The Zombie Chronicles: Road to Sanctuary

Later that night, inside the Utonium household, the professor and Blossom both sat on the sofa, accompanied by a standing Morbucks soldier.

“We will update you when we locate the body. I’m sorry for your loss…” The soldier said, turning and leaving the two.

Blossom was in tears, her hands trembling as she struggled to process what had occurred just the other night.

Utonium was livid, his fists clenched, and gritting his teeth.

Father and daughter sat there in silence as the weight of the situation hung over them both. Blossom was now without her sisters, and Utonium yet again failed to do what was best for his daughters…

Blossom’s gaze reached her fathers, staring at him with anger and disgust. He glanced at her for only a moment and understood her resentment. How could he have gone through with this? How could he still be supplying the woman responsible for the deaths of so many poeple with the means to kill even more?

He knew that there was nothing he could say to undo what he allowed to occur… he could only now prevent it from happening to anyone else in this twisted city that Princess made an empire out of…

He had the means, now he just needed a way to administer it.

“I’ll be in the lab.” Utonium said, quickly standing up and racing down the stairs, leaving Blossom on the couch.

Reaching the laboratory, Utonium quickly jogged toward where he kept the antidote, carefully entering the passcode to unlock its container. The airlock hissed as the lock was opened, allowing Utonium to hold the syringe in his hand for the first time in years.

He gave a shaky breath as he brought the syringe over to his lab, putting a sample of the antidote on a petri dish for further analysis.

Back inside Kyle’s apartment building, he and Sunset looked out the window as darkness began to fall, cautious about Princess flying back in…

“We should start discussing options--”

Kyle was quick to shush Sunset, desperately searching for a notebook.

Sunset rolled her eyes, but knew that he was right to be paranoid as he set the notepad down and started writing.

We need to leave.

Sunset rapidly nodded, took a seat beside him, and wrote on the paper under Kyle’s writing.

No shit. Sanctuary?

Kyle glanced back at her and nodded.

We can tell the others tomorrow. I can make sure that Princess is busy so you all can slip out.

Sunset carefully studied the note and shook her head.

“No. We do it together.”

“Sunset…”

“No, you don’t have to! You think you do, but you don’t!” She whispered.

Confusion grew within Kyle as he processed her words to him.

“Of course I don’t have to, why would you think that I…” He started before a thought overtook him.

Does she know? Does she know?

No. There was no way she would know-- she’d have said something after all the time they spent together--

“When I read your mind… I saw her, Kyle. I saw Chrysalis.”

Kyle’s stomach dropped at hearing Sunset say her name, and a tight grip wrapped itself around his heart, his lungs, and he could barely breathe, let alone speak.

“Kyle… what she did to you was wrong… She was a sick woman who I’m glad I didn’t meet because if I did, I’d…” Sunset caught herself from spilling all of the thoughts she kept bottled up ever since she first saw Chrysalis in Kyle’s mind…

Kyle stayed silent, unable to look Sunset in the eye.

“Hey. She manipulated you, groomed you-- when you had nothing left… none of that is on you…” She said, carefully scooting closer to him.

Kyle subtly nodded-- he always knew that, deep down… but he could never accept it.

“I said yes…”

Sunset shook her head.

“Kyle, that isn’t something you can really consent to… you can say yes all you want, but--”

“No, you don’t understand-- I knew what she wanted. I knew for a while… but Sunset, it was the one thing in my week that I actually looked forward to. What the fuck does that say about me…?”

“Absolutely nothing. You were a 16-year-old boy who was preyed upon by someone sick… you're not the one who should be feeling ashamed.”

Kyle was caught off-guard by such a response. His mind was unsure of how to respond to that, and he couldn’t decide what to make of it.

“Whatever we do, wherever we go, it’s together. So if you want me to keep Chrysalis and the Dazzlings to myself, then I will… but I know the others won’t judge you or treat you any differently for it. I definitely won’t…” Sunset said, getting up and making her way to the door when…

“Attention all Townsville residents. In conjunction with today’s rioting, an early curfew has been declared. Any attempts to violate new regulations will be treated as criminal intent, and the perpetrators will be prosecuted.” A loudspeaker outside announced.

Sunset sighed and backed away from the door.

“Well, shit… now what?” She asked.

Kyle glanced at the only bed in the apartment and sighed.

“I mean… it’s not a small bed-- that or just gimme some blankets, and I can just sleep on the floor--”

“The bed will be fine, Kyle. Besides, I don’t mind sharing.” Sunset jokingly smirked.

Kyle, however, didn’t give much reaction.

“Oh, shit, sorry, that was too soon…” She sighed, her smirk quickly changing to a worried expression.

Kyle quickly noticed her concern and shook his head.

“Oh, no, no, you’re fine… it just wasn’t funny.” He smiled.

Sunset chuckled and playfully punched his arm.

“I guess I’ll give you that… well, we should rest up, then. Sounds like we both have a big day, tomorrow.” Sunset said, removing her leather jacket and setting it on her chair.

Kyle did the same and went to shut off the lights. Once they were off, Kyle slumped into bed, Sunset taking one side and Kyle taking the other. There was more than enough room for them both, save for their backs being pressed together.

“Hey… do you think Buttercup’s okay? What if Princess doesn’t come back? What if neither of them come back?” Sunset asked him.

Kyle was unsure how to respond at first, knowing that he needed to be careful with what he said.

“We’ll have to see about that, tomorrow… good night, Sunset.” He said, slowly closing his eyes.

“...Good night.” Sunset said back.

Soon, sleep enveloped the two of them and allowed morning to come. For the first time in months, Kyle had a peaceful sleep.

He couldn’t exactly pinpoint why. Maybe it was because he finally let his inner feelings about Chrysalis off his chest. Maybe it was because he finally accepted that it wasn’t his fault or choice. Maybe it was because the girl who helped him with all of this was sleeping right beside him.

Whatever the case, Kyle slowly woke for the first time in a long time, a faint smile forming over this realization.

However, Kyle’s peace was disrupted by yet more faint shouting coming from outside the apartment window…

“Ugh, please don’t be another shooting…” Sunset groaned, also being awakened by the shouts.

Kyle cautiously rose out of bed and carefully peeked through the window blinds, seeing several vehicles speeding down the now-empty road. He noticed that gunmen were riding the turrets on top of the humvees driving by, and several of them were loaded with steel rods and other construction materials…

“Uh… what the hell?” Kyle asked.

Sunset turned to the window over Kyle’s reaction, and he quickly ran for his shoes.

“Something’s going on at the gate, looks like-- I think they’re sealing it off!”

Sunset quickly hopped out of bed and followed Kyle out the door. Other citizens followed them as they ran out the apartment door and down the sidewalk to where the humvees were speeding towards. As they grew closer, they all slowed, once they heard the sounds of hundreds of angered, feral voices and pounding on the steel walls…

Once they were close enough to see the gate, they saw that soldiers were indeed welding the gates shut, but they were fighting countless Ragers pounding on the steel at the other side…

As soldiers frantically sealed the gates, one of them on watch turned and faced the growing crowd, quickly drawing his rifle at them.

“All of you, get back! Step away from the gates, now!”

Some of the witnesses ran while others took a second as the shock of the situation hit them… infected were at the gates, and now, they were all trapped inside.

“Where’s Princess?!” Kyle called out.

None of the soldiers responded to him initially. Now about 10 guns were pointed at Kyle and the others.

“Disperse! This will be your only warning!”

One-by-one, several of the crowd members obeyed, but Kyle and Sunset were the two who remained.

“Cadet Shimmer, you are ordered to report in at the barracks, and you-- go home.” The soldier warned Kyle.

As Kyle went to turn around, another soldier’s radio began to activate. He quickly checked in with the voice on the other side.

“Yes, sir… copy that… yes, sir.” He turned off his radio, “Shimmer and Williams, change of orders-- report to the Morbucks Estate. If you need directions, you can--”

“I know the way. Thank you.” Kyle said, gesturing at Sunset to follow him.

Rainbow cautiously sat on a sofa inside the massive manor alongside Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack. Around them were several others who they’ve passed by once or twice before, but never got to know too well.

“What the hell are we doing here, anyway? What happened to Buttercup?” Rainbow asked openly, hoping that someone-- anyone-- would answer her.

Fluttershy stayed silent, looking down towards her lap as she fidgeted with her hands, anxious over why they were sent here… Rainbow noticed her friend’s fear and did her best to comfort her, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close to her side. Fluttershy returned the sentiment by resting her head on Rainbow’s shoulder.

Applejack sat on another sofa beside Rarity, glaring at the occasional soldier passing by.

“If I had my Geode back, I would…” She grumbled.

Rarity quickly turned to Applejack.

“Hush, darling-- you know she heard that…”

“Yeah? I don’t care-- this is goin’ too far, Rarity! How long is it ‘till she tries to kill us?”

Rarity tried to form a response, but was cut off by the manor doors creaking open, and Kyle and Sunset stepping inside.

Rarity quickly waved the two down and they sat besides her and Applejack.

“Hey…” Sunset said.

“Howdy. Hey, where were ya last night? I didn’t see you enter our apartment building…”

Sunset faintly blushed, doing her best to hide it.

“I was stuck with Kyle because of the early curfew.”

Rarity quickly raised a brow.

“Oh? Sharing the night together? How risque!” She smirked.

Kyle chuckled and shook his head but Sunset’s blush only grew.

“Pfft. Sure, something like that…,” Kyle started, “Look, there’s, uh… something I need to tell you all. It’s about me being Enhanced…”

Sunset turned to him, anxious to see what he says next.

However, the doors opened again, cutting him off before he could continue, and who would be at the doors but Princess herself.

“Hello, fellow Enhanced! Welcome to my… humble abode.” She smiled, closing the doors behind her.

Rainbow’s eyes widened as she quickly glanced around her, trying her best to count how many others were in the room save for guards… she made it up to 34 before losing count, only being about halfway there.

“Wait… we’re all--” Applejack started.

“Yes! Everyone here is also Enhanced. I summoned you all here to congratulate all. Starting today, you have all been considered essential personnel! So, when my soldiers eat, you eat. I know rations are a bit low at the moment, so for the time being, you all will be taking from my own personal stash until further notice. Come on-- let’s get you people fed!” Princess cheered, floating in the air and passing the group.

There were a mixture of reactions from the crowd. Many of them were too hungry to think about the implications and immediately followed Princess while others were hesitant to go through with this… sure, they were hungry-- starving, even-- but why was this happening now? Especially after everything with Buttercup and the riot?

Kyle and the girls cautiously stood up, knowing it would be wise to follow them…

“What do you make of this? Why would she be doing this?” Rarity asked Kyle.

He stayed silent, but gave her a look that best portrayed that whatever her play was, it was nothing good…

As they followed her, one of the Enhanced was bold enough to ask a question.

“Hey, what’s being done about the horde at the gates? We can’t just let that be!”

Princess slowly stopped floating, her back still turned to the man who asked her that question.

“...We’re handling it. But in the meantime, we need well-fed troops and Enhanced to help protect those without our gifts and training! So, come eat!” She gritted her teeth, continuing to fly towards the kitchen.

One-by-one, everyone funneled into the Morbucks kitchen and were each served plates of assorted MRE’s, all pre-heated and served collectively.

Kyle went to take a plate, but was gently stopped by Princess.

“Not so fast, tiger-- Come with me, we have… an important discussion that needs to be had.” She beckoned him to follow her.

Not wanting to start any trouble, he complied and walked with her. Sunset saw the exchange occur, shooting Princess an icy glare as the two walked up a flight of stairs.

Kyle followed close behind Princess, tightly grasping Pinkie’s Geode from his pocket. They entered what seemed to be a conference room, with a massive longtable and whiteboards with corporate gibberish still written on them.

“Take a seat, Kyle. I made the guards cook us something special.” She smiled, gesturing to him to sit.

Kyle took his seat, nervously glancing at Princess as she sat in front of him.

“So what’s this about?” He asked her.

Princess’ smiled but it was far from a friendly or genuine smile. It was more of one she had to fight herself to maintain, and was on the verge of losing.

“Professor Utonium locked himself in his little lab this morning… I sent guards to summon him here and he refused to even open the door… He’s planning something, and I need you to go find out what. Can you do that for me?” She asked him, slowly tilting her head to the side.

Kyle nervously shook his leg under the table… Did she know? There was no way she could know about their plan-- but then again, perhaps Buttercup let something slip during their fight…

“Of course. I’ll see what’s going on with him.”

Princess cheerfully clapped her hands together.

“Excellent! God, you never let me down, you know that? Honestly, it’s amazing…”

Kyle felt a twinge of pride at the remark, but knew she was just saying it to generate that emotion.

The door opened, and a guard presented two plates of bacon and eggs.

“Ah! Thanks, now get the fuck out.” She said, her smile quickly fading.

The soldier jumped a tad and quickly scurried out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

“But that’s enough business for right now… let’s eat!”

With that, they ate. Kyle knew better than to ask any lingering questions at the moment, so kept them to himself for later.

Once they were done, the two left the room and went their separate ways for now. Kyle quickly hunted down Sunset and the others in the dining room and carefully made his way over to them.

“I gotta get going… duty calls. Stay safe, alright?” He asked them.

They each nodded or said yes, so Kyle exited the manor, heading towards the Utonium household.

Kyle stood outside the familiar door, knocking cautiously as he waited for someone to answer.

Opening the door was Blossom, who immediately gave Kyle a glare.

“What do you want?” She asked in a cold voice.

Kyle was offput by her voice, but immediately knew why.

“I need to see your father-- it’s important…”

Blossom scoffed, not moving out of his way.

“Oh, yeah? Does Princess wanna kill him, too? Tell her to come down here and do it herself.” She scolded, going to slam the door.

“Blossom, wait!” Dexter shouted from inside, stopping the door from shutting all the way.

“Dex, what the hell?! He’s her lackey-- what can he possibly need from us?” She asked, turning away and facing Dexter.

It took him a moment to form a response due to the lingering threat of Princess’ hearing.

“He is… we need him, understand?”

Blossom tried to retort, but sighed and marched away from the door.

“Fine! See what you can get out of him…”

Dexter gestured to Kyle, and they both walked inside the house.

“How is he?” Kyle asked him.

Dexter sighed and shook his head.

“He has been down there all night… I have not been able to get him out, so I suppose we will need to simply go in.”

Dexter entered the appropriate voice commands to the lab entrance, and together they descended down into the lab.

“Professor? Are you down here?” Kyle asked.

“Professor! We need to talk…” Dexter called.

While they didn’t hear a response, they heard the sounds of… something being constructed.

They reached the ground level and searched the rooms, seeing no sign of activity…

After a bit more searching, they finally tracked signs of life from a larger room in the back. Dexter immediately recognized that room…

“Oh, shit-- he is in the synthesizing room.” He sighed, marching towards the marked door.

Kyle followed along in confusion, but his questions were quickly answered once the door opened and they entered the massive room of lab equipment, liquid tanks, and other machines that Kyle could barely recognize.

In the corner of the room, he spotted Utonium constructing what looked like armor. Getting closer, Kyle cyphered that it was more of an exoskeleton with steel supports clearly meant for arms and legs, as well as six installed receptacles for some sort of gem…

“Professor…?” Kyle asked.

Utonium jolted and turned towards him, immediately recognizing him.

“Ah, Kyle! Good thing you’re here-- we need you to test-fit this.” He said, patting the armor.

Kyle immediately stepped back in pure confusion.

“Uh, I’m sorry, wanna run that by me again?”

“Kyle, come on! The Geodes have a reaction to you-- they give some sort of mana into your body, and it’s activating something. Something in your DNA, in your genes, is the same as what flows inside these Geodes… I haven’t been able to figure out what it is, but it’s something inhuman… something powerful. This armor is meant to let the other six Geodes flow through you on top of the one you 'borrowed'. I heard about what happened at the riot, how you calmed it by singing? And that was with just one-- imagine what six could do!”

Kyle’s eyes widened as he realized what Utonium was alluding to.

“Wait, you know that I took--”

“Yes, of course I know! I keep inventory, Kyle, I’m not a buffoon! I wanted to see what you could do, and sure enough, my little hypothesis paid off greatly! Kyle, you could… you could stop her, before anyone else gets hurt. Before I lose another daughter…”

Kyle took another step back, clueless as to how to respond to this claim.

“I… I can’t stop her-- I don’t have any powers like that…”

“Yes, but with this? Who knows what they can activate.”

Kyle wanted to deny the claim, but recalled what Sunset said about the Dazzlings. If he was a Siren who grows stronger from Equestrian magic… What happens when he has six batteries to pull from?

“I can’t… what I did yesterday, I saw what I can do… and it scared me. I won’t do that to anyone else, ever again.”

Utonium’s smile faded, and he let out a sigh.

“Very well. Come this way. I have an alternate solution…”

Utonium marched across the room, Kyle following from behind. On the opposite side of the room, was a single syringe attached to a sort of gun, sloppily put together, but seemingly rigid.

“Um… what’s this?” Kyle asked.

“This is your alternative. It’s an instant-injection mechanism. Press this against someone’s skin, pull the trigger, and whatever’s in the syringe is in the body.”

Kyle followed along and his eyes widened when he put it all together.

“This is the antidote, isn’t it?”

“You know it! So, no fighting? Fine. Find a way to be close to her. During work, perhaps, and give her this when she least expects it. It’s perfect! Save for finding the right moment…”

Kyle didn’t need to hear anything more as he stepped forward and picked up the device. It was small, it could easily fit in his pocket with no trouble.

“Consider it done.” He smiled, taking the gun and tucking it into his pocket.

Without another word, Kyle made his way back up the stairs, opening the door and strolling out of the house.

As the lab door slowly shut behind him, a hand quickly stopped it and pulled it back open, marching down the stairs…

Hearing someone else enter the lab, Dexter quickly rushed to see who was approaching…

Only to see Blossom in front of him.

“Where is it?”

Dexter slowly processed her request.

“Um… I am afraid I do not follow, where is what?”

“The X. The shit my dad gave my sister’s killer? Where is it?”

A series of knocks were heard within Morbucks Manor. Princess floated over and slowly opened the door, recognizing Kyle.

“Ah! Back already? How did things go?” She asked him.

“Good… really good, actually. He was just mourning what happened to Buttercup. I’m sure you’d understand.”

She nodded and took a moment to glance Kyle up and down, as if she was scanning for something…

“I certainly do. It’s a shame how things went for her-- I was hoping she would become one of my enforcers. But that’s besides the point! Is there anything else I could do for you, Kyle?”

Kyle thought for a moment before chuckling.

“You say that like I need a reason to see you.”

Princess let out a chuckle.

“Well, occasionally I have a reason to need you. That’s something I should try and fix.”

“I can think of a good start: Dinner down in the subway-bunker?”

Princess’s chuckle became a laugh.

“I was thinking more on the lines of going out somewhere. I know a few good restaurants that I still have up and running, if you’d like to go to one.”

A night out, Kyle thought, a perfect way to tire her out sooner.

“Yeah, that sounds like a better idea. Do you have any in mind?”

“I know this one right by the manor, Garfield’s? You’ll see the big sign for it.”

“I think I have, actually. Meet you there at 5?”

“Sounds like a plan.”