AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Twilight ran her tongue on the roof of her mouth. “How do we solve this?” She looked at the Governor who sat across from her. “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.

Outside the farmhouse Twilight and the Governor were in, Applejack, Rarity, and Marley stood by their putter-truck. Applejack chewed her cheek as she stared at Cobalt, Zipper, and Lotus. Applejack could see how uncomfortable Lotus looked. Her timid posture showed she wanted to talk to them but the uneasiness that hung over them like a thick fog prevented her from doing so.

“What are you looking at?” Cobalt growled, annoyed by Applejack’s stare.

Applejack turned her gaze to the unicorn. “Just keeping my eye on you.”

“You don’t have to worry AJ.” Zipper smirked. “I ain’t going to shoot when my brother’s here.”

Marley narrowed his eyes. “That’s why I’m here.”

Zipper frowned as he spat out tobacco tainted saliva. “We need to talk.” He motioned to his brother to follow. Marley sighed as he looked at Applejack and Rarity who nodded. He smiled at Rarity and followed after his brother.

Lotus tapped her hooves together and cleared her throat. “Rarity?” She walked up to her friend. “Can we talk?”

Rarity looked at her old friend and smiled. “I was hoping to.” Lotus smiled as she walked past her friend and over toward the gate near the gravel road that led to the highway.

Cobalt stared at them before turning his gaze at Applejack. “Looks like it’s just us.”

Applejack sighed as she crossed her forelegs. “Looks like it.” She looked at the farmhouse, narrowing her eyes, trying to make out the blurry figures by the window.

“You know nothing will come of this.” Cobalt smirked.

Applejack looked at the stallion. “What makes you say that?”

“You really think this will end peacefully?” Cobalt tilted his head. Applejack looked at the farmhouse, chewing her cheek as she made out the silhouette of Twilight. “Yeah, two stubborn ponies coming to a deal.” He laughed. “Now that would be a shocker.” The memories of Ratchet tickled Applejack’s mind. Feeling her heartrate picking up, she took a deep breath and looked over at Rarity and Lotus.

“How have you been?” Lotus asked as she leaned a foreleg on the gate.

“I’ve been fine. Just taking it day by day.” Rarity smiled.

“Yeah, aren’t we all…” Lotus gave a nervous laugh as she looked at the road watching the trees swaying with the winds.

Rarity’s smile faded as she studied her former friend’s posture. “What’s wrong?”

Lotus bit her hoof as she looked at her friend. She laughed as she shook her head. “Oh, you know me…” She smiled at Rarity. “My sister… this… It’s a shit show!”

“Why are you staying with him and his group?” Rarity tilted her head.

Lotus hung her head. “Because my sister’s in love with the Governor.” She shook her head. “I had a plan to escape with her, but Blaze fucked it up!” She hissed.

Rarity shivered at her tone of voice. “Blaze had his reasons.”

Lotus stared at Rarity. “After all he’s done.” She frowned. “And you all kept him.” She frowned at the farmhouse. “He’s no different than the Governor.” Rarity bit her cheek as she looked at the farmhouse. She mused what Twilight and the Governor were discussing about.

“Well…” Twilight tapped the table as she looked down at her lap. “I know both of us want the military base.” She looked at the Governor. “All of this started because of that place.” She gave him a slight smirk. “We’ll split the supplies sixty, forty.”

The Governor smirked. “You’re taking sixty?”

She chewed her cheek. “No.” She finished her glass of whiskey. “You’re taking sixty.” She aggressively placed down her glass. “View it as an apology for what happened to your town.” She pointed at her face, making a circular motion with her hoof. “And your face.”

He smirked as he leaned back in his seat. “That’s cute…” He shook his head, holding in a laugh. “But I don’t care about the military base. That ship has sailed long ago.” He gave her a menacing smile. “You know exactly what I want.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want.”

“Not what, but who.” He gritted his teeth.

She gently tapped her hoof against the table. “Not sure who you’re talking about?”

He glared at her. “You know who I’m talking about.” He leaned forward and lifted up his eye patch. “I want Blaze.” He glared at her. “He needs to pay for what he did.”

She stared at the table, studying the warm ivory white paint that coated its skin. “I’m not giving him up.” She glared at him. “Anypony in my group is not up for bargaining.” She threw the map in his face as she stood up. “Take your cut or…” She chewed her cheek as she stared at him.

“Or what?” He smirked as he studied her posture. “Shit…” He laughed. “You love him.” He leaned back in his seat. “You’re going to let your group suffer so you can have him all to yourself?”

Twilight growled. “Don’t test me!” She leaned forward, putting her hooves on the table. “I won’t be pushed around by ponies like you.”

The Governor scoffed. “If you don’t give him up within twenty-four hours,” He leaned forward getting in her face. “Well, I think you can figure it out.” He smirked. “Wanna repeat of Iron’s Ridge? The Orchard? Then continue on this path.” He gave her a sly smile. Twilight gritted her teeth as she narrowed her eyes.

Zipper glared at his brother as he spat out about wad of tobacco. Marley stared at his brother as he lit a cigarette. “What happened to you?” Marley finally spoke after taking a long drag.

Zipper sighed as he fidgeted with the belt of his prosthetic. “Naw, I’m the same big brother you’ve always known.” He smiled at him. “I’m just part of a new group.” He leaned against a crate near the silo. “A group I’d rather be a part of when push comes to shove.”

Marley narrowed his eyes, the ash tip falling off as he moved his cigarette to the left side of his mouth. “I’ve been doing fine with our old group.”

“They almost got me killed!” Zipper scoffed.

“It was a shit show and you know it.” Marley huffed. “I went back for you!”

“And I thank you for your kind gesture,” Zipper growled. “But you were a little slow.” He tapped his prosthetic.

Marley just stared at his brother with dull eyes. “Just like Pa.” He shook his head. “Jackass.”

Zipper gritted his teeth. “Pa was doing his best.” Marley rolled his eyes as he looked back at the farmhouse. Seeing Twilight stepping out, he sighed as he tapped a hoof on his brother's shoulder. Zipper softened his harsh demeanor as he grabbed his brother’s shoulder. “Join me.” He let out a sigh. “When things hit the fan, you’d rather be with the Governor.”

Marley looked into his brother’s eyes and saw a hint of doubt within. “I trust my old friends. Our old friends.” He frowned. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” He gently pushed his brother’s hoof off his shoulder and walked back to Applejack and Rarity. Zipper watched his brother stand close to Rarity. He spat out the rest of his tobacco as he glared at the unicorn.

“What’s the verdict?” Applejack asked as she saw Twilight walking up to the truck.

“Get in…” Twilight jumped into the driver seat.

Applejack grumbled as her, Rarity, and Marley jumped into the truck. “Girl, what happened?” Twilight frowned as she shifted the truck into gear as she stared at her friend. Shivering at her friend’s stern glare, Applejack looked back at Marley and Rarity. They too felt an uneasy sensation wash over them. “What does he want?”

-Poppies Grove-

-1:30pm-

“He wants what?” Maud shouted.

Twilight kept her composure as she looked at Maud’s horrified eyes. “He wants Pinkie.”

“Just Pinkie?” Spitfire asked as she comforted Maud.

“No…” Twilight stared at her hooves. “He also wants Blaze.”

Blaze who sat on one of the window stills let out a sigh. “Understandable.” He looked out the window and stared at the gate.

“He didn’t want his part of the military base?” Applejack ran her hooves through her mane. Twilight shook her head. Applejack hissed out a groan. “Did you offer him more of the base?” Some gave her curious or confused looks.

Twilight sighed. “I did, but he wants them!”

Pinkie shivered as she rocked back n’ forth. Copper pulled her into a hug and laid his head on hers. The group looked at one another mulling over what to do. Blaze bit his lower lip and tapped his hooves as he stared at the park ranger watchtower. “I’ll give myself up.”

Twilight looked up at him and frowned. “He wants both of you!”

“Twilight, let me go!” He shook his head. “Once I’m there I can get him to reconsider…”

“He said and I quote I’ll burn your home down if you don’t bring both to him.” Twilight crossed her forelegs.

Before Blaze could respond, Marley placed a hoof on his shoulder. “She’s right.” He sighed. “Even if you offered yourself as a sacrificial lamb, he still would come back here.”

Dr. Hooves who sat beside the fire shook his head. “You think he’d keep his word, even if we did give them up?”

“We are not giving up my sister!” Maud spat.

“Of course we aren’t!” Dr. Hooves shook his head. “I’m just saying!” He scoffed. “This Governor sounds like he’d rather get rid of us than leave us be.”

“I agree.” Fletcher crossed his forelegs. “I think this is all a ruse to get us distracted.”

“Really?” Hanzel asked.

“Yes.” Fletcher patted his brother’s head. “Really.”

“Why do you say that?” Iron Wing gave his friend a perplexed look.

“Like Hooves said, you think he just wants them?” Fletcher stood up. “He wants us bickering among ourselves so we can’t put up a fight when he does attack us.”

Twilight stared at the fire watching it dance about, consuming the logs without mercy. “That’s why we won’t let him.”

“What’s your plan?” Shining asked.

Twilight eyed the group, before looking at the gate.

-Mulberry-

-5:40pm-

The Governor stared at himself in the mirror. He glared at his eye patch, studying the clean stitching that held the pho-leather pieces together. Letting out a sigh, he leaned against the counter. His bat-like wings fluttered before folding back to their resting position.

“You, okay?” Aloe walked into the bathroom.

The Governor looked at her through the mirror. “Yes…” He gave her a smile. “Just preparing myself for the speech.”

“You’ll do fine.” She placed her hooves on his back and rubbed in between where his wings met. “You sure you want to go through with this?”

“They gave us no choice.” The Governor sighed as he stepped away from the sink and kissed her. “Still have feelings for your friends?”

Aloe stared into his eyes for several seconds, her mind mulling over her past. “No...” She looked at her hooves. “I love this place. I love the ponies who call this place home. And I love you.” She kissed him. “I’ll see you down stairs.” She stepped out of the room and left the building.

Alone, the Governor stepped into his office and opened the closet. His daughter burst out and did her usual dance of growling and hissing as the chains did their job. He gave her a warm smile. “I’ll be seeing you and mommy real soon.” He unholstered his knife and jammed it into the side of her head. Her body went limp and collapsed onto the hardwood floor. He stared down at her lifeless body with dull eyes as he slid the knife back into its sheath.

Lotus held a hoof to her stomach as she hugged the toilet. The meeting could’ve gone smoother. At least no one wanted to kill one another. Though seeing her friend Rarity was a reprieve that she desperately needed. ‘I hope it worked?’ Taking a deep breath, she stood up and stumbled out of the restroom. Hearing a cascade of voices echoing out, she stared at her window. “What the?” She walked over to the window and looked at the street below. “What the?” Seeing a large gathering by the bank, she felt a chill as she ran out of her room. “What is going on?”

Stepping out onto the streets she made her way over to the crowd. Seeing the Governor climbing onto the bed of a putter-truck parked in front of the bank, a cold chill washed over her. The stern look he gave the crowd unnerved her.

“My fellow ponies!” The Governor shouted, his deep voice silencing the crowd. “I have news that will be upsetting, but I know that we can overcome. After all, look at what we’ve built. We are stronger united!”

“What is wrong?” A mare asked.

The Governor looked at Aloe, who nodded. “I’ve met with the group who houses the pony who attacked us.” The crowd murmured as they spoke amongst themselves. “I kindly asked them to give him up so we can put him on trial, but they refused!” He noticed Lotus in the crowd. “They want us to live under fear!”

Lotus felt nauseous as she stared into his fierce yellow eyes. ‘No…’

“What do they want?” A stallion asked as he held his wife close to him.

Before the Governor spoke up, Aloe stood by his side. “They want what we have!” She growled. “This attack was just a message. But we’re going to send one of ours!” She studied the crowd. “A final and lasting message!”

Lotus felt like she was going to pass out. Shivering, she stepped away from the crowd and quickly jogged to her apartment. Aloe saw her sister entering her apartment building. She looked down, scolding her sister for her cowardice.

Looking at his lover, the Governor patted her on the shoulders and looked at the crowd. “I’m asking all able bodies to join the assault on this group.” He studied the crowd’s demeanor. “We are leaving tomorrow morning!” Many in the crowd cheered as they raised their hooves in the air. Smiling he looked back at Cobalt and Zipper. He noticed Zipper's anxious demeanor. His smile left as he looked back at the crowd, his eyes drifting towards the sky, watching the clouds roll into themselves.

-Poppies Grove-

-9:30pm-

“Spike?” Applebloom asked as she descended the stairs.

“Yeah?” Spike asked, his eyes glued to his sister and brother, who with Applejack, Iron Wing, Soarin, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane were boarding up the lower portion of the lounge’s windows. “What up?” He looked at her when she didn’t respond.

“You coming?” She pulled her eyes from the working ponies.

Spike gave his siblings one more glance before he followed Applebloom up the stairs. They walked in silence until they got to the end of the hall that led to a smaller lounge that had one large table near a rectangle shaped window that overlooked the wood’s creeping down the cliffside. Taking a seat on one of the couches, Spike leaned back and stared out the window at the star filled sky.

Applebloom sat beside him, copying his pose as she looked over at Snowy, Dusk, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Hanzel, Dinky, Rumble, Pumkin Cake, and Pound Cake who sat on the other couch or on the floor around the table made out of a trunk of a redwood tree. Sensing the uneasy tension that hung over the room, she cleared her throat. “How’s everypony?”

“What do you think?” Sweetie Belle sighed as she laid her head on the redwood table.

“That’s a little rude.” Scootaloo replied. Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes as she stared at the table’s many rings.

“I guess we’re all a little stressed out.” Hanzel replied.

“Everything will be fine.” Rumble commented as he rummaged through a side table beside the couch.

“How?” Snowy scoffed.

“What she said.” Sweetie Belle sighed.

“Because we’re prepared.” Rumble grumbled.

“We know they’re coming.” Hanzel added.

“Really?” Snowy crossed her forelegs. “We were so prepared for Iron’s Ridge! So prepared at the Orchard!” She glared at Rumble and Hanzel. “So prepared they got my mommy and daddy killed!” Dusk placed his hooves on his sister’s shoulder’s and pulled her away from the colts.

Hanzel’s ears folded back. He felt uncomfortable and looked and Rumble and Dinky. Rumble tapped his hooves trying to form a response. Dinky looked at Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Spike hoping they’d respond.

“Ponies will die.” Pumpkin Cake commented out of nowhere as she glared at Snowy.

Snowy’s mood changed as she was taken back by the young filly’s response. The other’s looked at each other stunned that Pumpkin; six-year-old Pumpkin would say such a thing. “Yeah… But they…”

“Shit happens…” Pumpkin rolled her eyes.

“Language.” Spike grumbled.

“Give me a break!” Pumpkin raised her voice. “Our parents are dead! Yours are dead.” She pointed at Snowy, Spike, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. “Yours could be dead!” She pointed at Rumble and Hanzel. “That’s life now.” She crossed her forelegs and glared at the table. “Life is unfair…” Tears came to her eyes. Her brother pulled her into a hug.

Spike and the others looked at one another. A heaviness hung over them as they uncomfortably accepted the young filly’s statement. “Let’s hope things go well…” Rumble rubbed his foreleg.

Spike frowned as he leaned forward and crossed his arms over his knees. “Whatcha thinking?” Applebloom asked.

“What will happen if we fail.” He replied.

“Why are you thinking that?” Hanzel gave the dragon a perplexed glare.

“I’m not trying to have negative thoughts...” Spike sighed. “I’m just hoping our string of bad luck ends for once.” He looked up at the ceiling staring at the lightbulbs that hung from it. Applebloom stared at him before looking up at the ceiling as well. Her mind swimming over ideas that danced in her head.

-Mulberry-

-11:12pm-

A cold sweat coated Lotus as she timidly walked the street that hugged the wall. The sounds of her hooves striking cobblestone filling the air. Getting close to her destination, she slowed her pace and lightened her steps. Hugging one of the buildings on her right, she peaked around it and stared at the parked putter-trucks that occupied the arena.

She smacked her dry mouth as she saw some of the Governor’s stallions mulling about. Feeling her stomach twisting into itself, she took several deep breaths and made her way over to the vehicles.

Hugging the fence around the bleachers. Lotus snuck through a hole in the fence and hid under them. Staring at one of the trucks closets to her, she rummaged through her saddlebag and pulled out a pair of clippers. Shivering, she waited for an opportunity. Seeing the stallion by the truck walking to the area’s announcer box, she jumped from her hiding spot and dove under the truck.

“Okay…” She glared at the brake lines and snipped them. Brake fluid poured out at a steady pace, drenching the arena’s sandy dirt floor. Seeing no one near her location, she rolled out from under the truck and under another one.

Clipping the tuck’s brake lines, she stared at the golden viscose liquid pouring out. Her mind drifted to her sister. She couldn’t fathom that she’d willing joined the governor’s suicidal crusade to go to war… ‘You can…’ She scolded herself. ‘You just don’t want to admit it…’ Feeling the liquid soaking her mane, she cursed and crawled from under the truck and stood up. Seeing four more trucks, she steadied herself and snuck over to them.

“Lotus?”

Lotus nearly had a heart attack as she jerked to a stop. Looking to her right she saw her sister standing by the back of the truck she was just under. She saw her sister’s questioning stare. “Uh… What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing?” Aloe stepped up to her sister. “What are you doing?”

Lotus chewed her cheek. “Helping…” She looked at the truck.

“Helping?” Aloe tilted her head. “Helping how?” She narrowed her eyes.

Lotus felt uncomfortable. Three months… It only took three months for her sister to change. To become a pony, she no longer recognized. “I’m checking on the trucks.” She looked at the truck once more. “Using my skills Willy taught me.”

Aloe stared her down while glancing at the truck a few times. “Why?” She stepped closer to her sister. “Why are you helping?”

Lotus stared into her sister’s azure eyes. “Just doing what’s best for my sister.” She placed a hoof on her sister’s shoulder, giving her a kiss before leaving the arena. Aloe watched her sister slip out through the arena’s main gate. Puckering her lips, she stared down at the ground, pondering her sister’s words, when a dark wet spot caught her eye. Bending down, she saw the oil-soaked soil under the truck. Looking back at the arena’s gate, her eyes narrowed.

-Poppies Grove-

-12:45am-

Limestone gasped as her eyes opened. Feeling a heaviness on her chest, she coughed violently. Groaning from the pain in her throat, she rubbed her neck as she looked at her surroundings. Finding that she was in a cabin, she blinked several times as she stared dumbfounded at the items within the humble space.

“Limestone?” Granite grumbled as he sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked down at her. “You’re awake.” He smiled as he kissed her forehead.

“What happened?” Limestone asked trying to see him through the darkness. He leaned over and turned on the lantern beside their bed. The warm glow filled the room. Limestone gasped as she saw his battered state. Memories poured out from the recess of her mind. Staring at the room’s walls, she felt a chill as she wiggled her right hind leg and felt the bandage that covered her stump. “How did you make it back?”

“Fought through the pian.” He laid back down, pulling her close to his body.

“Where’s Pinkie and Copper?” She rubbed up against him.

“They’re safe.” He sighed as he looked into her eyes. “Blaze rescued them.”

Limestone stared at her boyfriend with wide eyes. “Blaze? Rescued?”

“It’s a long story.” Maud answered for Granite as she sat up from the futon. “I’m so glad you’re finally awake?”

Limestone forced herself to sit up. “I feel like I was struck by several putter-trucks.”

“Aren’t we all.” Pinkie added as she too woke up, poking her head from the loft over Limestone’s bed. Copper did the same thing.

Seeing his swollen eye and busted lip, Limestone stared at her sister. “What happened?”

Pinkie’s joyful smile left as she tapped her hooves against the beam. “After you passed out, a group of ponies attacked Copper and I.” She shivered. “Zipper was with them.” She saw Limestone’s shocked face. “He works for a pony… A pony who calls himself the Governor.” Tears began to flood her eyes.

Concern washed over Limestone as she looked at her older sister. Maud hung her head as she looked at Pinkie. “This Governor, raped Pinkie to get the location of our home.” Spitfire placed a hoof on Maud’s shoulders.

Limestone stared at her baby sister. “How are you holding up?”

Pinkie shrugged her shoulders. “Alive…” She looked into her sister’s eyes. “I’m more worried about you.” She looked at her lower half and saw the dip under the sheet. “I’m sorry…”

Limestone threw off her sheets and started at her stub. “Its alright…” She smirked at Pinkie. “You did what you had to do.” She timidly touched the bandage and hissed at the soreness. “I can’t believe it worked.”

“We’re glad it did.” Maud smiled.

Limestone smiled at her sisters. “So?” Her eyes narrowed. “What are we going to do about this Governor?”

-Mulberry-

-1:00am

“Are you sure?” The Governor asked as he held his hooves in front of his mouth.

“I’m sure?” Aloe looked down at her hooves.

“Were down two trucks now!” Cobalt snapped as he paced around in circles.

“Its easy to fix.” Zipper rolled his eyes. “We'll barrow some brake fluid from the others.”

“And slowl down our assault.” Cobalt glared at him. “I bet you’re happy about that? You’ve been very unenthusiastic about this assault.”

Zipper returned the glare. “I’m fine with it, as long as my brother isn’t killed!”

The Governor sighed as he rubbed his brow. “Stop this bickering!” He glared at the stallions. “We are leaving within four hours. We need to deal with Lotus!”

“What are you planning?” Zipper felt a slight chill wash over him.

The Governor let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Aloe. Aloe chewed her cheek as she stared into his intense eyes. “She’s…” Aloe’s timid eyes hardened. “She’s too much of a risk.” Her tail flicked side to side.

The Governor nodded as he looked at Cobalt and Zipper. “Cobalt, bring her to the bank’s basement.” He stared at Zipper who broke eye contact and looked at the floor.

“Let me get her.” Aloe placed a hoof on the Governor’s shoulder. “She’d trust me.” She felt a chill was over her as she left the office room and out of the bank.

Lotus quickly shoved several clothing items and bags of dried food into her saddlebag. Her stomach twist and turned as she packed. Her mind swam wild with thoughts. Thoughts of where to go, what to do once at her destination. She stopped as she stared at her haphazardly packed bag. ‘Poppies Grove…’ She looked at the clock over her bed. “Rarity…” Her mind drifted to her days back at the spa, the spa her and her sister ran together… ‘Aloe...’ Lotus felt a burning on the edges of her eyes.

Hearing a knock on her door, a shiver danced across her back. Timidly she stepped up to the door. “Who is it?”

“Its your sister!”

Lotus perked up as she opened the door and was taken back by her sister’s dull expression. “Aloe?” She looked at each end of the hall. “What’s wrong?”

Aloe put on a smile. “Could I come in?”

Lotus looked back at her saddlebag on her bed. “Um… Give me a…”

Aloe put her hoof in the door and pushed in. “Why are you acting all…” Seeing the saddlebag her smile left as she slowly walked up to it. “Whatcha doing?” She eyed the saddlebag skeptically.

Lotus stammered as she fidgeted with the bag. “I’m…” She pulled the bag close to her chest. “I’m leaving.”

Aloe raised her brow. “Leaving?” She looked down at her hooves. “Where are you going?”

Lotus stared at her sister. “I…” Her sister’s stern posture unnerved her. “Far away from here…” Her mind drifted to her friend Rarity. To their old group… where her sister used to be her normal self.

Aloe paced around her sister. “Where?”

Lotus put on a brave face. “I’m not telling you.” She threw on her saddlebag. “I’m doing this for you.” She made her way toward the door. “I’ll just get in your way.”

Aloe blocked her. “Get in my way?” She growled.

Lotus frowned at her sister. “You clearly love this place, I don’t. You love him! And I don’t approve!” She tried to slip past her sister, but Aloe pushed her back. Her sister’s scowl made her heart skip a beat. The aura surrounding Aloe felt foreign and unnatural. “Sis?”

Aloe kept quiet for a few seconds before shaking her head. “You’re easy to read.” She narrowed her eyes. “Always easy to tell when you were bullshitting.” She stepped forward. “You’re not going back to your old group.”

“Ours…”

“Yours!” Aloe snapped. Lotus swallowed her fear and pushed against her sister, but Aloe pushed her back. “Fine… Go!” Aloe stepped aside. Lotus eyed her sister as she stepped out of her room. Walking toward the stairs, Lotus looked back and saw her sister slowly stepping out of her room, her eyes harsh and uncaring.

Lotus tore her eyes from her sister and looked forward as she neared the top of the stairs. Stopping at the top step, she took in a deep breath to calm her emotions. ‘Aloe… why…’ She felt hooves on her flank. Before she could react, she lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs. She groaned as the steps struck her body. Getting to the bottom, Lotus groaned out in pain as she struggled to gather her bearings.

Seeing her saddlebag had fallen off and was lying beside her, she groaned as she tried to stand up, but cried out as she felt searing pain radiating from her hindleg. “Aloe?” She questioned as she turned to look at the top of the stairs, but she never got the chance as someone wrapped the barrel strap of her saddlebag around her neck.

In her peripheral vision she saw her sister’s distinct pink fur color. “ALOE!” She choked as the pressure around her neck increased. She heard her sister grunting as she pulled the strap back. “AL-OE! S-S-STOP!” Lotus kicked her hooves about, fighting through the pain as she desperately tried to get her sister off of her. “A-LO-E!” Tears poured from her eyes as she gasped for any amount of air. “P-LE-AS-E!” She gagged as Aloe yanked on the strap.

“SHUT UP!” Aloe hissed as she twisted the strap and cinched it tight to the back of Lotus’s neck.

Slowly Lotus’s vison turned black as every breath became harder and harder. Her limbs became weaker and weaker. Aloe huffed at every jerk her sister made, but as the seconds ticked away, her sister’s choked cries became quieter. For what felt like hours, only lasted a few minuets as she felt her sister go limp, even still, she kept the strap tight around her neck, just to make sure.

“Aloe?” The Governor called from the hall of the apartment. “What’s…” Seeing Aloe at the bottom of the stairs with Lotus’s lifeless corpse on top of her, he quickened his pace. “What happened to bringing her to the bank’s basement?”

Aloe felt a knot in her throat as the realization of what she’d done came into focus. “She…” She caught her breath. “She was leaving.” She loosened her grip allowing the saddlebag’s strap to fall to the floor. “She was going to warn them of our attack.” She jumped up and hugged him.

The Governor stared at Lotus's hollowed eyes staring up at the ceiling, frozen in a state of shock and horror. “What the fuck!” Zipper stared at Lotus as Cobalt and him walked up to them. “What did you do?” He looked at Aloe in shock.

“What needed to be done.” The Governor stated flatly.

“We could’ve used her in the attack.” Zipper spat. “We need to get my brother out of there before we light it up!”

“Use her?” The Governor glared at Zipper. “She was going to betray us!” He got in his face. “What side are you on?” Zipper stared at the bat pony for while before he turned his eyes from him. “Make sure you destroy the brain before she turns.” He wrapped a hoof over Aloe’s shoulder as he led her out of the apartment. “And do it before somepony sees.” He whispered a growl as he exited the building. Zipper and Cobalt looked at one another before looking at Lotus. A knot formed in Zipper’s stomach as he stared into Lotus’s hollowed eyes.

-The Next Day-

The sound of trucks roaring down the frozen road filled the air. The Governor glared at the road’s horizon as he followed its curvature. Glancing over at Aloe, he saw her staring at the rifle in her hooves. It was the same one Lotus used when she’d take watch at the gate. A part of him was upset that she’d betrayed them. ‘She could’ve been a useful pony.’ His mind turned to Aloe. ‘At least you turned out perfect.’

Feeling his gaze, Aloe looked at him with a smile. “Nervous?” Her smile left.

“No…” He looked at the road. “Once we do this, we’ll be safe.”

Aloe looked at the road as well. “What about Zipper?” She chewed her cheek. “He’ll want to save his brother.”

The Governor tapped his hoof against the steering wheel. “He’ll have to choose us or his brother.” He shifted up a gear. “Hope he choses wisely.” Aloe glance at the bat pony before looking at her rifle. Pulling back the bolt and seeing a round in the chamber, she closed the bolt and glared at the road.

The atmosphere around the visitor center was silent. The calm winds and the cloudless morning sky created a calming aura that captured the essence of nature itself. This silence was shatter as a truck roared down the road, smashing through the main gate. Three trucks followed after and drove up to the visitor center. As quickly as they arrived the ponies within piled out and opened fire on. Bullets ridded the building’s skin, peppering shards of wood and glass everywhere.

The hail of bullets ended as the ponies reloaded.

The Governor looked over his small rag tag army. “Everypony loaded up?”

“Yeah!” A stallion commented. “I’ll move up…” A shot rang out as a bullet torn through his skull.

The Governor and his stallions and mares ducked behind their trucks. Some of them fired in random directions in hope of stopping the opposing gunfire. “Where are they?” Aloe growled as several bullets ricochet off the truck’s hood.

The Governor peaked through the driver side window and glared at the watchtower. Seeing a figure firing on his stallions, he frowned as he aimed his rifle and fired a shot, the figure fell behind cover. “Stand your ground!” He shouted.

Zipper growled as he went for cover. Seeing a figure on the balcony of the visitor center. He aimed his rifle and peered through the scope. Seeing his brother however, he lowered the scope from his eyes. ‘What am I doing…’ He looked at the Governor and Aloe, stunned at their fiery expressions.

Several more shots rained down from the Governor’s left and from his flank. Jerking as a bullet stuck the ground by his hooves. He scanned over the visitor center and cabins seeing flashes all around. Aloe screamed as a bullet tore through her ear. Panicked the Governor stood over her as he looked at his army and saw some had fallen while the ones who still lived were jumping back into the trucks.

“I said stand your ground!”

“We need to fall back!” Zipper shouted as he stood up and threw open the door. “Get in!” He jumped in the truck. The Governor growled as he and Aloe got into the truck. The vehicles sped off through the opened gate and back to from whence they came.

Far enough away, the governor placed a hoof on Zipper’s shoulder. “Stop the truck!”

“Why?”

“Stop the truck!”

Zipper slammed on the breaks bringing the truck to a sliding halt. The other trucks behind them slammed on their breaks as well. The Governor jumped out of the truck, pacing around as he waited for the remainder of his army to gather around him. “Why did we stop?” A mare asked.

The governor looked at his ponies. “We are going back.”

“What?” A stallion scoffed.

“We can still win this!” Cosmo chastised him.

“We need to go back home and gather ourselves.” Another stated.

“And wait for them to attack us.” Cobalt spat.

“At least we’ll have a home advantage!” A mare growled.

The Governor glared at his ponies before looking at Zipper. Zipper matched his gaze. “Maybe we should’ve taken Twilight’s deal.” Zipper grumbled.

The Governor glared at him as he got in his face. “Let me see your rifle!” Zipper glared at the bat pony as he reluctantly handed it over. The Governor pulled down the lever and saw a shell in the chamber. Sticking the tip of his hoof in the loading port and feeling resistance, he frowned, showing his fangs. “Never fired a shot?”

Zipper glared at the Governor. “Picking my targets wisely.”

The Governor kept up his scowl as he looked at the others. “We’re going back.”

“Well, I’m not!” A mare shouted as she made her way back onto the truck. Many nodded as they started following her lead. The Governor gritted his teeth, his hooves gripping the rifle tight against his chest.

A hail of gunfire filled the air. The Governor whipped his head to the left and saw Aloe firing upon the cowardice crowd. It didn’t take long for him to join her as they put down that last of the fleeing ponies. Cobalt, Zipper, and Cosmo stared at the massacred ponies with wide eyes. Feeling sick, Zipper slowly backed away and ran down the road.

Seeing him fleeing, Aloe tuned on her hunches and aimed her rifle and fired off several shots that struck Zipper’s back, sending him to the ground. Hearing him crying out in pain, the Governor scoffed as he looked at Cobalt and Cosmo. Silently they nodded their heads. Satisfied, they all jumped into one of the trucks and drove off from the pile of bodies on the side of the road.

-Five Minutes Earlier-

Twilight poked her head from the barricade and looked at the some of the bodies that lied on the snow. Shivering she stood up and looked around. “Is everypony alright?”

“Yeah!” Applejack shouted as she stood up from her hiding spot.

“Fletcher has been shot!” Rainbow Dash shouted from the watchtower.

“How bad is it?” Iron Wing asked.

“He says its not bad!” Rainbow Dash popped her head back up. “It’s just his shoulder.” She groaned as she dipped back behind the railing. “Stay still!”

Iron Wing shook his head as he saw the others gathering around him. “We did it!”

“We did.” Twilight looked at the bodies lying on the snow. “We’re going to need to deal with them.” She walked over to the visitor center and up to the truck that was tucked away in the back.

“What do mean, deal with them?” Derpy asked.

Twilight stopped and looked back at her friends. “Hunt them down.”

“Twilight that’s not us.” Applejack walked along side Twilight.

“That’s not you.” Twilight glared at her friend.

Applejack bit her cheek. “We’ll lose the moral high ground.”

Twilight shook her head. “All I’m worried about is another attack!” She opened the driver side door. “Anypony coming?” Shining, Iron Wing, Blaze, Thunderlane, Pinkie and Maud got into the truck.

“What about my brother?” Marley asked.

Twilight bit her cheek as she looked at Pinkie who was biting her tongue. “That’s between you and him.” She could see Pinkie disliked her answer. Marley nodded as he got into the truck. “We’ll be back.” She looked at Applejack. “Keep your ears and eyes open just in case they come back.”

Applejack nodded as she watched the truck leave. Feeling a chill, she looked at Derpy and Poppy. “Let the kids know that we’re okay.”

What about Hanzel?” Derpy pointed at the watchtower.

“How’s Fletcher doing?” Applejack looked at the tower.

“He’s doing fine!” Hooves commented as he waved at them.

“Feeling like shit!” Fletcher added weakly as he held a hoof to his bandaged wound.

The group laughed at his tone of voice. Shaking her head, Applejack threw her rifle on her back and walked up to the visitor center. “Looks like we’re going to have a lot of repairs.” Rarity frowned at the building’s battered state.

“Yeah…” Applejack replied as she looked at the broken gate. “A lot of work…”

“What’s your plan for when we get there?” Shining asked as he looked at his sister.

Twilight frowned as she turned the steering wheel avoiding a broken branch that had fallen on the road. “We’ll scout it out.”

“I can do that.” Blaze commented.

“What about the ponies who didn’t attack us?” Maud asked.

“Fuck them.” Pinkie spat. Maud looked at her sister, a slight chill washed over her as she saw the hate pouring from his eyes.

Twilight gripped the steering wheel. “We only kill ponies who attack us!” She gave Pinkie a quick glance back. Pinkie shivered at her tone and looked down at the floor.

Feeling confidant that her point was made, Twilight eyed the road’s wide turn around a small rock face that was made from the road cutting through the mountain. Seeing a body on the road, she slammed on the brakes. The tuck’s tires sliding across the road a few feet, before jerking to a stop.

Shining groaned from the sudden need to brace himself. “Why did you… Shit!” Looking through the windshield, they saw about twenty-five bodies lying on the ground. A few had turned and were consuming the ones who hadn’t. “What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know?” Twilight shut off the truck as they piled out.

Slowly walking up to a trotter close to them. Marley slowly unholstered his crossbow. A nauseous feeling came over him as the pony’s fur color seemed familiar. The trotter groaned as it used its front hooves to turn over the corpse it was consuming. See a prosthetic, Marley froze. Twilight and her friends felt a chill wash over them as they saw the prosthetic as well. “Marley?” Twilight looked at the earth pony.

Marley swallowed his fears and stepped up closer to the trotter. Hearing the crunching of snow, the trotter halted its feast and turned around. Marley’s throat tightened and his body shivered as he looked into his brother’s milky eyes. “Zipper?” Marley’s limbs felt weak.

Pinkie felt a biting chill as she watched Zipper stand on his hooves, stumbling towards Marley. She felt strange, on one hand, she felt sorry for Marley, but on the other hand, another part of her was glad for Zipper’s demise. With the conflicting emotions fogging her mind, she lost her balance and collapsed to the ground.

“Pinkie?” Maud lifted her sister up. Overwhelmed, Pinkie buried her face in her sister’s chest and began to cry. Maud was confused as to why, but she ignored her confusion and focused on comforting her baby sister.

Marley gritted his teeth as he fought the tears flooding his eyes. Letting out a held breath. He looked at his brother with a flat expression. “Sorry brother.” He lifted his crossbow and sent a bolt through his skull.