AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Twilight stared at the distant pillar of smoke rising from the western end of the castle. Her ears laid flat as her mind wandered through wild thoughts. Wild thoughts that ruined her sleep and now threatened to destroy her nerves. Stepping away from the window, she let out a heavy sigh and picked up her saddlebag. Clipping its straps snug around her barrel, she left her hotel room.

Exiting the stairwell, she walked into the hotel’s lobby and saw her friends and several Wonderbolts huddled around the fireplace, trying to stay warm. “It’s fricken cold!” Pinkie grumbled as she cuddled Copper. He joined her and rested his head on top of hers.

“Aren’t we in summer?” Marley grumbled as he readjusted the pillow under his bound leg.

“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “But with the weather factory destroyed and no pony monitoring the weather, the seasons have gone wild.”

“It seems nature is taking back control.” Applejack huffed as she put the hood of her jacket over her head. Seeing Twilight walking up to them she let out a heavy sigh. “You still going?”

Twilight messed with her saddlebag. “Yes.” She put on a cotton beanie she had found. “I need answers.”

Spike let out a sigh. “I tried to send another letter.” He showed her the rolled-up paper. “It reappeared, just like last time.” Twilight stared at the paper in his hands. Frowning, she picked it up and read it. ‘We are alive and located in the Fleece Hotel four blocks from Cheery Street.’

“That’s a bad sign.” Blaze stated. “You think it’s wise to go?”

“We need to know.” Shining stated flatly as he entered the lobby. “The princesses can’t be gone.” He checked his lever action. “They just can’t.”

“But I tried to send a letter…”

“Try again.” Shining sighed as he stood next to Twilight. “You ready?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes…” Her eyes went wide as she saw a trotter by the glass.

The others noticed the trotter as it looked into the building. Seeing them, it began to growl as it put a hoof to the glass. It pushed its mouth against it smearing its blood across its surface. “You think it’s safe with just you two going?” Maud stood up and unholstered her axe from her side.

“It will be a simple in and out.” Shining huffed as he neared the window. The trotter growled as it slammed against the window.

“Hurry before it breaks through!” One of Spitfire’s Wonderbolts, Clear Skies huffed.

Blaze groaned as he stood up and picked up his baseball bat that sat by the door. “Open!” Shining nodded and opened the door. The trotter turned its head and hissed. But it never got a chance to sink its teeth into any flesh as Blaze struck it over the head. “Two more should at least go with you.” Blaze stated flatly as he stared at his handy work. “I’ll be one of those ponies.”

Shining frowned. “No…” He looked out over the fog covered street scanning for more dead. Blaze just frowned at the stallion.

“You can come.” Twilight hummed as she patted him on the back.

Shining frowned at his sister. “Twily…”

“Shining!” Twilight huffed. “Enough!” She let out a heavy breath. “We need the help.”

“I’m coming too.” Spitfire stated. “Having the Captain of the Wonderbolts and the Captain of the Royal Guard will help our odds of seeing any government officials still running things.”

“What about us?” Carrot asked.

“We stay here until they get back.” Maud replied as she stood up and walked past the ponies by the door. She smiled at Spitfire as she walked over to the shed filled with firewood.

Spitfire smiled back. “Let me grab my stuff and then we’ll head out.”

Twilight and Shining watched the pegasus walk up the stairs. Looking at Blaze, he just shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll get the truck ready.” They watched him walk towards the vehicles resting in the parking lot. Looking at one another, they silently accepted that they would be entering the most dangerous part of their trip.

Getting to the gates of Upper Canterlot, a sprawling suburb that covered the base of the mountain with streets that wormed their way up to the castle that jutted from the western side of the mountain. Driving the truck through the quite cobblestone streets, Blaze glared at the hollowed homes. “So?” He looked at Twilight. “You think we can drive this all the way to the castle?”

Twilight glared at the road. It was unnerving how everything looked so peaceful, yet so foreign, so unearthly. “No…” She replied, keeping her eyes on the road. “Park it here and kill the engine.” She pointed at the sidewalk to her right.

Blaze did as he was told and pulled the truck up onto the sidewalk. “So…” He looked at the others. “I guess we’re hiking it?”

“It’s the safest way up to the castle.” Twilight sighed.

“Are you sure?” Spitfire wondered as she put on her saddlebag.

“We grew up here.” Shining sighed as he jumped out of the truck and picked up his lever action rifle from the bed of the truck. “We know it like the back of our hoof.”

“Yes…” Twilight stared at the main road they were on, watching it snake its way up the hill.

“At least the road goes all the way to the castle.” Blaze huffed as he stared at the castle’s silhouette.

“Seems too easy?” Spitfire’s wings twitched in annoyance.

“We’ll be fine but if we need to divert and take the sideroads, then we’ll do so.” Twilight made her way up the road. Her brother, Blaze and Spitfire followed her, their minds on high alert as they trekked their way to the eastern side of the castle.

The quiet that consumed the street, sang in their ears, numbing their senses. The sun high above them slowly warming the land, sent a chill down Twilight’s back. Shivering from the sensation, she looked over at her brother. Seeing a dour expression on his face a knot formed in her stomach. Turning her gaze back to the road, she saw a corner coffee shop that triggered childhood memories to resurface. “Brother?” She studied his posture. “You think they’re home?”

“No…” He sighed. “They went to the safe zone within the castle.” He looked at her. “That’s what they said, before the phone lines went down.”

Twilight eyed the two to three story homes and or shops that lined the street. Feeling nauseous, she looked back at her brother. “I need to know.” She watched as her brother bit his inner cheek. She knew that he wanted answers as well.

“Are we really going to take a detour?” Blaze asked as he stared at the siblings. "You said they were going to the castle. We'll find out then."

“How far is your parents’ house?” Spitfire asked.

“About three blocks down.” Twilight pointed up the hill. “We’ll meet you at the castle gates if you don’t want to follow.”

“We shouldn’t split up…” Spitfire and the others stopped as they heard distant groans of the dead. “That’s just proved my point.” She gave them a ‘I told you so look.’

“I agree.” Shining sighed. “Let’s get going, we don’t have all day.”

“In and out?” Blaze tilted his head to the side.

“In and out.” Shining replied as he took the lead.

A figure kept its eyes to the ground as it slowly stumbled across the cobblestone streets. Hearing a noise, it looked around and glared at the road, seeing nothing it looked forward and scanned the horizon… The figure fell forward as something blunt struck it over the back of the head. It growled as it tried to get up, but whoever was hitting it, kept up as several more strikes struck its skull.

Blaze growled as he pulled the bat from the mangled skull of the trotter. Looking up from his handywork, he stared at several decaying bodies lying in their final poses across the street. “This ain’t good.” He looked back at the others.

Twilight and Shining stared at their childhood home. The disarray it was in sent chills down their backs. Several windows were shattered, and the front door was slightly agape. “You think they’re at the castle?” Spitfire questioned as they walked up the steps to the front porch.

“I hope so…” Twilight placed a hoof on the door. She stood still, listening for any sound of activity within. “I still need to make sure.” She pushed the door open and watched it swing all the way to its apex, gently bumping up against the door stopper. With silence gracing her ears, she stepped into the home and slowly trekked through the house, checking the rooms as she passed them.

Following his sister into the home, Shining frowned at the state it was in. Knick-knacks lay strewn across the floor. Picking up a broken picture, he stared through the shattered glass and saw his parents, his sister, his brother, and himself smiling back at him. “Looks like the upper class of Canterlot didn’t escape the chaos.” Blaze mumbled out loud as he stood in the living room, jamming his bat into the broken TV screen.

Shining glared at him as he furthered the damage. Shaking his head, he set down the picture on the table in the hall and walked into the kitchen. “Have history?” Spitfire asked.

“He didn’t tell you?” Shining walked to the other side of the of the island.

“No. He doesn’t talk much.” She answered as she watched him scan the disarray that blanketed the kitchen counters.

Shining was about to say something snarky, when a dried puddle of blood caught his eyes. “Shit!” He stepped out into the kitchen and down the hall. “Twilight?”

“Shining, what’s wrong?” Spitfire followed after him.

“Twilight… Blaze?” Shining asked as he saw the earth pony looking into his father’s office. Standing next to him he finally noticed the trotter lying on the floor that had met its end long ago. “Fuck…”

“I don’t have a good feeling.” Blaze poked the trotter with his bat. Shining looked over his shoulder and watched his sister ascending the stairs.

Standing at the top of the stairs, Twilight stared at the slightly opened window at the end of the hall. She watched the white curtains flap softly with the breeze. Numbness washed over her as she slowly walked down the hall. Passing the bathroom, she stopped as she noticed blood on the floor, sink, and countertop. Lost in a haze, she picked up her pace, ignoring the other rooms, her mind focused on her parents at the end of the hall.

Nearly tripping over herself as she got to the door. A small part of her was amused. Her mother was one for closing doors to rooms that were not being used. But, then again, there were plenty of rooms whose doors were open… and the blood in the bathroom… the trotter within the office…

Stress twisted her stomach into a knot as she approached the door. Her magic's aura enveloping the handle. The door creaked as it swung open. Her mother’s makeup table beside the window graced her vision first. Then the corner of her parents’ queen-sized bed. Her blood went ice cold as she saw a white furred hind hoof. She let out a cry as she backed away from the door, crashing against the wall.

Ringing screamed in her ears as she stared into the room. She could barely make out her brother calling out to her, the only sounds were the wind blowing through the window and the door squealing as it moved into the fully opened position. “?” She felt her brother shoving her.

“Twily what’s wrong?” Shining placed a hoof to her forehead. “You’ve looked like you’ve seen a ghost.” Her replay was her vomiting onto the floor. Shock overcame him as he looked into the room. His heart skipped a beat as he saw two corpses on the bed, one a unicorn mare and the other one a unicorn stallion. “No…” Weakness overcame him as he walked into the room. Seeing exit wounds on their heads, one coming from the front on the mare’s skull and the back of the skull for the stallion.

Fighting back the urge to lose control of his emotions, he blinked away the tears that blocked his vision as he stood on the left side of the bed. “Damn it…” He said under his breath as he saw a bite mark on the mare’s right hind leg.

“Fuck me…” Blaze stared wide eyed at the corpses.

“Shit!” Spitfire held a hoof to the mouth. “These aren’t your parents, are they?” She helped Twilight off the floor.

Shining stared at the pistol laying between the corpses. “Yes…” He watched his sister stumble up to their father side of the bed. Seeing the insurmountable grief pouring from her eyes was like a hot blade stabbing and twisting into his heart. Shame washed over him. He made a promise to always look out for her as her big brother, best friend forever… through thick and thin… But now, he felt like shit. Maybe it would’ve been for the best to have skipped their parents’ house to go straight to the castle, or maybe they would just run into a graveyard. No matter how he spun it, it was going to be hell all around.

“Twily?” He walked up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

Her sobs were sporadic as she tried placing a hoof on her father. She touched him and felt how cold he was. She pulled back and butted up against the wall. Finally, her mind snapped, sending her to a fit of rage as she buried her face into the carpet and unleashed her sorrows.

Shining went to comfort her, but she cowered away, crashing against the nightstand. She threw her hooves over her head and shut her eyes to the world around her. He stepped back and looked unsure of what to do about the blanket of despair that consumed her.

“Give her some space.” Spitfire laid a hoof on his shoulder. Shining could see the pain she felt for them. “She needs to grieve on her own and so do you.” Shining looked at his sister lying in a fetal position, her tail covering the lower half of her body. Nodding in agreement he stepped away from his parent’s room and followed Spitfire down the stairs. Blaze was the last one to leave, turning his gaze from Twilight, he looked at the corpses on the bed. He shivered at their hollowed eyes that glared into his soul.

Soft winds blew through the opened bedroom window. Cool air washed over Twilight, causing her to shiver. Groaning, she slowly lifted her head off the floor. Rubbing her crusty tear-stained eyes, she lazily looked around. Coughing up phlegm, she grimaced as she swallowed it back down and slowly sat up from the floor. Seeing dead bodies out of the corner of her eyes, numbness washed over her as she remembered where she was. Oh, how she wished it was all a terrible dream.

But the longer she stared at her parents, the more they appeared, peaceful. Their posture on the bed showed love. Her father wrapped forelegs around her mother. His head resting on hers, their blood running down their faces, mixing and pooling in the middle of them on the bed, caking the pistol in a thin layer of dark crimson.

“They look peaceful.”

Hearing her brother’s deep voice, she looked over her shoulder and saw him standing under the doorframe. His eyes looked worn and tired like hers. “Yeah…” She replied softly, returning her gaze to her parents. “Mother was bitten.” She studied how violent the wound looked.

“Father couldn’t leave her.” Shining frowned. “He couldn’t take her to safe zone.” He stood beside his sister. “But why would father kill himself?”

Twilight scanned her father’s body, seeing something she leaned in closer and saw a nasty bite mark covered in dried blood. Thinking back to the trotter in her father’s office. The odds of them being bitten by both were high. Which left only one outcome “Mother bit him.” Her body shivered as those words passed her lips.

Her brother stared at her in disbelief, but as he studied his father’s corpse, he too saw the wound. “He couldn’t do it.” He activated his magic and picked up the pistol from the bed. Opening the cylinder, he saw two of the five, five-hundred magnum rounds were fired. “Only after did he.” He looked at his parents with dull eyes.

Twilight stared at the pistol floating gracefully in front of them. “What do we do now?”

Shining gently placed the pistol back in its place. “We keep going.” He smiled at his sister. “We can’t give up now.”

Twilight bit her lower lip. “But what if there is nothing?”

Shining sighed as he looked out the window and at the castle only a few hundred yards away. “Like I said, we keep going.” He left the room. Twilight quickly followed him and walked alongside him.

“How long was I in there?” She asked.

“Not long.” He stopped a few steps before the base of the stairs. “Only fifteen minutes or so.”

“How are you feeling?” Spitfire came up to them, fully geared up and ready to go.

“Alright…” Twilight replied half heartly. “I’m ready to leave this place.”

“Spitfire nodded. “I understand.” She led them out of the house. Stepping onto the porch, a pleasant shiver danced across Twilight’s back, easing the stress that flowed through her, lifting a few weights off her shoulders. “Blaze, we’re ready to go!” Spitfire shouted as she skipped onto the pathway that led to the house.

Blaze nodded and finished his cigarette. Tossing it he looked at the siblings and noticed their solemn expressions. “Good, because we need to get to the castle before sunset.”

“We have penalty of time.” Shining pointed at the castle. “If we keep up a good pace, we should get there with in an hour or two…” Seeing a small group of trotters stumbling down the road towards them, he growled. “Fuckers.” Twilight stared at the trotters’ manic expressions as they growled at no one and at nothing in particular. A purple glow engulfed her horn as she unholstered her axe.

A unicorn with green fur wearing golden bronze armor and steel chainmail, typical Royal Guard uniform was leaning against the parapet of the eastern gate towers. Feeling cold air blowing through the embrasure’s he sat in between. He cursed to himself that he should’ve worn something warmer. To keep his mind distracted from the unpleasant weather, he fidgeted with his crossbow.

Finished with tightening up his bow’s draw weight. He took time to study his weapon. Its main body was made of oak and adorned with carvings. Its brass parts were polished to perfection and reflected its surroundings like a mirror. Even its handle was wrapped with lush black stained leather that made it feel heavenly to hold.

But even with its beauty, it was highly out classed by the new lever action rifles that replaced it. Even still, the Royal Guard still had to keep up their regal appearance for the public. He looked to his right and saw his bronze spear resting on the ground. Seeing some specks of dried blood, he grumbled as bad memories danced across his mind. “Keeping up what appearance.”

“Everything alright Fletcher?”

Fletcher looked up and saw a bat pony stallion wearing Lunar Guard armor. Which was a steel stained a gun metal blue, from niter bluing. “Just keeping my mind busy, Iron Wing.”

The bat pony, smirked. “Sounds like you need help, glad I brought our new recruit along.” He stepped to the side and allowed an eleven-year-old pegasus colt with the same fur and mane color to Fletcher’s to exit the narrow stairwell.

“Private Hanzel, reporting for duty!” The colt smirked as he saluted. The Lunar Guard helmet he wore tilting to the side and covering his right eye.

“So, my bro has betrayed me and joined the Lunar Guard?” Fletcher laughed.

“No…” Hanzel timidly crossed his forelegs. “But Iron Wing did offer me a ride in the artillery tractor.” His uncrippled wing fluttered.

“You’re going to let him drive it?” Fletcher raised his brow at Iron Wing.

“No, he might run over and break military equipment.” He held up his hooves, his bat wings flapping from embarrassment.

“Hey!” Hanzel frowned at the bat pony. “You said I could drive it!”

Fletcher laughed at his brother. “That would be a sight to behold…”

Hearing gunshots, Hanzel jumped and hid behind the parapet. Fletcher and Iron Wing looked through the embrasure and saw four ponies fighting their way up to the gate. “Damn…” Iron Wing grumbled as he unshouldered his rifle. “What do we do?”

Fletcher glared at the distant ponies. “Brother!” He watched a purple furred unicorn swing an axe at a trotter. “Monocular!” His brother rummaged through his bag and pulled out the requested item. Fletcher quickly grabbed it and looked through it. “Holy shit!” He gasped.

“What do you see?” Hanzel asked.

“Alert the princess!” Iron Wing went into military mode and ran down the stairs. Passing the monocular to his brother, Fletcher grabbed his crossbow and aimed through the embrasure.

Twilight growled as she brought down her axe on a unicorn trotter. The monster growled and activated its horn. She felt its magic around her neck. Chocking, she pulled her axe from its shoulder and swung once more, her blade struck its side of its head, its jawbone shattering. Seeing its head burst into a mist of dark red, she turned around and saw Blaze holding his 8-gauge sawed-off double barrel shotgun. “Thought you needed a helping hoof.”

She grimaced at the high pitch ringing playing in her ears. “Yeah…” She looked all around her and saw just how outnumbered they were. “We need to teleport into the castle!”

“We don’t know what’s on the other side!” Blaze stared at her with narrowed eyes.

“I think it’s the best shot we got!” Spitfire commented and she flew above them taking pot shots at the trotters with her repeating crossbow. “I’ll distract them while you get closer so you can save your magic.”

Shining pushed a trotter back. “Sounds like a plan!” Hearing a whizzing fly past his head, he looked on in shock as a trotter in front of him crumbled to the ground. Staring at the bolt sticking out of the trotter’s eye socket. He looked over his shoulder and saw a pony in one of the towers by the gate. Several more ponies poked their heads from the wall’s parapet and opened fire on the dead that surrounded them.

Seeing the gate rising up, Twilight saw a bat pony poking his head out from under the door. “Run!” He waved at them with his hoof. They didn’t hesitate as they ran with all their might. Running past the gate, the bat pony looked to his left. “Close the gate!” The two ponies manning the lever, unlatched the locking bolt and let the gate drop, closing with a bassy thud.

Twilight, Shining, Spitfire, and Blaze stared at the door. The sounds of the dead beating against wrought iron reenforced wood door filled the air, causing some ponies to cower. “Watch out for the flyers coming over the wall!” The bat pony yelled. Turning his attention to his new guests, his eyes lit up as he recognized three of them. “Dear sweet Luna, Captains?” He gave a salute. “Staff Sargent, Iron Wing, sir!” He smirked. “It’s felt like forever since I’ve done that!” He laughed at himself.

Shining nodded as he caught his breath. “At ease soldier.” He smirked. Spitfire replied with a salute of her own.

“Captain!” Fletcher shouted from the third-story balcony that led up to his tower. “You crazy son of a bitch!”

Shining smiled. “Same to you!” He laughed. “Haven’t found a way to go out in a blaze of glory?”

“Nah,” Fletcher shook his head. “Had to keep my eye on this little bugger.” If on cue, Hanzel popped his head over the railing and waved at them.

“I can’t believe you’re alive?” Iron Wing smirked. “How have you been?” He bowed for Twilight. “It’s been a while, Miss Sparkle.” She blushed at the formal greeting and gave a little wave. Finding her embarrassment charming, he smiled at his handywork and turned his attention to Blaze and noticed him giving him a look.

“Glad to see you’re alive as well.” Shining looked at the ragtag group of Royal Guard, Lunar Guard, and army surrounding them, fifteen he counted. Quite a small number given the castle’s footprint was the size of a small town. Though they were on the eastern side where the Royal and Lunar guard headquarters were, as well as several barracks along the western side of the courtyard they stood on. Seeing some civilian’s poking their heads out from the barracks, his heart skipped a beat.

“How many are there?” Twilight asked his question for him.

Iron Wing hung his head. “Not many, about forty made it to this sector of the castle.”

“Let’s now make it forty-four.” A delicate voice added.

Turning around, Twilight’s and Shining’s bodies froze as they saw an alicorn with pink fur and a graceful mane of magenta, purple, and cream-yellow walk up to them.

“C-Cadence?” Twilight sputtered as she felt like she would pass out.

“It’s me.” Cadence smiled. Her tired eyes swelled up with tears. Looking past Twilight, she saw her husband’s dumbstruck expression. Before she could make heads or tails. Twilight and Shining grabbed onto her, hugging her for dear life. Her limbs went limp as she fell to the ground with them. Giving in, she returned the hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Spitfire laid a hoof over Blaze’s shoulder and let out a whistle. “Well would you look at that!” She laughed. “Finally, something to be happy about!”

Blaze watched the sadness that consumed Twilight slowly leaving. “Yeah…” He smiled.

“Why didn’t you come back for us?” Twilight wiped her tears.

Candence bit her cheek as she looked over her small group of survivors. “I’ve tried, but there’s a blanket of magic preventing ponies form leaving.”

Twilight stared at her sister-in-law with a raised brow. “What?” Her right brow lifted as she processed her words. “Magic strong enough to prevent travel, even for Celestia, Luna, and you?” She shivered as Keplar’s words replayed in her mind. ‘It could be magic in origin.’ She looked at Cadence. “Are trotters causing it?”

Cadence stood up. “In a way.” She sighed.

“In a way?” Shining tilted his head as he studied his wife’s defeated posture.

“You should show them your highness.” Iron Wing lowered his head.

“Show us what?” Twilight looked at the bat pony.

Cadence stared at the gravel under her hooves. “Come, it’s hard to explain.” She walked to the castle’s central tower that hugged the mountain’s cliffside. “Mop up any trotters that fly over the wall.” Iron Wing bow and commanded his stallions. Opening the double doors, she motioned Twilight and her friends to enter.

Passing through the doors, a shiver danced across her back. “You oaky?” Spitfire asked, her wings twitching from the strange sensation.

“I don’t know.” Twilight couldn’t put her feelings into words. It was like night and day difference when they passed the threshold. It felt oppressive, cold, and unforgiving. Seeing her brother and Blaze looked like they felt the same. She stopped as she laid eyes on a wide door that was boarded up. Timidly placing her ear to the door, she waited and listened. Hearing muffled groans, she jumped back.

“Had to seal off this part of the castle.” Cadence frowned at the door.

“What happened?” Twilight smacked her drying mouth. “Where are the princesses?”

Cadence’s shoulders slumped. “Everything went to hell.” She walked further down the hall. “Things got out of hoof really quick. We were overwhelmed within the week, the sickness spread like wildfire.” She opened another door.

Twilight felt numb as she recognized where she was. It was an ‘L’ shaped hall, directly in front of her lead to the gardens and to her right lead to a spiral staircase. A staircase that led to Celestia’s and Luna’s royal chambers. Seeing the door that led to the gardens was blocked by several items of furniture, she let out a troubled sigh. “Cadence, please…” She walked alongside her. “Where are they?”

Cadence let out a heavy sigh. “I’m taking you to them.” She said dully as she guided them up the spiral staircase.

Ascending the steps, Twilight’s mind raced madly. Why was Cadence being so cryptic? Why were so few ponies alive? Was it worse than she imagined? Passing a window, she stopped and looked through it. Five stories below, was the four-acre garden and the other buildings of the castle. Memorized by its still intact beauty, her attention turned to the figures moving throughout the garden. Noticing how frantic and uncoordinated they walked, she quickly looked away as her worries were confirmed…

Twilight stood in front of a grand gold-plated doors, with intricate carvings of early Equestrian history. But it wasn’t those carvings that drew her attention. It was the black misty smoke like magic oozing form the gaps in the doors. “It’s Luna?” She stuttered.

Cadence only sighed as she kept her eyes on the floor. Shining armor placed a hoof on his wife. “Where’s Celestia?”

“She’s in there.” Cadence said flatly. Twilight turned around looking at her with horrified eyes. “Celestia became sick two weeks into the outbreak. Luna quickly put her into her chambers.” Cadence stepped up closer to the door. “Luna devoted her time to caring for her sister so she could get back to leading the effort against this plague. Until then I was put in charge.” She looked at Twilight. “I did my best, but I needed them. I hoped they would return to their duties, but as the days dragged on…” She shook her head.

“That day never came.” Blaze leaned against the wall and looked out the window, eyeing the vast real estate the castle occupied.

“I tried sending letters to Spike so I could warn you,” Cadence looked at her husband. “But they would just reappear, so, I feared the worst, but when royal guards tried to make a scavenging run to restock some supplies, they found they couldn’t get past the gate. Not without being forcefully knocked back.” She bit her cheeks as she stared at the door with dull eyes. “At first, I thought it was the trotters manipulating ponies magic, but when I pinpointed the source, I found out it was coming from within Celestia’s room.

“How do you know it was Luna?” Spitfire asked.

“I opened the door… Once.” Cadence shivered and shook her head.

“So, we’re stuck here until she comes out and kills whatever spell she's casting?” Blaze tilted his head.

“Yes…” Cadence sighed. “Sorry you’re trapped here.” She hung her head low to the ground.

“Sweetheart,” Shining placed a hoof under her chin and lifted her head to be eye level with him. “It's okay. We’ll figure it out. I’m just glad you’re alive.” He kissed her. “After what we've been through, we needed to hear good news.”

Cadence felt a pain in her chest. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story.” Twilight sighed.

“We’ll tell me all about it.” Cadence made her way to the stairs. “Some of the army folks are cooking up a wonder dinner. You can fill me in on everything.”

“A meal and a story!” Spitfire smirked. “Count me in.”

Twilight smiled, but it quickly left as she looked back at the door. Noticing she wasn’t following. Blaze stood at the top of the stairs and watched her stare at the door. “Are you coming?” She kept her eyes on the black misty magic floating across the floor, dissipating before touching her hooves. “Twilight?” He placed a hoof on her shoulder.

She jumped back and whipped her head around. Finding herself awfully close to him, their snouts touching, she blushed and sheepishly smiled. “What?”

Blaze shook himself awake from the shock. “Are you coming?” He asked as he rubbed his snout.

“Yes…” She trailed off and looked at the door once more.

“We’ll take care of it.” He placed a hoof under her chin and turned her head to face him. “We will have to, to get out of here.” He motioned her to follow. “Let’s do so after we eat.” Twilight blushing from the touch, nodded and followed him down the stairs.

Twilight stared at her meal. It was a mixture of beans, cabbage, tomatoes and bell peppers. A hodgepodge of ingredients for sure. At least it was edible she mused as she chewed through her bite. Cadence who sat across from her stared wide eyed as she ate. “I’m so sorry…” She placed a hoof on her husband’s. “Did you burry them?”

Twilight stared at the hills and valleys the beans made. “No…”

“We didn’t want to disturb them.” Shining sighed as he patted his wife’s hoof.

Fletcher who sat at their table played with his meal as he mulled over their story, they told. “Damn…” He scoffed. “That’s all I have to say.”

Hanzel looked up at his brother unsure how to take all this information in. “So, you’re saying we’re all infected?” Then there was that nugget of information, the question asked by Poppy sent shivers down his spine. ‘Infected?’ His young mind had a hard time wrapping around the concept of being sick without being sick.

“You didn’t know?” Twilight tilted her head. “Wasn’t your ECDC keeping you up to date?”

“They stopped communicating for the past four days.” Cadence shrugged her shoulders. “The building was on lockdown. No pony was going to get in to find out why…” She drank some of her water. “Then it exploded.”

“Have you gone to check?” Spitfire asked.

“Yeah.” Iron Wing finished his meal. “But the tunnel collapsed.” He picked up his drink with his front hooves. “And the main building is in the redzone.”

Twilight looked out the archway at the castle’s silhouette. Her mind drifting to the blocked and boarded up doors. “I still can’t believe this is all that made it?”

“I can!” Hopper an army stallion laughed. “Pure chaos. You would’ve sworn Discord came back.”

Twilight tapped her hooves together. “Is he?”

Cadence shook her head. “No, last time I flew over the gardens I still saw him incased in stone.”

Mild silence fell over the ponies as they finished their meals. “Want to see were you’ll be sleeping?” Iron Wing asked.

“Sure?” Twilight replied.

“Why don’t you go for us.” Shining gave his wife a warm smile. “I’m going to spend some time with her, if you don’t mind?” Hearing, Fletcher, Poppy and several others, whooping and cheering. Her rolled his eyes. “I’m still captain!” They all went silent.

Twilight held back a giggle. “Okay.”

“I’ll go with.” Blaze stood up. “I need to lie down any ways.”

Iron Wing’s smile flattened slightly as he watched the stallion throw on his saddle bag as he stood beside Twilight. “Why don’t we move along.” He guided the two of them to the barracks.

Shining noticed the look but gave it little thought as he turned his attention to his wife. “So, what do you want to do?”

Pleasant sensations ran down her back as Twilight felt the cold evening air washing over her body as it settled into the courtyard. Watching her breath dissipate, she looked over at Blaze who seemed to be enjoying the cold. “You been through a lot?” Iron Wing asked.

“Yeah…” Twilight looked at the bat pony who was out in front. “We’re just glad to be alive.” Blaze nodded in agreement.

“Well, you’ll be safe here.” He gave her a smirk. “I give you, my word.”

Twilight blushed. “Always a gentlecolt.” Blaze shook his head.

Iron Wing noticed the earth pony’s displeasure but decided to ignore it. Getting to the barracks, he opened the door to barrack numbered A1. “Here is where you’ll be staying.”

Twilight hugged him. “Thank you.” She gave him a smile. “I’ll figure a way to get you all out of this situation.”

Iron Wing blushed at the affection. “Well, if anypony knows how to get through to the princesses, it’s you.” Blaze just raised his brow but deep down he found his flustered appearance amusing.

“I promise.” She looked into his cat like eyes with determination.

“Well, it's not a five-star hotel, but it should do.” Iron Wing bowed. “Get some rest.” Twilight nodded and watched him step out of the barrack.

Blaze stretched and let out a huff. “Now which one do I pick?” He mused as he tested the beds comfort by pressing down on them with his hoof. Finding one that fit his preference he set down his saddlebag. Taking out his shotgun he checked to see if both barrels were loaded. Nodding, he put it in safe and laid it on his bed. Looking up from his bed, he saw Twilight sanding under the archway. “Heading back to the mess hall?”

She remained silent as she listened to the blowing winds. Without a word she stepped out of the barracks. Confused, Blaze stepped up to the archway and watched her walk across the courtyard toward the castle. “What are you doing?” He whispered. Seeing her entering the castle, he cursed under his breath and followed after her. Iron Wing who stood in the alley of two barracks watched Blaze enter the castle.

Blaze groaned as he climbed up the steps of the castle. “What the hell are you doing?” He asked out loud to himself. Finally getting to the top, he caught his breath. His smoking habit showing its ugly head. Taking a deep breath, he walked further down the hallway until getting to the end. Seeing Twilight standing in front of the door, he stood back and stared at the smoky magic pooling out from the door.

Apprehensive, he slowly walked up to her. “Twilight, what are you doing?”

Twilight felt a heaviness on her chest as she watched the smoke move past her legs. The magic felt ice cold, oppressive. “Tell them…”

“Tell them what?” Blaze tilted his head.

“Tell them to get themselves ready!” She activated her magic and threw open the door. A burst of dark magic washed over her and Blaze, knocking the wind out of their lungs. Fighting the fear that consumed her she glared at the night sky like mass and jumped in.

“Twilight!” Blaze reached out to grab here but he was too late. Watching her vanish in a flash of white, he stared at the mass with horrified eyes. “Fuck…”

“What the hell are you doing?” Iron Wing’s raspy voice echoed through the hall. “Don’t you…” His eyes went wide as he saw the swirling mass. “What the?”

“Get Cadence and Shining!” Blaze growled.

Feeling a warm sensation washing over her, Twilight opened her eyes. “Woah?” She gasped as she found herself in a vast black void filled with white star like specks. It all felt strange to her. The stimulation she felt, so foreign, so alien. “Never felt magic like this before.” She slowly trekked through the midnight black.

“Hello?” She called out as she scoured the dark. “Celestia? Luna?” She cried out. She froze as she heard a sob. Her ears swiveled trying to pinpoint where it came from. Hearing it once again, her heart skipped a beat as it sounded very familiar.

Seeing a bright blue light poking from the darkness, she picked up her stride, closing the distance she saw the outline of a figure hunched over the blue light that turned out to be an orb. “Luna?” She gasped as saw the figure’s face. It was Luna for sure, but not the youthful royal she knew. Her dark-blue fur was now a midnight-cornflower-blue. Her lush sapphire-blue mane and tail were now a pure blinding white like her eyes. “Luna…”

“All I see are nightmares…” Luna cried as she stared into the orb, ignoring Twilight. “I tried to keep them safe in their dreams…” She rubbed her hoof across the orb.

Pain and sorrow filled Twilight’s heart as she timidly placed a hoof on Luna’s shoulder. “Luna it’s me, Twilight…” Luna whipped her head to face her. She jumped back and stared into her intoxicating eyes. “Luna?”

Luna’s wings twitched as she activated her horn. A fiery blue glow engulfed her horn and Twilight. Twilight let out a gasp as she floated over to Luna. Hovering in front of her, Twilight could finally see the full existent of her new form. A pain formed in her chest seeing the hurt pouring from Luna’s eyes like a broken dam.

“Why do you haunt me apparition?” Luna growled, her tone of voice dripping with venom. Twilight smacked her drying mouth as she tried to form words to speak. “Am I not tormented enough already?”

“Luna! It’s me!” Twilight held out her hooves. “Please, I’m not some ghost!”

Luna narrowed her eyes. “You dare deceive my mind? Taking the form of Celestia’s student…” Tears fell down her face. “My friend!”

Twilight shivered at the tone. “No… Please it’s really me! I’m alive! I came all this way to help!”

“Lies!” Luna threw Twilight to the ground. Twilight gasped in pain as the air was knocked out of her. Rolling over, she held her position to allow her to catch her breath. Luna stepped away from the blue orb and stood over Twilight. “I’ll not be consumed by your nightmares!” Luna spat as the mana around her horn grew. “I know your tricks! I know how you work! Its I alone who will stop your evil from spreading. I’ll keep your nightmares away!” She aimed her horn at Twilight. “I’ll save them from your dark magic!”

Growling out her pain, Twilight rolled out of the line of fire. White hot plasma scorched the black abyss. She gasped as the white fire from the blast faded into wispy grey smoke. Turning her attention to Luna, she saw her charging up another attack. Cursing under her breath, she rolled out of the way and activated her own magic to teleport out of this nightmare, but as soon as she felt the spell take hold, it died, causing her to tumble across the ground. ‘Stupid!’ She scolded herself.

Luna smirked menacingly as she grabbed Twilight’s hind legs. Feeling herself sliding across the floor, Twilight dug her hooves into the ground to slow herself, but to no avail. Looking over her shoulders, she saw the blue orb approaching. With no other options, she threw herself at it. “NO!” Luna screamed as she lunged at Twilight. Twilight grimaced as she feared the worst.

Silence… nothing but silence. Unnerving silence... Twilight slowly opened her eyes and let out a gasp. All around her was an endless number of white glowing spheres floating around her. “So, this is the dream realm?” She whispered out loud as she slowly walked past the vast number of spheres floating majesty through the stary void. “It’s more than what I’d imagined…”

Passing a sphere, she stopped and stared at it. Through the glassy exterior she saw a small filly running through a field playing tag with wacky strange creatures. A smile adorned her face at the innocence on display. Feeling a tear roll down her face, she wiped her eyes.

“Uh?” Feeling something hitting her rump, she turned around and saw another orb, but it was darker in color to the previous. Taking a closer look, she saw a mare surrounded by a nightmarish scene taken from hell itself. “Oh no…” She put a hoof to her mouth as she noticed the mare was partially turned. The mare kept running around in a frenzy manner, pulling at her mane and slamming her head against the jagged rocks. The mare’s screams shook Twilight to her core. Stumbling away from the orb she started to panic as she saw other dark orbs coming into view.

“I try so hard to let them rest, but she won’t let them go,”

Twilight’s body went numb at the motherly voice. Slowly turning around, her eyes fell upon an alicorn with white fur and a tri-colored mane flowing majestically with a non-existent breeze. “Celestia?”

The mare smiled. “It is I…” Twilight pulled her into a death grip of a hug, startling her. She let out a laugh and returned the hug. “Oh, dearest Twilight.”

Tears poured from Twilight’s eyes. “Why didn’t you come back?” She let her emotions run wild. “Why is Luna like this?” She looked up at her mentor with bloodshot eyes. “Why?”

Celestia’s heart sank seeing her student’s despair. She ran a hoof through Twilight’s mane, allowing her to release her emotions that had been building up for the past two months. “I tried, Twilight. I’ve seen everything you've been through. I am sorry I wasn’t there to comfort you” She held the young mare close to her chest. “But I can’t.”

“Why?” Twilight wiped her eyes. “Because of Luna?”

“In a way.” Celesta sighed, placing her hooves on Twilight’s shoulders. “I’m not here anymore. I am gone, you’re only talking to my soul.”

Twilight’s blood ran cold. “What?” She started to hyperventilate. “No… You can’t! You can’t!”

Celestia placed a hoof to her lips. “I was bitten by a sick pony that flown into the throne room.” She watched the orbs float around them. “Luna tried to save me, and, in her desperation, sent my soul to the Realm of Dreams. However it kept rejecting me, so in order to make it so, she bound my soul and the realm of dreams into a crystal sphere.”

Twilight looked down at her hooves. “But why is Luna keeping Cadence and the other survivors stuck within the castle’s premises?”

“Side effect of Luna’s spell.” Celestia bit her cheek.

“How do we get her to end her spell?”

“YOU WILL NOT DECEIVE ME!” Luna’s booming voice rolled across the realm. Twilight and Celestia saw her appear from a swirling black mass. “You will not take her from me apparition!”

Twilight cowered from the irate alicorn. Celestia put herself between her and her sister. “Not another step, dearest sister!”

Luna growled. “Don’t you listen to this demon!” Her voice cracked a little. “She’s trying to take you to her realm!”

A sharp pain radiated across her chest as her sister’s mournful tone danced in her ears. “Luna… I am no more!” She held back her emotions. “You must let me go! End this madness!”

“You are not!” Tears began to blur Luna’s vision. “I am close to a solution!” She hit the ground with her hoof. “I know this dark magic’s weakness!” She stepped forward. “The nightmares will be over for everypony!” She activated her magic. “And it starts with this apparition!” She fired a blast.

Celestia put up a shield diverting the hot plasma in all directions. Twilight coward under her mentor and watched Luna firing a never-ending barrage of attacks on to the shield. “Celestia!” Twilight gasped as she saw the shield begin to crack. She activated her horn and added her magic to it.

“Save your magic!” Celestia groaned.

“You need help!” Twilight groaned at the stress Luna was putting onto the shield. “Besides we need to find a way to rid her of this dark magic!”

“That will not end the spell keeping you here!” Celestia huffed. “You need to leave this realm! You need to put me to rest!”

“What?” Twilight was confused at her words, but she quickly caught on as she put two and two together. “No… I can’t!”

“You need to!” Celestia looked at her student. “What’s left of my mind is keeping the spell together.” She groaned as she felt her magic failing. “You must dearest Twilight.” Twilight shook her head and buried her face into her side. Celestia smiled as she remembered Twilight’s first day in school. Timid and quite but then became her most eager student full of lively expression. “Twilight. Look at me!”

Twilight timidly looked up at her mentor.

“Listen to me.” She felt tears rolling down her face. “Remember all that I taught you. Use it to the best of your abilities, because you’re in a new world. A world that’s about survival.” She gave her a stern expression. “So, you survive! And you rebuild! And never forget who you are!”

Twilight wiped her tears away. “I wish I could’ve saved you.”

Celestia shook her head. “Things happen for a reason,” She kissed her on the forehead. “Now run dearest Twilight.” She pulled magic from her shield. “RUN!” She fired a ball of magic at Twilight sending her flying across the void. Twilight screamed as she picked up speed. Before she knew it, she exited from the Realm of Dreams and tore through the black mass.

Groaning from the pain coursing through her body, she shook her head and lifted herself off the ground. Hearing a growl, she froze, her mind afraid to move. Fighting nausea and fear, she looked up and saw Celestia in front of her. Her heart sank as she stared at those milky white eyes that glared down at her. Celestia thrashed against the blood-soaked rope wrapped around her mouth like a gag. Her broken horn sparked and oozed magical discharge.

Seeing the bite on her neck, Twilight closed her eyes and held back her tears. “I love you.” She watched Celestia lift her hooves. The rope craned her neck back halting her attack. Looking over her shoulder, Twilight saw the swirling mass of black.

Frowning, she scanned the room and finding a pair of crochet needles on a makeup table by the window she picked them up with her magic. Staring at the needles her mind began to wander to happy memories of her and Celestia crocheting scarfs during their meditation sessions. Feeling tears rolling down her face, she blinked her eyes dry and stared at Celestia. “Don’t worry about me…” She casted a spell on the needles. They began vibrating violently. “You taught me well.” She closed her eyes and jammed the needles through Celestia’s eyes, shoving them deep into her skull, scrambling her brain.

Celestia collapsed to the floor except her head which snapped back and hung in an uncomfortable orientation by the rope. Feeling a menacing aura, Twilight turned around and saw Luna standing over her. Her blood ran cold as Luna stepped up closer. Lowering her body to the ground, she closed her eyes and braced for the worst. But nothing happened. Confused she opened her eyes and saw Luna standing over her sister’s corpse.

“No…” Luna cried as she lowered herself. “No…” She sobbed as she pulled her sister into a hug.

A great sense of grief washed over her. A strong urge to comfort Luna came over her. Trembling, she slowly approached, her hoof reaching out… ‘Run!’ hearing Celestia’s voice she stopped. Looking over her shoulder she saw the dark mass disappearing into the blue orb on the ground. Giving her diarchies one more glance, she ran out.

Feeling the aura of despair lifting off her shoulders, Twilight let out a heavy sigh of relief. “Dear sweet Celestia…” She looked up and saw her brother, Cadence, Blaze, Spitfire, and Iron Wing. “What did you do?” Shining asked softly as he stared at Luna holding Celestia zombified corpse.

“What Celestia wanted…” Twilight stepped away from the door. “I saw her…” She kept her eyes on Luna.

“You saw Celestia?” Cadence’s disbelief clearing showing through her tone of voice.

“In a way.” She rubbed her head.

“In what way?” Blaze tilted her head.

“Her spirit.” Twilight looked at the others. “She was the one keeping us here…” She looked back at Luna. “Keeping her here.”

“How worried should we be?” Iron Wing asked as he readied himself.

Before she could give an answer, Luna whipped her head around and glared daggers directly at Twilight.

“We should be very worried!” Blaze began to quickly step away from the room.

Luna showed her teeth, growling out her hatred as she lunged at Twilight. But before she could enact her revenge, a bright white light filled the room. Rubbing their eyes, Twilight and her friends stared in awe at the angelic figure blocking the raged filled alicorn. “Celestia?” Cadence gasped.

Celesta smiled at them. “Go…” Her voice was soft like the calm waves against the ocean shore. Feeling the strain of her sister pushing against her and her fading magic, she frowned. “GO! I can’t keep this form for long!” Her voice shook the castle’s foundations. Twilight and her friends didn’t hesitate as they ran down the hall. Seeing them fade from view, Celestia turned to face her sister. She grabbed her sister’s face and rested her forehead against hers. “You need to be at peace.”

Luna’s anger faded as she stared into her sister’s eyes. Her body went limp as she felt the warm aura she’d craved for so long. “I…” She held back her cries. “I can’t let you die in vain!” Celestia only smiled and kissed her sister on her forehead. The blue orb behind them began to vibrate as its glow became brighter and brighter.

Running out of the castle, Twilight looked up at the tower where Celestia’s chamber was. Her heart swelled with conflicting emotions. Emotions that begged her to go back and try to make things right. ‘Things happen for a reason…’

“How long do we have?” Blaze asked.

“I don’t know and I’m not going to waste time guessing.” Twilight found her resolve and booked it to the barracks to grab her saddlebag.

“What’s happening?” Fletcher watched Twilight run past him.

“We are leaving!” Cadence yelled out. The ponies mulling about the courtyard talked amongst themselves.

“Leaving?” One asked. “Why?”

“I thought we can’t leave?” Another questioned.

“You heard her!” Spitfire yelled. “Grab your stuff and gather at the gate!” The ponies dropped what they were doing and ran to gather their things.

“Iron Wing and I will get the trucks ready!” Shining ran toward several parked trucks on the other side of the yard.

Cadence watched her small group of survivors prepare to make their escape. “Where will we go?” A mare holding her foal asked from across the courtyard.

“We’ll figure that out once we’re on the road!” Cadence replied. “Just grab your things…”

A massive explosion erupted from Celestia and Luna’s tower. The mass ball of white-hot magical energy poured over the castle, tearing most of it into a million pieces. Cadence stared in horror as she saw her home falling apart. Holding back her tears she activated horn and casted a shield around Spitfire, Fletcher, and herself. She growled through the strain as chucks of rubble slammed against her magic. After what felt like eternity, she deactivated her magic and opened her eyes to overlook the damage that laid before her.

White-hot flames billowed from the smoldering rubble around her. The tower that once stood mighty over all was now replaced by open sky and a scared cliffside. The other portions of the castle near the blast sight were unrecognizable. It felt like a warzone.

Seeing that the only building in the courtyard to suffer the most damage was the military headquarters, her heart began to beat rapidly. Look around she saw others tending to their wounds. “Oh no…” She saw the body of the mare she was talking to under a large broken marble column. She felt her stomach twist when she saw her foal’s lower half was torn to pieces.

“Shit…” Spitfire looked away, closing her eyes to hold back tears.

“Princess!” Fletcher placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

Tearing her eyes from the dead foal, she looked at the young royal guard. “Yes…” She stood up. “Get your brother! We need to go!”

“What about the others?” He asked.

“Help if you can. They know where to meet, but we need to go…” Out of the corner of her eye, Cadence saw a galloper stumbling out from the rubble of the military headquarters. The monster shook its head about as it smelled the air. Snapping its neck, it glared at the ponies below.

“Run?” Spitfire asked as she opened her wings. Fletcher activated his horn as he took a runner’s stance.

The galloper let out a haunting scream as more trotters crawled out of the rubble, moving at a steady pace towards their new victims. But in the mad scramble many were uncaring for their own safety as they fell from heights of two of three stories, hitting the ground with meaty thuds.

“RUN!” Cadence screamed out in a commanding voice. Fletcher ran to the barracks. Spitfire took to the air firing upon the dead with her crossbow. Seeing the galloper approaching, Cadence fired a beam of plasma at it. The galloper dodged the attack and screamed as it closed the distance. Cadence gasped and quickly fired another one. This time it hit, sending the galloper tumbling across the jagged debris.

“Cadence! Are you alright?” Shining ran up with Twilight, Blaze, and Poppy. Iron Wing trailed behind as he slowly flew, holding his front right foreleg close to his chest.

“We need to go!” Cadence activated her horn and lifted Iron Wing onto her back.

“Your highness, I can fly…”

“Shut it!” Cadence huffed as she ran toward the gates.

“What about the others?” Twilight dodged a trotter that had jumped down from a bolder sized piece of rubble it had crawled over. “There are wounded!”

“It's every pony for themselves!” Blaze fired at a pegasus trotter that landed in front of them, turning its head into mush.

Twilight grimaced at his words. But deep down she knew he was right. Turning her gaze to the gates, she saw Hanzel on his brother’s back. Fletcher fired his crossbow as several dead closing on his location. A pegasus pony stood beside him, gracefully wielding her spear, making quick work of the dead.

“Are you the only ones?” Cadence asked them as they approached.

“No, four more made it!” Fletcher growled as he reloaded. “They’re already making their way down the hill!” He made his way to the gates with the others.

“Then we go!” Cadence stared at the castle that now laid in ruin. “Canterlot has fallen.” Shining and Fletcher felt a wave of shame as they passed the castle’s gate. In reality though, Canterlot had fallen since day one. “Everypony keep up! We need to put distance between us and the dead!” Cadence shouted as she caught up to the other ponies.

As she followed her friends down the mountain, Twilight looked at the castle one last time. Her eyes went wide as she saw a dark misty figure floating high above the castle. Seeing it disappear in a blink of an eye, she turned her gaze back to the road. “Oh… Luna….” She whispered as she watched the Moon rising in the sky.

Cadence’s small group of ponies slowly walked along the cobblestone roads of the suburbs that surrounded the castle. The night sky had allowed them to hide from the dead, putting enough distance to feel safe, for now. Twilight glared at the road. Her hooves felt like they were on fire with every step she took. Looking up she saw her brother slowly walking beside his wife. A part of Twilight was happy, joyful that her sister-in-law was alive, but the other half was angry, hateful at the world for taking her mentors, her teachers from her. Took her friends… Family… She stopped walking and glared at her hooves.

Hanzel noticing her tapped his brother's shoulder. Turning around Fletcher looked at his brother. “What is it?” Hanzel pointed at Twilight. Seeing her just standing still, he bit his cheek. “Shining?”

Shining and Cadence turned around. “Yeah?”

“Your sister.” He pointed at her with a nod of his head.

Shining let out a sigh and walked up to her. “Twily?” He rested his head against hers. “What’s on your mind?” Twilight fought back her emotions as she let him embrace her. “Twilight, everything will be alright…” Twilight pushed him away and ran down the intersection and turned left. “Twilight!”

Cadence took a deep breath to control her own tattered emotions. “Go.” She placed a hoof on her husband’s shoulder. “Spitfire and Blaze will guide us.” Shining kissed her hoof and sighed as he handed his saddlebag and chased after his sister.

“Should we go after them?” Poppy asked.

“No…” Cadence picked up Shining’s bag. “We need to get to the hotel they are held up in.”

Shining grumbled as he glared through the dark. The moonlight barley illuminated the ground, but it was enough to make out the obstacles in his way. Hearing a sob, he slowed down and looked up at the street sign. Recognizing the street’s name, he frowned. “You doubled back?” He mumbled to himself.

Seeing a figure, he jogged up to it and saw it was his sister staring at their childhood home. “Twilight, what are you doing?” He huffed. “We need to get back to the group before the trotters make their way down the mountain.” She just kept on crying. Running his hoof through his mane, he activated his horn and lifted her off the ground. “Twilight! Get it together…” His went numb as he saw the despair pour from those soft eyes of hers. “Twily?”

Twilight pulled away from her brother and walked up to a putter truck. Activating her horn she grabbed its fuel tank. “Twilight what are you…” She growled as she yanked and pulled with all her might. After several attempts she dislodged it from the truck. Huffing out her anger she dragged the nearly full tank up to her parents’ house. “Aw shit!” Shining followed her but kept his distance.

Kicking the door open, Twilight began pouring gas onto the floor. Tears poured down her face as she went room to room dumping the golden liquid. Getting to her father’s office and seeing the trotter rotting away, she growled as she poured an unhealthy amount of fuel on it. Getting to the second story, she doused her room, her brothers, but getting to her parents she stopped and held in her breath as she peered through the gap in the door. Seeing their bodies in the moonlight, she shivered from the stress taking hold of her body. Opening the door, she poured the fuel around their bed.

“Twilight?” Shining watched her step out of the room, throwing the tank onto the floor. She activated her horn as her eyes drunkenly stared at her parents. “Twilight what has gotten into you?” He jumped as he saw her activating her horn. Activating his, he pulled her into a hug and held her tight.

Her magic died as she went limp in his embrace. “Everything is gone!” She sobbed. “I… I held out hope.” She shook her head. “How are you not angry!” She hissed through clenched teeth. “You’re not angry!”

Shining just rested his head against hers and rocked her back in forth. “I am mad Twily…” He allowed himself to let his emotions out. “I’m so angry at the world…” He kissed her cheek. “But I can’t let that stop me…” He continued to rock her. “We need to live for them… Survive for them…”

Twilight choked on her cries. “T-That’s what she said…”

“Celestia?” Shining asked. Twilight barley answered him with a nod as she stared off into space. He stared at his parents’ postmortem embrace. “Want to do it together?”

“Yeah…” Twilight spoke tiredly.

Stepping out of the house, Shining and Twilight looked at their childhood home one last time. Within the moonlight, the warm memories they had no longer played out in their minds. Now it was a tomb. A tomb for their anger. Activating their horns, they fired a ball of fire at the front door. Quickly the fuel when alight and spread rapidly through the house. Feeling a weight lift off her shoulder, she leaned against her brother, as they watched the home lit up like dry tender.