesn't want another life to end in front of him.

“Dusty, don't!” he tried to stop her however she just paused to give a confused look before going for the knob “Stop, Dusty, stop! Zephyr, stop her!”

“You don't need to worry about her, Thunderlane. She's just going to check whatever happened inside the bathroom” Zephyr explained.

“You guys don't understand! S-Sunrise wanted to hurt me and she's inside the room!” Zephyr raised an eyebrow.

“You mean Strawberry Sunrise? Did you hit your head hard, Thunderlane? Sunrise wouldn't hurt a fly, so why does she have any reason to hurt you?”

“She lost her mind, Zephyr! She's going to kill us!”

Dusty put her hoof on the doorknob.

“No!”

And opens the bathroom door to find... Nothing.

“Nopony's here, just some bits of the ceiling” Dusty told them, going out of the bathroom

Thunderlane sighed. He felt Dusty was lucky.

Seeing that they are able to continue their talk, Zephyr returns to look at Thunderlane “So what's the Strawberry Sunrise's going to eat about? Is that a lie?” Zephyr narrowed his eyes at his fellow pegasus.

Just as Dusty was about to approach them, a yellow blur lunged and tackled her to the floor, causing her to yelp. Thunderlane's eyes shrank into pinpricks as he caught the sight of Strawberry, laying on top of Dusty now got a few nasty cuts from the crash earlier.

“Dusty!” Zephyr rushed towards the mares. Strawberry took the chance to bite Dusty's left hindlegs, earning an ear-piercing scream from the earth pony mare.

“Ah! It hurts, Sunrise, stop It! Spring, help me!” Thunderlane whimpered as he watched Zephyr holding Strawberry's head, attempting to make the mare let go of Dusty's bleeding hindleg. He was successful however, Strawberry lost interest with Dusty and decided to sink her teeth into his neck. Thunderlane quickly stood up, turn tail and ran to the stairs, going down to the first floor. He saw debris partially buried a sofa in the living room. He heard screams from the second floor as he went to the living room and ran out of the house through the front door.

Once again, Thunderlane made friends with the ground as he lay on his stomach, he hissed in pain, feeling every wound he received from the crash.

“Note to myself, crashing into a house is so painful,” he said to himself.

He heard a scream behind him. He saw Dusty went out of the house followed by Zephyr, each having their own bite marks. Zephyr quickly closed the door, only for Strawberry to bust through and shatter it.

Oh, Celestia not this again he quickly stood up as he realized she was now aggroed on him, hearing the roars and grunts behind him. Luckily for him, Dusty Shelf and Spring Zephyr live nearby the path which leads to the school, the path was empty.

Upon seeing the schoolhouse, he spread his and jumped the fence, his wings flapping a few times before he fell to the ground in pain, again. He quickly stood up and hobble for the building as Strawberry continued her pursuit.

ran faster, run faster! he thought, looking back to see Strawberry catching up to him. How she managed to keep up with him is unknown.

Pain erupted from his right hoof, one of the parts of his body that suffered the most in the crash. It was very unbearable and he began to think Zephyr was right about having fractured bones. He was forced to lay on the ground, groaning in pain. He heard a hoofsteps and moaning, getting louder, knowing Strawberry was just inches away, he began to drag himself against the green ground, he could hear the voices inside the schoolhouse.

“Who wants to answer the question?” he could hear Cheerilee asked the foals inside.

“Me, me!” he heard the voice of his little brother, Rumble.

Everypony in the school is so oblivious of the chaos happening outside Thunderlane glanced behind him to see Strawberry about to lunge at him. He closed his eyes, waiting for his imminent doom to come.

It never came.

He heard the sound of something involving electricity and a thud. He opened his eyes to see Strawberry laying on the ground.

“Get to the school and warn foa- AALS!” she glanced to see a mare standing in front of a house, her horn glowing with lavender Aura, showing an offensive spell ready. She was, however, didn't live long when a pony emerged from the tree behind her and grabbed a hold of her head. She screamed as the pony behind her began to eat the back of her head.

Thunderlane decided to stand up and try walking to the schoolhouse, having chosen to endure the pain. He immediately hobbled towards the school door. Strawberry was slowly getting back to her hooves, letting out a hoarse roar, her wings hung limp on her sides.

Thunderlane opens the door and quickly close it, then looks at the assembled foals and one teacher and yelled “Everypony, something's going on-”

The classroom was empty and was in total disarray, there are splats of blood on one of the tables while a pool of blood is seen on the floor. the foals and Cheerilee are nowhere to be found and the school was a little dark.

“What?” he exclaimed, “but I heard voices coming from here!”

In the corner of his eye, he could see a figure moving from the shadows.

“B-Brother?” Thunderlane's eyes become wide hearing a very familiar voice

“Rumble, is that you?” he was about to approach the figure.

“Stop!” He came to a halt “Why didn't you come sooner, brother? Many more lives would be saved”

“Ponyville was in chaos, Rumble, I've been chased all the way here just to get you,” Thunderlane told him.

“You fool, it's already late for that!” said the figure “Ms. Cheerilee and the other foals are gone because of you, now look what happened to me” the figure stepped out of the dark corner of the school.

It was not his Rumble, not anymore. The figure was still a pony, a foal but something's wrong with it. Half of its head was missing, blood coated almost every part of its body, the stomach had a gaping hole, and some of the internal organs aren't present, it's wing left still intact because of a skin still attached to its body.

He was looking at his little brother's body

“N-No” Thunderlane moaned in disbelief. Seeing his brother in this kind of state was the last thing he wanted to see. He took a step back and he fell on his rump, sitting like a dog “this can't be” the corpse shambles towards him, opening its mouth and letting out a ghostly moan which could give trauma to every pony with a soft heart. Thunderlane felt broken, and despair took over him as he cried loudly.

“R-R-R-Rumble!” he said in between sobs. He reaches out for his little brother and gave him a hug. Thunderlane closed his eyes as Rumble stared at his delicious shoulder “It's all my fault”

Rumble, his little brother ignored him, it just sank his teeth on his left shoulder and started chewing the flesh, making a crunching sound. A blood-curdling scream followed.

Thunderlane gasped in his bed. What he first saw was a green ceiling. That was not the ceiling of his house and he had somehow seen this ceiling from the past.

He quickly remembered all about the school and the... bloody encounter. He quickly looked to check his shoulder, only to find it wrapped with a white bandage. He clutched it with horror.

“You're awake!” Thunderlane glanced to where the source of the voice is, he was surprised to see it was Windy, well and fine, looking at him with a concerned look “I almost thought that accident put you into a coma”

“A-Accident?”

“You really hit your head hard on that rock, didn't you? It's a good thing your injuries aren't that bad that the nurses decided to release you today”

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow “How long am I here in the hospital?”

“4 hours, I guess” she shrugged “I'm not that kind of me who likes to look at the time” she added, looking at the clock just above the door, she looks back at him “Spitfire even had to dismiss me so I can visit your sorry flank”

“I'm glad you do” he mocked.

“I'm just worried about you and nopony was going to visit you anyway, so I decided to go and check up on you, I even hired somepony to take care of Rumble just in case you are in a coma,” she said.

“So it was just only a dream?” Thunderlane muttered to himself however, it was heard by Windy.

“What did you say?” she asked.

“No nothing. I was just asking you who you hired to babysit Rumble”

“Blue Wings” Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

“Didn't hear that pony before” Windy rolled her eyes.

“I know that. She's from Richville”

“From Richville? I thought that town was in quarantine” he had heard the news of an outbreak which sparked a serious of unrest in the town and the nearby city of Maneponia. He didn't want to think a pony from Richville accidentally infecting his little brother with whatever disease spreading in the town.

“Don't worry about her, Thunderlane, she was out of town when the epidemic occurred” Windy assured him.

“Well that's good,” he said, “so my release?”

“Oh, I gotta tell the nurse first that you woke up, they'll tell you whether they're gonna release you or not,” she told him solemnly. She went and opened the door and gave Thunderlane one last look “Take some rest, they might not probably release you if you didn't calm your bones down. I'm going to have a little chat with somepony else” she shut the door, leaving Thunderlane with two other patients. He laid his head on the pillow and stared at the ceiling.

An accident he thought.

Author's Note

Dusty shelf and Spring Zephyr are Cainiam's OCs. I give credits to him.

The coming storm

After 20 minutes of napping, Thunderlane was released from the hospital. Nurse Redheart told him not to pressure his bones if he doesn't want to go back to the hospital like Rainbow Dash in the past.

Still, he went back to the Wonderbolts Academy along with Windy. She told him the babysitter had just become an official member as a replacement for Blue Blaze, another member who went back to Haytona to live with her family. He was kinda a little sad when he heard the news of a colleague resigning from the Wonderbolts but he knew it's the best for her to leave.

When they arrived at the academy, there were a lot of cadets and other Wonderbolts practicing while a few others were having conversations. Thunderlane looked to his right and saw the runway. The academy was bustling with activities. But what caught his attention is Spitfire and a mare. He couldn't tell what they were saying but he knew the team captain explaining the rules to the mare. By the looks of the unknown mare, she was nervous. Extremely nervous. Whoever that mare was, it's obvious she's Blue Blaze's replacement he thought.

“Hey, what are you waiting for?” he heard Windy call out for him.

“Okay, okay, I'm coming” he galloped towards her as they approached the barracks.

At the barracks, Thunderlane opens his locker, behind him, Windy is busy preening her left wing with her tongue. He got his own uniform and proceeded to dress.

Windy then stopped preening and spoke up “Hey, Thunderlane, do you think I could improve my flight skills?”

“Just practice, that's what I hear from the more 'grown-ups'” he lazily told her as he gets his goggles “But when it gets to our captain, Spitfire, she says that we should practice hard with all your strength to become a skillful flier”

“I heard that from her so many times in my lifetime,” she said “But she told me 'do not give up. Continue the fight'”

“How kind of her despite she had no problems yelling at us” he mocked as he finished wearing his flight goggles with a sharp snap.

“She's just doing her job. Even I need to yell at my colleagues when I'm a young weather manager back at my mother's hotel except shouting too loud” she said before preening her right wing.

Thunderlane audibly shut his locker and look at her “You're cute when you preen yourself” he complimented, earning a bashful look from the Wonderbolt “But despite that, you still look like a newbie, Newbie Breeze”

Windy quickly stopped preening her wing to glare at him “Hey!” Thunderlane just snickered at her violent reaction.

“Whoa, this uniform is so cool!” they heard an unfamiliar voice, followed by Spitfire's.

“And now if you'll excuse me, I'm going back outside to talk with Soarin”

Thunderlane quickly glanced at Windy “Hide!” he whispered. He and Windy quickly hide behind the lockers just in time for Spitfire to pass by. The two then peek their heads out the doorway to see Spitfire close the door.

“Ooh, this is so awesome, I get to officially become a Wonderbolt!” they heard a squeal behind from the full Wonderbolt barracks. Windy and Thunderlane stared at each other.

“Should we?” Windy asked.

Thunderlane nod in agreement “Sure”

The two slightly open the door of the dorm. Two pairs of eyes looked through the door to see a cheerful energetic mare pacing around the room with excitement and enthusiasm.

“Take that mom! I was right about the recruitment!” Thunderlane chuckled in amusement as the mare stopped in front of a shelf, only to squeal, again “Oh, my gosh, That's General Firefly's picture! Oh, my, that's General Flash's cap!”

“Who is she?” Thunderlane whispered to his friend.

“Oh, it's just Blue Wings”

“Blue Wings?” Thunderlane parroted.

“Yep, that's her, just take a look at her wingtips, it'll give you a hint” Thunderlane squinted and saw Blue Wings' wingtips are dodger blue instead of pale canary yellow.

“So that's how she got her name?”

“I'm not sure, maybe you should ask her,” Windy told him “I mean she wasn't busy right now”

“Maybe later, she's too enthusiastic right now,” Thunderlane said, eyeing Blue. She was looking at her new Wonderbolt uniform like a cat, her tail swishing as she turned around.

Thunderlane and Windy went out of the barracks and into the practice area. Surprise, and Silver Zoom, can be seen, chattering nearby.

“Mmm, Surprise and Silver Zoom are giving me deja vu” Windy mused. Thunderlane followed her gaze. She was staring at the two Wonderbolts.

“What makes you say that?” he asked.

“Remember the day when Rainbow Dash became a Wonderbolt?” Thunderlane's face was scrunched up with amusement. He will never forget the day when he found out, Rainbow is officially 'Rainbow Crash' “Surprise and Silver Zoom was chattering near the barracks when she almost got herself into a collision with Misty”

“I will never ever forget that” he chuckled and grinned evilly like a villain when their plan worked.

Windy smirked “I tried my best not to laugh at her when she went straight to a trash can. Her face is priceless and more hilarious than Ditzy's” she and Thunderlane laughed. It was so funny remembering Rainbow's antics on her first day as a Wonderbolt. Their laughter came to an end when they heard somepony walking behind them. It was Blue Wings, who had a look of excitement etched on her face, obviously not paying attention to where she is going. She was heading straight for the runway. It would be okay for Windy and Thunderlane when they heard someone flying not far away. They looked to see Misty Fly, and High Winds on the flying low but fast on the runway.

“Blue!” Windy yelled for the mare, but the latter ignores her. She glanced to see Misty and High Winds moving closer. Thunderlane immediately went for Blue and tackled her just in time for High Winds and Misty to zoom past them. Blue's tail managed to knock Misty's flight goggles, revealing the mare's look of surprise. Thunderlane and Blue tumbled to the other side, narrowly crashing into Surprise and Silver Zoom. When the duo came to a stop, Thunderlane lay on top of Blue, who's cheek turned red.

“Uhh...” the mare uttered.

Meanwhile, Misty came back to get her goggles “Looks like we have another 'Rainbow Crash' in our campus” she said before picking her goggles which lay on the runway with one of the lenses broken.

“Are you guys alright?” Surprise asked Thunderlane and Blue Wings as she, and Silver Zoom approach them followed by a concerned Windy, and Misty. Somehow, the incident attracted more attention as more ponies came to investigate the commotion.

“Yeah, nopony's hurt this time” Thunderlane then look at Blue, she was shaking the dust off her “Hey, are you alright?”

“I-I'm alright” Blue stuttered as she tried to avert her gaze away from him “Thank you for saving me”

“It's a Wonderbolt's job to save somepony from danger,” Thunderlane said. He got up just in time for Spitfire to arrive, had a look of disappointment directed at Blue Wings.

“Did you forget rule number 1 already, Newbie?” she chastised the newbie, Blue Wings, who began to tremble in fear and submission.

“I'm sorry, Captain Spitfire” Blue Wings said in a high pitched fragile voice. Windy felt bad, the mare looked like she's about to cry. Spitfire also noticed this and decided to change the volume of her voice, not wanting to make a newbie cry.

“Look, I'm not angry Blue, but always remember the rules, okay? You'll be prone to an accident like Newbie Breeze and Crash” Windy frowned upon mentioning her by her embarrassing title.

“I-I understand” Blue said.

Spitfire nodded “Always remember all the rules. Rule number 1…”

“Always check both ways before crossing the runway” Surprise, Silver Zoom, Misty Fly, and surprisingly, Fleetfoot said in unison. Windy, and Rainbow Dash, who just arrived didn't say a word.

Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow at the latter “Wait, how did you get here, Fleetfoot?”

“Because the plot told me to” Fleetfoot shrugged, much to everyone's confusion.

“Ignore Flatfoot, she's just trying become random” Misty casually told everyone.

Spitfire rolled her eyes “Alright, nopony got hurt and we got a lot to do, so let's forget about this and get flying!”

Everyone soared to the skies, except for Windy, Thunderlane, and Blue. Thunderlane helped Blue stand up to her hooves.

“Let's get going,” Windy told them. Blue let out nod before the took off.

Unknownst to all of them, a female cadet with a twisted neck stared at them. She let out a moan as she heard some cadets talking and walking nearby. She turns around and left.

2 Hours later.

Spitfire sat idly in her office, staring at the door. Blue Wings' abilities and her flying skills were not as bad as Rainbow Dash when the latter become a Wonderbolt for the first time but she needs to improve her social skills and lessen her anxiety.

She heard one of the cadets, Lilac Storm went missing after she accidentally crashed. She had never heard of cases of ponies going missing after an accident before, this made her very worried and concerned.

Nopony could just simply go missing after an accident she thought I had to prepare a letter to her family if she's not found she reach out a clean paper and ink and quill from under her desk and began writing when suddenly, the door open, the mail carrier, Parcent Post enters.

“I got a mail for you, Captain Spitfire,” he said, opening his saddlebags and pulling out a mail and giving it to Spitfire.

“Thanks, Mr. Parcent” Spitfire took the mail from his hoof and read “From Princess Celestia?”

“Yeah, I was curious about that too,” Parcent said “But I have no time, I got more mails to deliver, have a nice day, Spitfire” he turns tail and went out of the office, leaving Spitfire to read the letter.

Thunderlane flew through a loop before deciding to take a rest. He and the other Wonderbolts and the cadets had been practicing for hours. Windy was both practicing and teaching the new member, Blue Wings, who now earned an embarrassing nickname from Misty Fly.

Thunderlane watched as the other Wonderbolts, including Rainbow Dash, continue to practice along with some cadets. He felt proud to join the team, this squad was previously been known for defending Princess Celestia and all of Equestria from threats in the past but since war and violence had ceased, the Wonderbolts then turned into a squad of pegasus which performs acrobatics in aerial flight shows.

He someone talking. He looks to see Windy and Blue, approaching. Blue had a white blanket that hung on her neck while listening to what her instructor is saying.

“-most importantly, don't be nervous when performing more dangerous stunts but at the same time, don't lift your head too high, those will the cause of losing your focus”

“O-Okay, Miss Breeze,” Blue said.

“Just call me, Windy okay? Formalities are not needed here unless Wind Rider came to ruin my day” Windy joked. However, Blue wasn't amused by her joke and decided not to say anything. Windy noticed Thunderlane “Hey Thunderlane, tired already?”

“Yeah, I'm full of sweats now,” he said, “How about you?”

“I'm going to get some hay sandwich for Bluey over here” she pats Blue behind her neck, making her stumble.

“A-Actually, I said I want to buy a clubhouse sandwich” Blue shyly corrected her instructor.

“I mean clubhouse sandwich,” Windy said.

“I hope you guys are lucky. I just heard High Winds, whining about her favorite dish had run out” Windy and Blue turn at each other, sharing worried looks before turning their gazes back at him.

“Thanks for telling us” Windy smiled before she and Blue left, leaving Thunderlane to rest.

The letter fell from her hooves, her eyes wide as dinner plates.

“N-No” Spitfire slowly shook her head “They couldn't contain it? It's spreading throughout Equestria? No, no, no, no they could do better than that. Why evacuate the Wonderbolts when they're needed for this?” she then picked up the letter and found the other set of words she didn't see when she was reading the letter earlier.

I know you will deny my orders, Captain Spitfire, But do you want to put the Wonderbolts and their families at risk? What about your mother?

“M-Mom!” Spitfire spread and her wings and flew out of the office, knocking down her desk and it's contents. Didn't even care the fact she opened the door by hitting it with her head.

“Soarin! Soarin!”

Thunderlane opens his eyes and glance at the sky to see Spitfire, landing in front of Soarin. He decided to listen to their conversations by hiding behind a nearby tree.

“Whoa, Spitfire, calm down!” Soarin told her.

“Soarin, I want you to tell every Wonderbolt and cadets to gather up at the runway, we got an important meeting!” she told Soarin, who was confused by her behavior

“Spitfire, can you tell me what's going on?” he demanded. However, Spitfire didn't seem to have the mood to answer his questions.

“Just do what I said, NOW!” Spitfire yelled at the poor stallion, who couldn't do anything but salute.

“Yes, ma'am” he took to the skies, probably going for Misty and Blaze first, who are nearby.

Thunderlane had a hard time to decide whether he sneak out or approach Spitfire. Thankfully, Spitfire left as well, flying towards the other practice area where most cadets are in.

I need to tell Windy about this he unfolds his wings and flew to the direction of the mess hall

At the mess hall, Blue ate her food along with Windy, who decided to get her own food out of jealousy and the occasional rumbling of her stomach. She had ordered a slice of blueberry pie, to her surprise, it was the only blueberry pie left. After getting her glass of water she went and sat on Blue's table, facing each other. Blue was happy to eat her favorite food that she didn't notice she was eating it in a messy way.

“Whoa, slow down, Blue, you might probably eat somepony” she teased.

Blue stop eating her sandwich, looking away shyly and uttering a “Sorry” under der breath. She took a large chunk of her food before looking at Windy “So you don't originally live in Ponyville?” she spoke up in a high pitched tone.

“Yeah” Windy confirmed “I was born in a town that no longer exists, raised by a family living there” Blue raised an eyebrow for using the words 'no longer exist'

“What do you mean 'no longer exist'?” she asked, curious to know what happened to her instructor's town.

“The town was swallowed by a giant wall of water,” Windy said as she ate a small part of her pie “at least that's what my adoptive mother said. And all of those who live there? gone. All gone. Just spared me for some reason”

“I'm sorry to hear that” Blue sympathized “It's very painful to lose your entire family to a horrific tragedy”

“You don't need to feel sad for my loss, Blue. I only just found out when I'm still in my teenage years. It's more painful to find out your adoptive mother decided to keep my biological family a secret than finding out they have passed away for so many years” silence reigned the mess hall, only the sounds of the wind can be heard. The silence was broken when Blue spoke up.

“So, what is it like to live in Ponyville?” she asked and decided to eat the remains of her sandwich while she listens to her instructor.

“The day I took the first step to Ponyville, I thought everypony living there are weird and insane,” she said “But I got used to it and decided to play along the townsponies”

“That's what ponies from another place describe our town: Weird, rich, too kind, too sweet, too generous,” Blue said “but it's normal for everypony to be zealous to foreigners, and to make sure everypony stays in that way, our mayor made a motto for the town”

“And what it would be?” Windy asked.

“Never took pride in your possessions. Open your heart to everypony, and give the needy what they need” Windy smiled, happy to hear that pleasant motto reach her ears.

“What a nice motto” Windy complimented, just in time for the entrance door for open followed by someone calling them.

“Windy Breeze, Blue Wings” It was Thunderlane.

“What is it, Thunderlane?” Windy asked, “Do you come here to buy food?”

“I'm not here for the food,” he told her nicely “But listen, Captain Spitfire is holding a meeting at the runway, I think it's very important”

“Whether it is, I think we should attend this meeting you are talking around, Mr...” Blue trailed.

“It's Thunderlane,” Thunderlane told her.

Windy stood up “If the meeting is important, we should go now” she and Thunderlane were about to leave the mess hall when Blue stopped them.

“W-Wait!” she said, halting the two Wonderbolts.

“What is it, Blue? ” Windy asked.

“We should tell the cooks about the meeting too,” she told them, “I think this meeting is meant for all of the ponies here in the academy”

Thunderlane, Windy Breeze, Blue Wings, and the 7 staffs working at the mess hall arrived at the runway, which was filled with Wonderbolts, cadets, and some of the staff members, including Whiplash and Fast Clip, most of the ponies are confused, having no idea why a sudden meeting was announced.

“Thunderlane, Windy Breeze, Blue Wings, you're all here now!” Midnight Strike, one of the cadets greeted them “Do you guys have any idea what's going on here?”

“Sorry, Midnight, I just overheard a bit of Spitfire and Soarin's conversation while Windy and Blue are at the mess hall” Thunderlane replied.

“Can you tell us what you heard, Thunderlane, please, please, please, please?” she begged, their muzzles dangerously close to each other.

“Yes, please tell us what's going on, sir. I and my fellow cooks have no idea what's going on” added the lead cook, Dish Exquisite.

“I'm sorry, everypony, I just heard Spitfire, urging Soarin to gather us here,” Thunderlane said, much to everyone's disappointment.

“Spitfire's coming!” Surprise yelled. Everyone looks at the sky to see Spitfire, approaching. She lands in front of the crowd of cadets and Wonderbolts and spoke up.

“Everypony, I'm afraid I have some bad news for all of us” Spitfire said “By the order of Princess Celestia, the Wonderbolts Academy was ordered to be shut down because of suspected cases of an outbreak here in Cloudsdale” ponies gasped at the news. Spitfire noticed Rainbow Dash wanting to say something but the latter shut her mouth when she noticed her captain looking at her “I'm too surprised by this news but the princess did this for everypony's 'protection', Celestia also suggested all of us to move to the north far away from the epidemic”

“Oh, my” Thunderlane heard someone gasp nearby. It was Blue Wings, who was slack-jawed at the announcement, who happens to be hailed from the town which is the epicenter of the outbreak now was already going out of the academy on her first day as an official Wonderbolt. Thunderlane felt bad for her.

In the small crowd of cadets, one hoof was raised “Yes, Midnight Strike?” Spitfire said.

“When will the academy open?” the mare by the name of Midnight Strike boldly asked.

“I guess when the outbreak is over, or when the Princesses allows the academy to reopen” she shrugged “Any more questions?” one hoof was raised, this time belonging in the team “Yes, Crash?”

“How many cases does Cloudsdale have?” Rainbow asked.

“Well, I don't know. The princess didn't tell me the number of cases in the city. Any more questions?” Spitfire looked around the crowd before saying “Okay. All of you are dismissed. Upon saying this, everyone began in the direction of the barracks. Spitfire then approach Blue, who was looking down at the ground in sadness “I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to return you to your town”

“You don't need to apologize, ma'am. I have friends” Blue said, referring to Thunderlane and Windy

“Yeah. I know” Spitfire glanced at Windy “Windy told me you're going to work for Thunderlane as his little brother's foalsitter. I heard that job is going to be rough” "

Blue gulped, which earned a smile from Thunderlane “Don't worry about him. He's not a troublemaker so you will be fine”

“I wasn't worried about that,” she said “I was worried because he might probably become too attached to me. Most foals I babysit the last 4 years loved me so much that they didn't want me to leave”

Spitfire smirked “Well, well, well… look do we have here?” she walk around Blue “We have a newbie who is loved by the little ones”

Blue blushed “Oh uh, I blame my charm, ma'am,” she said, earning a giggle from her captain.

“You and Firestreak will going to get along” Spitfire then proceed towards Windy, her casual look going back into one that shows concern “Be safe, Windy,” she said softly”

“I will Spitfire,” Windy said “and you too”

Spitfire turned her backs at them and took off. The only ponies who are still at the runway are Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, Blue Wings, and Windy Breeze herself.

“We should go back to our homes too,” Soarin said.

“Yeah, but I have to check on my parents first. I don't want them to get the disease, Spitfire is talking about” Rainbow agreed.

Spitfire sighed as she flew through Cloudsdale, getting a few looks from ponies she passed.

Why do I have to make that announcement? Spitfire didn't also want the Wonderbolts Academy to be shut down but disobeying the princesses is more questionable. Wonderbolts are very loyal to royalty for years, unlike the Shadowbolts who are loyal to one of Equestria's greatest enemies: Nightmare Moon.

But her mother.

She was going back to her mother to take her somewhere safe away from the outbreak. She cares more about her mother than all the ponies she met, her mother was the pony she had in her family.

Also Windy, a pony she had met when she was just a young Wonderbolt. She was also worried about her best friend. Windy has faced so many hardships in her life and now she made her sad.

Her thoughts are interrupted when someone called her.

“Spitfire!” a mare approached her.

“What is it? Be quick okay” Spitfire told her.

“Y-Your mother, she-”

“So this is Ponyville?” Blue Wings said, looking down at the town below them “it reminds me of my town but in a flat land” Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, you're saying that your town wasn't built on a plateau?”

“Yeah, the town was also built in plateau but a part of it is built on a hillside” Blue explained “the original settlers of town build their houses on the hillside, I guess”

“Wow, your town does have an interesting history, besides being so isolated for years with the other nearby cities” Windy commented.

“Yeah, I was pretty... amazed too,” Blue said as they land on the plaza “We didn't even know Equestria existed, we only been found the cities of Maneponia and Creekside, that's when Kingdom of Enótita ippoeidón rose”

“I assume it's just short-lived nation since Equestria finally got to notice your kingdom's isolation?” Thunderlane said.

“Yep, and it happens to be an adventurer... or maybe an archeologist who is well known here in Equestria” Blue Wings mused. “I forgot her name but I think it starts with D and ends with an O”

“That reminds me of somepony” Thunderlane voiced his thoughts, looking at the sky “Looks like we still have enough time to introduce you to some of the well-known locals here, Blue Wings”

“Well... That's good” Blue said in a whispered voice, lowering her head. She looks back at her two companions “so who are the first ponies I'm going to meet?”

“Um, probably-”

“HI, Thunderlane! Hi Windy Breeze!” a pink pony suddenly appeared in front of them, surprising Windy and Thunderlane, and in Blue Wings' case, scaring her so bad she shirked, rear up and almost kicking the pink mare with her front hooves. “and hello-” the mare we all known, Pinkie Pie gasped at the sight of pony she didn't see before. Before any of the Wonderbolts could say a word, Pinkie zoomed away, even faster than Rainbow Dash.

“W-What was that all about?” Blue asked her companions. Windy and Thunderlane both shrugged.

“That was Pinkie Pie,” Thunderlane said “and it looks like she's going to prepare a party for you”

“A party?” Blue lifted an eyebrow “But my birthday is 5 months away”

“It's a welcome-to-Ponyville party, Blue Wings. Pinkie always gives newcomers a party” Windy said.

“That seems so kind and... creepy” Blue muttered the last word. Pinkie reminds her of 'the baker'.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Oh, nothing Thunderlane” she glanced back at her path. She took notice of the path which leads to Sweet Apple Acres, the path was surrounded by fences and apple trees “Whoever grew this orchard is very hard working” she said.

Thunderlane smiled “That would be Applejack and her previous generations. Her previous generations are the first settlers of Ponyville”

Their trek was very uneventful. Blue would smile at the apple trees as they grow denser as they near their destination.

After a few minutes of walking (flying in Windy's case. Her hooves get easily tired for some reason), the farm came into view.

“Huh, why do they need a gate?” Blue looks at a small gate which was the entrance to the farm “Are there security problems in Ponyville?”

“I don't know but there are hardly any crimes in town,” Thunderlane said as he opens the gate “except when a magician became a mayor and turned the whole town into slave labor town”

Blue's ears flattened “that's terrible... w-why would somepony ever do that?”

“Out of envy, I guess” he replied, closing the gate behind him “Or maybe because she claims herself to be 'great and powerful' and views Princess Twilight her rival”

When they arrived, Thunderlane was sure the apple family was busy. But wasn't right, they could see Applejack, walking alongside her brother, Big Macintosh. They were talking to each other about the farm.

“Look what our hard work made our farm now, Big Mac? It's better than when Twilight first entered Ponyville!” she said out loud with pride, earning a gentle smile from her brother.

“Eeyup”

Thunderlane decided to yell to caught their attention “Applejack, Big Mac!” the duo turned to look at them.

“What are ya'll doing here?” Applejack and her brother didn't notice Blue Wings yet, as they were all focused at Thunderlane and Windy Breeze.

“Eh, we decided to take a trip to your farm, oh, and also an outsider”

“An outsider?” Applejack looks behind them and finally saw Blue Wings, who was standing behind Windy, the latter no longer flying. Applejack glanced at her brother, who was smiling at the said outsider.

“Eeyup”

“Well howdy there!” Applejack said enthusiastically, approaching the mare and offering her a hoof “Mah name is Applejack! What's your name?”

“I'm Blue Wings... nice to meet you, Miss Applejack”

“Formalities not needed, Blue Wings” Applejack said “and there's no need to be shy when somepony's gonna treat you like a long lost cousin!” she turn at Big Mac “Big Mac, prepare the table and all the apple pies, apple fritters, apple cider, apple cake, apple cinnamon, apple juice, apple sauce, apple jelly, apple salad, apple candy, and apple-flavored ice cream!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac turn tail and ran into the farmhouse.

After hearing all the foods they've prepared for her, Blue Wings finally realized what Windy said earlier when they are walking on the path earlier.

“Do you want any assistance, Bluey?” Windy whispered to her ear “Me and Thunderlane are pleased to help you”

Turns out, Blue actually says yes.

Blue Wings did manage to eat a lot of food but just to please the Applejack, Big Mac, and surprisingly Granny Smith, who apparently mistook her as Rainbow Dash.

Eating the last zap apple pie, Blue Wings fell from her seat, moaning in satisfaction, holding her enlarged stomach as she stared at the sky with her half-shut eyes (Thunderlane found that very attractive).

“You want some more, missy” Granny Smith asked.

“No, I'm fully satisfied with all the food I ate” she declined. She was very glad her two fellow Wonderbolts helped her eat a few desserts, most notably the cake and the ice cream.

Thunderlane laughed at the sight of his food-pregnant friend “Blue Wings, you look ridiculous!” Windy stifled a laughter while Blue actually smiled and chuckled. Applejack concealed her face with her stetson.

“So what brings you here, Blue Wings?”

“Um... a motel?” She said, unsure of what she's going to say.

“Blue Wings, our town has no motel and the only one was closed some time ago,” Applejack told her.

“How about you can stay in my house” Thunderlane stepped in “Windy hired you as the foalsitter right? I must let you live with me so you don't have to walk”

“That seems a good idea, Thunderlane!” Blue agreed.

“Thunderlane, I think you should look up at the sky and get Rumble,” Windy said. Thunderlane looks up and saw the sky was now bright red. Realizing it was now evening, Thunderlane spread his wings zoomed towards Ponyville.

“SORRYGOTTAGONOWBYE!” Applejack chuckled. She turned to Windy and Blue

“So what about you girls?”

“I'm new to this town and... I don't know where Thunderlane's house is” Blue replied. Windy remember something, something important so she decided to 'help' Blue.

“How about we'll wait for him at a bakery called Sugarcube Corner?”

When Thunderlane arrived, schooltime was already over and there are several fillies and coats outside the school with some parents. As he was searching for Rumble, a mare gallop past him, breathing heavily. He glances behind him to look at her, only to see the mare already gone. He then bumps to another mare “Ow, sorry!” he said, holding his forehead.

“It's okay, I wasn't looking I was going,” the said the mare, Cherilee.

“Oh, hi Ms. Cherilee, do you know where my little Rumble went?” he asked.

“I think he's at the playground, talking with Sweet Tomato,” she told him.

“Thank you,” he said.

“No-” a cough interrupted her “No problem” he nodded and walks past her.

“Oh my, what happened to you Ms. Cherilee?” he heard somepony gasped. He looks behind to see Cherilee, talking with a mare.

“I'm fine, Ms. Bitterwords”

“But you're limping, does that sound like fine? I'm afraid not!” Bitterwords said, “did you... did you-”

“I'm not sick, I'm fine, I just... sprained myself earlier,” she said, “Look, you don't have to worry about me, okay?”

“Okay, take care” Bitter words turned to her colt while Cherilee leaves. As she leaves Thunderlane noticed she was limping instead of normally walking, he also noticed her left hindlegs wrapped with a white bandage. He also took note of how rasp her voice is, and how forced the friendliness tone is.

I wonder how she got that herself injured? he thought as he enters the playground, there he saw Rumble and Sweet Tomato, talking to each other. Rumble looked a little down while Sweet put her hoof on his back as she seemed to be consoling him.

“I hope my brother's okay, his friend told me he was at the hospital,” Rumble said to his friend “I heard he wasn't that badly injured but I'm worried if it was his wing”

“Now, now, you do remember he's A Wonderbolt right?” Sweet said with a soft smile “Wonderbolts do exercises and I heard they sometimes practice so hard one of them turned into a spiraling wind!” she made gestures with her hooves, imitating the movements of a ferocious tornado all while making sounds using her mouth “They would 'whoosh' and 'swoosh', then they go barreling down into the ground, then 'bam!' two yellow chicks fly over her head!” this made Rumble let out a low chuckle while Thunderlane smiled at Sweet's humor. He finally decided to announce his presence.

“Did somepony say I'm still at the hospital, Rumble?” Sweet glanced at him and let out a tiny gasp, while Rumble slowly looks up at him with eyes that held surprise, and relief “Hey there, Rumble!” Thunderlane said casually, finally breaking the silence which took over for a few seconds.

“Brother!” Rumble jumped to his big brother's body and softly squeezing the chest with a soft hug.

“Whoa! Hahahaha, it looks like you miss my guts!” Thunderlane said in an excited tone as he looks down at his little brother, the one and only colt who almost started a group with an opposite version of Cutie Mark Crusaders a few years ago at a Cutie Mark Day camp.

“I'm so glad to see you, Mr. Thunderlane” Sweet said as she slowly approaches him, having recovered from her shock.

“I've been released early by the doctors because my injuries aren't that worse,” he said “I just need to take some rest and not stress my bones too much” he then looked at Rumble, then at the filly's faces “Now, that school is over, how about we buy some cupcakes for each of us?” Rumble and Sweet squealed in joy.

“yes, brother!”

“Yes, please, Mr. Thunderlane” Thunderlane couldn't help but snicker. Rumble and Sweet are so excited that they hugged each other.

“Brother, do you know that pony with Windy?”

Thunderlane, Rumble, and Sweet Tomato arrived just in time to see Blue Wings enter the Sugarcube Corner with Windy Breeze walking alongside her.

“Rumble, Sweet, let's not intrude them yet” Sweet looked at him with a raised eyebrow and said something under her breath “Let's watch how this will turn out” he smirked as Windy opens the door for Blue, who hesitated when she saw the bakery eerily dark from the inside. However Windy pushed her inside while saying something about 'the cakes forgot to light up their bakery'.

A few minutes after the door was closed, Sugarcube Corner lit up like forest fire and the trio heard a bunch of ponies from the inside along with Blue's shriek.

When they went inside, they found Windy, patting Blue's back, the latter hyperventilating. Among the crowd, Princess Twilight comes out of the crowd with a look of concern.

“I think we've gone too far,” she said.

It took several minutes to calm Blue Wings. Ponies inside the bakery are either talking to each or eating, some dancing thanks to Vinyl Scratch, playing one of her most favorited music.

Thunderlane, Rumble, Sweet Tomato, Windy Breeze, and Blue Wings, the guest of honor of the party sat by a table.

“What do you think of the party?” Thunderlane spoke up.

“Pinkie asked me the same question,” Blue told them, sipping a raspberry juice. She stops sipping to talk “and I guess the party is nice... but a bit crowded”

“Pinkie always invites most of the ponies in town for every party” Thunderlane replied.

“Oh” Blue looks down at the table and mutters “Maybe you should try telling her to invite only a few ponies sometimes”

Before anyone could ask her what she said, Twilight approaches with Spike, riding on her party “Hello, Blue Wings” Blue took note of the fact the lavender mare has a pair of wings and a horn too seriously.

“Hello, your high- Oomph!” tried to bow, only to forget that there was a table in front of her.

“Are you okay?” Twilight went to her side.

“I-I'm okay, princess” Blue said, clutching her jaw.

“She's okay, Twilight trust me, Wonderbolts have the strongest jaws than any normal ponies had” Windy joked.

“I can agree with that” Spike laughed but Twilight shushed him with a frown.

“Spike!”

“I'm okay, princess” Blue said, giving Twilight a grin that surely hides the looks of someone in pain.

“Just call me Twilight,” she said, her worried expression coming “Are you sure you're okay? I could cast a healing spell for you”

“No, you don't have to, I'm really okay” Blue assured.

Twilight didn't seem convinced but decided to not go further into the situation “Okay?” she then levitates a quill and a parchment with her magic “So, you are from Richville?”

“Yes,” Blue replied. Thunderlane noticed she didn't seem to see Twilight's obvious expression, which was one of the only few warnings that she is about to go into full-blown egghead mode. He decided to give her a clue by whispering into her ear.

“Turn back now or else, she'll going ask you a lot of questions and you won't escape” Blue lifted an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“Can you tell me the history of the whole town!?” grinned Twilight. She gave Blue a lively excited look. When she grinned, it was followed by a faint squeal. Blue frowned and turned to Thunderlane, only to see him slowly backing away.

“Good luck, Blue Wings” he winked at her before galloping away, leaving Blue to her fate as Twilight moved her head closer to hers, their muzzles now touching each other.

“What are you waiting for, Blue?” Blue looked to where she last saw Windy to beg for help, only to see no sign of her friend.

“Twilight, didn't you see you obviously scared her,” said Spike.

Thunderlane let out a chuckle as Twilight chastised Spike for calling her 'scary' as Blue stood there like a statue. He feels bad for leaving Blue to die from an explanation to the 'princess of egghead'. He also found out Windy also left her trainee so she wouldn't be swept away by currents of words that could possibly come out of Twilight if Blue ever asked her something which requires a long explanation.

“Hey, there, Thunderlane” he heard a feminine voice. He looked to see a pegasus mare that he could recognize.

“Oh, hey, Blossomforth” he casually waved at her “enjoying the party?”

“Definitely” she replied “I heard you got into an accident of some sort”

“Don't worry. I'm fine now” he told her “no headaches, no wing stiffness, no nausea, nothing unless you wanted me to get sick” he received a frown from the mare.

“Don't make jokes like that. You are just lucky to spend only a few hours in Ponyville Hospital” she frowned. Her smile returned again when she grabs some of the cupcakes from a nearby food table and offers it to Thunderlane “Want a cupcake?”

“Sure” he took the cupcake from her and took a bite “Mmm... Is this blueberry?”

“Yep. Better watch out for Windy” she and Thunderlane laughed in unison.

“I will make sure I will remember that,” Thunderlane said, “So, how are you?”

“I'm fine but Cloudchaser isn't” Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow.

“What's wrong with her?” he asked.

“She caught the feather flu” she replied “Flitter is at Cloudsdale, sorting clouds at the weather factory so I had to take care of her sister until she comes back” she sighed.

“Why don't you ask for help from others so they could give you their assistance?” Thunderlane gave her a worried look.

“Many ponies are sick today,” she told him.

“Is that so? Well, good luck taking care of her”

“Thanks” she then took note of Blue, who was still talking to Twilight with discomfort “So, that's Blue Wings, the new pony in town. Looks like she's already buried under the princess Twilight's tsunami of words”

“Poor girl” at this point, Blue fell on her rump as Twilight move closer to her, nervousness evident in her eyes. Blossom turned to Thunderlane “So, are you going to help her?”

“She doesn't need my help” he replied, “besides, there goes her savior” he watched as an alabaster unicorn approach the two mares. It was Rarity, and she was looking at Blue with sympathy before putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. Thunderlane spoke to Blossom “So, what do you want to do?”

Blossom thought of that for a moment “I think I want to play the pin the tail on the pony” she turned to look at a small crowd of ponies watching a stallion trying to pin a tail to a paper pony on the wall “Do you want to join me?”

“Sure!” he followed Blossom to the game. The stallion who was currently playing was disappointed to see he put the tail on the mouth of the paper pony, much to the other's amusement.

“Okay, who's neeeeeeext?” said Pinkie, who appeared beside a dark blue unicorn mare, surprising the latter.

“Me!” Blossom said, raising one hoof.

“Oh, goodie! Now, close your eyes and let me put the blindfold” Blossom nodded and closed her eyes. Thunderlane watches as Pinkie put a white blindfold on Blossomforth's head, covering her eyes. Pinkie opened the latter's mouth using her pink hoof and put the paper tail before closing her mouth “Now pin the tail on the pony!” Pinkie bubbly told her.

“Alright, I can do this” Blossom whispered to herself as she began to walk slowly to what she assumed to where the paper pony is. She heard Pinkie, whispering to someone but she ignored it.

“Blossom, you are going to a wrong place!” she recognizes that voice. It was Thunderlane, he was going to help her. Strange, Pinkie didn't seem to stop him “turn left- wait! Turn right!” Blossom smiled. She was being helped by Thunderlane to win the game. This is going to be easy as pie.

“turn left!”

“turn right!

“turn left!

“turn right! There, go straight. You're about to pin the tail on the pony!” Thunderlane declared. She felt the paper ponytail on her mouth press against the paper. She did it! She's going to win!

Then, she pinned the tail on the pony.

“Uwah!?”

huh? Did the paper pony just talk she swore she heard that voice right?in front.of.her. She could hear giggles and whispers around them. Curious about what was going on, she removed her blindfold.

Only to meet the eyes of an angry Lilac Links.

Blossom gulped. She took a step back from the angry earth pony mare. Laughter erupted behind her. She turns around to see ponies laughing at her, including Thunderlane. Blossomforth's face contorted into a frown.

“Thunderlane, you troll” she growled.

“You are so gullible, Blossomforth,” Thunderlane said “Do you think I was leading you to the paper pony?” he stopped laughing as he saw the mare going into a fighting stance. Thunderlane turnaround, immediately spread his wings to get away from the angry mare.

“COME BACK HERE, YOU TROLL!!” shouted Blossomforth as she chased Thunderlane.

“Oh, look. We have a cat and a mouse!” Pinkie said, “Come here everypony and watch the chase!”

...

“...and that's how our adventure started!” Twilight ended her explanation while Blue stared at her in awe and wonder.

“Woooow... that is a great start, Princess” she commented “Not only you become friends with five ponies but you get to defeat a big bad villain and own the elements of harmony” at first, she thought the princess is weird, and a little too much of a bookworm and 'historian investigator' but she was actually happy to talk with her when it comes to the princess' personal life.

“Oh, it's nothing,” Twilight said.

“So, where are Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash?” Blue asked, not mentioning Pinkie since she knew the latter is the local party pony. She actually met Rainbow Dash at the Wonderbolts Academy and also heard that the latter went to check her parents, but she's curious where the latter went after that. She

“Oh, Applejack and Rarity are here. But Fluttershy is still at her cottage. I don't know where Rainbow Dash went” Twilight then realized something “Oh, I should have introduced you to my friends. Come on, I'll lead you to them!” Blue nodded her head. Just as Twilight is about to led the newcomer to one of her best friends, she heard a shout.

“Did you heard that, Princess?” Blue said. Her answer came in a form of a colt approaching her through the crowd of ponies “Oh, hi there young colt”

To her dismay, the colt ran pass her to approach Twilight “Princess Twilight. It's my brother!”

“Thunderlane? What kind of trouble has he found himself into?” Twilight asked.

“I don't know, but Blossomforth is so angry with him” as if a cue, two pegasi dashed above them. Twilights respond to this by putting a hoof to her face.

“They should stop right now before they could hurt somepony”

“Or outright destroy the party” Blue added.

It was easy for Twilight to calm down Blossomforth not because of Luck, but because of her very presence. No one was injured by her and Thunderlane's chase, except for Windy, whose face is now covered in the muck of what used to be a blueberry cheesecake. Rarity decided to clean the mare's face.

Meanwhile, Twilight introduced Blue to more of her friends after talking to Thunderlane about the incident. She told the new Wonderbolt about Starlight Glimmer and some of her friends.

“So, Starlight was the principal and the School of Friendship, which happens to be built beside your castle?” Twilight nodded “and you're the founder, right?”

“Yep,” Twilight replied.

“YOU'RE SO AWESOME, PRINCESS!!!” Blue unconsciously said out loud. Upon realization, she made herself small as she became the center of attention “Oops”

“Don't mind us everypony” Twilight told the crowd. On the other hoof, Rarity has finally taken every piece of cake mush from Windy's face.

“How do you feel, darling?”

“I'm alright Rarity” smiles Windy “Thanks for taking the mess off my face”

“My pleasure, Windy. I didn't want some icky stuff on your face, besides, who wants their face to be covered in cake?” behind Rarity, Pinkie put her head inside a cake, making Windy laugh “What's so funny?”

“Oh, it's just Pinkie, trying to tell you that some ponies literally want to put their heads inside cakes” Rarity turned to look behind, only to see no Pinkie. Windy knew why the pink mare disappeared and she won't tell how the latter vanished into thin air. Rarity just shrugged, thinking Pinkie is just being Pinkie before looking back at Windy “How was the dress I gave you yesterday?”

“Its great, Rarity” the alabaster unicorn's eye sparkled in excitement of hearing such praise “I should probably use on the next Galloping Gala”

“That's great, darling. How about I give you a tril hat?” Rarity offered but Windy frowned.

“Uh, no thank you. Hats aren't really my thing” she then noticed Rumble, who was at the food table, speaking to Twist. She looked around “Where's Sweetie Belle?”

“She's at Sweet Apple Acres with Applebloom and Scootaloo. Let's say they're having a tea party with a new friend”

“I swear even before she becomes a teacher, she would already have a lot of friends” Windy mused.

...

“I would have bucked you to next week if you tried that on me,” Applejack said. After the incident, she decided to have a little chat with Thunderlane and Rumble.

“Oh, thank you for reminding me, Applejack,” he said, “So, how's the farm?”

“Everythin's doin' great!” Applejack declared “With the help of your friend, Windy, the farm is moving smoothly, though I and Big Mac have to expand the part of the orchard since we are running out of space for the new apple trees. While the Apple Family do like apples, we don't want a forest of apples otherwise, we probably won't ever see Princess Celestia's sun, and the cows don't appreciate that”

“I see,” he said, “So, what do you think of Blue Wings?” Applejack turned to look at Blue, who was still talking to Twilight.

“Well, she kinda looks like a young mare, younger than Fluttershy based on her looks,” she said “But honestly, she's as shy like my friend despite her looks, but she can easily talk to other ponies once she found somethin' good in them” Thunderlane how Applejack's honesty strike a heart of a pony like an arrow when she compared Fluttershy to Blue. He was glad she toned down her description.

“That mare had been a Wonderbolt trainee for five months. Guess what? She became a Wonderbolt. Most of the ponies who become a Wonderbolt took several years of training to become on” he said with a smile. Applejack didn't seem impressed.

“I bet she could beat Rainbow in the running of the leaves” she chuckled.

“Is that so? Then, why was she crying at the academy?” Thunderlane and Applejack who was the owner of a feminine yet brash voice with a hint of cockiness they heard behind them. They turned to see a smirking Rainbow Dash.

“You finally went back to Ponyville. Where have you been this entire time?” Applejack asked.

“I came to visit my parents at Cloudsdale after the closure of the Academy” Rainbow said “I'm a little worried about an outbreak. I couldn't just leave Cloudsdale without knowing what happened to my parents” Thunderlane and Applejack frowned. Even Rainbow Dash was getting a little paranoid?

“So, are they okay?” Thunderlane asked.

“Yep, mom and dad are fine!” Rainbow Dash replied “But I think it doesn't settle the same for Spitfire”

“What happened to Spitfire, Rainbow Dash?” Thunderlane was worried. Even though he doesn't like their captain that much, she was the reason why the Wonderbolts keep going.

“She and her mother were attacked” Rainbow become solemn “They are sent to a hospital in Canterlot. Grr, whoever done that to them, they will receive a thousand bucks from me!”

Thunderlane smiled. Before he could say anything, a bubbly voice interrupted him “Dashie, you're here!” a pink blur pass the grey pegasus. Rainbow Dash suddenly finds herself within Pinkie's hug.

“Where have you been, Rainbow?” Thunderlane noticed Twilight, Blue, Rarity, and Windy are now approaching them, most likely to talk to Rainbow Dash.

“Where have you been, Rainbow Dash? Rarity asked.

“I went to my parents to check on them to see if they're okay,” Rainbow told her. She took notice of Blue, who walk beside Twilight “So, you and egghead get together so easily. Twilight did you gave her questions to submission?” she teased them and let out a chuckle.

Twilight rolled her eyes “Very funny, Rainbow” Rainbow winked at her before turning to Blue.

“So, what do you think of Ponyville?” she asked.

Blue smiled shyly “Everypony here is... nice” she replied “A little weird but... nice nonetheless” everyone smiled at her, glad to know she likes the town.

“That reminds of Twilight when she first arrives here” Applejack mused, looking at the lavender alicorn.

“Have you guys seen Fluttershy?” Rainbow spoke up “I haven't seen her at the party tonight”

“She stayed at her cottage to tend the animals, darling. She told me when i and Applejack went to give her the invitation letter” Rarity told her “Besides, we have been looking all of Ponyville to find you. At least there's a good reason why”

It took a few hours before the party came to an end. Ponies began to leave one by one with a smile on their faces. Soon, only the Mane Six, Thunderlane, Blue Wings, Windy Breeze, And Sweet Tomato are left.

“It is so dark tonight,” Windy said, taking note of the town “This reminds me of the time when we pranked Rainbow Dash”

“Maybe everypony went to sleep early” Rarity yawned “I also need a peaceful sleep. I'm so tired”

“Me...too...” Spike said before he slumps on Twilight's back, the latter standing beside Blue. Thunderlane heard them talking about the stars which are a total nonsense to him. Blue noticed the baby dragon now asleep.

“Um, looks like your assistant slept,” she said.

“Yeah. It looks like its time to say goodbye. I'm looking forward to knowing you better, Blue Wings”

“I'm looking forward to knowing you better as well, princess” Blue bowed, ignoring the fact Twilight doesn't want to be treated like a princess “See you tomorrow, your highness”

“Just call me Twilight,” she told her. In the purple flash of light, the princess and her assistant are gone, having used her remaining energy to cast a teleportation spell.

“See ya tomorrow, everypony! ”
Pinkie said in a cheerful tone, waving her hoof at them before closing the door of the Sugarcube Corner.

“Goodnight, Pinkie” everyone except Blue and Sweet said in unison. Thunderlane heard Sweet yawn.

“Looks like I have to take her to her house,” Windy told him.

“Sure, Windy” hearing this, the Wonderbolt approached the earth pony filly.

“Climb into my back, Sweet” Windy lowered herself, allowing sweet to climb up to her back. Windy smirked. She spread her wings, producing one flap sound

“Yes, Ms. Cherilee” Sweet mumbled in her sleep, receiving a chuckle from the Wonderbolt.

Windy turned to her friends and said “Goodnight. See you, tomorrow guys”

“See you tomorrow, Windy” Windy flew and disappeared into the shadows. Thunderlane turns to Blue Wings and. Rumble “We should go now,” he told them.

Windy landed on the ground. It took her a few minutes before exhaustion took toll of her but luckily, she landed just four blocks away from Sweet's house. She could hear Sweet's snoring. Letting out a quiet snicker, she walked forward towards her destination, unaware of the eyes watching her and the filly from the shadows.

“We're here, home sweetie home” Thunderlane opened the door for Blue Wings and Rumble“Foals and mares first”

“So this is your house?” Blue said, examining the interior of the living room “It's... lovely”

“Thank you for the comment, Blue, but this is just a normal cottage,” he told her “So where are you going to sleep? We only have two bedrooms” Blue pondered, thinking where she should sleep.

“Maybe I should sleep with... R-Rumble”

“Huh?” Rumble stared at her, Blue blushed.

“It's not like we're in r-relationships or anything, just-”

“I understand, Blue” Thunderlane smiled “Since you're the babysitter, then that means you have to be near my brother”

“Brother, Blue, I'm going to bed now, okay?” Rumble said, going to his bedroom which is on the second floor of the house.

“Okay, but this time, Blue is going to be the storyteller this time while I'm going to get some cookies, okay?”

“Sure, brother”

Thunderlane went downstairs and open one of the shelves which contains a box of milk. He poured it on a glass before going to the fridge to get a plate with 7 cookies on top of it. He put the glass of milk and the cookies on a tray and went back upstairs. When he got inside, Blue was busy reading a storybook for Rumble. He put the tray on the bed beside Rumble, who smiled “Here is your cookies, Rumble”

“Thanks, brother” Rumble thanked. Blue gave them a smile and continued reading the story like a mother would do to their foals. Thunderlane silently watched them from the open doorway, until he heard some voices outside. He went downstairs and slightly pushed aside the curtains from a window to see two mares, one unicorn, and one earth pony. They were arguing.

“what about the others? What about Berry-” he heard the earth pony say before she found herself encased in the white magic aura of her unicorn companion.

“Just forget about everypony. Lets go to Canterlot before everypony realizes what's going on!” the unicorn ran away, dragging her friend behind her until they are out of sight. Thunderlane let out a sigh. They're probably going to Canterlot without letting anyone see them. He went back to his little brother's bedroom to his the latter sleeping, while Blue takes her Wonderbolt uniform off and putting it inside the cabinet, exposing her yellow coat. She looks back at Thunderlane with a smile “He fell asleep a few minutes after you went out of the room”

“Good. you should take some sleep too” he told her.

“You know,” Blue glance at Rumble before returning her gaze at him “Rumble is kinda cute when he sleeps”

Thunderlane smiled “Goodnight, Blue”

Blue let out a yawn before saying “Goodnight, Thunderlane” Thunderlane closed the door and went to his room. There, lay on his bed, his mind slowly shutting down to rest.

“Tomorrow is going to be a brand new day” he uttered before falling into a deep sleep.

Night Invasion

Blue Wings suddenly woke up in the middle of the night and felt the urge to empty her stomach. She immediately got off from Rumble's bed, the colt didn't even squirm when the mare moves the bed or when she opened the door loudly as she went for the bathroom.

When she went inside the bathroom, she quickly went for the sink and emptied her stomach, coughing and wheezing as she let out heavy breaths “What is happening to me?” she asked herself in between coughs and breathes while looking at her reflection on the mirror “I didn't get sick, did I?” she looked down at her vomit and felt both disgusted and terrified at the sight of her blood mixed along with her digested dinner on the sink. She began to hyperventilate at the thought of getting the same illness which is now spreading in the northern Equestria region. She back away from the sink “Oh, Celestia, not now, oh, please, I don't wanna go-”

An ear-piercing scream from outside interrupted her from her panic. Like would a normal, average pony would do, she went out to investigate.

She gazes at Rumble's bedroom in thought, amazed the fact the colt didn't even wake up from the scream He must be a heavy sleeper she cautiously closed the door and went downstairs. She heard another scream Somepony is in trouble! she thought. Just as she approached the door, she glances at the kitchen and looks at a kitchen knife. She thought about this for a few seconds You don't really need a knife for this, retaliation is only needed to stop the attacker she looks back at the door and slowly opens it, allowing her to peek.

“Ah, stop it!”

Outside, an earth pony mare is being attacked by a stallion, who was forcefully pushed back by the said mare. Blue squinted and gasped at the mare's neck; a piece of skin was missing.

Blue didn't even think twice, she quickly opens the door, spread her wings, and tackle the stallion. As she stood up from the incapacitated pony, the earth pony mare from before approaching her.

“Oh, thank you miss for saving me!” the earth pony mare said. She clutched her neck injury with one hoof.

“It's nothing. It's a Wonderbolt's responsibility to protect” Blue smiled, receiving a gasp from the mare.

“You're a Wonderbolt!?” the mare exclaimed, however, her enthusiasm quickly disappear as it was replaced by a solemn expression “Listen to me, whoever is with you in the house, wake them up and take the to Canterlot with me” Blue gave her a look of confusion, having no idea why the mare, who was recently attack suddenly made her leave Ponyville. Noticing this look, the earth pony groaned in frustration “Look, just do what I want you to do: go back inside the house and get your family out and head with me to Canterlot!” the mare's face twisted into a look of fear “Behind you!”

Inside, a bloodcurdling woke Thunderlane. He heard something bang loudly on the front door of his house. Thinking there's an intruder inside, he cautiously went out of the bedroom and into the corridor. He decided to check Rumble and Blue first.

To his surprise, the door was slightly open but he didn't hear anything inside the bedroom. He assumed Blue probably forgot to close the door.

However when he went inside, Blue was nowhere to be found.

He suddenly remembers the scream which woke him “Blue Wings!” he rushed out of the bedroom and into the living room. He went out of his house to investigate what's going on.

Just in front of a house is Blue Wings being attacked by a stallion, a mare can be sitting nearby, shaking in fear with one of her hooves in her neck as Blue screamed as the stallion tear the flesh on her neck though it didn't seem too deep. He also noticed that the bystander's neck was also covered in blood too.

“Blue!” Thunderlane didn't wait for the earth pony near Blue and her attacker to make a move. Said the earth pony turn around and went inside her house as Thunderlane charged and slammed into Blue's attacker. They crashed into the same house of the earth pony through the window, shattering the glass and crashing into the living room, receiving a scream from the owner, who immediately ran to the kitchen.

Thunderlane immediately grabs a hold of the stallion's forelegs in an attempt to restrain him “Stop moving for Celestia's sake!”

As he was too busy arresting the stallion, Blue slowly stood up, moaning as she clutched her bleeding neck.

In the distance, she could see an earth pony, a mare ran towards her, screaming for help. Blue ignored her as she moves her head sluggishly at the broken window where Thunderlane and her attacker used to crash into the house.

“T-Thunderlane...” she moaned as she approaches the broken window, looking at Thunderlane who was restraining her attacker. The mare she had rescued earlier ran back into the living her with a knife on her mouth.

Thunderlane glanced back at Blue “Blue, go back inside the house and you'll find some bandages the- ARGHK!” the stallion he had tried to restrain somehow manages to lift his head and bite the wings of the Pegasus “Agh, let me go!” Thunderlane grimaced in pain trying his best not to let go of his attacker's forelegs.

Responding to his distress, owner of the house hesitantly went to his aid by trying to pry him off the earth pony stallion who decided to take a small chunk of his flesh from his left wing, taking a few feathers with it. Thunderlane gritted his teeth in pain as he tried his best not to scream. He didn't want more ponies to wake up and be involved.

With the mare attempting to pull him away from the crazed attacker. The mare was successful but it cost him a small part of his left wing.

“Ow! AHH...! w-wy wing!” he yelled as he stares at his injured wing. The wings are what the pegasi are proud of. Having an injured wing or losing them brings great shame and humiliation to the winged ponies, so powerful that it could even bring down Rainbow Dash and Spitfire to fit of sobbing or anger. Thunderlane was no different, he was just an average pony in a big world and he could feel pain just like any other breathing equines.

Blue came to his side, pulling him away as their attacker slowly stood up after the assaults. The earth pony mare who had helped him was now slowly backing away from them with fear, whimpering as the attacker stared at the two Wonderbolts. He decided to ignore the earth pony mare to face Blue and Thunderlane, reveling several stab wounds on his chest, hinting the earth pony mare actually used the knife. The said knife was laying on the floor not too far from its owner, its blade now covered in blood.

The attack moaned and tried to reach the duo when the earth pony mare quickly pulled him from behind by his mane “Stay away from them!” she yelled. The stallion reached out his hooves in an attempt to grab Thunderlane.

“Get away from me!” Thunderlane recognizes her. She's Roseluck. She sells flowers alongside Lily Valley and Daisy. She went inside Thunderlane's house and quickly slammed the door.

“Roseluck!” Thunderlane went out of the house with Blue behind his tail. To his horror, Roseluck had locked the door of his house “Roseluck, open the door!” he yelled. He heard a growl behind them. He and Blue turn around to see a stallion about to bite the pegasus, only for Blue to violently push the attacker to the ground. Thunderlane immediately returns his attention to the door in front of him and begins to beg for Roseluck to open the door. Meanwhile, Blue watched as a dozen ponies nearing them and menacingly staring at her with hunger in their eyes. She could feel the pain on her neck but she ignored it.

“T-Thunderlane!?” she yelled, getting the attention of Thunderlane, who turns around to see how close the crowd are.

“Blue!” he shouted. He ran up to her and pushed another pony who is too close to his friend “Roseluck shutted us out”

“What? L-let's get out of here” Blue turned glanced, only to find more ponies in a similar state like the others “What the- where did they come from?”

They heard screams behind them. They turn around to see that the stallion they left inside the other house was now attacking the mare.

“Miss!” Blue and flew towards the house to help the mare.

“Blue Wings!” Thunderlane shouted before turning to the door “Roseluck, open the door!” there was no response from inside the house “Roseluck, open the door!”

“Thunderlane, help us!” he saw Blue, now with the earth pony mare laying on her back is being surrounded.

He quickly ran towards them, knocking down a unicorn stallion in the process “Come on!” he led them to the door and begin knocking again “Roseluck, open the door!” he heard a shriek behind him. He glances to behind him to see Blue buck a pony on the face, making them stumble. He was about to yell something to the mare when he felt a hoof suddenly pull him grab his chest.

He hit the ground with a thud, no, a wooden floor. He could see Blue's hooves move to pass him and something woody concealing the crazy ponies from his vision.

“Need a hoof, Thunderlane?” he looked up to where the source is and saw Roseluck, offering a hoof. He grabs hold of her hoof and stood up.

“Yeah, I do need help, thanks,” he said but his appreciation is soon thrown out of the window by his frown “Why did you lock the door on me and Blue?”

“I was scared!” Roseluck replied. They heard banging on the front door behind him, causing both of them to jump, and scream for Blue's case. They turn their heads to look at the wooden door. “T-They're not going to get inside r-right, Thunderlane?”

“The door is made of wood. As long as there are no 6 to 10 earth ponies pushing against the door, it won't fall from its hinges” he told them “Blue, carry Fair Fare into my bedroom” Blue nodded and slowly went upstairs.

“Thunderlane, how about the door?” Roseluck glanced at the door.

“Block it with anything sturdy and heavy as a makeshift barricade. You're the only available earth pony here so you have to do it by yourself while I barricade the windows” Roseluck whimpered. The last time she was nearby from those ponies, she almost lost her eye but she reluctantly obeyed.

Thunderlane went to the kitchen and open one of the floor cabinets containing several wooden planks that are used for repairing. He seizes the planks with his wing and went back to the living room, though one fell while he was cantering. He immediately went for the one near Roseluck, who was now blocking the front door with a couch. He could hear mostly growls, banging, and a few screams outside, probably from a few ponies who woke up and went out to investigate.

As he was about to put a plank to the window in front of him, a hoof hit the glass, causing some cracks to appear. He shrieked but he immediately recovered and placed the plank on the window.

While Roseluck and Thunderlane are busy fortifying the living room, Blue Wings was busy binding Fair. She had no time to cleanse her wound, so she was forced to endure her pain.

“W-Wonderbolt... my neck, it hurts...” the earth pony mare, Fair Fare grimaced.

“Don't worry, the pain will go away. I promise” Blue assured her, though it came out a little muffled since the surgical tape is still on her mouth (she found it on a shelf in Thunderlane's room)

After she was done cutting the bandage tape which she used to wrap up Fair's neck wound, she decided to take care of herself now, after all, she is done with the earth pony laying on his friend's bed. She went out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. She stared at her wound. How was strong and sharp was the stallion's teeth? She took a scissor from the shelf rack.

“Ugh, why do I feel like I'm about to vomit..?” her vision began to blur as she dresses her wound. She absent-mindedly wrapped her neck with a bandage, her eyes were partially closed, and she began to moan as if tired from a training session. She put her scissor where she assumed where the tape is and began cutting but not the tape, but her skin. She didn't seem to notice as she continued to cut through her own skin, blood began to slowly come out of her wound. She began to mumble incoherently as she stared at the mirror with a blank look. Then she heard that voice.

“Sweetheart, why would you want to join that squadron? You'll get yourself injured!”

“I-I-I wanted to sh-show h-how g-good we are, mom” Blue spoke to her reflection. She wasn't speaking to herself, nor to her reflection.

But to her 'mom'.

“Look what happened to you! You're hurt! You should have stayed in Richville with me and your father!”

Blue's blank face contorted into a snarl, still ignoring the fact she was bleeding “This isn't my fault, mom. T-This isn't my fault” she said.

“Then, why are you bleeding?” she finally noticed the blood flowing from the long cut on her neck “Tell me my daughter: why do you blee-”

“It doesn't matter to you, you idiot!” Blue punched the mirror with one hoof; forming a huge crack on the glass “You are always against my decisions when I was living with you and father. Why would you have to be so AGAINST ME!?” she stared intensely at the now broken mirror with her eyes narrowed. Her gaze suddenly softens “I know why...” she smiled “You just didn't want me to be happy. That's why you never listen to me” she let out a chuckle and moved her head away from the mirror “You are here to tease and mock me, aren't you? Well, I won't let that happen”

As Thunderlane blocked the last openings of the now barricaded window, he went for the other one while Roseluck watches.

“Hey, did you hear that?” Roseluck asked.

Thunderlane listens for the sound. He heard it. Blue is indeed, laughing “That must be Blue”

“Was that her name?”

“Yes, she's a newbie to the Wonderbolts,” he told her “Why is she laughing?”

As they were talking, one of the windows was shattered. They glanced as ponies began entering through the broken window, growling at them.

“I forgot to fortify that!” Thunderlane immediately drops the plank he's holding went and pushed one of the ponies out of the house while Roseluck helps him. As they are too busy dealing with the others, a stallion quickly took the opportunity to launch itself into one of the defenders. Thunderlane had no time to react when the stallion chomps down to his left wing. Again. He yelled in pain. Roseluck, who saw him get attacked by the stallion gasped.

“Oh my Celestia!” She went and bucked the stallion before pulling Thunderlane away from the window. She helps him stand up. They retreated from the ponies entering through the window.

“Roseluck, the window-!”

“It's too late. They're flooding into the house!” Roseluck interrupted him as they go upstairs “Tell your friend and your little brother that we have to get out of here!” she told him.

As they took their last step on the stairs, the bathroom door bust open. Stumbling out of the bathroom is Blue Wings. Thunderlane gasped at the sight of a long wound on her neck and the blood covered her chest. She turns to him and Roseluck with a crazed look, making Roseluck step back and Gasp at the grisly sight of her recent wound.

“Blue Wings, what happened to you?” Thunderlane rushed to Blue with large amounts of concern “What happened? How did you get this?”

“Mommy~!” Blue sang in a drunk tone as she smiled at him with a crazy look “aren't you proud of me? Are you proud of your daughter?” Thunderlane couldn't understand why she's calling him her mother, which is why he's confused.

“Blue, what are you talking about?” he lifted an eyebrow “Nevermind, we got to get out of here. Get Fair and go out through the windows safely as possible! I'll go get my little brother” he galloped past her but before he could open the door of his little brother's bedroom, he was stopped by Blue's answer.

“Aren't you proud of me, mom?” Thunderlane turns around to see Blue's face had contorted into anger “AREN'T YOU PROUD OF ME!?”

“Blue, I'm not your mom!” Thunderlane told her. Blue suddenly glanced at Roseluck, making the florist yelp in surprise.

“GAH!”

“Daddy, thank you for supporting me” Blue slowly approached Roseluck.

“W-What are you-” she heard a raspy moan beside her. She glanced just in time for a unicorn mare to snap her Jaws at her. Roseluck let out an Eeep'ed and went behind Thunderlane, whose eyes shrunk in the size of a pinpoints.

“Blue, look out!” he shouted. However, Blue pays no heed as she menacingly walks towards him, paying no mind to his warning as a pegasus stallion walk pass the unicorn mare, who was slowly standing up. Blue walked too slow than the stallion and has succumbed to whatever went inside her system.

“Mom, I don't want to break the rules of our town but this is enough” she unfolds her left wing, revealing a scissor clutched by her appendage. Before she could move closer to Thunderlane, the stallion dropped on top of her like a sack. She let out a groan and tried standing up. Thunderlane was going to approach her unfortunately, her attacker is much faster than both of them. He sank his teeth on her nape, earning a scream of horror from Roseluck.

“Blue!” Thunderlane yelled in terror. Blue simply put a hoof to her bleeding nape as the stallion continued munching on her. She let out a raspy chuckle before going limp.

Thunderlane heard a door open behind him followed by a shriek. He glanced just in time for Fair Fare to shamble out of his bedroom and attack Roseluck, who was forced to lean against the wall behind her.

“T-Thunderlane, help me!” He stared at the mare in distress before glancing back at Blue, who was now being swarmed by a group ponies, some took their attention away from their targets to make the dead Wonderbolt their meal while the rest focused on killing their remaining targets. Thunderlane cringed and decided to help Roseluck. He immediately rushed to her aid, turning around and bucked Fair from her. Fair growled and tried to go after Thunderlane but was pushed away by the stallion.

“Head to the bathroom, quickly!” He opens the door and pushed her in before he himself enter the bathroom. As he was going to shut the door, he heard an utter coming from one of the bedrooms.

“B-Brother!?” Rumble's voice was easy to break Thunderlane's courageous side. Realization struck as he saw his little brother looking from the slightly open door. Rumble glance away from him to look at the feast, one of the ponies tearing out the large long intestine from Blue. Rumble inadvertently gasped in horror, attracting several of the ponies to him. He immediately closed the door as soon as they shamble towards him.

“Rumble!” Thunderlane tried to go out to save his brother when Roseluck pulled him away from the door. He looked at her with anger “What are you doing? Can't you see my brother need our help?”

“He'll be fine as long as he hides under his bed. We can save him later!” Roseluck shut the door and quickly went to the only window in the bathroom. She opens the turn the curtains aside and opens the window “Get in here Thunderlaaaaane!” she yelled as she falls off the window. Thunderlane heard a snap followed by the mare's shriek. He was about to go the window when he heard pounding behind him and the sound of something cracking.

“I regret selling my cloud villa,” he said out loud as he quickly jumps through the window. He spread his wings and glide down at Roseluck. He lands behind her.

“Come on, we gotta go and get help Princess Twilight” she whispered to him. Thunderlane glanced at his house one more time which is occupied by the crazy ponies, Blue Wings, Fair Fare, and Rumble. He sighed, promising to his little brother he will come back to help him.

If he could really come back. Alive.

As they ran, they saw a figure of a pony standing in front of them. He easily recognized this pony as Berry Punch.

“Berryshine!” Thunderlane slowly approaches the earth pony, who turns to look at them “You gotta have to come with us” however when the said earth pony stepped out of the shadow of a house. A hungry look, along with a bloody mouth greeted them. Thunderlane steps away from her as she opens her mouth, revealing her bloodstained teeth.

“B-Berry, not you too!” Roseluck gasped. The two only sane ponies heard a growl around them. They glanced to see a dozen ponies, mostly refugees from Maneponia and Hoofside come out of the shadows, almost all of them have wounds on different parts of their body, mostly on the neck, or at there legs, or even both.

“We're trapped!” Thunderlane yelled to his companion as he and Roseluck stood back-to-back, their tails touching each other's tails as the ponies move closer to them. Thunderlane was horrified to see a mutilated pegasus mare shambling among them. Her lime green coat was coated in blood, an intestine hung from her stomach, the skin of her entire right side was gone, her right bloody mangled wing hung limply revealing the flesh, her glazed eyes stared at him, only her orange mane and tail was the only one untouched.

Thunderlane inadvertently called Roseluck, catching her attention. She immediately took notice of the hostile mangled pegasus and screamed.

5 blocks away from them, a pony stumbled out of her house, moaning as several other ponies turn around to go to where the source of the scream is.

In the northern part of Ponyville, the only dragon resident of the town woke up from his sleep, having been disturbed by the scream.

Thunderlane knew Roseluck's scream may have woke up several other ponies peacefully sleeping and also drawing unwanted attention to them. Chastising an earth pony mare working as a florist will gonna wait, escaping is their number one priority now. He looks around for an escape route.

However, he found none as he saw more of them showed up. He glared at his companion out of anger and frustration, to which the mare sheepishly smiled back. Thunderlane could just facehoof to himself if not for a snarl he heard in front him. He reared just in time for Berry to bite his neck.

“Whoa!” Thunderlane spread his wings and hovered, looking down at Berry, who was getting up from her failed attack. Roseluck chose to try to run from the ponies, only for her to halt as she met another of them, grunting at her. Thunderlane saw her situation and immediately bucked the pony away from her. She was shocked to see Thunderlane land and lay on his stomach “just climb onto my back!” finally understanding what he was doing, she sat on his back. Thunderlane stood up, dramatically spread his wings, and flew gently “I might be able to carry you right now but you're too heavy for me to reach the castle. I'm afraid I'm going to land you somewhere else”

“It's alright, Thunderlane, I understand. You have a brother to save” she smiled “and I'll take the mention to wake up the Princess of Friendship”

They smiled at each other until they heard a scream below them. They look down to see a unicorn mare, being assaulted by one of them. The terrified mare lay on the ground as her attacker struggled to take a bite through her mane

“No, stop, stop it!” she screamed once again as her attacker successfully chomp down her neck. It disgusted both the pegasus flying above the town with an earth pony mare trying her best not to vomit on the stallion.

Thunderlane landed somewhere on the town “Sorry, I feel too dizzy to fly, Roseluck”

“It's okay, Thunderlane, I appreciate your help” she smiled as she got off his back “If you are too tired to go back to your house stay here” Thunderlane nodded weakly “Good. Be careful, Thunderlane. We still don't know how many ponies had turn crazy tonight” she said one last time before galloping into the night. Thunderlane stood up, watching her. He went to a nearby house leaned. He tried to resist his eyes from closing it but it was too much. His eyes were disconnected from his brain, his head feel hot, and his wings, mostly the left felt limp, he felt more tired than normal.

He could see two figures at the distance, one of them was a foal following the adult silhouette. He swore he saw the adult turn it's head in his direction before he blacked out.

Priorities

Thunderlane went back to consciousness.

The first thing he saw is a ceiling Somepony must have found me he look at his wing injury, only to find it concealed by white bandages. He slowly got up from his bed and went out of the bedroom while trying his best to keep from falling to the floor. Whoever found him and took him to their house deserves a thanks from him.

“Hello, hey, thanks for taking me to your house” Thunderlane yelled as he walk in the second floor corridor of the house “Please come out, I want to see you, I want to thank you personally”

He walk down the stairs. He heard some bubbling noises from the kitchen, he went to check what it was.

When he went inside the said kitchen, it was empty but the open is active and a soup pot is placed on top of the stove. Whoever found Thunderlane probably had been cooking soup but where are they?

“Oh, you're awake”

Thunderlane look behind. Standing infront of him is Derpy Hooves, also known Ditzy Doo. The pegasus mare smiled at him and staring at him with her derp eyes, one staring at him while the stares somewhere else. She doesn't expect to suddenly be hugged by the stallion.

“Derpy, thanks for saving me!” Thunderlane said.

Derpy blinked “Save you? When did i save you?”

Thunderlane released her, raising an eyebrow “Huh?” if she wasn't his savior, then who?

“Amesthsyt both saved us” she told him “She and her sister, Dinky found you first before she rescued me from getting attacked by the... things outside” she shivered, glancing at the window barricaded behind her “I'm she agreed to clear my house of those things. She's out to find some food and water and any sane ponies still out there. Dinky is still asleep upstairs and Amesthsyt told me to cook some nice soup for her”

“That explains the soup and the stove left unattended” he deadpanned, pointing out at the said stove. Derpy quickly went for the soup pot and removed the lid to check the soup. Her ears flattened, she placed the lid on top of the soup pot and turn off the stove. Letting out a sigh, she slowly turn at Thunderlane “Looks like I have to make another one. Could you please look out and window just in case Amesthsyt comes back?”

“Sure” Thunderlane agreed, earning a thankful smile from Derp. He went upstairs and went open the door to his right.

He found himself inside a playroom. There inside are a bunch of toys including a few plushie and some books, some of them on top of shelves while a few others are scattered on the floor there was only a single small table along with a single book laying on top of it. He decided to examine shelves containing a few books.

“I've never had any Derpy had a playroom but for whom?” he picked up a black book on the floor“The Mare On The Moon” he read before putting the book on the shelf “Maybe Derpy likes to read stories” he then went for the toys “Funny, Derpy acted more ditzy than playful but this? Maybe this is just her toys when she was just a filly but i don't think she and her parents live here in the past” he voiced his thoughts before going for the single window and looked.

Outside, he saw a overturned carriage as well as some dried blood, every house he saw had been fortified from the inside “Maybe Amesthsyt's neighbors are prepared for this” he said to himself “But i don't here anything other than the air. The houses are probably abandoned” he then look at streets “Empty but there is no doubt one of those... monsters are just hiding in the shadows” he then remembered his brother, Rumble. His brother is still at his house when those things got in and attacked Blue Wings. Thunderlane closed his eyes, letting a tear ran out from one of his eyes “Rumble, please be safe” he whispered, silent sobbing into his outstretched wing.

His quiet sobbing was interrupted by a shrill scream. He glance to the left on a corner to see a white mare with baby blue mane and tail running away from her unseen pursuer on the street. Thunderlane averted his gaze when he saw the midnight blue hoof of the pursuer, not wanting to see a familiar face. If Amesthsyt did come back, then he had to convince her to let him go and rescue Rumble.

28 minutes later, Thunderlane had decided to clean the playroom instead of just plainly staring at the outside world. He had been putting books and toys to their respective place. However, while he was doing so, he suddenly felt the need to visit the toilet. When he opened the door, he was greeted by a pair of yellow eyes.

Thunderlane almost jumped in surprise “Derpy, you almost made me wet myself” he told her.

“Oops, sorry, Thunderlane” Derpy said as she backs away, knowing that she's blocking the way.

“It's okay, Derpy” he went to bathroom. He closed the door and sat at the toilet.

As he idly sat on the toilet, he began to hear a voice. A voice he didn't expect to hear again.

“Soarin...”

“H-Huh?” Thunderlane blinked.

“W-Why? Why did you leave me?”

“B-Blue Wings, is that you?” Thunderlane glance around him. He don't see Blue Wings. He knew she's not inside the bathroom since he had just recently saw her die.

No, I'm just hearing things he thought before his friend's disembodied voice talk to him once again.

“Look infront of you” the voice told him. Thunderlane looked infront of him by instinct.

And was met by pair of lifeless green eyes.

“WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!!!?”

Thunderlane let out a high-pitched scream. He shut his eyes out of pure terror. He reluctantly open his eyes to see nothing. He sighed in relief and flushed and toilet. He came out of the bathroom and found Derpy looking at him.

“It's breakfast time” she said.

Thunderlane, Dinky, and Derpy are all in the kitchen, eating the stew Derpy made. The stew wasn't that bad but wasn't also good. No one said anything as they lazily ate their food, all of them have bored looks. It was a dull breakfast.

“Amesthsyt hasn't come back yet” Thunderlane told them.

“Yeah, I'm very worried for her, especially those... ponies are now wandering throughout Ponyville” Derpy said, looking at him with a frown “Those ponies, they're very crazy, they tried to attack us but more horrifying is how they treat other ponies like us. They... they...”

“You don't have to tell me. I have seen they have done to other ponies” he said, referring to Blue Wings's gruesome demise. Images of the latter's last moments and those ponies taking her parts made Thunderlane sick, especially because he was eating.

“Are you okay, Thunderlane? You look like you're about to throw up” Derpy said.

“No, I'm fine. Those things bring back memories. A friend of mine attacked by a group of them” he told her.

“I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe I shouldn't had never mentioned about that” she said.

“You don't have to say sorry, Derpy” Thunderlane put hoof on her back “It's my fault for letting her go” he then gave her a hug. Dinky, who was facing them stop eating to look at them. Derpy smiled as she hugged him back.

“Mr. Thunderlane, Ms. Doo, is everything going to be fine?”

“Yes, little muffin, everything is going to be fine” Derpy said.

Thunderlane watched as Derpy wash the plates. Dinky was already at her room and he was going to look outside. He went upstairs and into the playroom and looks out of the window. There were a few ponies wandering aimlessly in the streets below, all of blood coated in blood and moaning. He could recognize most of the ponies and began uttering their names.

“Falling Star, Xyloheart, Paw Care, Timberwood, C-Cheerilee...” he trailed off as he look at Cherilee, the mare had a twisted hindlegs and blood seeping out of the bandage concealing whatever is hidden under it. He began to wonder what happened to the teacher and how she become like the others.

Everything went bad so quickly. The previous day everything was fine and now everypony is all crazy and acting like wounded timberwolves he thought. He look at the sun that hang in the morning sky The princesses. Maybe they'll sort this out, maybe Princess Twilight took some ponies into her castle His ears perked when he heard a voice.

“Take this!” he looked to the left. Appearing out of the corner of a house is a unicorn mare with blossom pink coat, purple flower eyes, and dark violet mane and tail with lavender streaks, and on her flank is a cutie mark of three brilliant-cut diamonds. The mare's horn glowed with grayish mulberry magic. Encased in her magic aura is a bloody kitchen knife and on her back is a saddlebag.

It was Amesthsyt Star.

Thunderlane quickly ran out of the playroom however, he trip on the stairs and fell down. He grunted as he slowly stood up amidst the pains around his body.

Derpy came out from the kitchen “Are you okay?”

“We need to open the door, Amesthsyt has arrived!” Thunderlane told her “Go and open the door. Don't wait for me to stand up!” Derpy looks at him “Just go!” finally, she reluctantly agree and went to open the door. As Thunderlane stood up, Derpy opens the door and she begins to yell for Amesthsyt to hurry. Amesthsyt soon appears seconds later, who urge Derpy to immediately close the door. Derpy obeys and closed the door before following the unicorn mare to the kitchen.

“What's happening?” he heard a voice behind him. He look to see Dinky standing on the staircase.

“Your sister has arrived” he told her. Dinky's eyes widened and suddenly, she ran pass him, leaving him alone, smiling for their Amesthsyt's return.

He was so distracted that he jump in surprise when he heard the ponies outside start banging on the door followed by their moans and snarls. Thunderlane nervously step back away from the door “Maybe i should tell them to block the door with furnitures” he said to himself before going inside the kitchen. Inside, he saw Amesthsyt hugging Dinky tightly, their eyes closed, and their mouths curled into smiles.

“I told you, Dinky, I'll be okay” Amesthsyt said softly to Dinky before looking back at Derpy “Thank you for taking care of her while I'm gone” she said before looking at Thunderlane and breaking her hug with the little unicorn filly “I'm very glad you woke up, Thunderlane. I was doubting why i took you in despite you got some bites on one of your wings”

Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow. Why would Amesthsyt would doubt to save him just because of the bites he received from the ponies outside? He hasn't even got insane or violent unlike those ponies outside who tore Blue into... pieces. He tried to forget that memories of her friend dying in a horrible way and tried to appear curious infront of Amesthsyt, Derpy, and Dinky. He decided to remain silent as Amesthsyt continued talking to him.

“That doesn't matter now since you woke and haven't tried attacking Derpy and Dinky” she said before taking her saddlebag off her bag and placing it on the table using her magic “I was able to get some food in a restaurant but I got chased by of them. I hope they loose track of me”

“Amesthsyt, do you think the princesses are coming?” Derpy asked.

“I don't but I could see smoke rising up in Canterlot. I think the city is in the same situation” the atmosphere of the kitchen suddenly drop when everyone's hopes of rescue decreased albeit slightly “The princesses are very busy defending the Canterlot now and they'll most likely ignore us”

Thunderlane shook his head in disbelief while Derpy's ears fell flat.

“However, that doesn't mean we don't have to loose hope so quickly. There might be some ponies who are still sane hiding somewhere. So starting today every time I go out to get more food i will also search for them” she told them. They are however, interrupted by the sound of wood cracking from the front door.

“I-I think we should block the front door” "Thunderlane said as he watch the door move from the force of the group of ponies gathering outside.

“Yeah, I don't want to them flooding inside the house and trapping us with them. There's no doubt they'll attack us just like they did to the other ponies” Amesthsyt told them, much to Dinky's discomfort. Amesthsyt turns to the little filly and told her to go back to her room which the filly quickly does so. Amesthsyt quickly went to the living to start blocking off the front door.

“So you think the princesses are going to be alright?” Derpy said to Thunderlane.

“I don't but I hope they will, especially they're alicorns and they can defend themselves and there so many EUP guards who protect them” Thunderlane said “But we should worry about ourselves first because our protection is our big priority. I had my own priority and that would be my mission to save Rumble”

“You were alone when Amesthsyt found you” Derpy told her “Where's Rumble?”

“He's at home, trapped with some of those... ponies” Thunderlane was starting to reluctantly call the equines ponies mainly because of how they murdered Blue without any signs of hesitation “I was with somepony when a group of... them attacked us. My friend was unfortunately put down by them in the most horrible way and they had already blocked my way to my little brother's bedroom. I could just hope they haven't found him yet”

“I'm very sorry to hear that” Derpy said softly. She felt very sad her friend had to forcefully leave his little brother for his safety “Maybe you should tell Amesthsyt about it” Thunderlane glanced at the doorway leading to the living room. He could still hear the front door being assaulted by ponies outside the house. He hope that the door would hold still even for just for a few days. The chaos won't probably last long.

“Yeah, maybe I should tell her” he said before going to the living room. The front door was boarded up with a few furnitures and Amesthsyt is still busy adding another one “Amesthsyt, can you talk to you a bit?”

“Sure, what is it?” Amesthsyt said without even looking at him as she put the furniture, a cabinet to the group of furnitures acting as a barricade.

“When you go out next time, can i go with you? M-My little brother is trapped at our house” he asked.

Amesthsyt thought about it. If she would bring someone with her as her companion, it would become a problem to navigate since most streets have one to 10 insane ponies, walking around but having a companion also can increase her defense if she was ever found by them. Finally, she finally found her answer “Okay, but don't make to much noise you'll draw them to us” she told him.

“Okay” he said.

“We'll just have to wait for those ponies to give up pounding on the door and go away” Amesthsyt gave a glance to the barricaded door “There are no exit in the house and even though we can go through one of the windows, there might a few other wandering somewhere”

Thunderlane nodded.

It had been several hours as Thunderlane look out the window in the playroom. Behind him Amesthsyt, who was reading a story book for Dinky. The ponies outside had stopped banging on the front door but they're still too many outside the house, wandering aimlessly. Cherilee was still among them. He was so lucky none of them never thought to look up otherwise they'll see him and will go back to beat against the front door again. He could hear Amesthsyt, talking to her little sister.

“Despite being blind, the filly was able to make a snowflake for Princess Luna. It looks so hilarious for the other foals for the blind filly to give a snowflake as a gift but to Princess Luna, it was a precious treasure, an evidence there are still ponies who acknowledge her”

Dinky smiled “She's a nice filly. Sister, I want to meet her someday”

Amesthsyt smiled, closing the book and levitating it back to one of the shelves. She moving her gaze to Thunderlane. She approach him “How is it outside?” she asked.

“They're still there, still many” was Thunderlane's reply.

Amesthsyt sighed “Looks like we can't go out for a while”

Thunderlane can't help but agree “Yeah” he said sadly. His very worried for brother. Being alone, trapped inside a bedroom without food and water, and his only way out is the window that could break his bones made Thunderlane more worried. Rumble won't last long inside his bedroom, he would starve. and die. Thunderlane shook his head to get rid of the thoughts. It wasn't his time to panic.

“Why don't you just take a rest or help Derpy on whatever she's doing” Amesthsyt suggested. She was calm and didn't seem to be affected by the calamity outside.

That's because she has her little sister with her.

Having a family member beside you is the easiest way to make you forget all the problems you had. Thunderlane was very jealous of her. He didn't say anything as he leave the sisters to be and went back downstairs. He cast a glance at the front door, which was heavily barricade with the furnitures of the living room, sitting on top of each other. He thenwent inside the kitchen and saw Derpy, her head rests on the table. She was taking a nap. She look very peaceful, and beautiful.

He sat beside the sleeping pegasus mare. He gently brush her mane with one hoof.

“M... Muffin” Derpy moaned. It seems she's dreaming about muffins. She's like just Windy Breeze, the Wonderbolt dreaming and moaning about blueberry cheesecakes. Thunderlane frowned as he thought about his missing friend. Was she safe? Was she with anyone? He didn't know but all he could hope she's not like those ponies outside.

Somewhere in Ponyville, one mare can be seen galloping on the streets of Ponyville as her pursuers follow her in a weird gait in the form of shambling. She was looking back at them when she heard a moan infront of her. She found herself staring back at two dull, lifeless eyes.

Before the monster could rip the skin of her neck, a blue blur tackled it. The earth pony mare stood in shock as a pegasus mare wearing a very popular uniform worn by a popular pegasus squadron stood from the body of the dead-like stallion. The pegasus turn her head to look at the earth pony with worried eyes.

“Are you okay, ma'am?”

The earth pony manage to find words for the pegasus infront of her “Y-You're a Wonderbolt”

The Wonderbolt let out a sigh “Just follow me. I'll take you somewhere safe. Oh, and what's your name?”

“Emerald Heart” the earth pony replied.

Horror of reality

When Thunderlane went back upstairs after an hour of sleeping peacefully beside Derpy, he found the street around the house almost devoid of ponies. Cherilee was no longer in sight too, probably had wandered away too like the others. Those who are still there are only 4. He went to inform Amethyst, who was at her and Dinky's bedroom.

He went inside loudly, earning a frown from the unicorn mare “Shh, Dinky is sleeping” she said in whispered tone “So how many are them outside?”

“Only four know” he said.

“That's good, we could go out now” she told him “But we have to be careful. They're probably just waiting for us to come out” she said. She remove her saddlebag from hook of the wall-mounted rack on the wall behind him and opens the door before walking pass by him and going out of the bedroom. Thunderlane followed her soon after. They went down the stairs and Amethyst woke Derpy.

“... W-What time is it?” Derpy said before she let out a yawn.

“Derpy, me and Thunderlane are going outside so we could find his little brother, Rumble. Take care of Dinky for me okay?”

“Okay, Amethyst” Derpy said. Amethyst went back to the living room and began removing the furnitures blocking the front door. She levitate the furnitures with her magic one-by-one until nothing was left. Amethyst cautiously open door, glancing to her side. She let out a yelp and immediately shut the door just as a jaw narrowly hit her face.

“Are you okay, Amethyst?” Thunderlane said.

“I'm okay. One of ponies almost took a chunk of my face” she said before quickly open the door, hitting the pony who had tried attacking her. The pony collapsed and tried to stood up long enough for Amethyst and Thunderlane to get out of the door and trot into the street. Thunderlane see some of them walking aimlessly, some walking to a door and angrily banging against it, many houses have been fortified with wooden boards, some not with a few doors open, he could even see a blood trail leading to a house. He swore he could hear crunching coming from the said house. He grimaced

He didn't want to imagine whoever the poor pony in the house looks like.

Amethyst went to the open doorway and took a peek. She let out a gasp and quickly shut the door. She look like she just seen Tirek sucking somepony's magic. He didn't want to question her as she told him to continue. Surprisingly, there no ponies on the street, perhaps they went somewhere? Yeah, maybe that could explain why they're alone.

“So how far is my house from us?” he asked, hoping for a good answer.

“Far” Amethyst replied. Thunderlane's ears flattened “But don't worry, I got my knife in my saddlebag” Thunderlane was going to say anything but only grunted in response.

They heard moaning somewhere, making them stop. They glance around but see nothing “Be on guard” Amethyst told Thunderlane. They went to look for the source of the moan. They slowly went to a nearby houses.

Thunderlane tried to open the door but it didn't budge “It's locked” just as he was to turn around, he heard Amethyst scream. He quickly glance to see she was no longer beside her “Amethyst!?”

“I'm alright” he heard her yell. He trot to corner of the house and saw the unicorn mare sitting near a limp body of an earth pony stallion, a knife embedded on his head covered by his orange mane “W-What happened?” Thunderlane asked as Amethyst stood up.

“He almost jumped at me” she pointed at style “B-But i didn't mean to kill him”

Thunderlane move his gaze to the dead stallion, blood flowed down from his head to his muzzle, his eyes staring lifelessly at them, his neck was torn and flesh and red muscle is exposed. Thunderlane's eyes widened and he even had to cover his mouth and stop the urge to throw up his breakfast.

They then heard moans and snarls. Oh uh. They glance around them to see ponies coming out and slowly walking towards them. They are all attracted by Amethyst's scream!

“Oh sweet Celestia, we gotta go!” Thunderlane said, helping Amethyst stand up. The insane ponies are closing in at them, snapping their Jaws, and letting out moans and snarls. Thunderlane paused to look at the knife and pondered if he should take the knife or leave it to be. Since he's a pony and ponies commonly do not use violence, he leave the knife still stuck on the head of the pony corpse and followed his partner violence is not an optiom he thought, glancing at the ponies behind him There's still another way. Those... things are still our neighbors

“Thunderlane, there's more ahead of us!” he heard Amethyst yell. He stop to stare at a large group of ponies a few meters away from them, looking at them with utter hungry looks.

“Horseapples, where did they came from!?” he said to his partner before looking around for a way to escape. He saw a house with an open door but he decided not to go and in for they will be trapped inside there are possibilities it has an insane pony inside. He look around once more and saw a street with only a few insane ponies coming towards them “There!” he shouted his companion. He quickly galloped pass the ponies followed by Amethyst, some almost caught his mane or even his tail but he managed to pass them.

“Ah!” he glanced behind him as soon a he heard a yelp and saw one of them biting several strands of Amethyst's mane “L-Let go of me!”

Thunderlane quickly approached them and pushed the stallion off Amethyst. She let out another when some of the strands of her mane are pulled off by her attacker. She bucked her attacker out of anger and fear and ran along with Thunderlane.

Thunderlane gave her a glance “Are you okay?” he asked, very worried of her after she narrowly escape them.

“There's no time for asking me. All what is important right now is we should go and hide until they give up!” Amethyst told him in response. They heard moaning infront of them and saw a load of them wandering on the street “Seriously, how many ponies have become crazy!?”

As the ponies noticed them, Thunderlane glanc to his right “There!” he said, pointing at a house “Let's go!” he said. He quickly opens the door and let Amesthsyt go in first before going inside and shutting the door. They found themselves inside a living room, all the windows all bordered up that even lights couldn't get inside, furnitures are disorganized and some objects scattered all around the place. It's obvious whoever live inside the house desperately tried to survive. And failed.

“Who's house are we in?” Amethyst said, looking around her surroundings.

“I don't but I don't want to find out” Thunderlane said. He reluctantly opens the door leading to the kitchen. The kitchen was more worse than the living room. The window was broken and the remains of the wooden boards used to fortify the window lays on the floor. A pool of blood coated the floor along with a blood kitchen knife. He shut the door “Looks like they managed to get inside the house” he said.

“Then be quiet. They could hear us” Amethyst told him.

“Just stay here in the living room while i'll go and check out the second floor” Amethyst reluctantly agreed. He cautiously went up the stairs, there he saw blood splatters on the floor. Once he found the living room, he went inside.

The wall of the bedroom is colored pink, indicating whoever lived here is a mare. On the left is a bed, a bedside table and a lamp laying on top of it, and a study table, which has expensive-looking treasure box sitting beside it to it's right, on the right is a cabinet. Thunderlane knew somepony is in the room, that is because as soon as enter the bedroom, he could hear banging and snarling from inside the cabinet. He saw a blue book laying on the study table, it's cover is coated in blood, however, Thunderlane could still see the title of the book.

Sunshine Bow's Diary

He had never heard of Sunshine Bow's before. Maybe she was one of the evacuees from Maneponia or even from Hoofside? It had been days since many ponies coming from those cities came when the outbreak occurred.

We wondered what happened to the ponies in those cities and in Blue Wings' while Ponyville and Canterlot had to deal with growing number of insane ponies.

Curiousity took a hold of him and he flipped the cover, revealing the first page which was an introduction.

I don't know why I'm making an introduction despite my diary is a personal item and does not need to be revealed to anypony i don't know. I was inspired to make a diary by my friend, Sweet Memo, a friend of mine i met at school. She was the most sweetest pony i' ve ever met. I found out she was making a diary, thanks to those bullies who tried to loot her saddlebags while nopony was looking. She was very thankful of me. I could swear she had tears threatening to fall down from her eyes.

Sweet Memo, if you ever found this if it goes missing, here's a thank you gift for you: I love you for being my best friend

On the end of the second paragraph, Thunderlane could see a kiss mark. He decided to skip the pages until he went to the recent one. The cabinet was still making noise, and snarls can be heard inside. He guessed Sunshine is the one trapped inside the cabinet.

Day 196

The page, Day 196 had some dried blood covering a few letters. She might probably had been attacked while writing.

Ponies outside are getting crazy. One second a unicorn bit off a pegasus' ear and then everypony is running around. Wood went out to help somepony but they bit him! They bit his neck! How could they do such a thing! I wanted to help but he stopped me. Then, in a blink of an eye, more of them pounced and started to eat him like a buffet. I ****dn't bring myself to go out but he's my husband but once I tried to go out and rescue him, he told to go back *nd 'block' the windows and the door. I did what he told but I'll never going to put a wooden board to the door. He might came back alive and he needs help. All I did is ran back to my b**room after obeying his orders and tr* to block off those horr***ing screams with my hooves. I swear-

She had never got a chance to finish what she was writing. Thunderlane felt sorry for the mare who survive long enough to be sane for a few hours, only for one of the ponies outside the streets manage to get in and attack her and now, she trap herself inside her own cabinet, not wanting to hurt anyone. But where was her attacker?

Thunderlane felt nervous. He just found out he and Amethyst is inside a house with an unknown pony is totally not friendly. Well, there's one inside the cabinet and it could be the attacker or Sunshine herself. Seriously, he didn't have any plans to open the cabinet unless he had a death wish. He cautiously walk towards the open doorway of the bedroom. He look to the left, only to find a stallion stagger out of a room. He was a brown earth pony stallion with orange mane with a cutie mark three tree logs. The stallion was as muscular as Big Macintosh which serves as a bad news for Thunderlane. An average pegasus can be easily pinned down by an strong earth ponies like Big Mac and the stallion he's hiding from. He let out a gulp. If he or Amethyst get caught by this stallion, they'll be done for!

Or atleast only him since he left the unicorn mare at the trashed living room.

He quietly hid himself behind the wall when the stallion turn to his direction. He then slowly close the door and went to find anything that could get the stallion's attention. Thunderlane noticed there was a picture frame beside the diary and and decided to look at it. There, smiling for the camera is a teal blue unicorn which is probably Sunshine Bows. The unicorn mare in the picture has green eyes, yellow mane and tail with pink streaks. Her cutie mark is not shown. Next to her is a unicorn stallion with same appearance as the 'earth pony' stallion outside the corridor. Thunderlane took note of the horn on the orange mane. He placed the picture frame on the table and takes the diary instead “I don't want to destroy take away their good times in their picture. It deserves to stay here intact” he said before opening the diary and tearing the introduction page “And whoever is Sweet Memo, you and Wood deserves to be remembered” he went to the doorway again, looking at the stallion. He noticed the stallion's forehead was covered in blood, indicating he was 'once' a unicorn “I hope this works“ Thunderlane throws the diary. It flew pass the stallion and hit the wall with a thud. The stallion turn around and began to snark at the wall. Thunderlane lifted an eyebrow at this behavior Not only it averted the stallion's attention but he is also attacking the wall? he thought. He quickly took the chance to get out of the second floor, quietly.

When he reach the living room, he saw Amethyst, sitting on the couch, the ponies outside has gave up trying to break the front door but that doesn't mean they are safe.

“What did you find?” Amethyst asked.

“Nothing except for the owner and her husband” Amethyst's ear perked up “Both gone insane now” the unicorn's ears flattened.

“I guess we're too late to save them” she said “We should go now, we have a foal to save” she told him, referring to Rumble “But we won't going through the front door, they haven't leave yet”

“How about try going through the back door?” Thunderlane suggested.

“I'm not sure about that but we should try” Amethyst glanced one last time at the door before following Thunderlane to the kitchen. She took note of the dried blood on the floor, then at the broken window “So who's house are we in?”

Thunderlane let out a sigh “Sunshine Bow's”

“Sunshine Bow? I haven't heard of her” Amesthsyt said.

“She's one of the several ponies from the northern cities, you know the ones affected by the epidemic” Thunderlane casually told her “I read her diary and found out she's from Maneponia” he said as he open the door

Amethyst frowned “Hey it's not nice to read somepony's diary even in situations like this”

Thunderlane didn't say anything as she led her outside the house. Despite they manage to avoid the ponies from the front door, there are still a few milling around on the street where they are now. Thunderlane turn to look at his companion “What are we going to do now?”

“Why are you asking me?” Amethyst asked him. Thunderlane only rolled his eyes “Okay, fine. We ran” Thunderlane deadpan at her, causing her to sigh in annoyance “That's what i did when i went out to find food besides, they don't even ran, they just... walk”

Thunderlane let out another sigh “Fine” he said “But let's try walking pass them without making any sounds. I don't want to quickly get chase by them”

“Yeah, sure” Amethyst agreed.

Both ponies are nervous as they began to walk away from the house. There are a few ponies who would look at them while the rest would ignore them. Thunderlane felt sick when he smell dried blood from them, Amethyst felt the same too and both of tried not to cough, gag, or retch lest they'll be chased by them again. They were now silently walking through the streets ignored by mad and insane ponies.

“I think it's working” Thunderlane whispered to Amethyst.

“Be silent, they'll hear you” Amethyst told him. Thunderlane rolled his eyes and turn his eyes to look back where he was going. Surprisingly, none of those ponies went to approach them which is a good news since the were now walking a few meters away from Sunshine's house. Thunderlane could slowly moves his head to look around, and everywhere he look he saw ponies with bloodstained on their bodies, a few dressed. As he look around, he nearly gasped at a sight of a pony he never expect to walk around. The pony he was looking at in surprise and horror was Blue Wings, who stared back at him with glazed, lifeless eyes. Thunderlane's mouth fell open slightly, his eyes shrinking into pinpricks, and he he stood frozen like a statue.

When a pair of ponies sluggishly walk pass Blue, she was gone. Thunderlane realized it was a hallucination, and what replaced his dead friend was a cyan pegasus mare with green eyes, ferrari red mane with two alizari crimson red stripes, and tail with the same color but with ruby red stripe instead (The tail reminds him of Spitfire's own tail) . The mare stared at him, never to blink or never even broke her gaze. She was staring into his soul.

“Thunderlane, why are you looking at her?” the staring contest was broken once Thunderlane glance at Amethyst, who was looking at him with concern. For the unicorn mare, it was very weird for her sane partner to just suddenly stop and stare at a random pony, and that expression, he looks as if he just saw a ghost.

“I-It's nothing, let's go” Thunderlane tried to urge her to walk. It was successful, but Amethyst doesn't look like she's going to let that go unanswered.

“Once we found your brother, you have some explanation to do” Amethyst gave him a look of suspicion before looming away and walking to where they are going. However, a snarl stop them. They glanceto look at the pony Thunderlane was staring at earlier glaring at them like a Timberwolf “Oh, horseapples” they realized the mare had noticed them. Literally, and catching unwanted attentions around them. “Quick run!” Amethyst yelled to her friend before full sprinting away from the ponies around them. Thunderlane immediately followed her as ponies began to shamble towards them, moaning and snarling as they gave chase in a slow pace.

Thunderlane looks back at the growing group of ponies, a few ponies in the vicinity joining to create a large mob “Why are we even running? They're so slow like snails!” as if an answer, a pony fell from a house and hit the ground head-first infront of him. He let out a shriek just as the pony lift her head and growled at him.

Amethyst took her eyes off the street to glance at him “They're unpredictable! Some might be probably hiding behind corners, inside houses, or are just out the street. Think about casually walking around until finding yourself rip apart like a paper or even like a tissue paper!” this didn't not help as more and more ponies are attracted by her yell “Oh, Horseapples,
! i think all of Ponyville is chasing us!” Thunderlane didn't say a word, though he did gave her a 'message' with an expression which says 'it's your fault'. Amethyst rolled her eyes.

She suddenly halted, causing Thunderlane to hit her rear. He let out a yelp of pain and clutched his muzzle with his hooves “W-Why did you stop!?” he then looks to where she was looking and felt his heart beat cold. More of them in the front, moaning and snarling at them. Amethyst led Thunderlane to a nearby house. Unlike Sunshine's house, this one has no signs of struggle and all the furnitures are perfectly arranged.

“Now, what are we going to do now?” Thunderlane asked.

“Find another out here, i guess” Amesthsyt said “But first, we have to find something that could be useful to bring back home like bandages and food” she then walks to examine an antique cabinet. The duo began to hear the ponies outside banging on the door but she told Thunderlane to ignore it, the latter decide to go inside the inside and check the fridge. To his relief, he found a few foods including some dandelions and 2 daisies.

“So what did you found?” he glanced behind him to see Amethyst, standing on the doorway.

“Some food to eat” he said casually “I think it's time for me to check the second floor while you are busy putting those goodies in your saddlebag” he leaves the furniture open as he went to the stairs, passing by Amethyst, the latter walking to the refrigerator.

Just like the first floor, the second floor was no different other than a painting laying on the floor and a few blood marks on the wall where the painting once hang, next to it is a door which he opens, revealing a bathroom. Inside, there is one toilet, a shelf with some items, and a white curtain. Thunderlane picks up a toothpaste from the shelf and examines it “It can be still useful. Nopony wants to have a bad breath” he said to himself “I wish i had my own saddlebag with me” putting the item back to the shelf, he then looks at the white curtain, curious to what is hidden behind it. He push aside the curtains, revealing a purple pegasus mare, standing on a bathtub, and glaring at him with dead golden yellow eyes. He quickly spread the curtains to conceal the mare and immediately went out of the bathroom just in time for her to tumble out of the bathtub.

“Maybe i should tell Amethyst not to open the door” he voiced his thoughts loudly. He then shouted at the direction of the staircase “Hey Amesthsyt, don't open the bathroom door, somepony as crazy as those ones outside is taking a bath on a bathtub!”

“Thunderlane, you are drawing them to the house!” came Amethyst's loud angry reply. He didn't say anything lest he would attract more of 'them' outside. He dicided to went inside the bedroom. The bedroom was as neat and clean as the entire house save for some blood marks on the white pillow “It seems she was attacked before turning crazy” he said to him, referring to the mare in the bathroom. He could smell the blood. He had been receiving those kinds of smells outside but he's a tough stallion and it will took a very disfigured body to make him throw up. He decided to go and open a cabinet sitting next to the bed to reveal a few papers and books, a towel, and even a few medicines “Maybe she got some kind of illness” he pick up one of the books with a name written on the front.

Sea Feather

“Not also from here, i haven't heard of her before” he muttered before he went out go back to the living room, where Amethyst is busy boarding up the front door “Found another, haven't you?”

“Yep” she said casually before placing bookshelf to strengthen the barricade made out of furnitures “I don't want them to get inside the house while we're searching. Have you found anything?”

“Just seven medicines” he replied before showing it to her, his left wing was holding the small tablets when he went out of the bathroom and he could use his right wing for it was limp, which puzzled him. He had suffered fractured and broken bones in the past, sometimes, he even got a large nasty wound to his legs or even his stomach but never he felt any injured bodies limp or even felt like disconnected from him “I think I'm starting to blame Twitchy Bites for this” he muttered. Twitching Bites is an illness you'll get when bitten by Timberwolves, it makes the victim become as crazy as Pinkie Pie and the victim would start spouting nonsense over and over again until they fell asleep and their bodies would twitch hence the name, the effects of the Twitchy Bites will last for 3 days.

Somehow, Amethyst didn't heard it or probably just ignored him as she tossed a cream saddlebag to him using her magic “Here is your brand new saddlebag,” she said “I found it in the kitchen”

“Thanks” Thunderlane said, as Amesthsyt floated the saddlebag to his bag.

“No problem” she said “Let's go before they could get in”

When they got out of the house through the kitchen, they saw only a few of the creatures are walking on the street. Thunderlane speculated many of them went to the front door to help their buddies. Despite his claim, Amethyst decided to continue being cautious. She levitate out the knife she found in the house from her saddlebag. She had no intent to kill 'them'. She just want to defend herself and her companion.

The two ponies look around them. 'They' have already noticed them, however they move slowly like snails, some even dragging their hind legs with no care. Thunderlane examined one of them. This one was a stallion. The right cheek of the pony was torn apart, revealing his bloody teeth molar and premolar teeth. He was staggering towards them, snapping his jaw at them like hungry shark. The stallion also had a large grotesque wound on his neck and his coat is stained with dry blood, his eye was dull, devoid of any emotions, it look more like an eye of a dead fish. Thunderlane cringed at the stallion's wounds, no one could ever survive a wound to the neck. He began to think this stallion and his friends aren't ponies anymore.

His musings was cut off by a scream, and they glanced to where the source came from. A green stallion galloped out of a house, he didn't even bother to close the door behind him. His pursuers came out next, two mares, and a stallion, they are both covered in blood, snarling and moaning as the followed their victim. Thunderlane wanted to help the green stallion but he was making too much noise and many of 'them' came out of from behind the walls of houses, and from the streets. There was even a mare who came falling out of a window from the second floor of a house. Soon the green earth pony stallion is buried under a pile of bodies, he screamed as his stomach was ripped open by a dozen hooves of unicorn, pegasus, and earth ponies. The grotesque scene was not hidden from the eyes of the two witnesses. Thunderlane took a step back, he stared at feast with his mouth open in horror, Amethyst, in the other hand, put a hoof to her mouth, and let out a silent gasp. a few tears went out of her eyes. She uttered out a “Ohh...” she felt someone hold her hoof and is caught off guard. She yelped but her mouth silent by a grey hoof.

It took them several minutes to reach the street where Thunderlane and Rumble lives. Many things have changed ever since he escaped in the night. There are splatters of blood that weren't there during the night, some doors of houses are open, and a saddlebag lay in the open. His house had suffered some damage including the shattered window where 'they' have used to get inside the house. It was very silent and the street is empty and devoid of ponies hostile or not.

Amethyst was about to open the door when Thunderlane interrupts her “The door is heavily barricaded. Lets go through the window” he casually walk pass her to the broken window. He crouched and went inside the living room, Amethyst following behind his tail. It was suspiciously empty inside “My brother's bedroom is at the second floor”

“Lead the way” Amesthsyt said. Thunderlane nodded. He noticed a trail of black blood on the staircase but he still went upstairs.

He suddenly remembered what happened upstairs, he wished Blue Wings doesn't look that bad. He let out a gulp and peeked from the corner of the wall.

There are 3 doors, one open while the other two doors still close, near the bsthroom door is a huge pool of dried blood. There was also a trail of blood leading downstairs and another trail of blood connecting to the other blood trail leading to Rumble's bedroom. There was something missing.

Where is Blue's body?

He went to examine the pool of blood. He pretty sure they just... ate her stomach. There's no way they could even a pony's skeleton, even if it's a pegasus skeleton.

As if a cue, the door of Rumble's bedroom slowly open with a loud creak. Thunderlane and Amesthsyt tensed. Thunderlane cautiously approach the Door. He slowly open it.

The room was messed up. The blanket laid on the floor infront of the doorway as well as the pillows and some random object. Sitting on the center of the room like a dog is a yellow pegasus mare. The mare is sitting like a dog, her head bowed. Thunderlane's heart beat cold, he knew who this mare is and he knew she died, he saw it before his very eyes but why is she still alive?

The word zombie was beginning to take over his mind, he let out a step back, however he failed, and he fell on his butt and made a loud a thud. Blue lifted her head and slowly turn around to face Thunderlane. To his horror, half her face is missing, revealing flesh, teeth, and blood. She stood up and charged at him. He let out a scream and immediately open his saddlebag to pick up his knife using his wing. He quickly stabbed her on the forehead, her body collapsed and made no move to stand up. She was dead.

But Thunderlane continued to stab her head. He was enraged, tears coming out his tearduct as he violently stab her head again and again and again. Blood covered his body, bits of Blue's brain matter came flying out, some even lucky to land on his body, but he ignored them. He just wanted to end her suffering

“Thunderlane!”

His eyes snapped open. He found himself stabbing the wooden floor instead of his friend. His wings loose grip of his knife and it fell on the floor. He turn around and see Amethyst, looking at him with worry and concern.

“Are you okay? You suddenly gone crazy and acting as if somepony's inside this bedroom” She said. He felt guilty for inadvertently scaring her by going insane like those 'ponies'. He should apologize, but he wanted to ask her first.

“Did you find Rumble?” he asked, returning his gaze to spot where Blue supposed to be laying. It was just all a hallucination. A bad one precisely.

“No. I think he manage to escape. Just take a look at the only window of the room, the glass are broken like the one we used to enter” he looked to the only the window to the right and saw the window she was referring to was broken. He was relieved to find out his little brother managed to escape but outside is much more dangerous than indoors now with all of those 'ponies' wandering around town, but he still put his beliefs that his little brother is safe, hiding somewhere away from danger.

“Amethyst” he said “I'm sorry”

Amethyst raised an eyebrow “Huh? What for?”

“For scaring you”

“I was just worried. You don't have to apologize” she said, her back facing him as she look at the streets from the broken window “I would be more angry for why did you abandon your brother to them”

“W-We were attacked. We tried to save somepony but many more came and we are overwhelmed. Rumble is sleeping throughout the situation until they followed us upstairs” Amethyst's ears perked up.

“You were with somepony else?” she asked.

“Yeah, a new member of the Wonderbolts. I saw her getting eaten, right on the spot where the pool of blood lay, the pony we tried to save turn against us soon after and I'm unable to get to Rumble in time” he explained, recalling the events that had led him to be seperated from Rumble. “S-She was a good mare, even though I haven't know much of her, she's very sweet and kind, she risked her life just to save somepony” Amesthsyt frowned as she saw another wave of tears begin to come out of his eyes.

“I understand what you feel but we have no time lamenting for your friend's passing. All we know she's now in peace and doesn't have to go through this” she said, trying to comfort him. She wasn't very good at comforting ponies, let alone stallions. She was much good when it comes to organizing parties, meetings, and festivals. She really missed her former job. She wanted everything to go back to normal after this, she didn't want to live behind walls everyday from everyone. She wondered what happened to Princess Twilight Sparkle, her assistant, and the rest of the Mane Six. She hoped they're all safe, most likely Twilight since she have guards to protect her from the 'ponies'. She approach and hugged her friend to console him. Even if the world had suddenly fall into chaos, friendship and unity is still very important no matter you go.

Minuette went out of the large building which housed the Princess of friendship (who happens to be her friend who formely live in Canterlot), and the only dragon resident of Ponyville. The Castle of Friendship. The unicorn found no one inside other than one of those 'things' who was formely one of Princess Twilight Sparkle's night guards. She had to put him down since he was blocking her way outside. Now with her mission to find survivors inside the castle is complete (and failed since she found no survivors) she's heading back to a certain bakery where her group resides.

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.

“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.

As they ran around the room, Thunderlane accidentally knocks down a portrait of a couple. Thunderlane reminded this of the time at the academy when he accidentally broke a group picture of the Wonderbolts Academy. The frame of the group picture was knocked off from Spitfire's desk and the frame broke upon contact with the floor, cracks concealed the faces of High Winds, Blue Blaze, Rainbow Dash, Windy Breeze, and himself. Spitfire was so upset by this that he had to clean the locker room for 3 days. Thunderlane later removed the broke portrait. He had to explain Derpy why he was throwing out shards from the window. He went back to the playroom soon after and found Dinky, staring at the window.

“Is everypony crazy?” it is clear she is thinking to herself and not to Thunderlane, who just opened the door just in time for her to speak out her thoughts “When will i go back to school and see Miss Cherilee?”

Thunderlane sighed. He remembered he and Amethyst will discuss about going either to the Castle of Friendship or to the School of Friendship. He approached the filly and sat down next to her “Maybe next week” he turned to the little filly and smiled “I will assure you, everything will be fine” Dinky didn't smiled at him, unconvinced.

“If everything is going to be alright, then why you and my sister went out while I'm taking a nap? Aren't you guys worried that I'm concerned of me thinking where you guys went? Sooner or tomorrow, somepony will be hiding a secret, but they're just going to reveal it when it's too late” Thunderlane didn't say anything. Dinky's words are too strong, she didn't even sound like a filly. She spoke more like a teacher or a worried parent. He was hiding the fact everyone outside is against them, and it's very obvious. So why would he have to keep it secret.

“I'm sorry, Dinky, but your sister told me not to tell you” he said “Please, just don't tell your sister i'm the one who told you about what's going on, please?”

“Don't worry, Mr. Thunderlane, i won't tell a word to her. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” Dinky performed the Pinkie Promise.

Looking at an unrecognizable corpse of an earth pony just 25 meters away from the castle, Minuette wondered who was it when he/she is still alive. She knelt down beside the corpse and said “I'm sorry this happened to you”

Newcomers

It was afternoon, and everyone inside the house are gathered at the kitchen, except Dinky, who was busy playing with some toys in the playroom.

“We can't stay here for too long” Amethyst said.

Derpy gave her a funny look “Why not?”

“Cause I'm starting to think those 'things' outside are no longer ponies” Amethyst took notice of Derpy's bewildered look she was giving her “Come to think about it. Most of them sport severe and grotesque injuries that i'm so surprised that they are still alive”

“I can't but agree with her. Last night, i saw a mare, her... One of her side was gone...” Thunderlane grimaced remembering the mare last night when he was with Roseluck last night “Come to think of it, did you find Roseluck?”

“Roseluck?” Amethyst parroted.

“Yeah, she went to my house, being chased by 'them'” he said “And yeah, she was with me too. She left me on the street where you find me to go and alert Princess Twilight, but she hasn't come back, or probably she did, only to find me missing”

“That's possible” Amethyst said “Now, the reason why i called you hear is because we can't stay here forever. We have to find place more safe than here”

“But those... Things are too many. I don't think there are any safe place left in town. Except for Sweet Apple Acres or Fluttershy's cottage” Derpy said, unsure whether her opinion is good. She was also hesitant to deponify the 'ponies'.

“You have a point, Derpy. The Apple Family and Fluttershy both live a lite distance away from Ponyville, they might probably aren't unaware of the panic which occurred early in the morning, ” Amethyst said “But I vote for School of Friendship since it's big enough to keep us safe”

“I concur to your opinion, Amethyst” Thunderlane said “There is also a chance that Princess Twilight went there instead”

Derpy, however doubted “I don't know. What if something was chasing them and able to follow them into the school?”

Amethyst gave her a look of perplexed look “Oh, come on. Do you think they'll easily fall to 'them'? We are just even a small group and we somehow manage to find shelter unscathed” she then look at Thunderlane, remembering his wings was wounded “Well, most of us”

“But i didn't mention we are going to have problems despite we Did find a good shelter, didn't i?” when she received no answer from the duo, she continued “We are going to need some medical supplies, food, and water. I can understand we can eat grass outside the school, but to me, it's just destroyed the art of the environment, and we can't simply just drink water from pond we didn't even know if it's magical or not”

“We understand, you've got your point” Thunderlane said.

“You should be. I'm not to blame if you guys turn crazy after drinking water from a magical lake” she was about to continue when they heard yelling outside.

“Do you heard that...?” Derpy said.

Thunderlane could hear not only one but two voices. He both recognize the voices and quickly stood up from his seat “It's Stormfeather and Blossom Flower! We need to open the front door now!” he rushed to the front door followed by Amethyst, and Derpy. The voices are much closer now, and they are able to make out the words as they began to move the furnitures out of the way.

“Come on, we just need to find a house, then i'll fix you out”

“Just leave me here, Stormfeather. I'm just a burden to you know. You have to put me down”

“Are you crazy? I wouldn't do such thing!” the trio heard someone knocking on the door from outside “Hey, anypony there? We need help, please” Thunderlane feel pity when he heard Stormfeather's voice. The latter was pleading for them to open the door.

“We will. Me and my friend just need to unbarricade the door!” he shouted.

“T-Thunderlane is that you” he heard Stormfeather chuckle out of relief “Thank goodness your safe! Be quick, 'they' are closing into us!” Thunderlane didn't bother to say a word as he hastily move furnitures out of the way. With the hell of Amethyst, and Derpy, they managed to remove all the furnitures. Thunderlane open the door and quickly pulls Stormfeather in with Blossom Heart laying on his back just in time for a suddenly to lunge at him. Thunderlane quickly shut the door, hitting the attacker's muzzle.

Stormfeather stood up “Please, she need medical attention” he said, referring to Blossom.

“Follow me. I'll lead you to a available bed” Amethyst said before turning to Thunderlane and Derpy “You two must barricade the door immediately”

Amethyst levitated Blossom to her bed, who appears to be sick. She glanced at Stormfeather “How long she was like this?”

“I-I don't know. Where she was perfectly fine when we met” Stormfeather stuttered, looking over at Blossom with a worried look.

“M-M-Medicine...” Blossom rasped out before coughing. She look very unhealthy, her coat was a little pale, there are bags under her eyes, and her cherry pink mane and tail disheveled, she also looks very tired, and half of her eyes are hidden by eyelids. Amethyst notice a suspicious bite mark on the earth pony's neck, the skin surrounding the bite mark are now red.

“We only got some bandages, and some medicine, but i don't what they are for” Amethyst said “I'm going to get them. I put them in a box in Dinky's room”

“Please don't be out for too long!” Stormfeather said. When Amethyst went out the room, he quickly went over Blossom “Blossom, please stay awake. I'm very worried of you”

Blossom looks at him with a pitiful look “Y-You don't have to save me...” she said.

“Do you think i would do that to a friend!?” Stormfeather said.

“Only when you realized why those 'things' keep multiplying...” She trailed off as she finally closed her eyes. Stormfeather notice this and began to panic.

“No! Don't close your eyes, please!”

Amethyst suddenly went inside the room, completely forgetting about the door being open. A box floating beside her “What's going on?”

“I-It's Blossom. S-She” Whatever Stormfeather was about to say was cut off by Blossom's angry yell.

“I'm not dead yet, Stormfeather!” she yelled in a rasped tone before resting her head on the pillow. Her breathing was forced as if she was loosing oxygen in her body, which was a big concern for her fellow survivors.

“Whoa, take it easy, Blossom. You need some rest!” Amethyst told her. The sick Blossom gave her a weak nod before she relaxed her body, her eyes shut, and her expression calm as if sleeping.

“How is she?” Amethyst turn to look at the stallion at the doorway.

“Finished barricading the front door, Thunderlane?” she asked.

“Yeah” he trained his eyes on Blossom “So, how's Blossom?”

“She's fine, but she's suffering from an infection” she pointed at the bite mark at Blossom's neck “If we couldn't prevent the infection from spreading, she will suffer symptoms of wound infection, and this includes the difficulty to sleep” she explained “Also, I'll honestly tell you the truth that i'm not a doctor or a nurse, I'm Ponyville's second best organizer” she added. She look back at wound “I'll start dressing the wound, you, and Stormfeather can go and relax”

When they went to the kitchen, Thunderlane decided to tell him the story how he was found by Amethyst, and all they have done together on a mission to reach his house to find Rumble, only to found the house empty.

“I hope he's alright” Stormfeather said “It's pretty harsh outside. I've seen a few foals... turning into one of those things”

“I'm so sorry to hear that” Thunderlane said.

“You don't had to be sorry. I really want to apologize to the foals since i made no attempt to help them” Stormfeather smiled at him “I must be the one to feel pity for you. You have a little brother to find, me? Nopony. My friends are already crazy when i found them, except for Blossom. I found her being munched on by somepony crazy enough to sink their teeth on her neck. Thank Celestia, i was able to reach her in time” he then glance at thr stairs before turning back to Thunderlane “So what's Amethyst's plan?”

“She's planning to move the group to the School of Friendship” Thunderlane lazily explained.

Stormfeather's eyes widened “Wait a minute, as in the prestigious School of Friendship owned by Princess Twilight?” Thunderlane casually nod as an answer to his question “I had not ever got any chance inside the school in my entire life. I heard that the school is really beautiful from the students” he moved closer to Thunderlane with a begging look “Count me and Blossom in your group, Thunderlane!”

“You should ask Amethyst since she's leading the group, besides, i saw no reason why she would say no to you” Thunderlane said.

Before Stormfeather could reply, Derpy approached, giving him a mug “Here's your coffee, Stormfeather” she said.

“Thanks” Stormfeather said. He then took a sip of his coffee. He put the mug on the table using his hoof and decided to talk with Thunderlane again “May i ask a question for you regarding all of the craziness happening outside?”

“Sure” Thunderlane see no problem answering somepony's questions. Ironically, it was Stormfeather who had a problem. He seemed very reluctant to, even looking behind him to hear Derpy gasp and see the latter spill ketchup on her grey coat. He gaze back at Thunderlane.

“Do you think this is some kind of work of an unknown disease?” he asked “I mean, I've seen everypony walking around casually in the previous, then suddenly, they all turned crazy as if Discord snapped his claws”

“I... don't know,” Thunderlane knew Stormfeather what he think. There was an outbreak in central Equestria with one small town, and two cities affected, rumors of violence spreading rapidly in said small town and the two cities, and the unexpected closure of the Wonderbolts Academy. Not to forget what was happening throughout Ponyville. He assumed everyone turning crazy and resorting to eating their neighbors spread like a wildfire, judging by how Ponyville currently look like in the 'aftermath' and high amount of 'ponies' that have chased him and Amethyst “I'm getting a bit uncomfortable discussing about outbreaks and what happening right now. Maybe we should talk about this later”

Stormfeather sighed in disappointment “Fine” he said “I'm going to go and check up on Blossom” he stood up from his chair and went upstairs.

“What were you, and Stormfeather, talking about?” Thunderlane turn his eyes away from the stairs to see Derpy, standing beside him, holding a tray of hay fries, and a bowl of ketchup using her mouth. She was talking in a slightly muffled voice.

“Its nothing, Derpy” he lied, thinking it's a good idea to not tell what he and Stormfeather are talking earlier.

“Okay” Derpy said, unconvinced, but not wanting to bother her friend further.

After he closed the door behind him, Stormfeather approached Amethyst Star, who was watching over a barely conscious Bloosom Flower. There earth pony's eyes are closed, but he could hear her humming a foal song.

“How is she Amethyst?” Stormfeather asked.

“No good. Getting a paler coat isn't really a good sign that she will heal soon” Amethyst said.

Stormfeather's eyes widened “Maybe it's just her coat. Being pale doesn't always means she'll pass away” he was actually trying to calm himself as his mind tell him to rush over to his friend and start begging for her not to die. He was breathing a little too fast, his face wore a anxious expression. Anxious for a friend's dying light becoming more thinner and thinner as time passes.

And as for Blossom, she was hyperventilating as she continued to sing in a rasped whispered voice.

“Wake up, little foal, the sun has rise up...”

“She's always singing that ever since she closed her eyes” Amethyst told him with worry in her eyes. Blossom was like singing in a loop, and didn't even try to stop. She wondered why the latter likes it? Maybe because this is the song her mother sang to her when she was just a filly, or maybe because of something else? She decided to stop thinking since the subject is personal, and it's not really connected to their current situation.

“Please tell me she'll be okay” Stormfeather said.

“She'll be okay if we had the right medicine for her” she told him “,but i tried everything, and nothing happens. It's only getting worse!”

"Y-You're kidding right?”

“Do i look like I'm kidding when i had this kind of face while there's a terribly sick pony laying an inch away from me!?” she snapped, her face inches away from Stormfeather's as their muzzles could almost touch each other “I'm as worried as you, Stormfeather!”

Before they could form a heated argument, a cough interrupted them “Please... don't fight before my passing” it was Blossom, who raised a hoof at them. Seeing this, Stormfeather went up and hugged her, barely holding his emotions as tears began to wet his face.

“Please don't go, you must not go” he begged “We will get through this, Blossom, I promise”

“Y-You must... accept-”

“No!” Stormfeather interrupted her “Most of my friends all went insane except for you, and Thunderlane! They tore Cherry to pieces, and they ate Barrel! I can't let them take you away from me too, f-from our friends. Why do you gave up so quickly!?”

“Stormfeather, your wailing won't help her. Leave her to be, and let her rest” Amethyst snapped at him “You had to calm yourself too, get rid of your worries, and try not to let your emotions overwhelm you!”

“You!” Stormfeather exclaimed, turning to look at her with anger “Don't you dare talk to me like that! I have to the rights to worry for my friend. Do you think you can order me around!?”

Amethyst scowled at him. Suddenly, she pushed him with her forelegs into the wall behind him “I didn't say i'm leading this group!” she said “I don't even know what is really happening to the ponies outside, I don't know why they start to cannibalize others. If i am the leader, then i have to know how to defend ourselves, and find a way to survive! I'm just taking care of the group for now because we don't have a leader yet!”

“You madmare!” he lashed at her, but he failed. Amethyst lit up her horn and her magic grab hold of Stormfeather's hoof.

“If wanted to hurt me then so be it!”

Thunderlane sat idly in the kitchen. Derpy had gone to peek from a window for some reason he would never know. He could hear voices. Voices from the past.

“Where are we going, brother?” a colt's voice asked. There was a long silence before he got a reply from a grown up.

“I'm going to ask you something” the older voice said.

“You can ask me all you want” the young voice replied.

“Do you like to picnic?” it was a simple question, yet the voice had a hint of cheerfulness behind it.

“P-P-Picnic?”

“Yes, Windy decided to arrange a picnic for the two of us at the park”

“Of course, I love picnic!” the younger voice said, now filled with enthusiasm.

“That's my Rumble!”

He was actually having a flashback of the first time Windy and Rumble spend time together. It was several years ago from now, but it was still fresh. Fresh because the colt in his heart was missing from him. He wondered what happened to Windy. Like him, the mare actually live in a thatched house instead living in a house in the sky.

His thoughts are interrupted when he heard the sound of breaking could be heard from the second floor. He look to see Derpy, walking upstairs, going to investigate. It didn't took her long when she returned.

“Thunderlane, you got to help me stop Amethyst and Stormfeather from fighting!” Thunderlane's eyes widened. Those two had just met and now they're fighting? They're going to attract more of those 'things' to the house! He quickly followed Dinky upstairs where they saw Amethyst throwing things with her magic at a angry Stormfeather. Dinky was watching the fight from her bedroom door, having heard the loud commotion.

Derpy quickly went for Stormfeather while Thunderlane went for Amethyst “Amethyst/Stormfeather stop!” they said in an almost perfect unison as they struggled to hold them back, trying to stop the fight “Amethyst stop!” he yelled “we got a filly here, remember?” his choice of words was able to stop Amethyst from struggling. Her rage slowly eased. She look at Thunderlane.

However, Stormfeather was too strong for Derpy to handle him. He pushed her aside and went straight for Amethyst, only for Thunderlane to block his way “Thunderlane, get out of my way!”

“Calm down, Stormfeather. You're going to attract more of those 'things' to the house!” he told him.

“As she doesn't try to boss me around like trying to shut me up!” Stormfeather said, earning a stink look from Amethyst.

“I didn't told you to shut up, Stormfeather. Your friend there just need some rest” she told him. Realization struck the pegasus. She didn't really boss him around, she was just concerned of Blossom's condition.

He look away from her in shame and muttered an apology “Sorry” he uttered. Amethyst didn't acknowledge him and left to tell Dinky to stay in her room. Stormfeather apologized, this time audible enough for Derpy, Thunderlane, Blossom, and Dinky to hear, but Amethyst continue to ignore him. He lowered his head after she went inside Dinky's door and slammed the door loudly, indicating she did not forgive him. Stormfeather lowered his head and let out a sad whinny. Thunderlane put a hoof to his shoulder. Stormfeather looked at him “I shouldn't have said that” he said. He turn tail and walk downstairs.

“I... I feel bad for them” Derpy said.

“We have to leave them for a moment, I'll and check on Blossom” Derpy nodded.

Thunderlane went inside the bedroom. He saw Blossom staring at the ceiling with a blank look “I head yelling and shouting nearby. Was that Stormfeather, and Amethyst?” she asked.

That question was too heavy for Thunderlane to either lie or tell the truth. He bit his mouth in hesitantion.

“I see” Blossom said “An embarrassing rumor is easy to spread, yet it's too hard
to answer a teacher's question” she turn her head at him “Despite not telling me what really happened, I will still tell you what I know of the outbreak”

Thunderlane approached her “What do you mean?”

“Thunderlane... promise you won't calling me crazy” she said. She then let out a cough which caused Thunderlane to stiff in alarm.

“Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye” he said, doing the pinkie promise. She look at him as if she want to ask what he was doing but decided to keep it in her mouth.

“I can take that as a yes” she said “Thunderlane... did you hurt somepony in the past?” she earned a look of confusion from the stallion.

“No,” he replied “but why did you brought that up?”

“T... Those ponies who want to eat us... aren't really ponies anymore” Thunderlane become more puzzled by this, but the next was shocking to him “T-They're corpses”

His eyes widened in disbelief “W-W-What was that? Did I hear that correctly?”

“...Look..., it's too hard to believe they're actually 'dead' but you have to believe me” she begged “I saw ponies dying and getting up before i met Stormfeather. It was terrible, but I couldn't do anything other than ran and abandon them, if I try to help, I will be caught by one of those monsters”

“I was soon attacked, and got bit. I was only alive because of Stormfeather” she coughed, her voice becoming a little rasp which is always a bad sign when someone is sick “I think a virus is responsible for all of this” she coughed again, this time she could felt something rising up from her bowel, yet she tried to speak to the only stallion who will possibly believe her.

“B-Blossom, are you okay?” he asked. Blossom stopped coughing, only to gag and vomit blood splattering it on the floor and hooves of his forelegs “Oh, Celestia... Amethyst, it's Blossom, she needs help!” he shouted. Blossom begin to scream in pure agony, which gave him more reason to panic.

Amethyst barged into the room, followed by an agitated Stormfeather, and a worried Derpy Hooves “Thunderlane, what happened to her!?” she immediately went to check on Blossom, as the mare gripped her chest.

“Please, do something!” Stormfeather yelled before putting his hooves over his head in panic “Oh, Celestia, please not Blossom!”

Watching the situation from the doorway, Derpy was stuck between panicking or cry. She knew she couldn't do anything for Blossom, but she didn't want to carry the guilt for just watching the poor sick mare die right infront of her eyes.

In Blossom's perspective, she knew she was going to die, but she also knew she wouldn't stay dead if her surviving friends don't do anything to stop it. She muster all of her remaining strength as she look as Thunderlane with a begging look “T-Thunderlane...” she started “G-Get the knife and end this!”

Thunderlane step back in horror, knowing what the mare is telling him to do “I-I can't do that!”

“Please, end my misery. Just stab me on the skull and all of you will be safe!” she let yelled in pain as she began to bleed from her eyes and her nose. Amethyst quickly put a tissue to her nose in an attempt to stop the bleeding as she mumbled about Canterlot ponies being so lucky to buy medics without any worries for wasting bits.

Stormfeather went up to his sick friend beside Amethyst “Please, don't go” he didn't want to loose another friend.

Blossom looked at him, her eyes half closed as her impending death is about to claim her “S-Stormfeather...” she moaned “please.....i want you to 'go' without me....” she reached out a hoof and grabbed Stormfeather's right forelegs “...They're...not ponies.... anymore.....” then she went limp, her one forehoof still attached to her friend's forelegs as he stared at her. Blossom Flower's eyes are closed, hidden by her eyelids, her chest was no longer moving. She was dead.

Realization went straight into Stormfeather as if an arrow pierced his heart “B-Blossom?” he start to shake her body as he feared the worst has happened “Blossom?” he then violently shook her as tears began to go out of his eyes “Blossom, please, please, answer me, please!” despite his determination to get a reply from his friend, she never responded. Stormfeather fell on his hunches and sobbed. It was a sad scenery for Amethyst, Thunderlane, and Derpy.

But they have no time for mourning as they heard banging, and moaning from the first floor before being following by glass shattering. Thunderlane stood up, panic evident in his expression “They're getting in!”

“No, they won't” Derpy told him “I've barricaded the windows while you and Amethyst are out”

No one said anything after that. They silently watched as Stormfeather mourned his friend his 12 minutes while Amethyst remove the blood from Blossom's face. Everyone stayed there until Stormfeather paused to order his friends “Please, leave me and Blossom alone” he told them “I want to be alone with her for a moment” everyone obeyed and silently walked out of the room, including Amethyst, who cautiosly shut the door.

“So,what now?” Thunderlane said “We can't just let Blossom stay inside the house”

“We'll have to bury her” Amethyst replied “all we have to do is sneak into the park and make make a grave, then bury her there. We have to do very quietly”

“But we'll do it later. 'Ponies' outside have heard the commotion” Amethyst added “and even if they haven't, who knows how many are they at the park?” Thunderlane nodded in agreement.

“I agree, however we can't let her body stay too long inside the house. It'll start to smell bad”

“I suppose we should tell Stormfeather about this” Derpy spoke up. She look at her two friends to see them with thinking deeply. She began to look around her surroundings for no reason other than nothing. She was very clueless, no knowledge of what really is happening, very afraid, confused, and locked inside a house, unable to use her two special appendages formed on her midsection: her wings, which is what every pegasus boast and proud of.

“She's right” Thunderlane spoke up “We should tell Stormfeather”

“I'm not thinking of getting permission from the stallion. His friend is gone and he knows what to do with the body”

“Look, this conversation is hopeless. We are just talking about the same problem over and over again, and we can't get a solution” Thunderlane wanted to end the conversation, knowing even if they get a solution, there are still risks they had to face. He stood up with a blank look to hide his emotions.

“Thunderlane, are you saying you have no plans to bury the body? We will all suffocate by the smell!” Amethyst protested, causing Derpy to cringe.

“I didn't say that we should abandon the body inside 'my' bedroom” Thunderlane said “We'll doing the burial later, then let's discuss about our plans to move to the School of Friendship” Amethyst and Derpy shook their head, putting the conversation to an end.

However, the silent peace only lasted less than a second when they heard a thud, a scream, and a growl upstairs. The trio glanced up at the ceiling.

“That can't be good” Amethyst muttered, making the first move before Thunderlane and Derpy. She stood up and quickly left the kitchen. Thunderlane and Derpy looked at each other before standing up and following Amethyst upstairs. They can finally understand the yell.

“B-Blossom, stop! You're hurting me!” Stormfeather was yelling at... Blossom Heart? This made Thunderlane and Derpy stop, however, Amethyst continued to run into the bedroom where Stormfeather is currently in as well as Blossom's corpse.

“Wait, didn't Blossom...” Derpy said, but didn't bother to continue her speech when Thunderlane went inside the bedroom “Hey, wait!”

Thunderlane stood in shock by what he was seeing.

On the right corner of the room is not-so-dead-afterall Blossom Heart, who was attempting to sink her teeth into Storm Feathers neck, who is pinned against the wall by his friend as he begged her to stop. Amethyst easily pried her off of him using her magic to levitate Blossom away from Stormfeather. However, Blossom turned on her and fell on top of her like a sack full of sugar. Amethyst groaned when she hit the wooden floor, she tried to push the earth pony mare in same way she did when she save Stormfeather, but this time, Blossom's grip was too strong.

“Urgh! Blossom, snap out of it!” Amethyst couldn't believe she was talking to somebody she thought was dead, but here she is, struggling with her 'patient'.

“Amethyst!” Thunderlane immediately went to her aid just in time for Derpy to witness the chaos. She heard a young feminine voice to her right. She glanced to see Dinky, walking towards her with tired eyes to investigate the commotion which woke her up. Derpy immediately walk up to her just as Thunderlane grab Blossom's head, covering the earth pony mare's vision with the frog of his hooves.

However, blocking Blossom's eyes didn't seem to affect her attempt to chomp down at Amethyst face. The unicorn mare's face contorted into grimace as she tried to avoid the jaws slowly making its way toward her head despite Thunderlane's attempts to pull the mare's head away from hers. Amethyst eyes widening in horror. This mare is about to eat her face!

“Thunderlane, hurry!” she yelled. Thunderlane responded by groaning as he used all his strength to lift Blossom away from her face. It was no use, Thunderlane is a pegasus while Blossom is a earth pony. Earth ponies are stronger than pegasi.

However, deus ex machina arrived in the form of a wooden drawer. The drawer struck Blossom's right cheek. Blossom fell off Amethyst's prone form and hit the wooden floor.

To Amethyst and Thunderlane surprise, Stormfeather, of all ponies helped them despite it was his friend who was attacking Amethyst. He had a look of pure anger in his face.

Just as Blossom stood up, the drawer was brought down at her, striking her head. Her muzzle hit the floor again but this time she didn't made an to stand up as the same drawer was brought down at her again, forming a cut on her head which is concealed by her mane. Stormfeather didn't seem to care or didn't notice it as he beat her with the peace of a furniture he got from the bedside table. He didn't know why he was doing this yet he's still doing it.

“Stay down, stay down, stay down!” he said as he repeatedly hit her with the drawer, which was slowly beating coated in blood every time it hit her now bleeding head.

“Sweet Celestia!” Amethyst gasped as she witness violence right before her eyes. She hadn't seen a pony act like this before, let alone Stormfeather, who is now bludgeoning his own friend.

Seeing Amthyst's distress, Thunderlane went to stop Stormfeather “Stormfeather, stop!” he grab hold one of Stormfeather's forelegs, ending the stallion's assault on his own former friend. Stormfeather slowly turn his head at him, his eyes as small as pinpricks. Stormfeather pulled him into a hug and cried silently to his chest. Looking past his shoulder, Thunderlane saw something that threaten him to lose his lunch.

Blossom was sprawled facedown at the floor, her forelegs and hindleg both splayed out. The back of her head was slightly caved in to her head with blood oozing out of the injury. He could see no movement nor breathing from the mare. She was dead.

And her blood is flowing at their direction.

Thunderlane cringed as he saw Blossom's blood touch one of Stormfeather's hindleg. He was able to drag his fellow pegasus and himself away from the red liquid before stopping beside Amethyst, who was staring at Blossom's corpse in shock.

“Mr. Thunderlane, big sister, what's-” a young voice was cut off when its source saw the body. Dinky somehow manage to pass by Derpy, only to see the now dead Blossom Heart. Like every other children who have knowledge about death, she let out a high pitch scream.

Not truly quiet

Somewhere in Ponyville, a group of ponies sit in circle as a earth pony told them her story. They were listening at her, especially the another earth pony mare, who looked so depressed. She told them all she knew: from her first encounter with one of the monsters at a spa in a supposedly large peaceful city to how she got here with another survivor.

One of the members of the group, a pegasus wearing moderate cornflower blue uniform with very light yellow streaks. She wore a flight goggles which is perched on top of her head. She stood up “It seems our situation is more complicated than we thought as it would be” she told the others “If what she said is true, then we have to cancel our plans about going to Canterlot”

“Why not!?” Another earth pony mare stood up, along with her husband who was trying to make her sit “Canterlot has walls and the princesses live there!” she protested, earning a glare from another stallion.

“I'm sorry but didn't you think of why there are no signs of members of the EUP in town? I have scouted most of the area and I found nothing other than chaos” the pegasus in blue uniform said calmly. She turn to the other earth pony who told her own story of survival to the group “Thanks for telling your story, Kumiko. We learned more because of the information you brought to us”

The earth pony mare known as Kumiko bowed her head in respect “Dōitashimashite”

Everyone was gathered in the kitchen, including Dinky, who was looking at them with a teary look as she was being comforted by Derpy. They left Stormfeather inside the bathroom where he 'drown' his sorrows on the sink. Thunderlane guessed the pegasus was going to wash his face since he was covered in blood.

The atmosphere was heavy against them, every single of them was in sorrow. They have left Blossom Heart's body covered in a long blanket which is stained by the mare's blood.

“I can't believe one of us took a few lives” Amethyst muttered. She was hesitant to tell Derpy that she killed a pony when she and Thunderlane was out to find Rumble, and also the fact Dinky is with them. She didn't want to make her little sister think of her as a murderer, let alone hate her.

“This is getting more serious and serious” Thunderlane said as he look at each member of the group; from Amethyst all the way to Dinky “Blossom just turned on us and her friend right after we thought she's gone, and now she's died at the hooves of her said friend. All what is happening isn't normal”

“You don't say, everything happening throughout the day isn't normal at all” Amethyst said sarcastically “We really need more members or some kind of aid. We can't stay like this forever” Derpy nodded in agreement.

Dinky decided to spoke up “Big Sister, is Ms. Heart going to be alright?” she asked. Even it was a simple question, Amethyst struggled to find some kind of answer. She couldn't say to Dinky about Blossom's demise but Dinky saw the earth pony's said demise, lying has its own consequences.

“...N-No” she decided to tell the truth even if it hurts. Why lie if you couldn't revive the dead? Dinky's mouth hung open in disbelief. She was hugged by Derpy as she started to cry.

Thunderlane remember what Blossom said. She was begging for him to kill her but why did she attack him and his friends? It made no sense.

“Other than Princess Twilight and her friends, who do you guys think who survive this outbreak?” Derpy asked. Amethyst lifted an eyebrow at her.

“Outbreak?”

“Yeah, I heard that from Blossom” Derpy said “if this is an outbreak of some sort, that also means there are survivors scattered throughout the town”

“We haven't found a single living pony that doesn't attempt to attack us” Amethyst said.

“But haven't you guys try visiting the town hall or even Sugarcube Corner?” Thunderlane's ear perked up.

“No, not yet but I think visiting Sugarcube Corner sounds a good idea. It's a bakery” he said. This lifted the bad atmosphere a little as if a glimmer of light appeared in the middle of darkness.

“I'm going to think about that tomorrow. Celesria's sun is going down” Amethyst said, noticing the shadows slowly darkening the room.

Thunderlane lay on the floor of the playroom as he tried to take a nap. Everyone decided to take some rest after all what happened today. He could hear moans coming from the bedroom where Blossom's body lay. It seems Stormfeather decided to move so he could mourn for his friend, alone.

“So sad right?” His body shivered. He heard that voice again “Yet all you could do is help him kill his friend. I thought Wonderbolts care for their trainees' mental behavior”

“C-Can you please leave me alone?” Thunderlane curled into a ball as he shake in fear. It was here to torment him again.

“Is that how you act when in times of danger, hmmm?” the voice said “How pathetic. Wonderbolts should be brave even in times of distress, right? Why don't you go outside and kill 'them' all?”

“S-Shut up!”

If the unseen voice could frown, it only took form of the tone of its voice “You're suffering will increase as well as your guilt when I took the lives of one of your best friends. She's still alive but she will not last, I'm going to extinguish her 'little light' as I force you to watch”

“Shut up!” he put his hooves to his ears in an attempt to block out the voice. He wasn't going to let this voice humiliate him.

“I'm not outside, Thunderlane. I'm inside your mind. Even if you try covering your ears it will never work. I can read your thoughts, your emotions, your memories, and your secrets. Nothing in you is safe from me. I will come back to give you more pain until you break, until you lose the will to live” the voice let out a sinister laugh before slowly fading poor Thunderlane.

Once he finally realized the voice leave him alone, he let his body relax, and took his hooves off his equine ears. He lazily stared at the floor. Consciousness finally left him.

Thunderlane lifted his head when he felt something nudge him. He opened his eyes to see himself standing... Outside.

He panicked and glance around him, only to see ponies walking around. He could recognize most of them: Lyra walking along with Bon Bon, Writer talking to Written Script, Big Macintosh hauling a cart full of apples, and Roseluck casually strolling.

“What's the matter, Thunderlane?” he glanced in surprise, only to meet the face of a friend.

“Windy?” he uttered her name, to which she lifted an eyebrow in confusion.

“You look as if you just seen a ghost” she told him. Thunderlane blinked in realization that he was acting weird right in front of his friend. And in public of all places.

“Oops, Sorry” he shook his head like a a dog trying to get rid of lice from its body “What are you saying again?”

“I'm talking about heading to Sugarcube Corner so Pinkie can teach me how to bake cakes” Windy said. He just realized she wasn't wearing her Wonderbolt uniform which gave him deja vu. Why is this conversation remind him of something? He snorted in amusement as Windy's eyes sparkled in excitement. He knew what her real intention was is to find out how to bake a blueberry cheesecake for herself. He and Windy walk pass Sweet Cream Scoops, who was selling ice cream to a group of foals one of them was Rumble, who had his back turned at his brother and his friend. They are being accompanied by their teacher, Cherilee. Windy looks back at him “Do you plan to join me? I know you're a good cook but I doubt you could bake cakes”

“Nah, I'm good” he said. He didn't like or hate cakes. He was just in the middle. He knew eating too much cake would give him diabetes or probably give him stomach pain.

“Oh, come on, Thunderlane, you need it so you can teach Rumble how to bake one” Windy playfully hit his side with a playful smile. He rolled his eyes.

“Fine, but I'll be blaming you if he got stomach ache after eating much cake” he deadpanned at her “and you're going to pay the hospital bill for me”

“Aww, but my boss still hasn't give me my salary!” Windy said as she gave him a fake pout.

“Salary?” Thunderlane parroted. He didn't remember Spitfire giving bits to any members of the acrobatic team nor the academy's staff.

“I'm still working for the weather pegasi silly” Windy told him “I'm a multitasker”

“I can't imagine how you could perform such feat while pushing a cloud like a boastful pegasus you are” he narrowed his eyes and gave her a jeering look.

“Hey, that's so painful you know that!” Windy exclaimed. He laughed at her reaction, mainly because the face she make.

“Relax, its just a woke, Windy” he told her. Windy blinked. Both of them burst into fit of laughter, gaining the attention of the flower ponies nearby.

“Thunderlane, Windy Breeze!” the two Wonderbolts froze when they heard a familiar voice coming above them. They look up to see Blaze, looking down at them with her eyes. She touch down a few feet from them and casually approach them “Why are guys still here? You need to show up at the practice”

“Sorry, Blaze but I told Spitfire that me and Thunderlane are having a day off” Windy told her.

“You did?” Blaze furled her wings to her sides in surprise “you aren't lying, aren't you?”

“Definitely not lying” Windy put a hoof to her blue mane, pulling out a parchment. She hand it over to Blaze who unfurl the paper before reading what it said there.

“Dear Spitfire,” Blaze started “We can't attend the practice because I have scheduled a meeting with Pinkie Pie today so she can touch me how to bake blueberry cheesecakes. Sincerely, Windy Breeze” the yellow Pegasus mare very identical to Spitfire lowered the parchment to give them a look and utter one word at the pony who wrote the excuse letter, which has Spitfire's signature written on the down left of the paper “Really?”

“Do you expect me to write a letter about being injured?” Windy smiled sheepishly.

“No, but-” Blaze was about retort at her when they heard a sickening thud from somewhere which is followed by a scream.

“What in the hay!?” Windy exclaimed just as Blaze turn tail and flew to where the source of the scream came from. She, and Thunderlane followed Blaze.

After galloping around the corner of a house, they found Blaze, talking to Cherry Berry. On the wall beside them was covered in blood, to which Windy gasped in horror. To their relief, Cherry didn't seem to be injured. This made Thunderlane wonder why he had the feeling that he already seen this. He guessed the owner of the blood on the wall is hidden by Blaze so he, and Windy move to look at it.

To their surprise it was just a blue Jay, it's head covered in blood as it lay there near Cherry, presumably dead. Cherry stood up as she talked with Blaze, who was very concerned of her.

“What just happened?” Windy gaze at the dead bird, looking at its broken wing and the skull.

“I don't know” he said. Then they heard another scream and a thud. Everyone turn their head at the direction of the scream.

Flying in the sky is a massive flock of birds of many kinds, flying in low altitude, some of them crashing to a 2 storey house. Ponies began to take shelter inside their houses, some decided to gallop away from the flock as soon as possible.

Windy finally spoke up “It's raining birds!”

“Everypony run and find cover!” Blaze told them. One of the birds narrowly missed Cherry, who shrieked as blood was splattered on her face after the bird slammed head first at the wall behind her. Thunderlane was unfortunate as one bird was good enough to hit him, I'm paling his left eye with its beak and sending him falling to the ground.

He snapped his eyes open. What he first seen was the wooden ceiling “It was all just a dream... a memory” he said to himself. He stood up. The playroom was covered in darkness, but he could still hear the moans outside. He woke up in the middle of the night. He let out a sigh. He lay on the ground again slept.

The next day, He woke up and dragged his hindleg when he went downstairs. Everyone except Stormfeather was already there, sitting around the table. Derpy was reading a book with one muffin on her right hoof, Amethyst drinking cider, and Dinky drinking a bowl of soup with a slurp.

“Morning everypony”

Amethyst lowered her cup “Morning, Thunderlane” she said casually before taking a sip of her cider.

“Sleep well?” Thunderlane asked.

“Not really. I got a weird nightmare about those... things, tearing me apart” she grimaced and put down her cup “How about you?”

“Just the same as you”

“I think Princess Luna is very busy that she can't even help us get rid of our nightmares” Derpy spoke up “both me and Dinky had our own nightmares. I think Stormfeather also got his own as well”

“Poor guy” Thunderlane said before turning to Amethyst “Have any plans?”

Amethyst took one last sip of her cider before putting her now empty cup on the table “Yes,” she said “We'll be visiting Sugarcube Corner”

“Great, now we can find Pinkie Pie” Thunderlane joked.

“If she was still there, then I'll be happy to add her to our group” Amethyst said “Go and eat your own breakfast. We'll be leaving when it's bright outside”

After Thunderlane ate his breakfast, and took a bath, he and Amethyst immediately readied themselves before leaving their safehouse. There were only a couple of 'ponies' wondering aimlessly so they didn't have any a lot of problems traversing the street of their hometown. They were silent for most of their journey, not wanting to attract any unwanted attention from their hostile neighbors. Ponyville was silent, save for the couple of moans they could hear not far away.

While walking, a stray poster flew right into Thunderlane's face. Amethyst took it off his face using her magic and read it.

“Missing: Trot Smiles, last seen: Ponyville Park” she read.

“It seems there are few ponies who started to go missing before all of this could happen” Thunderlane mused as he look around their surroundings, making sure no 'pony' will sneak up at them while they are talking.

“Maybe 'they' took them” Amethyst thought, earning a look of confusion from Thunderlane.

“Who?”

“The ones that are interested on attacking us” Amethyst told him. Walking over a shards of glass from a broken window, she change the subject of their conversation “When all this is over, I will move to Fillydelphia and buy an apartment. Living in high places makes it more hard for tragedy to reach you”

“Great idea. I think I should be moving back to Cloudsdale once I find Rumble” Thunderlane said “Do you have a family living in town?”

“Nope, its just me and Dinky. Our family live in Canterlot” Amethyst said proudly.

“I'm still wondering why most of Ponyville's unicorn Ponyville are mostly from Canterlot? Most of your kind aren't snobs” Amethyst gave him a stink look.

“I might have disliked the high class ponies there, but i'm still offended by that” she told him.

“Sorry” Thunderlane said with a sheepish look.

They became silent ever since their small conversation. They would occasionally find 1 to 2 corpses in the street, already rotting, and giving out bad odor. The two felt sympathy for the owners of the bodies. They promised they will bury the bodies once its over. Thunderlane was a little curious to why they haven't encounter even a single pony. Maybe Lady luck is on their side? They would glance around to check if they're the only ones on the street.

“I wonder where did they went?” Thunderlane said, taking note of the empty Cafe, it's tables scattered around the place with small pool of dry blood covering the ground.

“I don't know and I don't want to know” Amethyst examined the Cafe. She could see anything inside the building, only she could see was darkness, but she could make it some figures slowly walking around inside “I could see some shadows but I think we should ignore whoever is inside. Chance of hostility are high”

“Smart” Thunderlane complimented her, giving the cafe one last look before leaving it alone as well as its occupants inside. They were several meters away from the Cafe when they heard a lot of moans. Amethyst and Thunderlane stopped before uttering one word “Horseapples”

There it was, Sugarcube Corner, surrounded by a crowd of 'them'.

A friendly reunion

Thunderlane turned around “Okay, we're going back-” he was cut off by something tugging his tail. It was Amethyst, biting his tail with a desperate look.

“We are not going back just because of 'their' numbers” she told him, much to his dismay.

“Come on, Amethyst. Going to Sugarcube Corner is a suicide!” he told her. Loudly. He and Amethyst hid behind the wall of a house when one of 'them' look at their direction with a sanguine look on 'their' face.

“Quiet, they almost found us!” Amethyst told him in a hushed tone. She took a peek and to her relief, the member who almost found them decided to wander into the sea of bodies.

“So do you have any plans how can we walk pass that large crowd surrounding the bakery?”

“Not really, but I do have one” she look at a pouch laying behind them. It was enveloped in grayish mulberry aura of her magic.

“What are you doing?” she ignored Thunderlane's question, who was currently giving her a puzzled look. Seeing unicorn straying away from the group, she throw the pouch at his direction, narrowly hitting his cheek and instead hitting the wall behind him. The pouch hit the ground with the bits clinking. Thunderlane was looking at her in horror “What in the hay are you thinking!? You almost gave away our location!” he whispered at her with anger.

“Shh, this is actually my plan” she told him.

“What? By leading them to us!?”

“No, I'm trying to divert their attention”she told him “Remember the previous day when we went out in search for Rumble in your house?”

“...yes” Thunderlane felt uncomfortable when Amethyst mentioned his little brother.

“We come across somepony who got... eaten, but they didn't notice us” she said “they were all agroed on him because he was making loud noises. So, what if we divert their attention away by making noises that would attract them elsewhere and away from here?”

Thunderlane thought for a few seconds if he should agree with Amthyst's plan. Sure, that might work but that's a herd of 'them'! Its impossible for them to gain the whole attention of the crowd. Sure, they could make a half of the crowd go away, but even though they manage to go inside Sugarcube Corner, they would be trapped there with those 'ponies' banging on the door.

“I don't know if should agree or disagree, but I think it's good to try” he replied.

Amethyst opened her saddlebag. She rummaged through all the important stuffs before closing her bag “Next time, i will be bringing that magician's fireworks, or even Vinyl Scratch's mobile booth” she muttered to herself. She look back at Thunderlane, who had an eyebrow lifted at her “Changing plans. I can't find anything to distract them, but I still have another alternative way to divert their attention”

“Tell me that this alternative plan” Thunderlane said, curious of her plan.

“Well, we have to seperate. You will stay here-” Thunderlane tensed when he heard her saying about separating from each other “-while I'm going somewhere away from here and scream loudly so they would leave Sugarcube Corner empty of 'them'” she explained, then looked at her friend. Thunderlane's left eye was twitching and he was giving her a look of 'are you serious' expression.

“Are you insane?” he hissed “that's is beyond suicide- no, it's like walking through tartarus with danger surrounding you!” at this point, he's starting to think whether Amethyst hate her own life or needs to be taken to the Ponyville Hospital for mental check up (If the hospital is still operating).

“This is the only way. My plan might sound stupid, but I know this will work fine. Trust me” Amethyst gave him a pleading look. He sighed in defeat.

“Fine,” he said as Amethyst stood up and began to walk away from cover “But don't blame me in the afterlife if they tear you to pieces” she stopped, looking back at him with a look of determine which tells him she will fulfill her promise to com back, alive.

“I will, Thunderlane” she said. She toosed her saddlebag at the pegasus using her magic and immediately galloped away. Thunderlane manage to catch the purple saddlebag and watch as his friend go somewhere. He didn't say a word. She told him to stay.

He put down the saddlebag, inside, he could see two sandwiches which is for him and Amethyst. He decided to eat it later just in case he became hungry. He noticed a paper. He picked it up and was surprised that it was actually a checklist.

☑️ Take Dinky to a safe place
◽Find sane ponies
◽Gather food
◽Find the cause this mysterious attack and find the assailant
◽Take shelter inside the School of Friendship
◽Wait for rescue

He smiled. Amethyst was really an organizer. He looked to where Amethyst went. At this time, the unicorn was gone. He hoped for Amthyst's safety and they will soon reunite. He stayed in his hiding place approximately for 12 minutes before he heard a high pitched scream. He tensed, he knew it was Amethyst but he couldn't do anything, maybe that was her plan? To scream and attract the attention of the crowd. He heard a couple moans and growls. It looks like her plan is working. He peeked to see the crowd stagger to one direction like a herd. He waited, and waited for the crowd to leave.

Thunderlane was not the only pony who was witnessing the departing of the hostile crowd. A pegasus mare with vampire grey coat, rose red eyes, and pastel mane and tail was looking at the herd between two planks that blocked the view of the inside of the building she was in. Her eyes widened when she saw the crowd leaving “Kumiko, come here!” Kumiko arrived along with some curious members of the group “Do you see this?” Kumiko peeked through the barricade.

“Oya mā ̄” Kumiko gasped. She turn to everypony with a smile “They're leaving” the atmosphere inside the building went bright despite how dark it was in the building.

Seeing that the crowd had left, Thunderlane put the saddlebag on his back. He cautiously went out of his hiding place and trot towards Sugarcube Corner. He took note of the fortifications done to the bakery and some of the buildings albeit all of them had no signs of life inside.

As he was a few meters from the door of the bakery, he heard the familiar sound of moans and growls. He turned around to see one of those things shambling towards him. It seems Amethyst attracted more attention than she intended, her scream led some of 'them' towards his current location.

He slowly back away before turning into full gallop. He stop at the front door and tried to swing it open, but it didn't budge. He began to sweat as he tried to open it “No, no, no, no, no!” he began to panic as 'they' get closer to him. He was trying to forcefully pill open the door as if it was wrapped by strands of hair “Open!” fear gripped him and filled his mind with panic. He was trapped outside alone, cornered and was being approached by 'those' who wanted to kill him.

He heard a growl behind him, he turned around just in time for the 'pony' standing him to be hit by a plate that flew by him. He was then pulled inside the bakery. He saw a earth pony stallion close the door, which was revealed to have been barricade, hence why it didn't open.

“Are you okay, Thunderlane?” he open his eyes. Looking at him in concern was a earth pony stallion. He had a Persian bluish grey coat, brilliant amber eyes, and styled light grey mane and tail. On his flank is two straight white G-clefts. He was so surprised to see the stallion that he unconsciously step back. He yelped when he almost fell, but was caught by the stallion, who help him stood up.

“Royal Riff? Is that you?” he said without thinking about it, nor noticing that he said that as he already know the stallion. He just wanted to know that this isn't all a dream.

“I'm glad your okay, Thunderlane” Riff said solemnly “Me, and Caramel are very worried about you?”

“Caramel?” he looks pass the stallion to look at the ponies inside the bakery who had gathered to see him. He saw Caramel and Minuette next to each other along with a stallion, who was gazing at him intently without showing any emotion. A few meters away from him, to his right was a earth pony mare, who stood next to the barricaded front window, smiling softly at him. Behind her was a pegasus mare, and she eyed him with curiosity. He hadn't seen those mares before, they're probably tourists. There were other ponies, most of them are new faces to him, and only a few he could recognize including Filthy Rich, daughter, and his wife, who looked very grumpy.

“Why do you commoners let him in? He'll lead those monsters to us!” she shouted. Thunderlane could only guess she's talking to Riff since he was the nearest pony and that the latter stood infront of him.

Riff turn to glare at the upper class pony “Shut up, snob” he snapped at her.

“Did you just call me- Urgh! I had enough! I'm going to tell that to her about this!” she turned around and went upstairs.

“It's very risky outside. What were you doing out there?” the white earth pony mare with grayish mulberry eyes, grayish brown mane and tail approached him.

“I was planning to pay Sugarcube Corner a visit and get some food” he explained. He had no reason to lie, especially when he's talking to strangers.

“But still you should stay inside your home” added the dark grey pegasus with her. This mare had a brilliant raspberry eyes, and pastel mane and tail “It's not safe out there. Saw a poor stallion ripped to pieces when everything went down so quickly. This mare, Kumiko” she wrapped her wing around the mare's neck and pulled her closer, much to the mare's discomfort saved my sorry rump back at the marketplace” she turn to Kumiko, who looked away from her and Thunderlane “Come on, don't be shy”

“You aren't hurt, aren't you?” "Minuette approached him, eyeing his bandaged wing.

“I got bit during two nights ago” Thunderlane noticed everyone tensed. Kumiko, and the dark grey mare step back without even thinking.

Minette gasped “Do you feel sick? Is your temperature rising?”

“No, I'm not sick” Thunderlane put her hoof away from his forehead “Why are you asking?”

“We'll tell you when our leader arrives” one of the stallion stepped forward “I'm Rocky” Rocky offered his hoof for a hoofshake.

“I'm Thunderlane” the two shook hooves.

“Nice to meet you. I'm glad we have another survivor added to our group” Rocky said.

“Oh no, i'm are not here to join the group” Thunderlane said “I'm a member of another group that needs food and water”

“Then you picked the right group. We got plenty of food. Other than that, we also have the bearer of the element of laughter with us!”

“Really?” that shocked Thunderlane. He and Amethyst had their theory the element bearers were evacuated to Canterlot, but it seems they're wrong. If Pinkie was with them, then that means the other element bearers are still in Ponyville as well!

“Yeah. Our leader told us the element bearer and the owner of the bakery had holed up in the second floor when she arrived” Rocky stopped when he took notice of the look Thunderlane is giving him “Hey, are you okay?” this snapped Thunderlane out of his thoughts.

“Yeah, I'm okay” Thunderlane said “I was just thinking about something”

“Something?”

“Yeah... something” Thunderlane trailed off. He could hear Spoiled Rich once again and also another familiar voice.

“Spoiled, even if you give you a mansion after all this ended, I will still not let you stop my rescue operations”

“But if you continue your so-called rescue operations, we will have problems like shortage of food supply!” Spoiled protested.

“Tch, our leader is arguing with that snobby mare again” Rocky grumbled. Thunderlane to turn him with worry.

“Does they always argue?”

“Sometimes, when the snobby mare find something 'wrong' in her eyes” Rocky explained with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Then, we'll find food, get food from every stores we find!” Thunderlane glanced at the stairs to see Spoiled, followed by- “Geez, why are you always so nega-” the so-called 'leader' of the group froze upon spotting him. He froze as well, having a hard time believing that he would see her again.

Spoiled was saying something to her but, the leader ignored her. She quietly walked towards him with surprise “... Is that really you?” she gasped. Thunderlane didn't even have to say anything. Once she was infront of him, she pulled him into a hug.

“W-W-W-Windy?” he uttered the leader's name. The leader of the Sugarcube Survivor Group, was Windy Breeze, Blue Wings's instructor, a Wonderbolt, and one of his best friends still alive.

“I'm so worried about you” a tear ran down to Windy's cheek as she hugged him softly “I thought I lost you” she hurried her head into his chest, her flight goggles touching his coat. She was still wearing her Wonderbolt attire. Thunderlane look around and so the different reactions from ponies around them: Kumiko, was teary as she stood beside a smiling Paintheart, Rocky was giving him a normal look, the rest were smiling or just watching, except for a jet black stallion whom he swore he saw back at the Wonderbolts Academy, hiding his true emotions. Spoiled Rich, however only rolled her eyes as if his reunion with Windy was just nothing but nuisance.

Windy broke the hug, and was looking at him with concern “Are you okay, Thunderlane? Is Blue Wings and Rumble staying at your house?” that question hit him hard. He lost Blue to 'them' while Rumble is missing. Should he tell her what happened to them? He had no choice but to tell the truth. Lying would make matters worse.

“We were attacked in our home during the night two days ago. Rumble went missing after the attack but Blue... Blue's gone” he was hesitant revealing to Windy about Blue's death, but he really have to tell her.

“Our house was attacked at midnight 2 days ago. Rumble went missing, Blue... Blue is gone” he closed his eyes, unable to see Windy's face because of his failure.

He heard a small gasp from his friend. He was once again pulled into a hug as Windy started to sob quietly “N-Nopony ever deserve that. Why Blue? Why? S-She doesn't it”

“I'm so sorry. It's all my fault, Windy” he said. Now, he had to face her anger. He knew he deserve it. Blue Wings's granted wish to become a Wonderbolt was short-lived and died soon after she become one of the team members.

“Its not your fault” Windy told him “I knew you'll anything to save her from harm. Come on, I'll take you to Pinkie's bedroom” Thunderlane nodded, and they leave the lobby but not before passing Spoiled.

Windy Breeze lead Thunderlane into Pinkie's bedroom. They found Pinkie, who had her back facing them. The pink earth pony was staring at the window. She looked very sad even though he didn't see her face and the atmosphere in the room was cold and intense, her mane and tail isn't poofy anymore, instead they are now flat. The Cakes are nowhere to be found. Thunderlane assumed they're inside their own rooms as well.

“Pinkie, we have a guest here” Windy told Pinkie calmly. Thunderlane felt uncomfortable in the room for unknown reason, or probably because when Pinkie looked at them, she was giving them a gloomy look as if she haven't sleep for a long time.

“Hiiii Thunderlaaaane....” she spoke up with a broken sorrowful voice “I'm so, so surprised to see you”

“Are you okay, Pinkie?” Thunderlane was concerned of her. He hadn't seen the party pony become this gloomy in his entire life.

“She missed her friends” Windy spoke up as she approach Pinkie. She knelt down as she explain Pinkie's behavior “She told us that she couldn't find nor feel them. The Cakes were worried for her behavior and her health. They said she hadn't eat anything ever since yesterday” she then turn to Pinkie “Pinkie, your friends might have probably out there, alive, planning to get you out of here”

“B-But my Pinkie Sense couldn't sense them!” Pinkie yelled “Where did Twilight go? Is Rainbow still out there? Is Fluttershy still with her animal friends? Is Applejack still at Sweet Apple Acres. H-How about Rarity-!”

“Pinkie, they're all but safe like us. I'm sure of it” Windy calmly assures her while stroking her pink mane “Your insecurities will lead you to nothing but to downfall and despair” she then hugged Pinkie. Thunderlane couldn't help but find something suspicious of his fellow Wonderbolt. How was she able to gather a group of ponies all by herself? How was she able to not be mad at him for Blue's demise, and last of all, why is her right foreleg wrapped in bandage?

He decided to ask her about her bandaged leg while the others will wait for the right time. He approach her “Windy, did you hurt yourself?” he asked. Windy glanced at him with a yelp.

“What?” she then looked down at her wrapped up leg and her face was slowly filled with realization before looking up at him “Oh uh... I trip on something while rescuing somepony that i recently... rescued” she looked away from him “then i fell on a bunch of shards. Thank Celestia i only received one injury”

“No, you did not” Pinkie gloomy said. Windy look at her with a frown. Thunderlane ignored what the mare said. It's just Pinkie being Pinkie even though in a depressed state.

“Pinkie, can you leave the room for a minute, please”

“Sure” Pinkie nodded. She went out of the room but not before glancing at Windy, then at Thunderlane. Windy sighed.

“I hope she'll get better before something went wrong” she muttered before turning to Thunderlane “Thunderlane, I want you to tell something. Something that I did not tell everypony”

“What is it, Windy?” Thunderlane thought.

“Have you ever wondered why many ponies in town tried attacking us?” she asked him. She was looking at him expectantly.

“I have. I think it something to do with mind-control spells” he replied. Windy's reaction was not what he expected. Her expression melt into disappointment “What? Did I offend you?”

She blinked “Huh? Oh, oh no! I was just expecting something more” she walked pass him and stood in front of a window beside Pinkie's bedside table, staring at the ponies outside that started to gather “Besides, I don't think a mind-control spell can make ponies resort eat their own kind, not even an ancient enemy can force any creature to resort to eating their own blood”

“You do have a point” Thunderlane stood behind her with a solemn look, very similar to her. Since this discussion was very important, they were very serious.

“The outbreak in Maneponia and its neighboring cities and towns could have something to do with the behaviors of ponies here in Ponyville”

“So, what your saying there is a tyrant on the loose?” Thunderlane deadpanned. His friend was reminding him of Blossom Flower.

“No! A tyrant could have mind-control most of Equestria's population either for several hours or even a few days. The small outbreak took several days to reach our town” she explained before glancing sat glancing at Thunderlane with a look of recognition and horror “What if we're dealing an unknown virus that has yet to be known and studied by the experts and the princesses?”

“Now, now, that can't be true” Thunderlane tried to assure her but she refused to believe him.

“No. We there's a high chance we're dealing with ravenous infected. I can't let any of my friends, including you get infected by the unknown strain!” Thunderlane rolled his eyes. Now, she's starting to sound like Princess Twilight Sparkle.

“Calm down, Windy. You are starting to sound like Princess Egghead” he said, much to Windy's realization. She calmed down.

“I'm sorry. I was just worried about everypony, including you” she approached him with a sad look “We already lost most of our town's population, including Blue Wings. I can't let that happen to any of the members of the group I'm in and your group as well. I'm still looking for survivors and therefore protect them from harm's way and i'm not as smart as Princess Twilight nor Spitfire” she then looks back at the window “They're too many of them, and only Roswell and Rocky can fight back, Kumiko and Minuette are the only ones to volunteer for the search and rescue party, yet they don't know how to defend themselves. I'm just glad we haven't run out of food. How am I suppose to save this large group?” she took severe breath, then turn to her friend “Tomorrow, we will be going out to look for more survivors, maybe we can go to where your group resides and give them aid”

“Sure. I will be joining your party” since he saw his friend now calm, he didn't bother to question her if she's alright. In fact, she was already smiling at him.

“That would be great. And since your little brother is somewhere in town, we'll be searching for him as well” this gave Thunderlane energy that he hugged his fellow Wonderbolt in a blink of an eye.

“Thank you, Windy. Thank you” he said. Windy gave him a smile of happiness and hope.

“You're welcome”

Torment

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?