AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Blaze groaned out a troubled sigh as he rolled over on the cold ground of his makeshift shelter. Shivering from the cold, he sat up and stared at the storm that ingulfed the land. ‘Should’ve taken the jacket, he rubbed his forelegs. The sweater he wore was made of cotton, but it was a medium thickness meant for spring.

The thought of his jacket saddened him as his mind drifted to Twilight. Frowning, he groaned as he sat up. Throwing on his saddlebag, he looked at his haphazard shelter and smoldering firepit. “I need a warmer place to stay.” Walking along the frozen road, he sighed as he turned his gaze west and continued his trek to places unknown.

-Five Minutes Later-

Blaze trudged through the snow along the steep hillside. He cursed the small horde that was stumbling down the road earlier. He thought about going back to the road, but with the storm still at full force, he knew he’d get lost trying to find it.

Stopping he slowly scanned his surroundings. The snow kicked up by the winds didn’t help matters. He couldn’t see shit… He chewed his cheek as he walked up the hill. He had no destination. Maybe he’d just wander off and die. Like he deserved. ‘You made mistakes…’ Twilight’s voice danced in his mind. Stopping his mind slowly drifted to a pleasant memory…

Blaze stood under an awning of an apartment building. His eyes stared at the hotel across the street. The Head Quarters they were calling it. Their base of operations. He stared at the thin layer of snow blanketing the streets. Buttoning up his leather jacket, he tossed his spent cigarette and stepped onto the street and made his way over to the hotel, a brick made four story building.

Entering the building, he saw a group of ponies mulling about. Seeing Twilight, Cadance and Spitfire staring at a map, he sighed as he walked up to them. “So, what am I doing today?”

Twilight looked over at the stallion and smiled. “Good afternoon.” She shook her head. “Glad you could join the land of the living.”

“That statement holds two meanings these days.” Spitfire laughed.

Blaze shook his head as he stood beside them. “So, again what am I doing?”

“Well, I’m not sure.” Twilight rolled her eyes as she crossed her foreleg.

“Well, I can go on trotter patrol.” Blaze looked at the white board with squares of tasks and ponies’ names underneath them.

“No, Iron Wing and Clear Skies are taking care of that.” Twilight mused as she mulled through her notebook. Blaze’s face was dull as he watched her skim through the book. Tapping on a page, Twilight smiled. “I’m going on a scavenging run to one of the buildings at the edge of town, want to come?”

Blaze felt the temperature around his cheeks increase. “What?”

“Well, it’s not safe to go alone.” Twilight laughed.

“True…” Blaze looked over his shoulders and saw Shining talking to a few ponies. “Will your bodyguard let me go with you?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “He just needs to let the past go.” She grumbled.

Cadance sighed as she folded up the map. “Just be careful.” She walked up to her husband.

Twilight eyed her for a short while before looking at Blaze. “Ready?”

“Ready,” He kept pace with her. “So, what are we expecting to find in this building?”

“Just getting stock on what’s in there.” Twilight gave him a warm smile. Blaze gave her a sheepish smile as they exited the building. Stepping out into the cold, Twilight tightened her scarf and led Blaze to the building on the other side of town. Walking down the street, they both enjoyed the relative quiet. The distant sounds of their settlement fading as they moved further away.

Blaze stood at the mouth of a shallow cave. Turing on his flashlight he scanned the small space and saw that it was void of life. “Cozy…” Blaze threw down his saddlebag and pulled out his small hatchet. Looking at the storm, he grumbled as he stepped back out into the cold.

-Two Hours Later-

Blaze stared at the fire as it’s alluring dancing distracted him from the fridged conditions from the outside world. Hearing the howl of the winds he looked up at the blistering storm trying its best to fling snow into his humble abode. Scooting closer to the fire, he tucked his forelegs under him and returned his eyes to the fire.

-5th Day Alone-

Blaze stared at his metal cup lying on a bed of hot coals. He watched the boiling water mix the lichen and winter mushrooms he foraged a few minutes ago. Feeling his stomach twist itself into a knot, he rubbed it and let out a tired sigh. “I need real food...”

He looked up at the cave’s ceiling and stared the patterns in the rocks. Bored at the monotonous patterns, he took the cup from the fire to cool. ‘Blaze?’

He whipped his head around. His ears twitched as he scanned the cave. “I’m hearing things...”

‘Blaze?’

Blaze jumped as he whipped his head about looking for the source of the voice. Hearing it again he looked at the fire once more and rubbed his eyes. Opening his eyes, his body froze as he saw the image of Twilight sitting by the fire. “Twilight?” She smiled at him, tilting her head slightly.

‘Already moved on?’ Another voice asked.

A shivered danced down his back as he saw another mare, this one a pegasus with canary yellow fur and a pink mane and tail. “Fluttershy?”

-10th Day into the Wildfire Plague-

Blaze stood by the brewing station. He was slowly sipping on a cup of warmed beer, his mind lost in quiet bliss as he listened to the crickets by the river flowing through the meadow his community called home. “You going to the ceremony tonight?” The stallion operating the brewing station asked, breaking Blaze’s happiness.

“Yeah, even though I don’t want to.” Blaze sighed as he finished his drink.

“You’re not curious about the new members that Victor and the others rescued?” The stallion tilted his head.

Blaze let out a sigh as he tapped for another. “A little.” He picked up his new cup of beer. “It’s all the same.”

“Not really, especially after the demons took over, everypony that comes to our camp is another soul saved.” He leaned closer to Blaze. “And these two ponies were saved from a zebra.” The stallion frowned. “The bastards.”

Blaze nodded, but deep down he never believed most of what Father preached to his flock. Ever since he joined Sanctuary in his teens, he ignored most of the rhetoric, but with the dead mucking about, he started to think that Father may have been right about the demons, but of their origins, he still thought it was something from nature and that it will be taken care of… hopefully.

“Yeah, the bastards.” Blaze replied with an unamused sigh.

The stallion shook his head and patted him on the shoulder. “Get your chores done, their ceremony begins soon.”

-Two Hours Later-

Blaze quickly took the last drag of his cigarette before stomping it out. Smelling the cascade of scents seeping from the main community tent, he breathed a sigh of relief and opened the tent… Two mares blocked him from entering the tent, they gave him a glance as they walked past. Noticing them guiding an earth pony colt with brown fur, a scraggly tan colored mane and tail, and a cutie mark of a d-pad of a game controller, he stood and watched them head over towards the children’s tent.

‘I guess I missed his ceremony?’ He mused before stepping into the tent.

The overwhelming scent of herbs and spices smoldering in the firepit in the center of the tent, assaulted his nostrils. He rubbed his snout. ‘At least it will mask the smell of tobacco.’ He’s eyes fell upon Father, a white furred unicorn, with a long wavy silver mane and tail, talking to Mother, a white furred bat-pony with a black mane and tail.

He silently watched the leaders of Sanctuary preparing for the camp’s final guest to receive their initiation ceremony. He took his seat and crossed his forelegs as he remembered his. He remembered the euphoric high it gave him to finally be a part of something. Sweet words and a cocktail of drugs would do that to an orphaned teen looking for purpose in life. ‘Have I become jaded?’ He wondered, but before he could mull over his thoughts, soft cries entered his ears.

Looking to his right, he saw a mare and a stallion guiding a pegasus mare, with canary colored fur and a long pink mane and tail up to Father and Mother. The mare looked beyond scared and timid. ‘She would’ve exploded if she was a bomb.’ He joked as he watched her slowly open her eyes.

His heart skipped a beat as he saw the vibrancy of her cyan colored eyes. They slowly scanned the room, until they locked eyes with him. He shivered as he watched her stare at him for a few seconds, before they darted over to Father.

“My child we have been expecting you.” Father’s deep voice overpowered the crowd’s hushed voices.

“Where’s is Button Mash?” The pegasus mare asked.

“My dear, your son is safe.” Father smiled as he and Mother walked up to her. “He’s with the others.” Mother’s hazel eyes stared at the mare, causing her to cower. Blaze shivered as he remembered all the times Mother used that stare on him. “What is your name?” Father asked, as he walked over to a pot that hung over the fire.

The mare looked around at the crowd before turning her attention back to father. “Fluttershy.” She stuttered.

“Fluttershy…” Father walked up to her carrying a wooden cup on one of his forehooves. “Your questions will be answered shortly.” He pressed the bowl up to her lips.

Fluttershy kept her lips closed as she stared at the gold-colored liquid inside the bowl. Mother noticed her hesitant behavior and bit down on her ear. Fluttershy gasped out in pain. Her eyes went wide as she felt the warm liquid fill her mouth. “Swallow!” Mother whispered through clenched teeth. Her tone scared Fluttershy and she quickly obeyed and swallowed the mystery liquid.

For Blaze, he knew exactly what the mystery liquid was made of and what it would do to one’s body. It was given out at the end of the month. Ceremonies, like the one Fluttershy was going through. Or when you were lacking faith… Faith… Blaze frowned. He knew he could leave… but he was too far into it now, to married to the idea of Sanctuary and what it represented for him. He just didn’t know what Sanctuary would be like after the plague turning ponies into monsters ran its course.

Fluttershy coughed at the taste and stared teary eyed at Father. “What did you…” She looked at the crowed and saw that they were blending into one another, except for an earth pony stallion, with grey fur and a reddish-orange mane and tail. His bright orange eyes stared at her. She blushed as she felt a warm sensation wash over her body. She didn’t know if it was the stallion or the what was given to her. She let out a groan as she braced herself with her front hooves and stared at tent’s fabric lined floor. “What’s happening to me?” She drunkenly asked.

Father smiled. “I gave you an elixir.” He leaned in close and whispered in her ear. “With this you’ll see the gods and your mind will be opened to their plan.” He turned towards the crowd and scanned over the ponies. Seeing Blaze sitting by the door he smiled and pointed and waved at him.

Blaze felt his chest tightened, as he saw the others looking at him. Slowly sitting up he walked up to Father. He snuck a glance at Fluttershy and noticed her eyes were glazed over in a drugged stupor. “Yes, Father?”

“Take her to the spiritual tent.” Father rummaged through a box and pulled out a white bottle filled with oil. “Like her son, she will go on her journey alone.” He rubbed the oil across Fluttershy’s forehead. Fluttershy’s snout scrunched up at the strange smell. She tried to stand up, but her weak legs refused to lift her.

Blaze bowed and put his head under her barrel and lifted her onto his back and shoulders and took her out of the main meeting tent. The cool night air washed over their bodies. Taking a deep breath, he made his way over to a circular tent a few yards from the center of their small commune. Opening the tent’s flap he gently laid her on the mat. Seeing her eyes darting back and forth, he let out a sigh as he looked up at the sky. “This night going to suck, I’m not going to lie.” He looked at her and saw she was looking at him. “Ignore the nightmares you’ll see.”

“Nightmares?” Fluttershy managed to say through her drunken lips.

“Yes.” Blaze felt a wave of conflicting emotions. “When you wake, play along.” His ears heard distant screams that were far from them. “You found us during troubling times…”

-Present Day-

The loud crackling pop broke Blaze from his daydream. Seeing that his ‘meal’ was finished cooking, he took in from the fire and placed it on a small mound of snow by the mouth of the cave. Watching the steam being abused by the cold winds, Blaze stared out at the calming storm.

Hearing a familiar voice singing a melody. He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. “I’m going crazy…”

“You could be.”

Blaze turned around and saw Fluttershy sitting on the other side of the fire. Her eyes stared at him with an aura of contempt. “You’re not real.” He looked back out the mouth of the cave. Still feeling her presence, he looked back at her and saw that she was still staring at him. “What do you want?”

Fluttershy tilted her head as her eyes looked at the metal cup of lichen stew. “Is this what you’ve become?” She glared at him.

Blaze returned the glare. “What was I supposed to do…” He picked up his cup of lichen and took a sip.

“Couldn’t accept that she loved somepony else?” She tilted her head to the side. “Like me?” He held the hot soup to his lips and stared out at the storm. Fluttershy growled. “ANSWER ME!”

“YOU WERE BEING MANIPULATED!” Blaze threw his cup at her. Her apparition faded as the cup fazed through her. Blazed glared at his soup freezing from the cold winds. Tears threatened to escape his eyes. He rubbed them and collapsed beside the fire and wrapped his tail around himself.

-13th Day Alone-

Blaze stared at his dying fire. Smacking his dry mouth, he looked at his small pile of wood. Hearing some snow falling off the branches, he looked out the cave and saw the sky was clear with a small splattering of clouds floating about. A cloud rolled on past allowing the sun to shine upon the land.

The sun’s rays entered the cave. Blaze closed his eyes as he let the warmth sooth his tired body. “I need to get more wood…” He sighed as he stood up, picking up his saddlebag and exiting his cave. His hoof stepped onto the snow and it fell through. Groaning he pulled it out and glared at the white that surrounded him. “This is going to suck…”

After a forty-five-minute walk, Blaze found himself beside a river surrounded by birch trees. One of the few pockets of birch trees within a pine forest that hugged the large redwood forest of the Marshmallow Range. Staring at a dead birch tree lying on the ground, Blaze tossed his saddlebag on the ground and took out his hatchet.

Chopping at the branches, his mind began to wander through the quite ambiance of the forest. His thoughts drifting through memories that were foggy from the lack of attention he gave them. Hearing a growl, he stopped. A shiver danced across his back as he looked around. Seeing nothing, he turned back to the tree and lifted his hooves into the air.

Another growl sounded off, but this time he felt the source. Placing a hoof on his stomach. He let out a sigh as he opened his saddlebag and glared through the dim supplies that graced him. Seeing just a single bite of a granola bar, he sighed as he placed it in his mouth, slowly chewing, savoring every moment before he inevitably swallowed it.

Hearing the river water sloshing as it traveled to its final destination, his curiosity overtook him as he walked up to it and stood on the edge of the banks. He stared at his wavy reflection. He could see how tired his eyes looked, the bags underneath them. How puffy they seemed. Closing his eyes he opened them and stared at the water once more. Seeing a bass jump out of the water, he held his breath as he stared at the fish moving about in the water.

“You’re that hungry?” Blaze saw Fluttershy standing next to him, her own wavy reflection barley hiding the confusion on her face.

“I can barely find anything…” He replied half heartly.

“You’ll get sick if you do?” She gave him a side glare. “Ponies are not meant to eat flesh.”

“Tell that to the dead.” Blaze huffed as he lowered his head closer to the water.

Fluttershy lowered hers and brought her lips close to his right ear. “Getting a head start then?” Blaze kept quite as he glared at the bass as it swam around, looking for food for itself. Feeling his stomach growl, he narrowed his eyes. Slowly he picked up one of the branches he’d cut and held it in his hooves. Lifting the sharp end of the branch over his head he aimed it the best he could and brought it down onto the fish.

Water splashed as the branch pierced the surface. The bass quickly swam away and out of sight. Upset, Blaze yanked on the branch but it wouldn’t budge. “Come on!” He spat. He gave it on more yank, but as it was freed from the muddy soil, the suddenness of it caused Blaze to lose his balance. The snow under him gave way and he found himself falling into the river.

Before he knew it, the current was a lot stronger than it looked. He tried to swim over towards the banks, but he couldn’t overcome the river’s might. The piercing cold sucked the air out of his lungs. His mind raced as he kicked his hooves about as he tried to get to shore.

Grabbing onto a large boulder, he lifted himself out of the water with all his might. Crawling over the rock, he pulled himself onto the shore. The cold air washes over his soaked body. He felt a chill and gasped for air. His teeth chattered as he looked around. Seeing that his surroundings looked unfamiliar, he cursed as he buried his head in the snow.

“You went far.” Fluttershy mocked.

“Looks like you’re going to die here.” Another voice commented.

Lifting his head, Blaze saw Twilight standing beside Fluttershy. A strong gust of wind washed over him, kicking up snow. Staring at the mares, his mind drifted to thoughts of his time back in Iron’s Ridge. Life seemed simpler, where he was able to be himself and his heart wasn’t torn. A memory of Twilight rubbing her face into his neck dance in his mind…

Fluttershy’s expression soured. “You’re choosing her!”

The memory faded as his mind drifted back to Sanctuary. Back to when he was with Fluttershy, scared and timid Fluttershy, begging him, pleading with him to…

“You still remember.” Fluttershy’s scowl softened. “So, you know why I accepted Father.” She lowered her head and stared into Blaze’s eyes. “I had to protect Button Mash. They couldn’t know the truth.”

“Keep telling yourself that?” Blaze huffed as he stood up. “I couldn’t save you, even after what we did…” He glared at her. “You bought into the lies!” He walked past Fluttershy and Twilight. He stopped and looked at Twilight. “And you…” He looked up at the sky and saw a large storm approaching. “You deserve better…” He hissed at the stinging pain consuming his body as he walked into the forest. Fluttershy and Twilight stared at him for a few seconds before they faded away.

-Five Hours Later-

Blaze found himself on the side of a road. He assumed it was the same road he was on all those days ago, but he couldn’t be sure. He glared at the darkened landscape. His teeth chattering as the storm assaulting him and the land. Shivering uncontrollably, he took a step onto the road, his tired and frozen limbs begging for a rest.

“Shit!” He slipped on the frozen gravel and found himself on his side. He grumbled as he accepted that he was going to freeze to death. “?” Seeing something through the blistering snow, he growled as he used his waning energy and crawled up to the object in question.

Seeing that it was a putter-wagon, a burst of energy washed over him as he stood up, nearly tripping over himself. His mood soured a bit when he saw that the putter-wagon’s driver side wheels where flat.

Approaching the driver side door, he peered through the window and seeing nothing, took a deep breath and opened the door. Seeing nothing but knick-knacks and trash, he sighed as he slowly crawled in and shut the door. It was still freezing within the cab, but he didn’t care, he was out of the storm and that’s all that mattered to him.

Looking over his shoulders he looked into the back of the wagon and saw that it was empty. Whoever owned it took their things long ago. Letting out a sigh, he stared at the dashboard. The thought of hotwiring it came across his mind. “The battery would be dead…” He felt a chill. Even out of the storm he would still freeze to death.

Leaning down under the steering wheel, he looked at the mass of wires. It was too dark to find the right one and with a sigh he sat up and opened the glovebox. Seeing a glow stick, he sighed and cracked it, hoping it would work.

Seeing the soft green glow, he smiled as he threw it on the floor and returned to perusing through the mass of wires. Find the correct one, he pulled it from the mass and bit down on it and yanked it from his teeth’s grip. Feeling a little spark on his tongue, his eyes lit up as he quickly put the two ends of the severed wire together.

Hearing the motor turning over, his heart skipped a beat as he tried several more times. Hearing the motor finally roaring to life, he laughed, almost nearly coming to tears as he sat in his seat and revving the motor. “Thank Luna!” He cranked on the heat.

A burst of cold washed over him, but slowly over several minutes he felt the warm embrace of artificial warmth. Putting his hooves to the heat, he sighed as he rested his head on the steering wheel. He let out a laugh as he placed his hooves over his head. Looking at the fuel gage and seeing that it had about three gallons left, he smiled and closed his eyes.

Blaze awoken with a jolt. He groaned as he rubbed the back of his neck. Feeling a chill, he opened his eyes and saw that the sun was out and that the putter-wagon had ran out of fuel. The slight chill within the cab was annoying, but it was better than being outside.

Smacking his mouth, he rubbed his hooves across his forelegs. Feeling that his fur was dry, he breathed a sigh of relief as he stared at the road, mulling over where it went. Before he could ponder more about the road, a black object caught his attention. Looking at the side mirror, he saw a military looking truck approaching him. With his heart skipping a beat he ducked down as the truck drove past him.

Hearing its breaks squealing, Blaze cursed as he timidly peaked over the dashboard. Seeing the back flap of the truck open, his eyes widened as he saw a stallion poking his head out. “Zipper?” Blaze saw two more stallions exiting the passenger and driver side of the truck.

“Why did you want us to stop?” Cobalt asked

“Little missy needs to take a piss!” Zipper laughed as pushed Pinkie forward. She groaned as she fell out of the truck. “Keep an eye on him!” Zipper led Pinkie into the woods. Cobalt sighed as he walked to the back of the truck. Usip shrugged his shoulders and jumped back into the driver seat.

“Pinkie?” Blaze wondered. His eyes widened as he saw blood coating her bound forelegs. His mind began to wander. “Were they attacked?” He took a breath. “Why is Zipper with her?” He bit his lower lip. “Did he attack them… Oh no… Twilight!” He hissed as he thought of her and if she was alive or dead.

His curiosity was slowly consuming his want to stay hidden. “Fuck me!”

He jumped out of the passenger side of the putter-wagon. Shivering at the cold, he looked over the hood of the wagon and saw Cobalt was looking into the woods. Blaze could see he was watching Zipper staring at Pinkie amused by her struggle to not pee on herself as she leaned against a tree.

Blaze frowned as he slowly approached the truck. Seeing Cobalt looking down at his hooves, he cursed as he knew that the odds of him looking in his direction were high. Seeing a rock by his hoof, he picked it up and aimed it to Cobalt’s left. He chucked it with all his might watching soar towards the trees.

Hearing the sounds of branches braking and snow falling, Cobalt jumped and looked over at the source of the sound. “What was that?” Zipper shouted. Pinkie shivered at his tone of voice.

“Not sure!” Cobalt glared at the trees.

“Don’t look too much into it then.” Zipper grumbled as he dragged Pinkie who was struggling to walk on her hind hooves. “Help me get her back into the truck!”

“Don’t you hurt her!” Copper growled as he tried to break his restraints that bound his hooves behind his back.

“I’m your old friend.” Zipper smiled. “I not going to hurt her.” He tossed her in and jumped in. “But you.” Her gave Copper a sly smile. Copper’s ears went flat as Zipper got in his face. Pinkie stared at the floor, the embarrassment of relieving herself in front of someone was another chip against her pride. Feeling the truck moving, Pinkie closed her eyes as she fought her emotions boiling to the surface.

Blaze grumbled as he braced himself between the truck’s cab and bed. He hissed at the stinging of the air and icy mud being kicked up by the truck. He hid behind the spare tire and toolchest. “Where are we going, Zipper?” He watched the landscape pass him by as he settled in for a long ride.