AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Lotus stared at her sister, the steam wafting from her cup of tea tickled her snout. She lifted the cup to her lips but hesitated to take a sip. She timidly placed it back on the table they sat around. Aloe timidly took a sip of her own tea, her eyes struggling to look at her sister.

“Took me a month…” Lotus finally spoke as she stared at her reflection in her cup of tea. “I had a feeling,” She looked up at her sister, disappointment clearly displayed on her face. “Why?”

Aloe swallowed the last of her tea and poured herself some more in a vain attempt to avoid the inevitable. “Because…”

“Because, what?”

“That!” Aloe huffed, “What you’re doing!” She felt her emotions getting to her. “You would’ve never approved…” She put her cup of tea close to her chest. “You never approved of any stallions I liked...”

Lotus bit her lip as memories of the stallions her sister tried dating and her rejecting them… “I…” She grimaced at the pain her vocal cord was feeling. “Sis, I’m just looking out for you.”

Aloe rolled her eyes as she looked away and stared out the window watching dark clouds rolling across the sky. Lotus felt a cold shiver dance across her body. Her sister’s dour posture unnerved her. “Aloe?”

“Just stop.” Aloe closed her eyes to control her emotions.

“What?”

“Just stop!” She turned around, tears in her eyes. “You’re choking me!” Lotus was dumbstruck as she tried to find words to shoot down her sister’s words. Aloe held up a hoof to silence her before she could utter a single word. “I love him! I love this place! And I’m not leaving!” She made her way towards the door to Lotus’ room. “If you want to, go!” She threw open the door. “You’ll be going alone!”

The world around Lotus faded as she stared at the opened door. Her mouth felt dry, she slowly smacked her lips as her sister’s words swam in her head…. “Lotus?” Hearing a voice echo around her, her eyes darted about. “Lotus!”

The world and all its sounds came back to her. She gasped as she found herself sitting at table. One of many within the park in the center of town. The sounds of children laughing, and the smells of food cooking assaulted her senses.

“Lotus?”

Lotus looked to her left and saw Mrs. Tyme staring at her with concern clearly showing through those green eyes of hers. Feeling her hoof on her shoulder, she smacked her lips. “Yes?”

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Tyme’s left ear laid flat as she studied her shocked state of mind.

Lotus scanned the ponies mulling about the picnic and saw her sister sitting beside the Governor. Her throat tightened up as she saw him feed her a bite of food. “Yeah…” She looked at her own plate of food and saw a fly scurrying along its rim.

Mrs. Tyme slowly took a bite of her salad. “You sure?”

“Yes.” Lotus sighed. “Just a headache is all.”

Mrs. Tyme slowly nodded as she looked to her left and watched her two kids talking amongst themselves. Looking past them, she saw dark clouds slowly creeping towards their town. “Looks like this winter is going to be a rough one.” Lotus looked up from her plate and saw the storm clouds approaching. Seeing a flash of lighting she turned her attention back to Aloe. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the Governor kiss her sister’s cheek.

-1 Hour Later-

Lotus sat under a tarped awning protecting her from the slushy snow falling upon the land surrounding Mulberry. She shivered from the cold winds stirred up by the storm. Adjusting her coat, she leaned forward some and took a peek over the fence. Seeing nothing along the fence’s base she sat back and leaned against the plywood walls that were her sanctuary from the outside world.

“Can’t see shit!” Zipper cursed as he ran up the steps. Standing under the tarp he shook his hooves dry. “Damn, looks like fall is going to be a very short season.”

Lotus looked to her left and peered out of her protective box and looked down the street. Seeing a brick building near the southern gate she dipped her head back under the awning. “A least we harvested the last of the wheat and jarred what fruit and vegies we could.”

“It was a good harvest.” Zipper took out a cigarette and lit it. “It could’ve been better.”

“We’ll be fine…” Lotus looked up at the sky watching the clouds roll into themselves.

“Starting to care?” Zipper chuckled. Lotus frowned as she hugged her rifle close to her chest. “Guess, not.” He watched the storm roll across the sky. “Staying for your sister?”

“I was just making small talk.” She grumbled.

“You didn’t answer my question.” He grumbled in return.

Lotus stared at the muddy puddles dotting the road’s uneven asphalt. “You know the answer.” She fiddled with her rifle’s bolt.

Zipper just shook his head as he looked out at the road. “Stop being a pussy and talk to her.” He threw his finished cigarette on the ground and lit another. “Hell, you have your sibling here. I’m dying to talk to mine…” He sighed. “Wherever he is.”

Lotus grumbled as she looked over her shoulders and stared at the abandoned streets. Seeing a figure walking across the street. She narrowed her eyes. They went wide and her throat tightened as she saw it was her sister. Feeling a chill wash over her, her eyes closed as she rested her head against her rifle. Grumbling, she threw her gun over her shoulder. Taking Zipper’s cigarette out his mouth she took several large puffs before giving it back to him.

He looked at was left of it and scoffed as he tossed it on the ground. “Feeling confidant?”

She ignored him as she quickened her pace. Seeing her nearing the brick building she saw earlier, Lotus fought her emotions and yelled. “Aloe!” Aloe turned around; she stayed still as she watched her sister walk up to her. “Aloe, can you talk for a bit?” Lotus asked as she caught her breath.

Aloe frowned. “I’m busy…” She placed her hoof on the door.

“Sis!” Lotus stopped her. “Please…” She swallowed, trying to dull the pain her dry mouth was giving her. “I need to get this off my chest.”

“Get what off your chest?” Aloe asked skeptically.

“I…” She listened to the distant crack of thunder. “I just want to tell you, I love you.”

Aloe stared at her for a short while. “I know…”

Lotus stopped her once again. “And I support your…” She swallowed her emotions. “Your choice…” She pulled her into a hug. Aloe was taken back by the affection. Slowly she returned the hug. Lotus pulled away and placed her hooves on her sister’s shoulders. “I just need time to accept him…” She kissed her on the head. Aloe gave a small nod. Louts smirked at the slight smile on her sister’s face. “I need to get back to work.” She gave her one more hug before making her way back to the gate’s lookout platform.

Aloe watched the ripples from the slushy snow roll across the concrete. “Thank you!” She called out to her sister.

Lotus looked over her shoulders. “I love you.” She looked out at the quite town. “Through thick and thin!” She gave her a shit eating grin.

Aloe rolled her eyes as she entered the building, but stopped and listened to her sister’s hoofsteps fade into the distance. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly as she stepped into the building.

Letting the mild warmth that lingered the hall warm her, Aloe shook off the water the clung to her, placing her drenched coat on the hangers by the door. Looking over the abandoned bank, her mind drifted to the Governor’s hopes to reopen it one day. Smirking at the thought, she made her way up the stairs.

Opening the door, she stepped into the Governor’s room… ‘No… Our room.’ She chastised herself. She eyed the spacious space that was once the bank manager’s office. Seeing that she was alone, she walked up to the window and looked at the street below. Seeing some of the wall guards sitting at their posts, her mind slowly drifted to her sister.

‘I need time to accept him.’

Her body shivered. ‘Why do you need time?’ She frowned as she looked past the walls at the forest that surrounded Mulberry. “I accepted Willie.” Her tail twitched from her frustrations.

“What do you mean by that?”

Aloe quickly turned around and saw the Governor at the door. “Um,” She blushed as she timidly walked up to him and place a kiss on his cheek. “Nothing.”

“That sounded like nothing.” He eyed her skeptically. She tried to form a sentience to steer the conversation elsewhere but her tongue failed her. “It’s about your sister?” Aloe puckered her lips as she turned away and looked at the floor. “Is she bothering you?”

“No!” She blurted out. Realizing her tone, she blushed. “No,” She spoke in a softer tone, her hooves up, emphasizing her words. “She… She spoke to me.”

“Took her a month.” He smiled. “Is she coming around?”

Aloe stayed silent for a short while as she thought of her answer. “She says she needs more time.”

“But?” He tilted his head, his catlike eyes studying every twitch of her body.

She loved and hated how he could read her. “She’s fine with me dating you.”

“I didn’t know it was official?” She turned around and gave the Governor a stern look, before it quickly turned into a grin as she nuzzled into him. He sighed as he rested his head on hers. “You think she’s warming up to the town?”

“I said, she needs time…”

“Just making sure.” He placed a hoof under her chin, forcing her to keep eye contact. “I need everypony to be behind this town one hundred percent.” He gave her a serious look. “We can’t have any doubt. Because if ponies doubt, it will fester like an infected wound and bring everything we’ve built to crumble.”

Aloe slowly nodded.

“I’ll talk to her.” He looked at his desk. “Why don’t you go and see if everything will be ready for tonight.” He glanced out the window. “The weather should calm down, so I don’t see no need to cancel tonight’s event.”

“Yes…” She kissed him.

He smiled as he left their room.

Stepping out, the Governor stood under the awning and looked up at the sky. Seeing some of the clouds starting to lighten up he smirked as he walked towards the northern gate. The rain felt like ice against his bat like wings. He grimaced but didn’t pay it much attention. ‘Winter is coming,’ he told himself, ‘Get used to it.’ Seeing Lotus looking through the scope of her rifle, he stopped at the steps and waited for her. She didn’t fire and pulled the scope from her eye. She grumbled, laying the rifle in her lap, rubbing her eyes to rid them of stress.

“See any unwanted guests?”

She stared at him with a curious gaze. “What are you doing out in the rain?”

“Straight to the point.” He shook his head as he walked up the steps. “I spoke to your sister.” He stood under the tarp.

Her eyebrows lifted in a surprised, yet not at all shocked expression. “You did?” She placed the butt of the rifle on the floor, her hooves wrapped around the barrel. “What did you talk about?” She kept her eyes on the stallion as she leaned against the rifle.

“Talked about you.” The Governor’s cat-like eyes studied her unamused posture.

Lotus rocked the rifle side to side as she mulled over his words. “What about me?”

“That you needed to take things slowly.” He looked over the road.

“Is that a bad thing?” Lotus chewed her cheek.

The Governor stayed silent, allowing the dying rain to fill their minds. “No.” He looked down at her. “Not at all.” He let out a breathed laugh. “Coming to tonight’s event?”

“I’ve been out in the rain all day…” Seeing the look he was giving her, her throat tightened. It was a look that was hard to describe, but it made her feel uneasy.

“I hope you do.” He smiled. “Your sister will be there. Everypony will be there. We did it last time. I find it’s a great way to relieve stress before winter rears its ugly head.” He tilted his head as he raised his brow at her.

“I…” She swallowed. “I’ll be there.”

He smiled. “Good.” He stepped down the steps.

Lotus stared at him for a few seconds before turning her gaze to her hooves.

Lotus found herself in a small outdoor stadium. Once it held high school ball games, now it held a random assortment of performances that were being put on by the kids of Mulberry. Feeling a strong breeze, she pulled the hood of her jacket over her head. Even though the rain had stopped the weather still held a chill that sent pins and needles down one’s spine.

“Thank you for coming.” Her sister’s voice broke her out of her weather induced stupor.

Lotus looked to her left and saw her sister’s infectious smile. “Of course.” She returned her smile. “Who else would I spend my evening with.”

Aloe rolled her eyes as she scanned the ponies in the auditorium. “I’m sure there is somepony that you made friends with?” Lotus’ silence was an answer she expected to hear. “At least tonight will be fun.”

“This is their second time hosting this event?” Lotus asked.

“Yeah, keeps ponies happy.” Aloe zipped up her jacket.

“Cold?” Lotus eyed her sister.

“No…”

“You’re a terrible liar.” She stood up. “I’ll get you a warm beverage.”

“Get something for the Governor.” Aloe called out.

“Of course.” Louts put on a smile. Far enough away, her smile broke as she wandered over to a stall by the entrance. Stopping a few feet away, she looked around. After all these months it still baffled her that the Governor was able to build and maintain this little slice of normalcy surrounded by the dead… ‘Helps there is a wall…’ Her mind drifted to her friend Rarity. Her lips puckered as she thought where she could be and if the others were alright. Shaking her head, she stepped up to the stall. “Three warm ciders.”

Lotus jerked as a loud cheering echoed all around. “Looks like it's about to start.” The mare behind the stall smiled. “You better hurry.”

Lotus picked up the tray of warmed ciders and made her way back into the arena. The cheers were loud, causing her fold her ears back. Trying her best to ignore the sounds, she made her way back to her seat. Seeing the governor sitting beside her sister, she felt her jaw tighten.

Noticing her, the Governor smiled and stood up. “Thank you.” He took two cups.

Unclenching her jaw, she sat down her cup on the ground. “What do I do with this?” She motioned to the tray.

“We’ll deal with it later.” He waved a hoof. “The main event is about to start.”

Lotus looked at the arena floor as she took her seat. Seeing Zipper and another stallion walking onto the dirt, she held the cup of cider close to her lips, allowing its steam to warm her face. Seeing the stallions nodding at each other, her confusion grew as she saw Zipper detaching the walking stick from his prosthetic. Hearing a loud horn the stallions rushed each other and started throwing punches.

Lotus grimaced at the fighting. She knew boxing was a popular sport before the apocalypse, but she never found it appealing. Looking over at her sister she saw that she was slowly sipping from her drink. Her eyes were glued to the fight as a small smile was on her lips. As for the Governor, he looked somewhat pleased as he lazily drank his cider.

Panicked she quickly looked back at the fight, she nearly choked on her drink as she saw trotters with chains around their necks stumbling onto the field. “What the fuck?” She whispered as she slowly looked at her sister. Her heart sank at the excited expression on her face. “What the fuck!”

“Relax!” The Governor laughed. “Zipper and Nasper are fine.”

“They’re fighting in an arena with trotters!” Louts growled pointing at the stallions dodging the trotters as the dead lunged after them. Aloe shivered at her tone and cowered in her seat.

“They’re teeth are pulled.” The Governor leaned over noticing her reaction. “They can’t cause harm.” He gave her a warm smile.

“But this is barbaric.” Lotus hissed.

“It’s a way for my ponies to blow off some steam.” He retorted.

“You jog if you want to blow off steam.” Lotus shook her head. “You’re teaching them that trotters are not dangerous.”

“We’re teaching them to not fear them.” He spoke through his teeth.

Despite the cheering a silence fell over them with Aloe stuck in the middle. However, before they could say another word and loud roar broke through the crowd. Everypony looked up at the sky and saw a damaged airship slowly descending toward the earth.

The Governor stared at the blimp as it soared over their town and towards the forest. “Light Feather! Silver Wings!” Said ponies stood up. “Keep an eye on that airship!”

Both pegasi took to the sky. “Get the radio!” Silver Wings told Light Feather. The mare quickly diverted to get said item.

“Everypony head to your homes!” The Governor yelled. Many murmured to one another. “Stay indoors until we figure out what’s going on.” He looked at Zipper. “Get your stallions!” Zipper nodded as he left the arena. Looking at Aloe and Lotus, he softened his face. “You should stay with your sister until I get back.” He placed a hoof under Aloe’s chin and pulled her in for a kiss. Lotus looked away and watched the trotters being dragged back into their cages.

The Governor hung his head out the passenger window looking up at the sky watching Silver Wings guiding them by waving his flashlight. The cool air stung, but the thought of the ponies on the airship consumed his mind. “Who do you think it is?”

The Governor looked at the driver, who was a unicorn with black fur and yellowish mane and tail. “Not sure?”

“Well, you have an idea?”

“Do you, Cosmo?”

Cosmo looked away from his leader’s intimidating eyes. “No…” He kept his eyes on the uneven dirt path that snaked its way through the forest. “You think anypony is still alive?”

The Governor kept quiet, letting the sounds of engine motors and the wind blowing into the truck to calm his jittery nerves. “Didn’t sound like a violent crash.”

“What do we do when we get there?” Cosmo asked as he pressed his hooves into the steering wheel.

“If we think it's what we think it is?” The Governor ran his hoof through his mane. “Then you do it.” Cosmo slowly nodded. His eyes lit up as he saw the glow of fire in the distance. “We’re here.”

The putter-trucks came to a stop. Jumping out, the Governor waved to his stallions as they slowly trotted to the crash site. Getting to the clearing, the Governor peered through the trees and saw several ponies mulling about, pulling crates and other ponies from the wreckage. Seeing that they were wearing grey uniforms, he looked at Zipper and Cosmo and gave them a nod. “Don’t shoot!”

Some of the stallions looked from their work and drew their weapons. “Who are you?” One of them growled.

“We mean you no harm.” The Governor spoke as Zipper and Cosmo came out of the woods. “Is anypony hurt?”

Two of the stallions looked at each other. “A few.” One of them spoke.

“Are you colts military?” The Governor asked.

One of the stallions giving aid to one of the wounded, lifted his hoof. “Yes.”

The stallion who was speaking to the Governor sighed. “Thirteenth Army Airforce.”

“Nice to meet you colts.” The Governor smiled. “We can help you. We live in a town up the way, called Mulberry. We have food, water, medicine.” He put a hoof to his chest. The stallions looked at one another. “I just need to know where you colts were heading.” He pointed at Zipper. “I can have one of my stallions drive to where you’re going and tell them you’re alright.”

The stallions gave each other looks. “We were heading to a military base northwest of here.” The stallion smacked his dry mouth. “I’ll go with, it's on lockdown, they may shoot you on site.”

“Where up north?” The governor bit his cheek. “Might need to refuel before you go.”

“I can’t say.” The stallion backed up a bit. “I’ll tell the driver once we are on our way.”

The Governor shook his head as he looked at Zipper and Cosmo. “Sounds doable.” He flicked his hoof, causing his hoof mounted pistol to unsheathe itself and poke out from his jacket’s sleeve. Flicking his hoof down, he fired off a shot that struck one of soldiers in the shoulder.

The other soldiers couldn’t react in time as the Governor’s stallions opened fire from the trees. Watching the soldiers crumpling to the ground, the Governor slowly walked up to the wounded stallion struggling to remove his slung rifle over his bleeding shoulder. Pressing down on the stallion’s chest and into the cold dirt, he gave him a toothy smile. The stallion coward under his uncanny glare. “I ain’t going to kill you yet.” He leaned down, getting in the stallion’s face. “You still need to tell me where my gift is.”