AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Twilight stared at the bat pony across from her. She glared at the eye patch over his left eye, which made his other eye seem like a sentient entity trapped within his skull. She tapped the glass of whiskey poured for her. Sighing, she picked it up and took a sip. “So,” She ran her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “How do we solve this?” She turned her eyes to the stallion. “Without adding more to the body count?”

The Governor smirked as he took a sip of his own glass of whiskey. “Oh, I think you know the answer to that question?” He smacked his lips as he narrowed his eye. Twilight tightened her jaw as she narrowed hers.

-Two Days Prior-

Maud sat beside Limestone, who laid on one of the couches around the central fireplace in the lounge area of the visitor center. She ran her hoof through her sister’s mane, listening to her shallow breathing. Pinkie who sat on the other end of the couch, held the Cake twins close to her body as she stared at Limestone’s severed limb. The memory of the trotter digging into her leg replayed in her mind like a broken record.

Copper who held a bag of partially melted snow to his eye, looked at the mares. “How are you holding up?

Maud looked at him, with tired eyes. “Trying to stay calm.” Hearing her response, Spitfire, who was laying against Maud, buried her face into her back and gave her a little squeeze.

“Same…” Pinkie sighed as she ran her hooves through the Cake twins’ manes. Pumpkin and Pound cake stared at Maud, the memory of her beating up Nox was seared within their minds. Another chip to their innocence if there was any remaining after all they’ve been through.

Rarity who sat across from them, stared at Limestone’s missing limb. “You think it will work?” She rubbed her own hindlegs, thinking of such an act. Sweetie Belle who sat beside her, shivered as the same thought crossed her mind.

Pinkie stared at Limestone before turning her attention to her friend. “I hope so…” Maud looked at Pinkie seeing the doubt pouring from her eyes. Rarity sighed as she looked up and saw Fletcher and Dr. Hooves leading Granite back into the lounge.

“What’s the verdict?” Cadance asked as she rocked her daughter in her forelegs.

“He’ll make it.” Dr. Hooves gently sat him on the floor near Limestone. “All this chaos dwindled my supplies.” He looked at Shining who sat beside Cadance. “I hope Macintosh’s group found some medical supplies.” He looked at Applejack and Twilight who sat at a table near the window. “I have a feeling it’s going to get worse.”

“Why do you say that?” Twilight asked.

“This Governor seems like the type of pony to hold a grudge.” Dr, Hooves looked over a Blaze who sat on the window still looking out into the darkness. Shining and some of the others looked over at the stallion, before looking at each other. Dr. Hooves sighed as he walked up to Derpy who was combing her daughter’s mane and kissed her on the head before walking over to Blaze. “You need me to look at that?” He pointed at his blood caked snout.

“No…” Blaze kept his eyes to the stars.

Dr. Hooves nodded as he walked out of the lounge.

Twilight stared at Blaze, studying his solemn posture. She bit her cheek, puzzled and awed at his bravery, his willingness to put himself at risk to save Pinkie and Copper, even after he left the group. She felt a warmness on her cheeks. He was a strange and complicated stallion, and she found it attractive.

Spike who sat at the other table with Scootaloo, Applebloom, Snowy, Dusk, and Hanzel, shook his head in his hand. He could clearly see that Twilight still had feelings for Blaze. Letting out a sigh he rested his head in his arms and closed his eyes.

Hearing the main doors open, Twilight and the others saw Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, Iron Wing, Marley, and Poppy stepping into the lounge. Rainbow Dash shivered as she took off her scarf and placed it on the coatrack.

“You see anything coming this way?” Shining asked as he walked up to them.

“No, nothing.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “But we’re going to have to do shifts.” She walked up to the fireplace and sat beside Rarity. “They know where we are, it’s only a matter of time.” She saw the shame pouring from Pinkie’s eyes.

“Darling?” Noticing Pinkie’s souring mood, Rarity sat beside Pinkie and rubbed her snout against her cheek. “It’s not your fault.” She pulled her into a hug. “It was that Governor fellow, the brute!” She rested her head on her friend’s”

Feeling overwhelmed, Pinkie began sobbing. Upset by her crying, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake tried their best to cure her of her despair. Copper stared at the floor, ashamed he wasn’t strong enough to protect her.

Something broke within Maud as she saw her sister’s despair. Feeling nauseous she stood up and walked out of the lounge. Stunted and concerned, Spitfire chased after her.

Blaze stared at the spot where Maud ran off to. Feeling a chill, he looked at the group grimacing at the range of conflicting emotions consuming them. Letting out a sigh he jumped off the window still. A sharp pain shot up his back causing him to stumbled forward.

“Hey,” Iron Wing placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Haven’t you gotten looked at?”

Blaze stood back and let out a sigh. “I’m fine.” He looked at Marley and pointed at his pack of cigarettes. Marley took out one and lit it for him. Blaze took a drag and limped out of the visitor center.

Twilight stared at him through the window by the door and watched him puff on the cigarette like it was the best thing since sliced bread. Frowning, she threw on her jacket and walked to the doors.

“Where are you going?” Iron Wing asked.

“She’s going to work her magic.” Applejack mused as she rested her head in her hoof.

Iron Wing looked at Twilight standing next Blaze, watching her talk to him, motioning her head at the door. Seeing Blaze’s conflicted posture, it didn’t take long for him to finish his cigarette and follow her back inside. “You can have another one as a treat when we get you cleaned up.” She walked into the visitor center’s kitchen.

“Told you.” Applejack sighed.

Iron Wing nodded as he looked at Marley who was staring at Copper and Pinkie. “What’s on your mind?”

Marley sighed as he looked at the bat pony. “Why did my brother do this?”

“I’m asking the same thing about Lotus and Aloe.” Rarity ran her hoof through Pinkie’s mane. “What do they see in him?”

“I’m afraid of what this Governor is capable of.” Thunderlane crossed his forelegs as he stared at the fire. The group felt a cold chill wash over their bodies as they mulled over his statement. A statement that they all hoped wasn’t true.

Spitfire stood under the archway that led into the visitor center’s restaurant, staring at Maud who stood by the window looking at the snow-covered redwood trees. The moonlight lit her figure, casting her in silhouette. Swallowing, to rid the dryness in her throat, Spitfire walked into the restaurant. “Maud?”

Maud didn’t acknowledge her, her stoic eyes still stared at the landscape.

Spitfire could see that they were slightly trembling. “Maud?” She stood beside her, leaning her head forward to get a look at her face. “Please speak to me.”

Maud clenched her jaw, her eyes felt swollen as she kept staring at the small redwood tree being bullied by the wind and snow. She closed her eyes, tears rolling down her face. She opened them and looked at her filly-friend. “I…” Maud stammered. “I failed them…”

A nauseous sensation overcame Spitfire at the despair in Maud’s face.

“I promised Ma and Pa to protect them…” Maud hissed out a cry. “And I failed them!” Her legs buckled, as her emotional damn broke. She fell to the floor, her front hooves tucked under her as she curled up into a fetal position.

Spitfire fell to the floor as well and cuddled Maud, laying her head over her. “You didn’t fail them.” She rubbed her snout against Maud’s cheek. “None of this was your fault. It was out of your hooves.” She kissed her several times. “Don’t let this break you.” She scooted closer, “You still have a promise to keep.”

Blaze hissed as Twilight gently dabbed a rag across his snout’s nostrils. “Stay still.” She grumbled.

“I told you I’m fine.” He hissed at the sharp pain.

“Remember our deal...” She smiled, giggling to herself.

Blaze grumbled as he turned his eyes to the ceiling. “So,” Nervous chills washed over him. “How have you been?” He saw the perplexed look she gave him. “Before this shit show.”

Twilight turned her attention back to her task. She mulled over his question for a few seconds, before dunking the rag back in the bowl of warm water. “It’s been the usual goings.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing special.” Blaze gave a little snort as he shrugged his shoulders to her reply. “What was that?”

“Oh…” Blaze lowered his head, his eyes staring at hers. “I thought things would be better since I left.”

Twilight frowned. “You’re an ass.” She tossed the rag in the bowl.

Blaze rolled his eyes as he rested his hooves behind his back. “Sorry.”

Twilight dumped the water in the sink. “It’s okay.” She leaned against the counter. “I’ve missed you.” She looked out the window.

Blaze rubbed his foreleg. “I… I missed you to.”

Twilight turned around and stared at him. “Why did you risk your life?”

“Because.” He looked at the archway to the kitchen and saw the firelight flicking against the walls. “Because I wanted to…”

“Keeping secrets again?” She smirked, but her eyes remained emotionless.

Blaze shook his head. “No.” He returned the smirk. “It was the right thing to do.” He looked out the window.

Twilight bit her bottom lip as she studied his posture. “Are you planning on leaving again?” Blaze didn’t respond, his eyes still glued to the window. Twilight ran her teeth across her bottom lip as she stepped up to him. She activated her magic and tilted his head to face her. She kissed him on the lips, her tongue prodding to enter. He opened his mouth and allowed their tongues to dance with each other.

“What was that for?” He asked as she broke the kiss.

“Stay…” She ran a hoof under his chin. “Don’t you ever make another choice for me.” Her eyes narrowed, but her lips were in a smirk. She stepped away from him and back into the lounge. Watching her slip away, Blaze let out a sigh as he looked out the window and stared at the moon slowly creeping into frame.

-Next Day-

-Mulberry-

The Governor glared at his reflection in the mirror. He glared at his mangled eye. The vibrant yellow of its iris now dull and filled with busted blood vessels. He hissed as he placed the eye patch over it. Running his hoof through his mane, he flapped his wings and stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing that he was alone, he sighed as he stepped out of the bedroom and walked across the hall into his office.

Hearing a thumping sound, he held in a breath for a short second and then let it all out as he slowly walked up the closet on his left. Opening the door, his zombified daughter burst out, the metal chain around her neck and chest held her back from sinking her teeth into his flesh.

“Hey sweetie.” The Governor sighed as he sat down. “Sorry for not visiting you…”

Getting to the top of the stairs, Aloe groaned as she limped her way back to her room. “Uh?” Seeing that the door was wide open, she timidly peaked in and saw that it was empty. “Axiom?” She looked at the door on her left and saw that it was cracked. Walking up to it, she leaned in and heard a masculine voice talking to someone… Confused she stuck her head in and saw the Governor sitting on the floor, talking to a bat pony filly... a tied-up filly… a zombified filly… “Axiom?”

The Governor looked over his shoulders and saw the terrified look on Aloe’s face. He sighed as he looked back at his daughter who was still growling and snarling at him. “I thought I told you to not come in here.”

Aloe fought her fears and stepped into the room. “No more secrets!” She walked up to them but kept her distance. “Why didn’t you say the ponies Zipper found were my old friends?” He kept silent as he stared at his daughter. She gritted her teeth as she looked side to side. “Why? We could’ve worked something out! All of this could’ve been solved…” She stared at the filly. “And why is there a trotter in your closet?”

The Governor sighed as he looked at the floor. “You see that picture on the fireplace mantel.”

Aloe looked puzzled as she turned her eyes to the photo in question. She stepped up to it and saw the Governor with his foreleg over a pegasus mare’s shoulders and a bat pony filly sitting in front of them, with a large smile on her face. Her eyes jumped to the trotter and saw they were the same. “Is this your daughter?”

“Yes…”

“What happened to your family?” Aloe looked at the photo, her ears flat.

“I trusted the wrong ponies…” He looked up from the floor and stared at his daughter’s eyes. “Ponies I thought were my friends.” He frowned. “Sometimes the ponies that are your friends in the old world become your enemies in the new world.” He looked at Aloe and stared at her eyes, those soft, caring, innocent eyes he fell in love with when they first met. “They may have been your friends before, but you don’t know what they’re cable of.” He looked back at his daughter once more. “Blaze was a friend, correct?”

Aloe nodded. “Not a close friend, but a helpful member.”

“And look what he did.” He sighed. “And he’s welcomed with open forelegs by your old friends.”

Aloe looked at the ground as she mulled over his words. She slowly sat beside him and stared at his daughter. “Tell me about her.” She stared at the photo. “Both of them.” She handed him the photo. “What were they like?” The Governor smiled as he put a foreleg over her shoulders, pulling her into an embrace.

Lotus threw a trotter onto the rest that laid in a ditch. She coughed at the smell as she looked back at the gate and saw several ponies making repairs. She grumbled as she stepped away from the pile and grabbed a canister of gasoline and began dumping it onto the pile.

“Fuck!” Hearing the curse, Lotus looked to her left and saw Cobalt and Zipper walking together. “How does one pony do this?” Cobalt growled as he walked through the rubble filled streets.

“He’s a sneaky bastard.” Zipper huffed.

“And your old group allowed him to stay?” Cobalt glared at Zipper.

Zipper frowned. “It wasn’t my call.” He huffed. “I wasn’t in charge, Twilight and Applejack were.”

Cobalt tapped his hoof on the ground as he kept staring at Zipper. “Nox and the others aren’t back from the military base.” He looked at the gate and stared at the road fading into the distance.

“I think they’re dead.” Zipper plopped a cigarette in his mouth.

“What makes you think that?” Cobalt narrowed his eyes.

“They weren’t the only ones there remember.” Zipper scoffed. “I’m sure Pinkie’s friends took care of them.” He ran his hoof over his neck.

Cobalt grumbled as he walked in circles. “Shit… That means they know where Mulberry is.”

“You think he told them?” Zipper raised his brow.

“Told who?” Lotus asked, interrupting Cobalt. The stallions looked at each other, silently thinking over what to say. “Look I know who you brough here.” Lotus rolled her eyes. “My sister told me everything.”

Cobalt frowned. “Look, Lotus.” Zipper sighed. “I would’ve told you…”

“Bullshit!” Lotus frowned. “But the cat is out of the bag now.” She got in his face. “They were part of our old group! Our friends!”

“Your friends.” Zipper gritted his teeth. “I was doing what we do with all outsiders.”

“You didn’t treat Aloe and I like that?” Lotus shot back.

“The Governor trusted you.” Zipper rolled his eyes.

“No, he just wanted to fuck my sister.” Lotus scoffed as she stepped away from the stallions. “I could’ve talked to them! Avoided all of this!” Zipper and Cobalt looked at one another, shaking their heads as they continued through the town.

Growling, Lotus walked onto the sidewalks and slipped into an alley. Alone she let out a gasp as she leaned against one of the buildings. She put a hoof to her chest and took several large breaths. Her heart was beating a million miles a second. She rested her head against the brick wall. ‘Fuck you, Blaze!’ She hissed as she kicked the wall. ‘You ruined everything!’ She stared at the sky watching a few clouds floating by. Calming her nerves she walked back onto the street and made her way back to the gate to finish her work.

“Lotus?”

Lotus stopped and turned around to see her sister. “Aloe.” She let out a sigh. “Where have you been?”

Aloe frowned. “You know where.”

Lotus shook her head. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” Aloe looked at the gate and saw a few ponies lifting some sheet metal in place.

Lotus looked at the ponies before looking down at her hooves. “I need to get going…” Seeing Mrs. Tyme with a full saddlebag, guiding her two children with several others following her, Lotus and Aloe looked at each other, curiosity getting the better of them. “Tyme?” Lotus asked as they walked alongside the mare. “Where are you going?”

“Getting out of here.” She spat. “It’s not safe!”

Aloe frowned. “It’s not safe out there.”

Lotus bit her cheek. “You know it’s still the dead of winter.”

“We’re prepared.” Tyme shook her saddlebag. “Ponies are attacking us.”

“You’ll face the same out there!” Aloe growled. Mrs. Tyme’s children shivered and huddled close to her. Mrs. Tyme narrowed her eyes as she hurried away. Lotus held her sister back as they watched Zipper, Cobalt and several other stopping the group.

“Where are you going?” Cobalt glared at the group.

“We want to leave!” Mrs. Tyme commented.

“It’s not safe here!” Another shouted.

“No pony is leaving!” Cobalt huffed.

“You can’t stop us.” A pony shouted.

“If they want to leave let them.” Lotus rolled her eyes.

“Sis!” Aloe grumbled. Lotus just stared at her as they listened to the deteriorating situation run its course.

“If you want to be trotter food, be my guest!” Zipper laughed.

Some in the group muttered to themselves. One pony frowned and stepped forward but was pushed back by Cobalt. A gunshot filled the air stopping everyone in their tracks. Every pony turned toward the source of the noise and found the Governor holstering his pistol.

“No pony is leaving!” He shouted. “We are not letting some savages threaten our way of life!” He walked up to the feeling group and stared them down. “If you want to risk your life, your family’s life out there, where the bitters and bandits are then go! Run like cowards!” He looked at Lotus and Aloe, his eyes narrowing on Lotus. “If you leave, you’re never allowed back.” He turned his attention to Zipper and Cobalt and waved them to follow him.

The ponies looked at one another, fear and concern on their faces. Silence fell over the group for several minutes until one by one they all dispersed and went back to their abodes or dropped their things to help in the clean-up effort.

Aloe glared at her sister before huffing out a sigh and chased after the Governor. Lotus stood in the middle of the street her mind lost in thought, unaware of her surroundings as the world around her faded. A nagging feeling came over her, a feeling that would spell disaster for her and her sister. A single tear rolled down her face and splashed on the cobblestone.

-Poppies Grove-

Spike stared at the vast snow that covered the land from atop the park ranger watchtower. He breathed a sigh, enjoying the quiet that winter brings. Looking to his left he stared at the cabins that hugged the cliff face that jutted its way to the river. He saw several ponies mulling around them.

Dinky and Hanzel were pulling a crate of trash to the burn pile near the fence. Derpy was sweeping the snow off her cabin’s porch and porch’s railings. Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane were gearing up for a patrol. Scootaloo and Rumble were tagging along to learn and to cure their boredom. At the last cabin closest to the visitor center, he saw Fletcher striking a conversation with Poppy.

“Watcha up to?” Applebloom stood next to him. She placed her front hooves on the railing and scanned the landscape of their home.

“Pony watching.” Spike stated flatly.

Applebloom turned her eyes to the gate and saw Marley over by the trucks, kicking his hoof against their tires. “That sounds exciting.” She gave him a smirk. “Can I join?” Spike rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms and rested his head on them. Holding in a laugh, Applebloom looked over at the visitor center and saw Blaze sitting on the second story balcony, smoking a cigarette as he looked at the valley through the trees. “You think he’ll stay?”

Spike gave Applebloom a perplex look, but seeing who she was talking about, his confusion faded as he stared at the earth pony with emotionless eyes. “Not sure.” He grumbled. “It’s hard to tell with him.”

“Its crazy luck he stumbled upon Pinkie and Copper.” Applebloom’s eyes darted around until she saw said ponies sitting by the lounge’s fireplace, cuddling on the couch opposite Limestone who was still asleep. Granite slept on the floor next to her, unwilling to leave her side. “Seems like he still wants to be a part of our group.”

“Yeah…” Spike watched Blaze toss his cigarette off the balcony. “I guess.” Blaze leaned against the railing and hung his head. ‘I guess you couldn’t leave Twilight.’ He chewed his cheek as he looked toward the gate and saw a group of four ponies walking down the path. “They’re back!”

Applebloom snapped her head in the direction of the Gate and saw her brother, Soarin, Zecora, and Opal walking up to the gate with full saddlebags.
“THEY’RE BACK!” Applebloom shouted. “MACINTOSH’S GROUP IS BACK!” Everypony dropped what they were doing and looked towards the gate.

Applejack ran out of the visitor center and looked at the gate. Her heart skipped a beat as she laid eyes on her brother and colt-friend. “Mac! Soarin!” She ran up to the gate with Twilight, Shining Armor, Rarity, Iron Wing and Rainbow Dash.

Marley gave them a salute as he opened the gate. “Welcome back.”

“Good to be back…” Soarin groaned as Applejack wrapped her forelegs around him. “Hey AJ.” He kissed her. “How are you…” He noticed the dour demeanor that consumed the group. “Is everything okay?”

Twilight shook her head. “We have a big issue on our hooves.”

“What’s going on?” Macintosh scanned the group.

-Mulberry-

The Governor glared at a large map that draped over the large rectangle shaped table in the center of the bank’s atrium. Glaring at the dots that represented the towns, large and small that surrounded Mulberry. Staring at the markings for Poppies Grove, his eyes narrowed. Growling he stabbed the spot on the map.

“Are you okay?” Aloe asked as she walked up to him.

“Frustrated.” He sighed.

“What do you want to do?” Cobalt asked.

“I need to convince my brother to leave if we’re going to attack them?”

“Your brother chose his fate.” Cobalt growled. Zipper growled right back.

Lotus who sat near the door felt a chill wash over her. “You’re not serious are you?” She walked up to them.

“You’re not apart of this.” Another stallion snapped from the other end of the table.

Lotus huffed. “We don’t need to do this!” She walked up to the Governor. “Please lets just talk to them.”

“After they attacked us?” Aloe answered for him.

Lotus shook her head as she looked at Zipper. “If you never brought Pinkie and Copper here then this would’ve never happened. Blaze would’ve never attacked us!”

“What do you propose?” The Governor sighed.

Lotus was taken back by is emotionless tone of voice. “I…” She fidgeted with her hooves. “Its up to you, but it think talking it out than shooting each other is a better option.”

“Of course you would offer up a vague plan!” Cobalt shook his head.

“I’m not the one in charge of this place!” Lotus crossed her forelegs.

The Governor stared at the map, his eyes staring at the dotted lines marking Poppies Grove’s boundary. “She’s right…” He placed his hoof on the knife. “I’m in charge.” He wiggled the knife around as he kept his eye on the map.

-Poppies Grove -

Macintosh stared at Limestone. Her sickly state upset him, seeing the dip in the blanket where her hindleg should be, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “What’s wrong?” Applebloom tilted her head.

Macintosh opened his eyes and looked at his baby sister. “Just worried.” He patted her head.

“Aren’t we all…” Granite gently laid his head on Limestone's stomach.

“Did this Governor say what he wanted?” He looked at Pinkie and Copper.

“He just wanted to know where we were living?” Pinkie rested her head in her hoof.

Soarin frowned as he looked over his shoulders and stared at Blaze who was standing at the top of stairs to the second story floor. Blaze noticing his glare, returned it. “What?” Blaze grumbled.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Soarin spat. “Going all gun ho like a mad pony will not help us!” He stormed up to the base of the stairs.

“I saved them jackass!” Blaze glared at the pegasus.

Soarin gritted his teeth as he took a step forward. “Soarin, stop!” Applejack placed a hoof on his chest. “What’s done is done!”

“Yeah, and now we have a target on our backs!”

“The Governor was going to kill us!” Copper huffed. “There was always going to be a target on our backs!”

Soarin stared at the battered earth pony for a few seconds before shaking his head and stepping outside to calm his mind. Applejack sighed as she followed him. “So, what do we do?” Macintosh turned his gaze to Twilight.

Twilight looked at the stallion before looking at the others. “We prepare ourselves. Everypony will carry a weapon.”

“We don’t have that many firehooves to go around?” Iron Wing crossed his forehooves. “Unless we go back to the military base.” He saw Pinkie shiver and bury her face in her hooves.

“They’ll be thinking the same thing.” Blaze commented as he walked down the stairs. “I’ll go.”

“Only we know where it is.” Granite pointed at himself, Pinkie, Copper, and Limestone.

“Show me.” Blaze frowned.

Granite sighed. “It won’t be on any of the maps we have.”

Blaze stared at the ground tapping a hoof against the hardwood floor.

“I’ll go with you.” Copper stood up. Pinkie’s eyes went wide, her heart pounded against her chest and she grabbed onto him for dear life.

Seeing her despair, Granite let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Limestone. “I’ll take you.”

Maud glared at him. “You need to stay for her.”

Granite stared at Limestone, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. “I know, but we need weapons to defend ourselves.”

“What if we leave?” Scootaloo asked. They all gave each other looks as they pondered the filly’s question.

“No…” Twilight shook her head. “We are not leaving. Not in this weather!” She pointed at the frozen landscape.

“I agree,” Macintosh sat down. “We need to stay.” He looked at the group. “This is our home.” The group slowly nodded.

“Well let’s get ready.” Fletcher clapped his hooves as he looked at Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane. “You patrol the north and I, Opal and Poppy will patrol the south.”

“Can I come with you?” Hanzel asked.

Fletcher smiled as he rustled his brother’s mane. “You need to stay here incase things get out of hoof.” Hanzel gave a smirk, but deep down he was worried and upset. What if they attacked, what if his brother couldn’t get back to the visitor center... if to confirm his worries, Applejack and Soarin quickly ran into the visitor center.

“Get down!” Applejack hissed as she lowered herself to the floor.

“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.

“There are several ponies at the gate.” Applejack growled as she crawled over to the wall where their weapons were stored.

“Shit…” Rainbow Dash unholstered her saw-off lever action shotgun.

“Can you see them?” Rarity asked as Shining peaked over the window still.

Seeing a group of ten ponies standing by the gate and seeing one of them holding up their hooves and waving them, Shining lowered himself and looked at Rarity. “I think I see Aloe, Lotus, Zipper and… a bat pony…” His eyes went wide. “The Governor’s here.”

Marley lifted his head and stared at the ponies. “Son of a bitch it's my brother!”

Hearing the description of the Governor, Pinkie started to hyperventilate. Copper quickly pulled her into an embrace. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”

“What do we do?” Applebloom shivered as her mind wandered to the worst-case scenarios.

Memories of talking with Strewn at the orchard’s gate tickled Twilight’s mind. Slowly standing up she checked the mag in her pistol. Seeing that it had ten bullets out of the fifteen it couls hold, she loaded the mag back in the pistol and holstered it. “Let’s see what they want to talk about.”

“I’ll go with.” Rarity stood up. “Lotus and Aloe are… were my friends.”

“Aloe’s not the same mare.” Blaze grumbled.

“I… We have to try.” Rarity gasped as she felt her sister pulling on her hind leg.

“Don’t go…” Sweetie Belle looked to be on the verge of tears.

“We’ll be safe.” Marely gave the filly a smile. Rarity smiled at the stallion as they along with Twilight, Shining, Iron Wing, Applejack, and Soarin left the visitor center.

Standing out in the cold, Twilight glared at the ponies at the gate. Her body shivered as she stared at Aloe, Lotus, and Zipper. She could see Lotus looking more nervous than the others. Aloe and Zipper looked like they didn’t want to be here let alone to have a calm discussion. And as for the Governor, well he was hard to read. Frowning, Twilight led her group to the gate.

“Hey little brother.” Zipper smirked at Marley. His eyes jumped to Rarity who stood beside him. “Hey horny…” Marley frowned as he slightly stepped forward, putting distance between Zipper and her. Zipper frowned at his brother as he bit his tongue.

The Governor smirked as he stared at Iron Wing. “Nice to see a fellow bat pony.”

Iron Wing frowned at him. “The feeling is not mutual.” He gritted his teeth, showing his fangs.

The Governor scoffed as he looked at Twilight. “And you.” He narrowed his good eye. “You must be Twilight.” He looked at the rest of the group. “I heard so much about you.” He placed a hoof over Aloe’s shoulders. Rarity’s heart skipped a beat as Aloe leaned into him.

“Why are you here?” Twilight snapped.

The Governor smirked, showing a fang as he pointed at Lotus. “She wanted us, just us, to talk it over.”

“Talk about what?” Twilight looked at Lotus.

The Governor smirked as he pushed Lotus closer to Twilight. Lotus felt a chill wash over her as she stared into Twilight’s eyes. “I…I” She looked at Rarity. “I wanted to see if we could come to a deal. To avoid more bloodshed.”

Twilight kept her glare on Lotus, studying her posture. “What do you have in mind?”

The Governor laughed as he shook his head. “We’ll meet on a small farm along highway 11, the farm has three grain silos on it.” He pointed at Twilight. “You and I will talk in the farmhouse. One on one.”

Twilight chewed her cheek as she looked at the others. “What time?”

The Governor smirked. “Tomorrow, noon.” He looked at the others. “Bring only three ponies. I’ll do the same.”

Twilight looked at her hooves as she mulled over the ideas swimming in her mind. “Fine…” She glared at the bat pony. “But any inklings of an ambush and I’ll gut you!” She stepped forward.

Cobalt stepped forward and growled at her. The Governor looked down at the purple unicorn and chuckled as he offered a hoof. “No tricks.” Twilight glared at his hoof for a few seconds before taking it and giving it a shake.