AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Darkness… Darkness was all Limestone could see… A dense fog clouded her mind… She felt an intense throbbing emanating from the nock on her right leg… ‘Why does it hurt?’ She questioned, her voice echoing all around her.

“Don’t you worry…”

Limestone was confused by the worried tone coating Granite’s words. ‘Why does he sound worried?’

“I’ll get you home…”

She felt a kiss on her forehead. She was confused by how damp her fur felt. ‘What happened to me?’

“And save them…”

‘Save?’ Limestone felt a wave of dizziness affecting her judgement. ‘Save how?’ She said but her lips didn’t move. Her own voice echoed in her head. She groaned as she felt a strong migraine radiating across her skull…

-14th day of the outbreak-

Limestone rubbed her forehead as she stared at herself in the mirror. “Are you almost done?” Marble, her youngest sister asked as she stood under the doorframe to their room. “We’re just going to go out for supplies.” Marble frowned as she watched Limestone comb her mane. “You think you’ll pick up a stallion?”

Limestone blushed as she sat down her comb. “A mare can’t try…” She frowned as she gave her mane a once over.

“Really, the world is falling apart and you’re thinking of a date?” Marble rolled her eyes.

Limestone rolled her eyes in return as she stepped out of their room. “I’m not going through an ‘apocalypse’ single!” She booped her sister’s snout before heading downstairs. Marble grumbled, rubbing her snout as she watched her sister. Letting out a sigh, she moved her bangs from her eyes and followed after her.

Stepping off the last steps, Limestone eyed the other members of her family. To her right her mother and Mrs. Cake stood around the oven preparing supper. Sitting at the table was Mr. Cake playing a game of cards with his children, Pumpkin and Pound Cake. Over by the fireplace was her eldest sister Maud who sat beside her second youngest sister, Pinkie. Limestone’s smile faded as she saw the hurt that still lingered within Pinkie’s baby-blue eyes.

‘It’s almost been a week…’ Limestone scolded her sister. ‘She needs to get herself together…’ Letting out a sigh she walked over to the coatrack and grabbed her cotton hoodie.

“Heading out?” Her mother called out.

“Yes, I got the list.” She patted the chest pocket on her hoodie. “We’ll be in and out before you know it.”

“Taking my truck?” Their father asked.

“No, I don’t want to get stuck or pulled over.” Limestone let out a sigh. “Just in case, I want an easy out.”

“Then please make it quick.” Mrs. Cake tapped her hooves. “The news over the radio doesn’t sound good.”

“We’ll be fine.” She saw Pinkie staring at her with wide eyes. “We’ll make it quick I promise.” She motioned at Marble who quickly slipped into her boots and followed after her. Exiting their home, Limestone looked up at the sky and saw the grey overcast sky was getting darker.

“Looks like a storm is brewing?” Marble frowned at the forming clouds.

“Yeah… Let’s hurry before it forms.” Limestone stared at a distant town about three miles out.

After the short twenty-five-minute walk, Limestone and Marble entered the town of Nickelrite. A small mining town on the outskirts of the Appaloosan basin. Limestone scanned the sparse spattering of civilians mulling about the streets. “I hope the grocery store is still open.” Marble mused as she watched a store owner standing under the door to his shop scanning the bare streets hoping for a last-minute customer.

“Looks like no pony is out and about.” Limestone frowned as she saw a military truck driving past them. “Is lockdown starting?” She quickly walked towards the grocery store in the center of town.

“I hope not.” Marble huffed

“Come on, let’s hurry!” Limestone waved on her sister. Marble sighed as she kept pace with her for several more hooves until they came upon the grocery store. Stepping inside, Limestone scanned the barren looking shelves. “Damn…”

“You think they’ll have what we need?” Marble asked as she walked alongside her sister.

“Hopefully.” Limestone handed a basket to her sister and picked up one for herself. “Let’s hurry, grab whatever you can, preferably with a long shelf life.” She spoke through clenched teeth. Marble nodded as she followed after. They worked quickly as they went down each isle plucking the few remaining items that lined the shelves.

With their baskets’ full, they sauntered over to the cashier who was listening to the radio. “This is the voice of Canterlot.” The voice over the radio sounded calming. “Just your daily reminder to remain calm, stay indoors, and avoid anypony who looks sick. Let the Equestria’s army and her brightest minds fight this infection.” Music replaced the voice for a few short seconds before another voice took over and started talking about the weather.

“Equestria’s brightest minds.” The cashier scoffed.

Limestone bit her lip at that statement as she waved at the cashier. “Um, sir?”

The cashier looked up from the radio and smiled. “Limestone, Marble.” He scanned his barren store. “A little late to be shopping?”

“Yeah, need some last-minute supplies.” Limestone commented as Marble and her sat down their baskets.

He scanned the items within and let out a sigh. “Forty bits even.”

Limestone placed down a small bag. “Keep the change.” Limestone went to put their food items in her saddlebag.

“Take the baskets.” The cashier took out a small bottle of whisky. “Looks like I won’t be needing them for a while.” Limestone gave a timid nod as they picked up their baskets and left the store.

Exiting the shop, Limestone and Marble stopped in their tracks as they saw that the clouds above had finally turned sour and the once calm overcast sky was now a full-blown downpour. “Shit…” Limestone cursed as she eyed the muddy streets. “Our stuff is going to get soaked!”

“Maybe we can wait it out?” Marble asked before flinching as a bolt of lightning filled the sky followed by the crack of thunder.

“And risk getting stuck here…” Limestone huffed.

“We should’ve taken Pa’s truck.” Marble grumbled.

Limestone didn’t respond, she only grumbled as she agreed with her sister. Hearing the roar of a diesel motor, she looked to her left and saw a military car driving down the road. It drove past and off towards the other side of town.

“You need a ride miss?” A masculine voice asked.

Looking over their shoulders, the sisters saw a unicorn stallion, with brown fur and patchy white spots. He wore the signature grey military outfit of the Equestrian Army. Limestone gaze landed on those blue eyes of his. She felt a shiver dance across her back. She didn’t know if it was the cold air or his intoxicating stare.

“Yes.” Marble answered for her sister, noticing her mind was elsewhere.

“Well, where too?” The stallion asked.

“A ride out of town.” Limestone, finally spoke up. “To our farm.” She pointed at the horizon. “We live about three miles from town.”

The stallion smirked at her mannerisms. “Well, I can grant you that wish.” He looked over at a group of military vehicles surrounding a five-story hotel beside townhall. “Just let me do all the talking.” He gave them a playful smirk.

“Thank you…” Limestone blushed as she took in more of his features.

“Granite.” He gave them a hoof. “Granite, Private 2nd class.”

Limestone smiled as she shook it. “Limestone, and this is my sister Marble.”

“Well let’s get you mares back home.” He bowed for them as he led them over toward the vehicles. Limestone smiled as they followed the stallion. Her eyes slowly drifted to studying his features.

“Don’t get too distracted.” Marble whispered.

Limestone glared at her sister, her cheeks red with embarrassment. “I’m not…” Seeing Granite looking over his shoulders at them, she gave him a sheepish smile. “So?” She looked at the vehicles and the mass of soldiers gearing up and or mulling about. “When will lockdown start?”

Granite shrugged his shoulders. “Not sure?” He looked back at the sisters. “The Major hasn’t given the order yet.”

“That’s good.” Marble breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be able to go back home.” Granite smiled, his eyes locking with Limestone’s. Limestone blushed and returned the smile.

Getting to the hotel, Granite jumped off the veranda and onto the gravel streets, leaving the safety of the awning and into the storm’s rainy assault. Limestone watched as he approached an older looking stallion sitting at a table within a military tent. The elder stallion showed an aura of authority that was rather intimidating. The stallion’s left ear went erect as he looked up from his work, turning his attention towards Limestone and Marble, eyeing them with narrowed eyes.

Limestone felt her cheeks get hot as she found herself in unwanted attention. The stallion turned his attention back to Granite. He rolled his eyes as he half-heartedly pointed at one of the putter-trucks. Granite smiled and waved for them as he got to the truck. Quickly, Limestone and Marble hopped into the vehicle. “Sorry, the heater in these things suck.” Granite turned the key and fired up the truck.

“It’s okay, it’s not a long drive.” Limestone smiled.

Granite felt his chest tighten as eyed her features. “Don’t get too comfortable then, this will be a smooth ride.” He shifted the truck into drive. The loose suspension rocked the truck as it drove down the road.

Limestone braced herself. “Smooth ride, uh?” She frowned at him playfully.

Granite gave a sheepish smile. “It maybe a little bumpy…”

-Present Day-

Limestone’s eyes shot open as she let out a gasp. She quickly sucked in ice cold air, which caused her to cough. Gasping for a breath, the haze that lingered in her mind began to fade allowing her to slowly become aware of her surroundings. Seeing that she was in some rectangle shaped room, with an ungodly number of cots, she became confused.

A chill washed over her as she placed a hoof on her forehead to stop the pulsing in her head. Feeling how damp, her fur felt, she mulled over why, when she became aware of a dull throbbing pain radiating from her right hindleg. Fighting through the stiffness she felt in her neck, she sat up and looked at her hindlegs. Her blood ran cold as she saw a bandaged stump where her right hindleg once was. Memories of the how and why came flooding back, which caused her to vomit.

Groaning at the taste of bile, she glared at her surroundings with watery eyes. “Granite?” The throbbing in her leg was starting to become more intense by the seconds. “Pinkie? Copper?”

Hearing an explosion in the distance, her heart skipped a beat. She stayed put as she tried to pinpoint the noise. “What is happening?” Hearing a gun shot. She became more worried. “I need to find them…” She stared at her stump. She glared at the amputated limb. She knew her sister had no other option. She was just shocked it worked… Maybe… She felt clammy and feverish…

She shook her head and looked around her, seeing that each cot had a hooflocker at the foot of the bed, she mustered every ounce of her strength and crawled out of the cot. She cursed as she fell onto the ground with more force than she would’ve liked. Hissing through the pain, she dragged herself over to the hooflocker and opened it. Seeing a hockey stick within the pile of kick knacks, she grumbled and picked it up with her mouth. ‘How the hell am I going to do this?’

Hearing several more shots ring out, her whole body shook as she imagined the worst. She bit down on the hockey stick and growled out her pain as she stood up on her three remaining limbs. Taking several deep breaths, she stumbled over to the door of the barracks and threw herself against it as she used a hoof to pull down the handle.

Stepping out into the blistering cold. She felt goosebumps forming on her skin underneath her fur, making it stand on end. Glaring through the storm, she looked for any sign of her sister, Copper and her coltfriend. Seeing the distinct blue glow of Granite’s magic, she gasped as she slowly stumbled over toward the light.

“Where are they!” Limestone heard Granite yell.

Hearing another gunshot her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath and pressed on, fighting through the pain and her body’s cries to stop. Another gunshot rang out. She shivered as she heard it wiz over her head. She stood still slowly scanning for her coltfriend when sounds of stallions struggling filled her ears. Tightening her grip on her impromptu weapon she picked up the pace by skipping toward the sound.

The pain emanating from her right hindleg’s nock was nauseating and she felt bile tickling the back of her throat, but with the silhouette of two stallions piercing the blizzard white, she pressed on until those figures came into focus… She felt a chill as she saw a pegasus stallion on top of Granite, with his hooves on his neck. Without a second thought, she summoned what she could and swung the hockey stick at the back of the stallion’s skull.

Nox went limp as a sharp sensation overwhelmed his senses. He groaned as he fell onto the snow-covered asphalt. Before he could make heads or tails, he was struck again, but this time it was weaker that the first. “Who the fuck…” Before he could finish, Granite struck him across the face, knocking him out cold.

“Mother fucker!” Granite growled as he held a hoof to his neck, his lungs gasping for air they desperately craved. Seeing that Nox was indeed out for the count, he looked to see who came to his rescue and saw Limestone on the ground. “Limestone!” He crawled up to her and rolled her over.

Seeing her eyes glazed over, he placed a hoof to her forehead and felt a fever was consuming her. “Are… you… okay...” She asked, her voice weak sounding as her drunken eyes stared at his broken horn.

“Yeah…” He sighed. “I’m more worried about you.” He looked over at Nox and frowned. “We need to get back home.”

“Nickelrite?” Limestone mumbled.

Granite flinched at her tone of voice. “Yeah… Nickelrite…” He placed her on his back and painfully stood up. He thought of the town and the shit show it became in such a short time span. Maybe in another life he would’ve enjoyed what the town had to offer… Making a life with Limestone… Shaking his head to rid it of the haze it was in, he marched back to the mess hall.

Getting to the mess hall, he stopped and stared at Nox’s friends still lying on the ground. Seeing Chrisp awakening from his death induced slumber, he grumbled at how fast he’d turned. “Damn it…” He watched as Chrisp slowly turned around and crawled toward him.

Biting his tongue, he walked over to the passenger side of the putter truck and opened its door and gently placed Limestone in the seat. “I’ll be right back.” Closing the door, he glared at the trotter before picking up the rifle on the ground and firing a shot through its skull. He turned and fired a round into Swillow’s skull even though he showed no signs that he turned.

Hissing out a growl he slung the rifle on his back and ran back to Nox who was still sound asleep. “You’re coming with me!” Granite hissed as he dragged him back to the putter truck. Getting to the truck, he tied him up and and tossed him in the bed of the truck.

Feeling a strong migraine washing over him, he leaned against the truck and took a deep breath. Timidly placing a hoof to his broken horn, he hissed at its sensitivity… “This is going to be a bitch…” He sighed as he jumped into the truck. Staring at the familiar controls his mind drifted back to Nickelrite, back to the time he first met Limestone. He looked over at her and saw her sickly state. “Don’t worry…” He turned the keys that were still in the ignition. “It maybe a little bumpy…”