AMONG THE TROTTING DEAD

Shining Armor pressed himself against the wall. The sounds of gunfire and magical discharge filled the air. Hearing a bullet wiz by, he flinched as it smacked into the floor tile. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he peaked his head around the corner. He saw several dead who were pervious patients and medical staff, charging towards the military who were shooting at them.

Seeing one of the dead take several rounds before going down, he dipped behind the wall and looked down the hall on his left. Seeing some dead turning their gaze towards the nose and b-lining toward him, he cursed under his breath and ran down the hall toward the stairs. Along the way he tossed medical equipment onto the floor in hopes of slowing them down.

Getting to the top of the stairs. He looked to his right and saw some military staff boarding up the cafeteria. Swallowing his fear, he snuck past them and ran toward his sister’s room. Seeing Rainbow Dash and Redheart, his mood improved. “You guys ready?”

“No!” Rainbow Dash sighed. “Help us get her on this gurney!”

“Redheart what’s going on?” A mare asked.

Redheart looked over at a mare behind the receptionist desk. “Juniper what are you still doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing?” Seeing Shining and Rainbow Dash preparing to move Twilight, she looked back at her friend. “It’s not safe, the military!” A crack echoed across the hall. Her head tore open from a round striking her skull. Brain matter went flying, blood coating the back wall as her body landed hard on the desk’s counter.

Redheart shivered as she ducked into Twilight’s room. “Keep quite!” She hissed with a whisper.

Shining and Rainbow Dash stopped their preparations and got low to the ground. Getting behind the wall that separated the bathroom from the recovery room. The trio held their breaths as a military pony stepped into the room armed with a saddle mounted rifle. “Private Hopper, what’s your status?” A voice came through the static filled radio.

Private Hopper spat out the mouth trigger and placed a hoof on his radio. “I have a patient in a coma, sir!” Silence filled the radio as he looked at the hall through the door.

“Put them out of their misery and report back!” A voice on the radio barked.

Private Hopper stared at Twilight. “Copy that…” He placed the trigger in his mouth, but before he could pull it, Shining tackled him to the ground. “The fuck!”

Shining glared at the stallion. “I’m Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard and you’ll do no such thing solider!”

Hooper growled as he tried to pry him off. “I don’t take orders from stuck ups like you captain!” He spat. “Even if you’re a captain! Civilian!”

Shining brought attention to his badge on his navy-blue uniform. “Look again moron!” He pushed him further into the floor.

Hopper glared at the badge. “Screw you!”

“We’re trying to save our friend!” Rainbow Dash walked up to the duo. “Please let us do that!”

“Can’t let the infected leave!” Hooper growled.

“She’s not infected!” Redheart yelled. “You’re killing all of us is not going to solve this!”

“Can’t take the risk!” Hopper felt Shining’s body weight starting to take its toll on his vigor to fight back. “Think of the nation! If taking your lives means we save Equestria, it’s a deed I’m willing to do!”

Anger filled Shining’s mind. His mind fell into auto pilot as he activated his magic and pinned the earth pony’s limbs. He placed his hooves on his neck and pressed down. Hopper struggled to break his magic, but Shining’s expertise won. Slowly the life left Hopper as he took his final breaths. Letting out a growl, Shining pushed himself off and sat on the floor, catching his breath.

Rainbow Dash was in a state of shock. She stared at Hopper’s lifeless body. “Y-You, you…”

“He was going to kill us!” Shining huffed as he stood up. “What has Celestia done?”

“You think she would order something like this?” Redheart stared at the body.

“No, I think the military has gone rouge.” Hearing more gun fire he stood up. “We aren’t wheeling her out without all four of us getting killed.” He looked at Rainbow Dash. “And you still have your parents to bring to the farm.”

Rainbow Dash broke from her haze. “Yeah, but what about Twilight? Can’t you teleport?”

“To dangerous.” He huffed. “I might teleport us into a crowed of those things! Or in front of the military.”

“I’ll stay,” Redheart walked over to a cabinet. “I have some supplies to last me a couple days.”

“But what about your family?” Rainbow Dash watched her as she pulled out a box of medic supplies.

Redheart let out a shallow sigh. “They’re in Trottingmare.” She opened the fridge and replaced Twilight’s IV bag. “I called them yesterday. They’re heading to a safe zone.” She swallowed her fears. “I need to believe that they will be alright, but I can’t leave my friend.” She stared at Twilight.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Thanks.” She hugged her. “Come to us when she wakes up.” She looked back at Twilight sleeping through the end of the world. “Ready?” She looked at Shining.

“Yeah…” He sighed as he walked up to his sister’s bedside. “We’ll get you… I promise.” He kissed her. “Thanks…” He told Redheart as he used his magic to grab Hooper. He dragged him out of Twilight’s room and threw him into the adjacent room. Looking back at Red Heart once more, he gave her a nod and left the hospital with Rainbow Dash.

-Present Day-

Several shots rang out from the farmhouse.

Twilight felt a chill run down her spine. Her body felt clammy as she slowly turned around, she saw Ratchet staring at the farmhouse. She let out a gasp as he turned to face her. She saw pure hate in his eyes. “Crap…” She cursed under her breath.

“You BITCH!” He aimed his shotgun at her.

A beam of light emanated from Twilight’s horn and formed a purple bubble around her, blocking the buckshot from tearing her body apart. Shivering, she thought of a spell as several more rounds struck the shield. She let out a scream as one tiny metal balls broke through and struck her hindleg. She yelled as a bright white light erupted and engulfed her.

Seeing that she was gone, Ratchet chewed his cheeks. “Fuck’em!” Gun fire roared as others ran towards the farmhouse.

A herd of trotters mindlessly roamed the woods surrounding Ponyville. Their low moans filled the air as they stumbled around, their milky eyes staring off into space. Distant cracks echoed through the forest. The trotters simultaneously turned their heads towards the direction of the sound. A galloper in the mix let out a haunting shriek and ran. The others followed, picking up their pace.

Twilight emerged through a ball of light. She slammed into the couch, bouncing off and landing on the floor. She let out a hiss as she felt her leg radiating with pain. Lifting her head, she saw gun smoke wafting out of Shining’s rifle. Looking at where he was looking, she saw Jiminy with a massive hole in his skull. Brain matter oozing out. Her body shivered as she saw his milky white eyes glaring into space.

Rarity’s vomiting broke the others from their haze.

“How?” Copper cursed.

“I don’t know?” Applejack stuttered.

“He wasn’t bit!” Rainbow Dash spat.

Hearing hoof steps running down the stairs, they saw Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Rumble, Dinky, Snowy, Dusk, Derpy, Soarin, Granny Smith, and Thunderlane holding Dawn in his hooves. “What the hell happened?” Soarin asked as he saw Jiminy’s milky eyes. “How in the hell?”

“Don’t mind that now, where’s Summer Wind?” Applejack walked up to her boyfriend.

“I tried to get her to come, but she’s still mourning.” Soarin stated. “I barely got Sunny’s kids to say their goodbyes…” A hail of bullets peppering the house interrupted him. Some rounds broke through tearing up the walls and floorboards, all missed their targets however. “Is everypony alright?”

“What do you think!” Rainbow Dash sputtered.

“To the basement!” Copper huffed.

The group ran towards the back of the house, Applejack got to the cellar door and threw it open. “Go! Go! Get in!” The ponies piled in. Slamming the door shut Applejack shivered as she looked over her friends. “You oaky?”

“Minus our previous injures… Yes…” Rarity fought back her emotions as she held onto her sister.

“Why are they doing this?” Scootaloo asked in a desperate tone.

Rainbow Dash looked down at the filly and saw the fear in her eyes. “Because they hate us…” She gritted her teeth as her broken wing moved. Scootaloo saw the injured wing and gasped. Not wanting her to start crying, Rainbow Dash patted her on the head. “I’m okay squirt.

Twilight leaned against the cool concrete walls as she tried to control her shaking injured limbs. “Summer Wind is still upstairs.”

Thunderlane let out a sigh. “I’ll get her…” Hearing the front door slamming open. He stopped and slowly backed away from the cellar door.

“Find them!” Ratchet’s voice echoed out. “Find my brother!”

“We need to get to the barn.” Lotus whispered.

“Follow me…” Macintosh motioned toward the back of the cellar. Getting to a rickety door, he opened it slowly. A humid breeze washed over them. “Pa made this, it’s a little cramped but this is our only way to the barn.” He looked through the crowd and saw his grandmother looking toward the cellar door. Her sorrowful look, made his throat tighten. “One at a time.” He hissed as he stepped aside.

“You, okay?” Applejack looked at his slowly bleeding gunshot wound.

“Yeup…” He looked at her. “One thing at a time sis.” Applejack nodded.

“We need to hurry. Dawn needs a stable place for me to work!” Hooves tightened the bandage around the colt’s stomach, causing the colt to cry. His siblings hung onto Hooves as he threw the colt onto his back.

“The RV’s table will do!” Copper mentioned from the front of the pack.

“I hope Marley and Zipper are alright?” Aloe stated.

Twilight shivered as she crawled through the narrow tunnel made of earth. ‘What if they have the barn already…’ Rapid gunshots and screams echoed into the tunnel.

“What the hell is going on up there?” Shining growled.

Hearing a galloper’s howl and the hunting moans of the dead, the group’s blood ran cold.

-Two Minutes Earlier-

Marley saw the distinctive flash of gun fire. The snapping pops of pistols and rifles filled his ears. “The fuck!” His brother cursed. “Those fuckers are at it again!” Zipper took aim with his rifle.

“Is Twilight out of the way?”

“Yeah?” Zipper looked at his brother. “Knock them down?”

“Do it!” Marley nodded.

“About time…” He aimed at one of the ponies approaching the farmhouse and let a round fly, his shot striking true.

As his brother made potshots at the gang of misfits, Marley walked over to Strewn. “And you! Keep your mouth shut.” He gaged Strewn’s mouth with a rag. Strewn glared at the stallion, his frown turned into a smile as one of his once bound hooves struck Marley across the face. Seeing Marley stumble, Strewn ran toward the opened door.

Seeing him fleeing, Marley tackled Strewn to the ground. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” He pinned him against the ground with his front hooves. Strewn growled through his gag as he worked a hind hoof under his attacker’s barrel. With one swift kick, he pushed Marley off of him. Getting back up, he ran out of the barn.

Picking up his crossbow, Marley took aim. A thump and the sound of a snappy whoosh filled the air followed by a meaty thud. Strewn screamed through his gag as the bolt lodged itself into his right flank. He fell to the ground and clutched the bolt with his hooves.

Frowning, Marley threw his crossbow over his shoulders and went out to get the stallion, but stopped when the sounds of the dead filled the air. His body shivered. Seeing them emerging from the apple tree field he stopped at the threshold to the outside world.

Noticing the dead as well, Strewn let out a scream as he crawled back toward the barn. Seeing the panic in his eyes. Marley frowned at the stallion and shut the doors, latching them shut. He jumped back as Strewn threw himself on the doors. He listened as his muffed cries turned into pain filled sobs as the dead fell upon him. Slowly his cries were overwhelmed by the moans of the dead.

Zipper let out a whistle as he watched the barn’s doors shake from the dead throwing themselves against it. “Damn…” He looked at the farmhouse and saw Ratchet’s group was shooting at an approaching herd of trotters. “Damn…”

“What did you do?”

Hearing Applejack, Marley let out a sigh. “He did it to himself…” He turned around. “What the hell happened to you?” He looked over their wounds that dotted some of the members of the group. “Where’s Jiminy, Summer Wind and Sunny?”

“Sunny and Jiminy are dead.” Twilight huffed as she collapsed onto the ground. “Summer Wind is still upstairs in the farmhouse…”

Zipper let out a curse. “The dead are swarming the farmhouse…” He laughed. “Ratchet ain’t smart to think that all that shooting would’ve brought them trotters.”

“No…” Twilight sighed. “I had a feeling he knew…”

“How so?” Rarity wondered.

“He had his mind set no matter what…” Twilight took a deep breath. “And I couldn’t see it…”

“Didn’t he want the farm?” Derpy wondered as she held her daughter close.

“Not after what happened to his brother…” Twilight looked at the barn doors and grimaced at the thought of the dead ripping into his flesh.

Zipper frowned as he watched some of the dead follow Ratchet’s stallions into the farmhouse. “They broke in…”

“Is your grandmother dead too?” Marley asked, he jumped from the sounds of the dead throwing themselves. “Shit!”

“What do you mean by that…” Applejack looked over the group. “She’s with… us?” Her body went numb. “I need to go back!” She ran into the tunnel.

“AJ!” Macintosh tried to run after her, but his wounded leg stopped him in his tracks.

“I’ll get her!” Soarin yelled. “And Summer Wind!”

Watching him disappear into the tunnel, Shining let out a sigh as he stared at the rattling doors. “We need to get the RV and putter-wagon packed up and ready to go!”

The sounds of knocking could be heard all around them.

“Will they hold?” Derpy stared at the doors.

“I have no clue.” Shining stated bluntly. “Thunderlane, Willy Pette, let’s get packing. Copper, can you help us?” Copper nodded as he slightly limped over to the stallion. “Derpy, Hooves, Carrot Top get the wounded into the RV!”

“Clear off the table for me!” Hooves told Derpy. “I need to get proper stitches on his wound.” He stated as he entered the RV with Dawn softly sobbing from the pain.

Shining looked down at his sister. “You’re going to make it?”

Twilight took in a deep breath. “Yeah…” She let it out in a drawn-out fashion.

Applejack popped her head out of the cellar. The hall was illuminated by dying fire. The orange glow no longer gave off a welcoming atmosphere, now it was unnerving. She never thought her home could feel so foreign to her… Hearing the moans of the dead and the desperate cries the dying ponies, she slowly made her way out of the cellar.

“AJ?”

She turned around, nearly jumping out of her skin. “Soarin?”

“You’re not going in alone.” He got by her side. “Where do you think your grandmother went to?”

Applejack hugged the wall that ran along the stairs. “Up to her room…” She stopped when she saw a trotter devouring one of Ratchet’s men. Looking into the kitchen she saw two more trotters tearing into another. “Quietly…” She slowly tipped hoofed up the stairs with her boyfriend.

Getting to the top of the stairs, they made their way down the hall. Hearing a crunching sound coming from Sunny’s room, they swallowed their fears and peaked into the room. The door quietly swung opened. Both their eyes went wide as they saw Sunny tearing into her sister’s neck.

Summer Wind’s lifeless eyes drove a stake in their hearts.

“How?” Soarin wondered.

“Just like Jiminy…” Applejack’s blood ran cold as she saw Sunny look up from her meal. Her milky white eyes looked into her soul. Letting out a growl, she stood up and rushed towards them. The trotters downstairs hearing her roar, clambered up the steps. “SHIT!”

Applejack and Soarin rushed down the hall. Seeing her grandmother’s room, she threw opened the door and quickly shut it behind her. The dead slammed themselves against the door. Not taking any chances, Applejack locked the door. The door held. She let out a sigh as she stepped back with shaking limbs. “You, okay?” She asked Soarin.

“Yeah…” He looked around the room and saw Granny Smith sitting on her bed.

“Grandma?” Applejack walked up to her bed. “Why are you up here?” Her grandmother didn’t respond. “We need to get going!”

“No…” She finally spoke up. “I’m not leaving this place.”

Applejack felt her throat tightened. “What?” She looked back at the door as the dead tried desperately to knock it down. “No, you can’t stay!” She let out a nervous laugh. “The world’s not like how it use to be!”

Granny Smith kept her eyes on a photo of herself, her husband and of Applejack’s parents. “I know… That’s why I’m not going.” She looked at her granddaughter. “I can’t slow you down.”

“You won’t!” Applejack sat on the floor. She looked at the photo. A chill ran down her back. “What about Mac, what about Applebloom, they need you…” She felt her emotions starting to take hold. “I… I need you!”

Granny Smith let out a sigh as she placed the photo in her lap. “No, you don’t…” She looked at her granddaughter with a stern glare. “You’re a grown mare now. I expect you to start acting like it.” She held Applejack’s face in her hooves. “Don’t you go all soft morning me you hear! I’m not leaving the place I planned on dying in.”

Applejack shook her head. “No… I can’t let you do that…”

Her grandmother placed a hoof over her lips. “You’re gonna have to…” She kissed her on the forehead. “I’m old and tired… And I really want to see my son again… and your mother… And my goof of a husband…” Applejack held back her tears as she buried her face in her grandmother’s lap. “Hush your crying… This is no time for that.” She looked at Soarin. “You take care of her you hear. Treat her like a mare should!”

Soarin nodded. “Understood, Ma’am…”

“Call me granny.” She smirked, but her smile left as the dead slammed the door. Looking out the window, she saw the herd of dead surrounding the barn.

“Crap…” Soarin saw it as well. “Why aren’t they going after Ratchet’s stallions?”

“They are…” Applejack’s words were met with the sounds of screams and distant gunfire. “It just all this ruckus brought the biggest herd I’ve ever seen!” She lifted her head and looked out the window as well.

“I’ll distract the ones by the barn.” Granny Smith looked at her door. “Could you clear the way?”

A cold sweat washed over Applejack. “What are you planning, Granny?”

“Just clear these monsters from my home and get your flanks to the barn!” She pulled her into a hug. “You stay strong for them you hear.”

Applejack nodded and pulled away from the hug. Looking at her boyfriend, she gave him a nod. Turning her attention to the door she shook her worries away and placed a hoof on the doorknob. Pushing against the door she knocked down the trotters to the floor. Taking advantage, Soarin flew out of the room and landed on one and with one quick clean motion, brought down his impromptu weapon, a lamp, onto the trotter’s skull.

Applejack kicked two with her hindlegs, cracking one of their skulls open, and the other tumbling down the stairs.

However, the zombified Sunny froze them in their tracks. Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat. “Sunny…” She saw Soarin pushing her back with the broken lamp. “I’m sorry…” She swung around and kicked her down. Soarin closed his eyes as he brought down the lamp onto Sunny. The first strike only stunned her. She kept growling out her anger as she tried standing up. Again, Soarin brought the lamp down, ending her.

Staring at the mangled body. Soarin fought off the urge to puke and stood up. “Let’s go!” He ran down the stairs. Applejack looked back once more at her grandmother. Granny Smith smiled and gave her a small nod. Applejack nodded and followed after Soarin.

Alone, Granny smith picked up a photo of her husband in her mouth and made her way downstairs. Getting to the living room, she studied the bullet ridden walls and floors. Her face soured as she walked over to the front door. Seeing the dead surrounding the barn, she let out a slow sigh as she shut the screen door.

Setting down the photo on the coffee table, she let out a sigh as she stoked the fire. “Quite a mess dear.” She looked around at the destruction. Seeing Jiminy’s corpse on the ground, she let out a sigh. “I’m sorry for not keeping it to your standards.” She looked at the photo. “But things have changed since you’ve been gone.” Seeing the fire coming to life she smiled as she walked up to a large speaker connected to an old record player in the back of the living room.

“Applejack got herself quite the catch.” She hummed as she skimmed through old records. “I have to say he’s quite handsome.” She looked at the photo and studied her husband’s subtle smile. “Nothing on you though, but I can see why.” She laughed. “She did like the sporty type and he’s quite famous too. A Wonderbolt.” She tsked. “Now I know you’re not much for Pegasi, but times have changed like I said.” She stared at her husband. “I know they’ll make us some cute grandkids…”

She let out a sigh as a dull pain shot through her back. She let out a groan as she rubbed the spot. “Eighty-eight years old…” She felt her front limbs shake as she resumed looking through the box of old records. “Can’t believe you left me twenty-four years ago…” She looked back at the photo. “Just couldn’t wait to see our son…” She looked at the wall to her right and saw two photos, one her daughter-in-law and the other her son. Seeing a bullet hole through her son’s photo she frowned as she looked back at her records. “Ah…”

Pulling one out she studied its worn cover box. Seeing cartoon characters of a mare and stallion dancing together, she smiled as she took it out. “Look at that, our favorite…” A tear rolled down her face. “What we played at our wedding.” She hummed as she put it on the record player. Turning the speaker’s volume to max, she turned on the player.

A rich and delicate melody roared throughout the house. All other sensory inputs were drowned out as the music filled Granny Smith’s ears. She smiled as she picked up her husband’s photo and walked into the kitchen and turned on the stove. Smelling the methane spewing from the burner, she let out a sigh as she heard the dead throwing themselves at the front door.

Looking to her right she watched the screen door bending under the weight. She stared at their crazed eyes. Their hollow and unforgiving eyes. She shivered as she walked up the stairs back to her room.

Getting to the top of the steps a click alerted her. Looking up from her photo she saw a bloodied Ratchet aiming a pistol at her head. “Were’s… My… Brother?” He said through heavy breaths.

Granny Smith noticed that he had several bite marks across his front leg and on the side of his body. She closed her eyes and kept walking to her room. Ratchet growled as he shoved the pistol in her face. “WHERE IS HE!” He growled.

Granny smith took the photo from her mouth and looked at the battered stallion. “Yer hears that music? Hears the dead?” She smacked her gums. “I’m planning on dying, I expect you to do the same.” She saw Summer Wind stumbling out of her room. Seeing her milky eyes, she let out a sigh. “I’m old and not long for this world…”

Ratchet growled from the pain across his body. “I don’t care!” He shoved her. “Where is my… AH!” He screamed as Summer Wind bit down on his back. He panicked and fought her off. Granny Smith quickly snuck into her room and shut the door. Hearing gunshots, she backed away from the door and sat on her bed. “YOU FUCKER!” Ratchet yelled from down the hall. “I’m going to kill… No… NO!” Several more gun shout sounded off followed by the sounds of the dead storming up the stairs.

Closing her eyes, she looked at her radio. Opening the cassette slot and seeing a tape, she nodded her head and closed it back up. Smiling she turned on her little radio. Humming along to the music, she ignored the dead madly slamming themselves against the door. Opening her nightstand drawer, she pulled out a mouth held revolver. “Stay safe grandkids… Stay Apple family strong…”

“Where the hell are they?” Shining growled as he watched the barn’s doors shake violently. “The damned locks aren’t going to hold much longer!”

“She’ll be back!” Rainbow Dash reassured him.

“They’ll be here…” Macintosh stated as he stood outside the RV, keeping his eyes on the tunnel’s entrance. Seeing Soarin and Applejack exiting the tunnel, his enthusiasm faded. “Where’s grandma?” Applejack looked at her brother. Her emotions came rushing back as she shook her head. Macintosh felt a chill run down his back. “What happened?” He looked at Soarin.

“She stayed behind.” He sighed.

“What?” Rarity sputtered.

“She wants to die in the house her and her husband built.” Soarin looked at the barn doors and saw the strain they were under. Macintosh let out a shallow sigh as he looked back into the tunnel with a sorrowful look upon his face.

“What about Summer Wind?” Carrot Top wondered.

Soarin peaked into the RV and saw Sunny’s children at the back. He looked at Macintosh and shook his head. “Sunny came back as one of those things… And killed her.” He said in a low tone, as to not alert them.

The group pondered his words.

Twilight who sat on the floor, behind the passenger seat felt a cold sweat come upon her. ‘Just like Jiminy… She wasn’t bit…’

The sounds of loud music blaring across the orchard entered the barn. A large portion of the dead around the barn stopped their task of breaking down the doors and wandered over to the sound. Some still lingered however, still eager to devour the ponies within.

Swallowing his emotions, Macintosh got into the RV with his sister and Soarin got into the putter-truck. “Rarity open the barn doors!”

Rarity activated her magic and gripped the latches, pulling them from their resting places in the ground. The barn doors swung inward as the dead threw themselves against them.

The vehicles roared to life. Hitting the gas petal, Macintosh frowned as he drove through the dead and onto the road leading up to the gate. Smashing through the gate, the two vehicles drove into Ponyville.

Looking back at her home, Applejack shivered as she saw the dead swarming the house. Her sadness turned into horror as the house erupted into flames. The sight of a large explosion filled the sky as the house’s gas line erupted.

The vehicles came to a screeching halt as the group looked on in shock and awe as what they were seeing. “Well at least your grandma went out in style…” Zipper whistled as he watched the house burn like dry timber.

Applejack couldn’t speak as she watched the fire consume her childhood home. “Yeah…” She coughed.

Shining sighed as he turned back to the road. “We need to find Applebloom and Spike…”

“They could be anywhere.” Twilight hissed through her pain.

“They blindfolded us…” Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up. “I saw the mayor… she was one them trotters.” She called from the putter-truck.

“Then we head there!” Rarity patted the back of the driver seat. “Floor it darling!” Macintosh nodded. The RV rocketed forward and sped towards downtown.

“Keep an eye out.” Applejack stated as she looked out one of the RV’s windows. Seeing three figures a few yards away, she squinted her eyes to focus in on their details. “THERE!”

Macintosh seeing the figures aimed the RV towards them. The figures stopped and waited as the small convoy stopped in front of them. Opening the door, Applejack saw the figures were indeed Spike, Applebloom, and Blaze… “Fucker!” Applejack jumped from the RV and was about to tackle him, when Applebloom and Spike stopped her. “What in tarnation are you doing?” She growled at her sister.

“Stopping you from doing something stupid!” Applebloom spat.

“What?” Applejack tilted her head. The others behind them looked at the filly and drake in confusion. Blaze kept his hooves up as he saw Marley was aiming his crossbow from the bed of the putter-truck.

“I know you hate him, but he saved us!” Applebloom stepped up to her sister. “He was thrown in with us and after Ratchet left to kill you, his men were going to kill us, but he!” She pointed at Blaze. “He fought them off and got us out of there.”

“We managed to get out in time too.” Spike spoke up. “A herd of trotters were making their way through the town with all that gun fire…” He finally noticed the battered appearance of some of the group. His eyes went wide when he saw Twilight. “Sis, are you okay?”

Twilight nodded. “I’ll live…”

Applejack stared at her sister, then at Blaze and noticed the stallion’s face seen better days. She glared at them seeing if her sister was lying or if he was lying to save himself… Seeing none, her body shivered.

“Look. I have no room to speak, but I know you don’t trust me worth a damn, but please, just help me get out of town, drop me off where ever and you’ll never have to see me again.” Blaze spoke up, his voice raspy and tired.

Applejack mulled over his words. Her eyes stared at Applebloom, before scanning over the group. Their expressions showed that they would rather leave him in the dead infested city, but Twilight’s face spoke differently. “Twilight?”

Twilight let out a sigh as she sat up to get a better look at her friend and Blaze. “I don’t trust him… But I can’t leave him to die when he’s helped Spike and Applebloom…” She closed her eyes. “We’re not going to lose what makes us who we are…” She looked at Applejack. “We’re better than them…” Shining shook his head at his sister’s words, but kept his mouth shut.

Applejack looked back at Blaze. “Thunderlane, tie him and toss him in the back of the putter-truck!”

“AJ? Are you sure?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I am…” Seeing a large group of trotters down the street, her blood ran cold as she saw one was a unicorn. Its horn was swollen and its eyes glowed a bright white. “Get him in the truck!” Applejack lead Spike and Applebloom in the RV.

Thunderlane landed next to Blaze and tied his hooves behind his back and threw him in the truck. Blaze let out a groan as he adjusted himself from the fall. Hearing a click, he looked up and saw the tip of an arrow. Looking past it, he saw Marley frowning at him. “I’m going to be watching you like a hawk.” Blaze swallowed his fears and nodded his head.

Sitting down, Applebloom studied the ponies in the RV. Seeing how many were wounded a shiver danced down her back. “What happened?” She looked around some more. “Where’s everypony else?” She stared at her sister and saw a heaviness in her eyes. “Where’s grandma?” Applejack closed her eyes and shook her head. Applebloom’s eyes trembled as she stood up to sit by her sister, but an orange glow drew her attention. Seeing the towering inferno her legs started to buckle. “Is… that…”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo sat beside her and held her tight as her emotions took hold.

Spike stared at the fire. His chest felt heavy as he listened to Applebloom’s cries. “Comfort her…” Twilight spoke with a heavy sigh.

“You need attention to…” He looked at her shoulder. “Deja vu…”

Twilight gritted her teeth as he wrapped up the wound. “Yeah…”

“Will you be alright?”

“She will…” Shining turned around from the front passenger seat. “When we get to Canterlot, we’ll get all fixed up.”

“Canterlot is a seven-day drive, without road blocks.” Hooves spoke up from the back of the RV. “Dawn and her will not make it.”

Shining frowned at the stallion. “They’ll make it!” He looked at the road. Macintosh looked at the stallion, he rolled his eyes as he adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. Feeling a sharp pain, he adjusted himself on the seat. “You okay to drive?”

“Yep.” Mac stated bluntly. “A distraction from the pain.”

Zecora looked over her friends and let out a soft sigh. “Uncertainty lies ahead.” She looked out the window as watched the flames of the burning farmhouse fade into the distance.