AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Twilight huffed several heavy breaths as she bounced, her hips making a circular motion as she kept up her momentum. Her eyes looked down at Iron Wing who looked to be in a blissful state as he held her hips with his hooves. He occasionally thrusted his hips, causing a smacking sound to echo out within their cabin.

Twilight moaned at this action. The feeling of his penis deep within her, caused her to shiver. She fell forward, placing her hooves on his chest as she sped up her motion. Seeing that look on his face, she knew he was close. She saw that look the last time they made love the day Blaze left… ‘Blaze…’ Twilight pressed into Iron Wing, her hindlegs gripping his hips. Her tail arching up as he ejaculated inside her.

“Ah, shit…” Iron Wing growled as he pulled her in, his front hooves gripping her tight against him as he lifted his hips, finishing his orgasm. Twilight ran her hooves across the bed, as she exhaled from her own.

Silence filled the cabin as the minuets passed. The soft winds seeping through the cracks were a calming melody as they laid still, slowly recovering from their sexual activity. Twilight stared at the small cast-iron fireplace in the corner by the bathroom door. She watched the flames of a dying fire through its foggy window. Closing her eyes she let out a sigh as she buried her face into his chest.

“You, okay?” Iron Wing asked as he stared at the lightbulb over their bed. Twilight responded by rubbing his chest with her left hoof. He smiled as he ran a hoof through her mane. Seeing the lightbulb flicker, he slightly frowned as he scratched the back of her ears. “Looks like we’re going to have to upgrade the water wheel this summer.”

“Add it to the list.” She sighed.

“Even in this new world, you’re still making lists.” He laughed. “Still the same mare I met when I was a teen-colt.”

She lifted her head and frowned. “Lists are very important no matter what.” She playfully tickled his snout. He playfully pushed her hoof away and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She blushed and turned her head. Seeing the dark sky, she sighed as she sat up. “We need to get back.”

“Can’t we wait a little longer?” Iron Wing wrapped his hooves around her waist. “It will be our bedtime soon.”

“They’ll be suspicious.” Twilight kissed his forehead.

“I think they know.” He laughed.

“Let’s just get back.” She threw on her jacket. “I hope Pinkie’s and Macintosh’s groups are doing, okay?” She could still smell the musty scent of cigarette smoke on her jacket.

Iron Wing smiled. “I’m sure they’re fine.” He laid a wing over her. “I’m sure they found the motherload!” He led her out their cabin. Twilight smiled as they walked back to the visitor center.

Nearing the building, Twilight saw, Derpy, Dr. Hooves, Dinky, Thunderlane, Rainbow Dash, Poppy, Fletcher, Hanzel, Scootaloo, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Applebloom, Marley, Maud, Spitfire, Pound Cake, Pumpkin Cake, Snowy, Dusk, Spike, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry Heart sitting around the firepit by the main entrance.

“How’s everypony doing?” Twilight asked.

“Doing well.” Rainbow Dash sipped her warmed drink as she gave Twilight a sly smirk. “So, the fire wasn’t keeping you warm enough?”

Twilight blushed. “Shut-up!” She hissed as she pointed a hoof at her prism maned friend. Rarity, Cadance, along with the others laughed while some of the kids blushed. Twilight groaned as she sat beside her sister-n-law.

Cadance laid a wing over Twilight. “Love is nothing to be ashamed of.” She whispered. Twilight rolled her eyes as she put her hooves close to the fire. Shining smiled at them before turning his attention to his daughter who was staring up at him with her large expressive eyes.

Applejack sighed adjusting her hat. The dancing fire tickled her mind, whispering to her to fall into a trance. She closed her eyes and looked at Twilight, Iron Wing, and Shining Armor. The thought of her brother and boyfriend, ached her heart. “I hope our explorers get back soon.”

“It’s been only three-ish days.” Applebloom who sat beside Spike commented.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine.” Spike added.

Applejack smiled at them. “Yeah, I know.”

“Worried about your brother?” Poppy asked. “And your colt-friend?”

“Is it obvious?” Applejack asked the group.

“Very.” Scootaloo stated matter of factly. The group laughed at her statement. Applejack rolled her eyes as she brought her hat over her face. Spitfire smirked at the earth pony before looking at her filly-friend. “Worried about your sisters?” Maud nodded as she leaned against Spitfire, her eyes staring at the fire.

Fletcher who was looking at Maud and Spitfire, smiled as he looked over his shoulders at the main gate. Seeing the lack of trotters, near it, he let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the fire. His ears twitched at a distant sound. Iron Wing noticing his reaction, stood still and focused on the abeyance. “What do you hear?”

The group looked at Fletcher.

“I’m not sure, sounds like…”

“A motor.” Iron Wing’s ears swiveled in the direction of the sound.

“How far?” Shining handed his daughter to Cadance.

“At the gate!” Thunderlane saw bright lights breaking through the darkness.

“Crap!” Rainbow Dash unholstered her pistol and flew over to the gate, with the others following after. The truck slammed on its breaks, stopping inches from the gate. The driver side door flew open. Twilight and the other’s gasped as they saw Granite stumbling out.

“Oh shit!” Thunderlane landed beside Granite and helped him up. Noticing his broken horn, a nauseous sensation washed over him.

“What the hell happened?” Applejack asked as she opened the gate studying Granite’s battered state.

Granite looked at her and hung his head. “We were attacked…” He looked into the truck’s cab. “Help Limestone!”

“What happened to her?” Maud asked as Spitfire opened the passenger side door. She lost her breath as she saw Limestone’s sickly state. Seeing that her right hind leg was amputated a cold chill washed over her. “What happened?!” She glared at Granite.

Granite grimaced at the glare. “She was bitten!” He stumbled over to the bed of the truck. “Pinkie was the one too chop if off.”

“Where’s Pinkie and Copper?” Derpy asked as she kept her daughter close to her. The children who stood behind her, gave each other looks as they saw Limestone being laid on Shining’s back.

“They were taken.” Granite growled as he leaned against the truck.

“Hey, take it easy.” Fletcher placed a hoof over Granite’s shoulders.

“Did you get a good look at who took them?” Applejack asked.

“I have one of the bastards…” Granite nodded at the bed of the truck.

Twilight and Applejack looked at one another as they opened the tailgate and flaps and saw a pegasus stallion tied up and tied to the truck’s bed. A wave of deja-vu washed over Twilight as she remembered Ratchet and the ponies who turned on her and her group when Iron’s Ridge fell.

Applejack saw Twilight’s demeanor change. “Twilight?” Twilight ignored her as she climbed into the bed of the truck. Applejack shivered as she followed after her.

Nox glared at the mares. “Is this supposed to intimidate me?” He laughed.

Maud’s emotions were begging to break and unleash themselves as she crawled into the truck’s bed. “Where are they?!” She snapped, her eyes glaring at the stallion.

Nox gave a smirk. “I ain’t telling you shit!”

Maud gritted her teeth and stepped forward but was stopped by Applejack. “That’s what he wants.” Applejack whispered. Maud stared at her with a glare as she fought the urge to punch the stallion. Applejack sighed as she looked at Twilight and froze when she saw a look she’d seen only twice. “Twilight?”

Twilight ignored the earth pony as she kept her eyes on Nox. Her mind was overwhelmed with thoughts of her friend Pinkie and what they could be doing to her and Copper. The horrors they’re inflicting on them if Granite’s condition was anything to go by. Her hopes of finally finding a place where they could be safe from the dead and bad ponies faded as she kept staring into Nox’s eyes.

“Hey sweetheart, you looking to fuck or what?” Nox teased. Twilight frowned as she activated her horn. Nox gasped as her aura wrapped around his neck. “Harder… Bitch!” He glared at her. Twilight narrowed her eyes as she threw him out of the bed of the truck. He groaned as he landed hard on the frozen ground.

“Twilight, calm down!” Applejack pleaded, but Twilight ignored her as she jumped out of the truck. “Oh… no…” Applejack’s ears laid flat as she watched Maud follow after her.

“What the hell!” Nox choked as Twilight grabbed his neck and dragged him in the park.

“Twilight?” Shining asked, his tone coated with worry as he followed her. Twilight turned around and stared at her brother. Seeing that familiar determination within her eyes, he let out a sigh and gave her a slight nod as he walked into the visitor center.

Cadance stared at her sister-n-law. Her mind swam with conflicted emotions. As the Princess of Love, she hated conflict… ‘Former princess…’ She scolded herself. She closed her eyes and followed her husband, with Fletcher, Granite, Dr. Hooves, Poppy, and Thunderlane.

The others stayed, many curious of what the stallion had to say, while others were timid by Twilight’s actions too even move.

“Twilight?” Spike asked timidly as he stepped up to her but flinched when she punched Nox in the face. The stallion groaned as he buried his snout in the snow. Spike shivered as he saw the piercing glare Twilight gave Nox. Applebloom placed her hooves on his shoulders as he stepped back.

“You call that a punch!” He spat. Twilight jumped on top of him and swung her hooves several times, bouncing his skull like a bobblehead. Seeing how quickly his face was swelling up, Iron Wing placed a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight threw off his hoof and glared at him. “You don’t have to stay!” Some in the group slowly stepped away, stunned by her tone of voice, but they dared not leave. Applejack looked away and stared at the lit windows of the visitor center, trying to ignore the meaty thuds filling the air. Satisfied with her handy work, Twilight lowered her head, her snout inches from Nox’s. “Where the hell are they?”

Nox spat a mouthful of blood he was choking on.

Twilight slowly wiped the blood and stared at Muad. “You’re turn.”

Maud stood over the stallion’s head. “Where’s my sister?” Nox gave her a cocky smile. Maud narrowed her eyes and brought her hoof down on his chest. He let out a growl at the immense pain coursing through his body. Twilight activated her magic and squeezed his testicles.

Dinky buried her face in her mother’s chest. Hanzel covered his eyes. Dusk looked away, while his sister stared at the display of violence with excitement.

“This isn’t us!” Sweetie Belle cried. Rarity held her close and comforted her as she led her back into the visitor center.

“I’m sure there’s another way to get him to talk.” Spitfire stated as she stepped up to Maud.

“You all can leave!” Maud snapped, she looked up and saw her filly-friend’s terrified expression. Shame overcame her, but it was a temporary feeling as she turned her attention back to the stallion.

Nox glared at the two. “You’d kill me before I ever tell.”

Twilight huffed as she grabbed his neck with her magic. “Challenge accepted…” She dragged him away from the visitor center. Marley sighed as he stuck a cigarette in his mouth and followed her.

“Where are we going?” Maud followed after.

“The river…” Twilight growled.

Applejack shivered as she looked over at the others and their mixed emotions. Biting her lower lip she quickly followed after them. Iron Wing and Spitfire were not far behind.

Blaze stared at the bank. He found it rather funny that the leader would choose such a place to live out of. He dropped a pipe bomb by the main gate and tightened the straps of his saddlebag. Running down the street, he slipped in an alley and tested the side door. Seeing that it was unlocked, he slipped into the building and ascended the stairs.

Getting to the second story, he peaked his head into the hall and saw that it was unoccupied. “Good…” He stopped when he saw a bat pony turning the corner. ‘That must be the Governor.’ Seeing him place his hoof on one of the door handles, the door he touched quickly swung open.

“Axiom!” Aloe sung as she wrapped her hooves around his neck.

‘Must be his real name.’ Blaze mused as he slowly slipped out of the stairwell.

“Where have you been?” Aloe stepped into the room.

The Governor rested against the doorframe. “Zipper found something.”

“Found something?” Aloe gave him a perplexed look.

“Remember that thing I had to take care of?” Aloe nodded. “Well, he found two ponies on his expedition.”

“Survivors?” Aloe smiled.

“Yes,” The Governor sighed. “But violent ones. They attacked his group.”

Aloe looked defeated. “Why?”

“Not sure, but we’re getting to the bottom of it.” He kissed her. “They told us where their camp is.”

“Are they close?” She gasped.

“Yes, I need to make…” Blaze struck him in the back of the head with a metal pipe. The Governor collapsed onto the floor, groaning at the pain.

Aloe let out a cry as she stared at Blaze with wide eyes. “Blaze?”

“Hey…” Blaze struck her over the head.

Aloe stumbled back and collapsed on the floor. “Ow…” She saw him approaching. She panicked and tried to stand up, but was overpowered as he crawled on top of her.

“Shut-up!” Blaze tied her hooves and gaged her mouth. “I’m not going to hurt you.” Aloe stared at him with fearful eyes. “Your colt-friend has something that belongs to me.” He glared at the stallion as he tied the bat pony’s hooves behind his back. “Where are they?”

The Governor shook his head. “You made a big mistake.” He glared at the earth pony.

Blaze smirked. “That’s what I’m best at.” He cracked his neck. “Last time. Where are they?”

“Don’t know who you’re talking about.” The Governor smirked. Blaze frowned and swung the pipe over Aloe’s back. The Governor growled. “You leave her out of it!” Blaze struck her in the face. “Stop!” Blaze kept it up. Aloe’s cries filled his ears, he shook his head. “Okay! I’ll tell you!”

The pipe hovered over Aloe’s head. “Spill it!” Blaze spat.

“They’re downstairs, in the bank’s basement!” The Governor pleaded as he saw Aloe breathing heavily. “Just leave her alone.”

Blazed nodded as he holstered the metal pipe. “Stay here.” He took out a rag. The Governor watched as Blaze leaned in to gag him. Feeling him tying the knot, he narrowed his eyes and threw his head forward, his forehead breaking Blaze’s snout.

Nox gasped for air as his head was lifted from the freezing river. “You crazy bitch!” He was dunked into the river once more. Maud glared at him as she held him under the water, her scowl increasing as the seconds passed.

Tears swelled in Spitfire’s eyes, horrified by Maud’s actions. “Maud…” Her voice was weak. Applejack comforted her as she kept her eyes elsewhere. Iron Wing stared at Twilight who looked at the scene of violence with uncaring eyes. This side of her unnerved him, but he knew why she felt this way, after what they been through, they couldn’t take the chance.

Maud lifted Nox out of the river and threw him onto the riverbank. Nox coughed and groaned as he crawled away from the irate mare. Feeling hooves, Nox shivered as he looked up at Twilight. Those hate filled eyes stunned him. “Uh…”

“What’s the matter?” Twilight spoke with venom. “Cat got your tongue?” She took out a knife from the sheath strapped to her sides and cut his cheek.

Nox hissed at the pain and held a hoof to his cheek. Looking at the others, his mind finally realizing how messed up his situation was, he softened his demeanor and sat on his haunches. “Look I’ll tell you everything!” He laughed. “Just don’t kill me!”

Twilight’s brow raised, her lips flat and unimpressed. “Where are they?”

“Mulberry!” Nox replied nervously. “A town alongside highway 11.” Twilight frowned and activated her horn, holding the knife to his neck. “No!” Nox nearly cried. “I’m telling the truth! It’s up north about twenty-five miles from Heighington!” He threw himself on the ground, his body shivering from his fears and the cold. “I just wanted to take the military base, I didn’t want to deal with your friends, but Zipper made us!”

“Wait, Zipper?” Twilight was bewildered as she looked at Marley.

Marley spat out his cigarette. “You talking about my brother?” He stormed up to Nox. “Am I hearing you correctly?” He kicked him.

“Yes!” Nox stammered.

“I saw his severed hoof in that burned building!” Marley growled, “You’re telling me he’s alive?”

“Yes!” Nox screamed. “Hell, you’re just as bad as him!” He looked at Twilight and Maud. “You’re all crazy.” He looked at Applejack and Spitfire. “Hey, I can get you two into Mulberry. No pony has to die.”

“You tried killing Granite.” Twilight growled.

“He attacked us!” Nox growled.

“Twilight!” Applejack huffed, “He saying we can solve this without bloodshed!”

Twilight glared at Applejack. “You’re buying that bullshit?” In her anger, she dropped her knife. Nox looked at the weapon with wide eyes.

“We are not stooping too this level!” Applejack spat. “We made that promise after we lost Iron's Ridge!”

“Being soft is why we lost Iron’s Ridge!” Maud grumbled.

Spitfire held back her tears. “It was fear that made them turn on us!” Maud looked away as a wave of conflicting emotions consumed her mind.

“So, what are you going to do? Let him go?” Twilight huffed.

“Yes, far away from this place!” Applejack stomped her hoof.

“Like that will work!” Twilight scoffed.

“And you killing him will?” Applejack growled. “Like Ratchet?” Twilight frowned as she neared her friend. Both mares snorting at each other. Iron Wing and Spitfire held them back, when all of sudden, Nox picked up the knife and held Maud in a chokehold.

“No!” Spitfire cried. “Don’t kill her!”

“Shut it!” Nox spat. “Now we’re going to this my way!” He pushed Maud forward. “I’m driving out of here with her!”

“We can solve this peacefully!” Applejack pleaded.

Nox laughed. “And how have you lasted this long?” He laughed. “No wonder you lost Iron’s Ridge. Zipper was right, you’re all a bunch of scared fillies.” He tightened his chokehold. Maud gasped as she stumbled forward with the stallion.

Applejack’s hopes for a non-violent solution were slowly falling apart. She looked over at Marley who was aiming his crossbow. Iron Wing’s military training had kicked in an he was stalking Nox like he was prey. She saw Twilight who glared at Nox.

“Ah!” Nox spat as he turned his attention to Twilight, glaring at her lit horn and the mouth-held pistol floating out of the holster on her right foreleg. “Put that away! And that goes for you fuck face!” He glared at Marley. Marley frowned as he slightly lowered his crossbow. “Kill your magic!” Nox turned his attention back to Twilight.

Twilight kept her horn activated as she matched his stare. “You let her go.”

Nox laughed. “How about no…” He let out a scream as a rock flew into his left eye. Maud pushed him off and ran to Spitfire who hugged her and buried her face into her chest.

Applejack stared in shock at the purple glow around the rock faded. She timidly looked at Twilight who stepped up to Nox aiming her pistol at his skull. “Twilight…” A loud crack filled the air and echoed off the surrounding landscape.

Nox’s body crumbled onto the frozen banks of the river. Twilight glared at the dead pegasus, smoke still wafting out of her pistol’s barrel. Iron Wing slowly approached her. “Why did you shoot him?” He stared at the body with a slight grimace at the brain matter leaking out. “What if he was lying?”

“He wasn’t.” She stated flatly.

“How do you know?” Applejack huffed. “You two were scaring him half to death!”

Twilight holstered her pistol as she looked at the river. “He pissed himself.”

“He what?” Applejack tilted her head.

“He pissed himself.” Twilight motioned to the small pile of yellow snow. “He was too cowardly to die for this Mulberry.” She activated her horn and dragged Nox toward the river.

Applejack stared at the pile of piss. She shivered as she watched her friend throw his body into the river. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. Deep down, she knew her way wasn’t going to work. Not in this new world. She felt sick as she watched the body float down the river.

“So, when do we leave?” Iron Wing asked.

Twilight took a breath as she listened to the roar of the river. “We leave now.”

“What about my brother?” Marley asked.

“We’ll figure that out when we get there.” Twilight heading back to the visitor center.

“And how do we that?” Applejack shook her head. “Our guide is floating down the river.”

“I saw highway 11 on the map we were using, far left corner.” Twilight looked over her shoulder.

“Well, do you know how far this Heighington is?” Applejack huffed.

Applejack’s stern glare shook Twilight’s resolve, but she took a deep breath and looked at the stars. “If we leave now, we’ll get to Mulberry by midnight, one o’clock.”

“Let’s go then.” Maud stated as she galloped to the visitor center.

Applejack sighed as she walked up to her friend. “I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces.”

“Were not going to let it.” Twilight placed a hoof on Applejack’s shoulders. “Not this time.” Applejack stared at her friend, studying those determined eyes of hers. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against Twilight’s, her long sigh being her acknowledgement.

Blaze groaned as he was thrown against the wall. He held a hoof to his snout and felt how bloody it was. Looking up, he saw the Governor had broken free from his restraints. “Shit…” The Governor tackled Blaze onto the floor. The stallions rolled across the floor, exchanging blows as they collied against the bed.

Aloe slowly came too. Her drunken eyes looked over at the stallions. It took her a second, but she quickly shot awake and stared at the fighting stallions with frightened eyes. Seeing her colt-friend’s battered state, she began to cry as she fought to break free from her restraints.

The Governor threw Blaze off and against the table by the window. Blaze growled at the pain shooting up his back. ‘I don’t have time for this!’ Seeing a fork on the table, he picked it up and hid it behind his back. He motioned for the Governor to give it his all. Accepting the invitation, the Governor lunged at him.

Blazed quickly lowered himself and tackled him to the floor. In one smooth motion, Blazed grabbed the Governor in a chokehold and stabbed him in the left eye with the fork.

The Governor screamed out in pain as he threw his head back, hitting Blaze in the mouth. Pain, pain was all he felt as he fell to the floor. His shaking hooves trying to stabilize the fork as his eye madly twitched. Aloe screamed out in horror and crawled up to her lover.

Blaze ignored their cries and stumbled out of the room. Hearing ponies rushing into the Governor’s room, he slipped into the side stairwell and stumbled down the steps. Getting to the basement, he grumbled as he saw a pony keeping watch. The pony noticing him, stood up from the wall he leaned against. “What are you doing down here…” Blaze fired a shot from his pistol, sending the stallion to the floor with a thud.

Glaring at the two doors, he looked at the left and kicked it open. Looking inside, and seeing no pony, he let out a curse. “Fuck…” Two ponies tackled him to the ground. “Damn it…”

“Blaze?” A squeaky voice asked in shock.

“Its me… Blaze…” He sighed. Feeling the weight off his body he rolled over and saw Pinkie and Copper staring at him. “You look like shit.”

“We could say the same about you.” Copper huffed.

“Why are you here?” Pinkie asked as she helped him up.

“I happened to be in the neighborhood…” Pinkie hugged him. Shock washed over him, but he quickly returned the hug.

“Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“I take it we don’t have that much time?” Copper looked out the room and saw the dead stallion. “What did you do?”

“Its going to get worse.” Blaze stepped out of the room, throwing a pipe bomb into the room. Copper and Pinkie stared at the bomb with wide eyes. Breaking from the shock, Copper grabbed the dead stallion’s pistol and followed after him, with Pinkie following close behind. Staring at the stairs, Blaze cursed as he looked behind him at the hallway. “This way!”

“You know where you’re going?” Pinkie asked.

“No…” Blaze skidded to a stop. Slowly opening the door, he saw they were in a warehouse, the same one he found himself in when he first arrived. “Come on, to the main gate!”

“Not another step!” Zipper growled as he aimed his lever action rifle. “Blaze…” He laughed. “Long time no see!” He pointed his rifle at Blaze. “Trying to play the hero?” He frowned. “Where are the others?”

Blaze frowned. “They’re not here…” He timidly stuffed his hoof in his saddlebag.

“You broke in all by yourself?” Zipper smirked. “I don’t believe you.”

Blaze chewed his cheek. “No, you broke me in.”

Zipper growled as he pointed his rifle at him. “Hand them over!”

“You took them from me.” Blaze growled. Pinkie and Copper looked at him, puzzled by his statement.

“I took them?” Zipper shook his head. “They were on a scavenging mission.”

Blaze stared at Pinkie and Copper, he gave them a slight nod as he turned to look at Zipper. “They were looking for a new home.”

Zipper slightly lowered his rifle. “New home…” He smirked as he raised his rifle. “Pinkie said they’re held up in the national park fifteen miles from here.”

“Come on,” Blaze laughed. “You playing dumb?” His hoof touched the detonator. “You should know me by now. That place was boring me.”

Zipper faulted a bit, “You’re lying!”

“Am I now?” Blaze’s hoof kissed the detonator’s button. “You’re talking to the pony who destroyed Sanctuary.” He gritting his teeth as he remembered their screams. Her screams. “So, I did the same to that place…” He gave a smirk. “Kinda reminded me of Iron’s Ridge if I remember correctly.”

Zipper growled. “Where’s my brother?”

“He’s dead…” Blaze clicked the detonator. “I watched him get torn apart…”

Several loud explosions erupted throughout the town. A burst of hot gas blew open the warehouse’s door to the bank. Zipper cursed but was to slow as the door slammed into him, knocking him out cold.

“What the hell!” Pinkie stared at Blaze with wide eyes.

“RUN!” Blaze motioned them to follow. They quickly left the warehouse.

Getting onto the streets, chaos filled the air as guards ran around putting out the fires and killing trotters that had escaped from their cages. Residents woken up from the explosions were either panicking or helping in the endeavor.

“What did you do?” Pinkie gasped.

“What needed to be done!” Blaze snapped. “Now let’s go!” He ran over toward a truck that was parked beside one of the buildings near the main gate. Seeing that it sustained minor damage, he jumped in and began hotwiring it.

“Hurry up!” Copper fired at one of the dead galloping over toward them.

“Hold on…” Hearing the truck roaring to life, he jumped into the driver seat. “Get in!” Copper and Pinkie hopped into the truck.

“Floor it!” Copper spat as he closed the passenger side door. The tuck spun its wheels for a few seconds and smashed through the rubble around the gate and drove into the night.

Zipper groaned as he opened his eyes. Seeing the garage door wide open, he saw the chaos that blanketed the town. He groaned as he stood up. “Son of a bitch!” He stepped out and saw several trotters stumbling about. Seeing the collars around their neck, he growled as he lifted his rifle and began opening fire.

“What the hell happened?”

Hearing a feminine voice, Zipper looked over his shoulders and saw Lotus, holding a hoof to her head. “You living under a rock?”

Remembering Blaze knocking her out. She hissed as she timidly wandered over to him. “All a remember is I was getting off the wall and then…” She watched him dispatch a trotter. “How did they get out?”

“Blaze.” Zipper huffed.

“Blaze?” She acted surprised. “Are you sure it was him?”

“Yeah, saw him leave with our guests.” He glared at her.

“Guests? What do you mean…” Her eyes drifted over to the bank and saw flames spewing from the warehouse connected to it. “ALOE!” She ran around the building, getting to the main doors, she stopped when she saw Aloe guiding the Governor out of the building with two other stallions. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the buries that dotted their bodies. “What happened?” She ran up to her sister.

“We were attacked!” Aloe hissed at the pain coursing through her back.

Lotus shivered as she saw the Governor’s mangled eye. “Who?” She knew the answer to her question, but she hoped it wasn’t so… How could Blaze do all this… ‘Sanctuary’ She felt sick.

“Blaze…” The Governor answered for Aloe. “A pony you knew…” He glared at her and Zipper. “What do you know about this fucker…”

-1 Hour and 35 Minutes Later-

Twilight glared at the road. Her hooves gripped the steering wheel. Her hoof pressed the throttle to its limit. “Take it easy sugar cube.” Applejack braced herself against the dashboard. “We don’t want to be on the rescue list.”

Twilight lifted her hoof off the throttle. “Sorry…” She huffed.

“Want me to drive?” Applejack asked.

“No…” Twilight rubbed her eyes with her left hoof. Applejack nodded as she scanned the road looking for road signs for Mulberry. “AJ?”

“Yes?” Applejack looked at her friend.

“You think I was in the wrong?” Twilight squeezed the steering wheel. “What I did to that stallion?”

Applejack bit her lips as she stared into the dark abyss of the night sky. The snow that blanketed the landscape flickering the light from the full moon. “No…” She sighed as she looked at her friend with heavy eyes. “I was wrong…”

Twilight swallowed, trying to rid the dryness from her throat. “Why do you say that?”

“Because…” Applejack sighed. “I’m too soft… To trusting of ponies.” She huffed as she rested her head in her hoof as she leaned against the window. “I almost got Maud killed. Almost got us killed when I trusted Tapper, thought he was helping us escape, but he was using us a bait.”

Twilight remembered being trapped in the school gym back in Iron’s Ridge. Those ponies willing to sacrifice them to save themselves. “Back on the Orchard, before I shot Strewn, Rainbow Dash told me, we’re going to have to do things that we’re uncomfortable with.” She stared at speedometer. “There are bad ponies out there. Bad ponies who are going to force our hooves.” She looked at her friend. “It’s ether them or us.”

Applejack stared at her friend for some time. Her mind conflicted with her friend’s answer. She looked down at her lap, then back to her friend and gave a slight nod as she looked back out at the road. Seeing a light in the distance, she gasped as she placed at hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “Putter!”

Twilight hugged the side of the road the best she could. Their hearts beating as the putter-truck drove past them. Slamming on the breaks. Twilight threw the vehicle into park and jumped out. “Hey, why did we stop?” Maud stuck her head out.

Twilight stared down the road at the mysterious truck’s rear lights.

“Who is that?” Spitfire asked as she glared at the vehicle.

Iron Wing poked his head out, his cat-like eyes focusing on it. “I have a bad feeling.”

The distant vehicle’s break lights lit up. Seeing it turning around, Twilight slowly unholstered her pistol. Maud and Spitfire raised their weapons. “They’re coming back?” Applejack stood beside Twilight. Twilight shivered as the truck approached them.

The truck stopped about a foot away from them, its headlight’s causing them to shield their eyes. The passenger side door flew open, and a figure stumbled out. Seeing the figure coming into the light, Maud’s heart skipped a beat. “Pinkie!” She jumped out of the truck and wrapped her forelegs around her baby sister. Feeling her sister’s touch, Pinkie broke down and buried her face in her sister’s chest.

“What did they do to you?” Twilight asked as she stared at Pinkie’s battered body.

“They wanted to know where we live…” Copper hissed as he walked up to them.

Twilight saw how bad he was beaten. “Did you tell?” He sighed as he sat beside Pinkie. Twilight bit her cheek as she glared at the moon-lit landscape.

“Did they let you go?” Applejack asked.

“No… We were rescued.” Copper looked at the driver side of their truck.

“Who?” Twilight looked at the truck and saw a pony sitting, its hooves resting on the steering wheel.

“An old friend.” Copper smirked.

Maud, Spitfire, Iron Wing, and Applejack gave each other looks. They all turned their eyes to the truck. Closest to it, Twilight walked over to the driver side and nearly had a heart attack as her eyes saw the pony in question. “Blaze?!”