EQG: The Last of Us

by JSan82

Rating: mature
Tags: Gore, Dark, Other, Equestria Girls, Tragedy, Profanity, Adventure, Violence, Death, Alternate Universe, Human
Length: 10341

Days in Canterlot City and the rest of the world changes after a viral infestation.

Inspired from the game and now TV show the Last of Us. This is my intake of what would happen in the world of Equestrian Girls with a different take. I hope you enjoy the ride.

All characters within the Equestrian Girls universe will be different. Completely different.

Published 2023-03-12 06:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-03-24 06:16:40 UTC

First Day

It's another beautiful day in Canterlot City. Flurry Heart wakes up in her room. She yawns and stretches. The alarm clock reads 6:41 in the morning. Moving slightly to the left, removing the blanket, Flurry Heart stands up and puts on her blue fuzzy slippers.

Today is a big day for a certain someone, and she has decided to make a birthday breakfast. First, she needs to wake up the birthday boy. Flurry Heart leaves her room and hears the alarm clock ringing in her father's room. Knowing that her father is a heavy sleeper, she knocks loudly.

"ALARM!" She shouts, pounding on the door. "WAKE UP!"

Shining Armor grunts as he wakes up. He had a memorable dream. One with his beloved Cadance, who isn't around anymore. "Someday." Shining Armor sits up and wipes his eyes. To his left, he sees the empty space where Cadance once slept. "Aaaaw, I miss you." Shining Armor imagines Cadance waking up and kissing her; A tear rolls down Shining Armor's left eye.

Flurry Heart is fully dressed in the kitchen, making bacon and eggs. She's wearing a white dress with pink highlights, black leggings, and brown boots. Shining Armor enters the kitchen wearing a black shirt, dark blue denim jeans, and brown shoes.

"That smells good, Flurry," Shining walks to the fridge to grab a half gallon of milk. He pours some into a cup while preparing his cup of coffee.

"You forgot to buy pancake mix! You didn't even bother with waffles!" Flurry Heart shouts at her father, flipping the egg with her spatula.

Shining Armor groans. He rubs his face in disgust with his left hand. "I'll buy more later."

"And a cake," Flurry Heart reminds her father about the importance of celebrating a birthday.

"That too," Shining Armor finishes making his cup of coffee. He grabs his cup as Flurry Heart brings breakfast to the table.

The two prayed to God about the bountiful food he'd provided. Taking a first bite of the egg, he finds a shell within. Flurry Heart mentioned to her father about encountering surprises. He laughs a bit and examines his food thoroughly.

"Dad?" Flurry Heart reads a news article about martial law in Indonesia on her smartphone. "What's martial law?"

Shining Armor pauses with a forkful of bacon. "Martial law is house rules. It's when the army becomes the government. Did something happen, sweetie?"

"Well.., uh..." Flurry Heart is about to reply when-.

"Hey, Shining!" Twilight Sparkle walks into the kitchen, slapping her big brother's back. She's wearing a purple jean jacket, white shirt, blue jean shorts, black tights, and brown boots. "I see you're still alive, you old fucker."

"You'll be old too, Twily," Shining Armor replies.

"Aw, what? No pancakes? Not even waffles? What the fuck am I supposed to eat?" Twilight is disappointed with the lack of breakfast in the kitchen.

"There are leftovers from-" Twilight interrupts Shining's speech.

"Yea, yea, I know," Twilight opens the fridge's door and takes the leftover Chinese food from a night ago.

"Any word from the construction crew regarding the cement?" Shining asks Twilight.

"Slight delay until further notice," Twilight responds, causing Shining Armor to moan bitterly.

"We won't get paid until I frame and you install the systems!"

"Yelling won't resolve the issue, birthday baby boy," Twilight retorts as she eats the chicken lo mein. "We'll hire someone else that could bring the concrete instead," Twilight suggests with her mouth full of food.

"Don't talk while you eat, you frickin' idiot." Shining Armor knows Twilight has a bad habit of doing so occasionally.

Twilight swallows her food. "So, are we hiring them?"

"No," Shining Armor shakes his head. "I'm not splitting this job with any of them."

"Stubborn old fucker, that's what you are," Twilight replies, finishing her breakfast.

"Auntie Twilight?" Flury Heart turns to her aunt. "Did you hear anything incriminating on the news recently?"

"Hmm," Twilight ponders a bit. "Just a few different articles on my newsfeed. A mandatory lockdown in Indonesia. For reasons why; it has me spooked."

Shining Armor slaps his wrist, forgetting about not wearing a watch. He looks at his phone. 7:33. "Alright, time to get going."

"You'll be back home later, right?" Flurry Heart still wants to celebrate her father's birthday.

"May work a double if they don't come."

"What?!" Flurry Heart didn't like the sound of her father having to work all day and possibly all night.

"Don't worry, Flurry," Twilight rubs Flurry's head. "I'll be sure to send the old fucker back home." She laughs.

Shining Armor rolls his eyes and gets up. He takes his plate to the sink and cleans it. Flurry Heart drops her plate in the sink after her meal.

It's now 7:43 in the morning. Flurry Heart is outside, watching her neighbors getting ready for school.

"Morning, Flurry," An older man named Peanut Butter is wearing glasses, a sports shirt, and black pants. His skin color is light brown, and his hair is white.

"Hey, Peanut," Flurry Heart likes Peanut Butter and his family despite looking old.

"I have some biscuits if you want some," Peanut Butter offers, holding a plate.

"No thanks, Peanut. I had a big breakfast," Flurry Heart pats her belly.

Shining Armor comes out of his house with his tool belt. He has everything ready for the project. "Ready to go?"

"Hey, Shining. Jelly wants to know if Flurry can come over for a while after school."

Flurry Heart shakes her head. She doesn't want to be with the family.

"My daughter will swing by for a while. I'm sure she and Jelly will have a grand time until I return," Shining smiles.

"Great! I'll let Jelly know," Peanut tries to feed his sister, Peggy, a banana, but she doesn't eat it. Peggy is in a wheelchair. She's paralyzed from the waist down.

"Daaad," Flurry Heart closes her eyes. She's upset that Peanut Butter and Jelly will be expecting her soon.

"You'll have fun, Flurry," Shining opens the door to the back of the pickup truck. After Flurry Heart puts on her seatbelt and closes the door, Shining opens the passenger's side and sees Twilight smoking an e-cigarette. "Twilight, put that shit away."

"It's like a vapor, Shining," Twilight whines like a child.

"NOW!" Shining doesn't want Twilight's bad habit to influence his daughter.

"Fine," Twilight tosses the e-cigarette aside. She starts the truck and drives out of the neighborhood, grumbling.

Flurry Heart starts listening to her music while her father and auntie discuss more of their project. Her notifications keep spamming about martial law affecting other countries across the world. She wonders what in God's name is happening.

Twenty minutes later. Twilight drops Flurry Heart at Canterlot High. Flurry Heart says her byes and walks inside the school. Twilight takes out a cigarette to smoke, but Shining Armor grabs her box and tosses it out the window. He reminds Twilight that cigarettes are more lethal than bullet wounds.

Flurry Heart looks around and sees the banners of seven students that made Canterlot High famous for their friendship. Flurry Heart walks down the hallway to her first class, English. She sits in the middle as other students walk in, discussing martial law and how some can't contact any family members within those countries.

Ms.Cheerlie walks into the class, preparing the next assignment for her students. Then everyone in the school hears a daunting announcement.

"Students of Canterlot High. I'm here to inform you that school will shut down until further notice. Have a safe day," Principal Celestia finishes her announcement. She'd received word from the School's Board of directors that all schools cross country are closing for the foreseeable future and questions what in God's name is happening.

"We need to go, Celestia," Vice Principal Luna is by the door. She's packed like an apocalypse is coming.

Principal Celestia sighs deeply. "It's not the end of the world, Luna. I'll humor you this once, though," Celestia grabs her cup of coffee and leaves with Luna out of the school building.

With many students cheering that school's closed, they run and head to the mall to shop and hang out. Some called their parents to pick them up. As for Flurry Heart, she has another assignment to complete before going home and avoiding Butters's family.

Flurry Heart exits the school and sees Vice Principal Luna prepared for war while Celestia humors Luna's theory that the world is ending. Flurry Heart walks across the street and checks on her phone. She puts on her headphones to listen to her music. Then, there's a video of a bomb going off in Jakarta. Many people scream while limbs splatter everywhere. It becomes gory and bloody that Flurry Heart closes the video. She looks around to see if anyone saw what she'd seen on their phones. So far, she's alone at the bus stop.

A few minutes later, the D29 bus shows up. Many people on the bus are talking about the bombing video that surfaced. It's number one trending worldwide; major news networks are discussing the amateurish camera view of someone recording before they died. Luckily for Flurry Heart, the machine to take tokens and cards is disabled. She can ride for free.

The ride is thirty-five minutes long. Flurry Heart hoped to drown the discussion about the bombing with her music, but it was futile. Everyone couldn't stop looking at their phones for more newsworthy stories. Flurry Heart leaves the bus and sees everyone in disarray. Some are feeling ill as ambulances take many people to the hospital. Flurry Heart feels unsafe being here, but the watch store is nearby. She looks both ways before crossing the street.

"Hope my dad won't be mad that I took a hundred instead of a fifty." Flurry Heart thought to herself. She enters the store and sees the clerk drinking his coffee.

"Hello, there," Locksmith said. Locksmith is a middle-aged man with gray skin and white hair. He's wearing a brown button shirt and light blue jeans.

"Hey, how much will it be to fix this watch?" Flurry Heart hands Locksmith the watch. It's a Central Second Model Seamaster 1948 edition. Graced with Dauphine-style hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova, the dial of the Central Second model is clean and classic. A blue-grey leather strap completes the look.

Locksmith opens the watch and determines what needs fixing. "Just like many watches before when it slows and breaks down. The spring. I'll do it right now."

Outside the shop, firefighters, police, and ambulances drive the streets with their sirens going off.

"Hey, you think what's happening is related to other countries getting bombed or receiving martial law?" Flurry Heart asks Locksmith.

"Good God, I hope not," Locksmith sees his wife coming out looking frantic.

"We need to close shop; now," She explains. She turns to Flurry Heart. "You need to leave; now!"

"I can't! I'm getting my," Flurry Heart tries to explain to the woman that's shoving her out the door.

"Done," Locksmith hurries over to Flurry Heart. "On the house for the rudeness of my wife," Locksmith even put the watch in a new box.

"Thanks," Flurry Heart takes it and still gets shoved out of the shop. She hears Locksmith yelling and arguing about the store's progress as of late.

Flurry Heart sees another D29 bus and takes that home. She sees more people trying to read and listen to their local news about the sudden number of patients checking in at every hospital around. Fifteen minutes into the ride, everyone on the bus hears the roaring of several F-22 jets flying in the skies. People are becoming nervous about facing martial law within their town.

The D29 doesn't take Flurry Heart to her street but two blocks over. She hopes to sprint to the house if Peanut Butter or Jelly isn't outside. Flurry Heart walks up the first block and hears Peanut Butter honking his horn.

"Crap." Flurry Heart said to herself. She turns to see Peanut Butter riding an orange van.

"Come on in, Flurry. Jelly will be happy to see you coming earlier than usual."

"Sure, Peanut Butter," Flurry Heart walks over to the van and sits in the backseat. She's a little upset, but there's nothing she can do.

"So, are you skipping school to surprise your old man?" Peanut asks out of curiosity.

"School is closed indefinitely. I want to say the bombing I saw on my phone has everyone globally spooked."

"I guess countries are shutting themselves down with whatever is happening elsewhere. I'm sure things will ressolve itself sooner than later," Peanut Butter encouragingly says.

The ride lasts a few minutes. Jelly is outside to greet her husband. She's wearing her black gown with white-fuzzy slippers. Her skin tone is purple. She becomes thrilled to see Flurry Heart coming out of the car. Peanut Butter explains that schools closed, and Flurry didn't have much to go. Well, he stretched the truth, but Jelly didn't mind. She'll spend time with Flurry Heart as much as she can.

"So, have any homework or possible exams you need help with?" Jelly asks while escorting Flurry to the dining room next to the kitchen.

"Well, I have my history exam and math. Besides those, I've completed my homework. I would have gotten more if school continued. Also, did you hear jets flying by?"

"I did," Jelly replies. "It woke me up from my morning nap. There were at least five of them going by. I hope we're not under attack."

"God, I hope not," Flurry Heart would hate to see the devastation from bombing strikes.

"So, want to help me bake cookies?" Jelly asks.

Flurry Heart gasps excitedly. "Chocolate chip?" She smiles widely.

Jelly sees the excitement written in Flurry's eyes. However, she doesn't have chocolate chips. "Raisin," Jelly sees Flurry's demeanor drop.

"Oh..," Flurry Heart was hoping to bring chocolate chip birthday cookies to her father as an added birthday gift.

"Next time you're here, we'll bake chocolate chip cookies. I promise."

Flurry Heart smiles a bit. Within the hour, Flurry Heart and Jelly bake raisin cookies. Peanut Butter is growing a little impatient with his sister not eating anything. Whatever food he sticks in her mouth, it comes back out. Flurry Heart takes out her mathematics textbook to study until she gets bored in the household. She hopes to deceive the family with a fake phone call by playing her ringtone loud enough to answer.

"Peanut Butter. Can you come here and help me in the kitchen?" Jelly shouts. She can't reach to open the top cabinet.

"Coming," Peanut Butter gets up and helps Jelly in the kitchen.

Flurry Heart stops and wanders to the shelf full of DVDs. She analyzes each one until she locates a movie her father wanted to watch for years. The title of the movie is called The Warriors. It's based on a street gang from Coney Island making their way back home after getting framed for a crime they did not commit. After taking a look at the cover, that's when she plays her ringtone loud enough to answer and say one word.

"Hello?" Flurry Heart repeats yeah over and pretends that her father is instructing her to head home. "Okay, see you later, Dad," Flurry Heart sighs in relief, hoping to fool Peanut Butter and Jelly. "Hey, Jelly!" Flurry Heart rushes to the kitchen and sees Peanut Butter coming out with flour covering his head down to his chest. She laughs a little.

"What is it, dearie?" Jelly turns to Flurry Heart.

"Mind if I borrow this for a few nights?" Flurry Heart holds The Warriors DVD.

Jelly puts on her glasses and smiles. "Sure, as long as you take these cookies for the ride," Jelly places a bag of raisin cookies on the counter.

"Of course, Jelly," Flurry Heart takes the bag of cookies and puts them in her backpack. Then, she puts the DVD and her textbook. "I have to go. My dad called me, and he'll be back soon."

"Take care, Flurry Heart. If you need anything, holla," Jelly said.

"I will," Flurry Heart leaves their home and walks to her house. A few minutes later, Flurry Heart enters and tosses her bag on a chair. "Finally, home!" She exhales in relief and lies on the couch. She looks at her phone to see if anything newsworthy happened. So far, other regions globally have declared martial law, and some cities are getting bombarded with explosives. She turns on the TV to see what the hell is happening.

The news station has reported people succumbing to a possible new drug and being hospitalized. It scares Flurry Heart, and she turns off the TV. She groans in boredom and falls asleep on the couch.

Flurry Heart wakes up after having a good nap. It's 7:00 at night. Shining Armor opens the front door and enters his home.

"Dad!" Flurry Heart gets up and rushes to her father, hugging him.

"Hey, Flurry," Shining Armor returns the hug. "Are you okay?"

"School ended early, and shit on the news has me scared," Flurry Heart admits. "Did you get the cake?"

"Shiiiiiit!" Shining Armor facepalms himself hard.

"There's still time to get it, Dad," Flurry Heart urges.

"I'm tired from work today, Flurry," Shining Armor releases his hug and walks to the kitchen. "Be glad that I'm home earlier than I anticipated."

"Swear that you get one tomorrow. Otherwise, you won't get your present," Flurry Heart enticingly and seductively says to make her father buy a cake the next day.

"Presents?!" Shining Armor becomes ecstatic like a child on Christmas Day.

"Swear first," Flurry Heart commands.

"On my life, I'll get us the cake," Shining Armor places his right hand on his heart, making a solemn promise.

"Good," Flurry Heart smiles. "Wait here and close your eyes!" Flurry Heart runs to her bag and grabs the box containing his watch. She returns to her father. "You may open them."

Shining Armor opens his eyes. He sees a white box and opens it. It's his watch. "My watch!" He brings it close to his ear and hears it ticking. "Where did you get the money for this?"

"Drugs," Flurry Heart has no hesitation with her answer. "I sell hardcore drugs."

"Great. You can help out with the mortgage," Shining Armor replies. He puts the watch on his left wrist.

"You wish," Flurry Heart giggles. "Dad! I have one more present for you!" Flurry Heart runs to the living room. Shining Armor follows, wanting to know what his second present is. "Here, Dad!" Flurry smiles with glee, holding the DVD.

"HOLY SHIT! YOU GOT MY FAVORITE MOVIE ON DVD!" Shining Armor grasps The Warriors DVD and leaps for joy. "I haven't seen this movie in fourteen years!"

"Go on! Play it!" Flurry Heart encourages her father to play the movie.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Shining Armor turns on the TV and inserts the disc into the DVD player. He sits next to Flurry Heart, holding her closely. He turns to his left and imagines Cadance leaning on him, smiling to watch the movie as a family. "Aw, we miss you, Cadance. Someday soon, we'll be reunited."

An hour and a half into the movie, Flurry Heart had fallen asleep while Shining Armor lowered the volume to continue watching the movie. Shining Armor gets a phone call.

"Hello?" Shining answers.

"Shining! Come here, quick!" Twilight sounds frantic on the phone.

"What happened and where to, Twilight?" Shining asks.

"Home! Dad's been acting up, and our mom is twitching! She has a bad wound on her leg."

"Okay, I'm coming," Shining Armor slowly puts his daughter on the couch for her to sleep more. He grabs his jacket, turns off the TV, and leaves the house.

An hour later. It's 9:30 at night. Flurry Heart wakes up. She doesn't see her father in the living room.

"Dad?" Flurry Heart sits up and takes off her boots. She flexes her toes from wearing them all day and night. "Much better," She gets up and goes to her phone on the table. She sees her internet is down. "Aw, man," Flurry Heart turns on the TV to watch the news. There's only the emergency broadcast channel, alarming everyone to stay indoors until the police arrive. She attempts to call her father using the landline phone. That is down as well. "Fuck! I don't want to be left alone."

Flurry Heart remembers what Jelly instructed her. If she ever needed anything, holla. With a sigh of defeat, Flurry Heart decides to be with Peanut Butter and Jelly's household until her father returns home. She puts her boots on and heads on over to Peanut's house.

Flurry Heart sees waves of helicopters and jets flying by her neighborhood. She gets worried about a possible terrorist attack on American soil like the infamous 9/11. Her breathing becomes slow as she walks over to the next house over. What if a new terrorist organization has launched codes to attack major populated cities and military bases? Like a new world order to come? The idea of getting killed by them terrorizes her even more. Flurry Heart knocks on the front door of Peanut Butter's house only to see the door open.

"Were they expecting me to come over after the phone lines went down?" Flurry Heart talks to herself. She opens the door and searches for either Peanut Butter or Jelly since the house's interiors are dark. The only lighting in the house comes from the street lights outside.

Flurry Heart turns on the light to see where she's going. She slips a little but regains her control. She sees a pool of blood trailing to a bloodied Peanut Butter with a neck wound. Flurry Heart gasps in horror a little silently.

"Help.., me..," Peanut Butter begs softly, turning to see what was the cause of his injury.

Flurry Heart covers her mouth in terror. The floor, Flurry Heart sees Peggy pinning Jelly on the floor, giving him some sort of hickey on the neck. Peggy slowly lifts her head; her eyes widen with tendrils coming out of her mouth. Flurry Heart is in a trance at the moment. Jelly looks dead in Flurry's eyes. What scares Flurry Heart more than anything is the sudden rise of Peggy. She was paralyzed and couldn't walk for a decade. Peggy screams and runs after Flurry Heart.

Flurry Heart screams, hoping that someone can help her slay this wicked woman. Shining Armor and Twilight arrived at the house. They get out of the truck, covered in blood.

"INSIDE THE TRUCK! NOW!" Shining Armor commands, holding a hammer. He grabs Flurry Heart to hurry her inside.

"Dad! What is going on?!" Flurry Heart pants heavily.

Peggy screams and falls to the ground. Twilight comes out, aiming her sniper rifle at the sick elderly woman. She rises and sprints after them until Shining Armor hits Peggy's head hard. Peggy dies on impact due to how strong Shining Armor is.

"Holy shit! You killed her!" Flurry Heart can't believe her father killed Peggy despite being a monster.

Shining Armor turns to her daughter and hugs her. "Sorry. I'm sorry you have to see that. Right now, I need you to be brave."

"We need to get going," Twilight reminds Shining Armor.

"Alright," Shining Armor looks at Flurry Heart. "We're getting out of here. Whatever happened with Peanut Butter and Jelly is happening to others. Understood?"

"Yes, Dad," Flurry Heart nods in understanding. She gets in the back as Shining Armor and Twilight get in and drive out of the neighborhood. "Are we getting grandpa and grandma?"

Twilight becomes teary and shakes her head. "They're gone."

"Gone..?" Flurry Heart starts tearing up.

"They were sick, and we had to.., to..," Shining Armor tries to sugarcoat death. "They're with your mom."

Flurry Heart bursts into tears. "Are we sick?"

"No, of course not," Shining Armor comforts his daughter with his smooth talk.

"How do you know?" Flurry Heart wants answers.

"It's mainly in the downtown districts of Canterlot City. Peanut Butter got medication there for Peggy. That's how they ended up getting sick," Twilight said. She assumes that Peanut Butter and Jelly are dead and not infected by Peggy.

"Didn't grandpa work in the city today, Auntie Twilight?" Flurry Heart asks despite knowing the answer.

"Yea, he did..," Twilight drives by Sweet Apple Acres. The house is on fire. "Applejack..," Twilight reaches her hand out to the death of a possible friend.

"We'll mourn later, Twilight," Shining said, knowing the possibility of their friends succumbing to whatever sickness that's plaguing their town.

"Twilight, take the 47."

"That's what I'm aiming for," Twilight continues to drive the truck and sees a family in need of help.

"Twilight, don't!" Shining Armor shakes his head.

"You're right," Twilight floors it, knowing that someone else who's sick can ambush them.

During the drive, Flurry Heart sees the carnage laid waste. Many homes were on fire, people evacuating, cars crashing, and people screaming. Twilight and Shining Armor see the 47 jampacked since the highways are blocked off.

"Motherfucker!" Shining Armor slams the top of the glove compartment.

"Everyone and their mothers had the same fucking idea!" Twilight angrily shouts.

"Cut through the field and get us into the main road, Twilight! No matter what comes in front, run them over!" Shining barks.

Flurry Heart is about to have a heart attack after hearing how cruel her father feels about other lives. Twilight understands her objective since she can't determine who's ill and who isn't while driving. Twilight and Shining detour their route towards the Canterlot Mall after seeing the military near the main road heading into the 47.

Many people swarm the streets, screaming and panicking. Above them is an airplane with one of the turbo engines in flames. Two military jets are in hot pursuit. Twilight sees police on the move, cutting a pathway they needed to escape the town. Twilight turns sharply to the right, hoping to avoid any traffic from a collision.

"Where are we going?" Flurry Heart wants to know her father's plan.

"Someplace safe and away from people, honey," Shining replies. He looks to his left for a second. "TWILY!" He grabs the steering wheel to turn right; a car stops, nearly crashing and possibly killing them. That driver honks loudly in anger.

Flurry Heart pants heavily. For a second, her life flashed before her very eyes. "Don't.., scare me like that again!"

More people swarm the streets, and some get attacked. Twilight is slowing her driving to avoid running them, disregarding Shining's advice to run them over.

"Twilight! Drive through them!" Shining yells.

"I can't! It's not that simple!" Twilight barks back, watching several kids running away from their mothers and fathers. Glass and doors from a movie theatre breaks with people fleeing for their lives. There are too many to go forward.

"Back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back, back!" Shining slams the top of the glove compartment, hurrying Twilight to drive in reverse.

Flurry Heart looks back as many people run and fall due to others attacking them. "DAD!" Flurry Heart sees a plane acting up in the skies.

Shining Armor sees the plane. "HOLY FUCKING SHIT! MOVE TWILY!" Shining Armor screams in fear.

Twilight didn't need to be told twice as she floors it. She doesn't care about the people in front of her. The plane crashes and explodes. Much of its' debris ricochets off the wall of the building, colliding with the pickup truck and flipping it over. Fire engulfs many streets and incinerates people, whether sick or not.

Flurry Heart wakes up and feels a sharp pain in her leg. She sees her father trying to get up. "Dad?"

"Flurry, stay there. Don't move," Shining Armor wiggles his way out of the truck's window. "Twily, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," Twilight wiggles her way out of the truck's windshield.

In the corner of Flurry's eye, she sees a man biting the neck of a woman. Exactly how Peggy did to Peanut Butter and Jelly.

"Flurry..," Shining Armor quietly whispers, grabbing his daughter's attention. She turns to look at him. "Look at me, not them."

"Okay," Flurry Heart crawls to her father and tries to stand. She collapses and pants heavily. She starts sniffing.

"Flurry, you okay?" Shining Armor helps his daughter up.

"My leg is broken."

Shining Armor picks up and cradles Flurry Heart. "Gotcha, baby girl."

"Shining! We need to get off the street!" Twilight hears sirens getting louder. "Watch out!" A cop car hits the truck. The driver is dead. "Fuuuuck!" The car is on fire, and it's separating the duo. Shining Armor and Flurry Heart are in an alleyway.

"TWILY! TWILY! TWILIGHT!" Shining Armor shouts.

"I'm alright! I'll find another way to reach you. Go!" Twilight sees a man coming after her and shoots her sniper rifle. The bullet goes through the man's head. Pieces of the brain scramble as the man drop lifelessly on the ground. She reloads another round and runs towards another path.

"Flurry, look at me. Don't look at anything else. If you must, close your eyes!" Shining hopes to shield his daughter from any other gore and disaster.

"Okay, Dad," Flurry Heart closes her eyes and holds dearly onto her father.

Shining Armor sprints down the alleyway, hoping to find an open door that'll lead to the streets and reunite with Twilight. He turns to his right and witnesses the unbelievable. Sick people inject their venom into helpless victims through the neck. Their tendrils spread the sickness and kill them in the process. One of those infected people rises and glares at Shining Armor and Flurry Heart. It twitches and chases after them, screaming at the top of its' lungs.

Shining Armor sprints into a Johnny Rocket's backdoor restaurant. Flurry Heart sees the man-infected coming near. First, he crashes into a cart of dishes, then launches himself from the floor to the booths of every seat. Shining Armor feels him coming closer and looks to his right for a split second. The infected collides and collapses after hitting carts of silverware. Shining Armor continues to sprint and exits the restaurant. He sees a soldier with an AR Assault Rifle shooting at the infected person with one bullet.

"Was that Auntie Twilight?" Flurry Heart asks her father.

"No, but you're safe..," Shining Armor sighs in relief. "We're safe."

"Commander, I have a couple of civilians in the outer perimeter; please advise?" She radios her commanding officer.

"Madam," Shining Armor gets closer.

"DON'T MOVE!" The soldier aims her rifle at Shining and Flurry.

"Please, my daughter. She's hurt. Broken leg."

"Madam, a little girl has a broken leg..," She confirms with her commanding officer on the radio.

"What are we going to do?" Flurry asks her father. She's worried about Twilight and hopes she escaped the wrath of demons.

"We'll get you someplace safe, healed up, then we'll search for Auntie Twilight," Shining said.

"Madam... Yes Ma'am. Yes Ma'am. Yes Ma'am," The soldier understands the task at hand.

"Please, help..," Shining Armor sees the soldier steadying her aim. "Oh, SHIT!" Shining Armor tries to make a run for it. The soldier shoots multiple rounds at Shining and Flurry. Shining grunts as Flurry screams; the two rolls down a steep hill.

The soldier runs down and aims her assault rifle at Shining Armor. The flashlight of the assault rifle is turned on for better aiming. "I'm sorry," She apologizes.

Shining Armor raises his hands up, begging for mercy with tears in his eyes. "Please, don't."

The soldier grunts after a shot was fired. She falls to the ground. Twilight comes up to the soldier, aiming her sniper rifle at the dead soldier.

"TWILY!" Shining Armor sits up and grunts in pain. A bullet pierced his left rib.

"Oh, no..," Twilight drops her rifle and covers her mouth.

Shining Armor turns around and sees Flurry Heart with a deep bullet wound near her stomach. "FLURRY!" Shining Armor crawls to Flurry Heart.

Flurry Heart is panting heavily while trying to cover the bullet wound. Her heart is pumping rapidly due to the immense pain. Shining tries to lift her up, only hearing yelps and wails of agony.

"Flurry, I need to get you up, and we'll get you patched! Fix you and heal you!"

"Daddy.., it hurts!" Flurry Heart wails in pain.

"I know, baby, I know," Shining Armor turns to Twilight while trying to lift his daughter. "GET SOME SUPPLIES FROM THE SOLDIER'S TRUCK!" Shining yells, hoping the soldier was smart enough to bring some medical supplies. Flurry's body continues to twitch as she breathes heavily. Blood gushes out of her bullet wound. Flurry Heart tries grasping her father.

"Shining..." Twilight sees Flurry falling limp.

"No..., NOOOOOOO!" Shining Armor tries to wake her daughter despite her eyes still open. Her blood stains his clothes. "Flurry! Flurry! FLUUUUURRRY!" Shining Armor hugs his deceased daughter.

Twilight picks up her rifle and inspects the soldier for keys to her truck. She found them in the upper right pocket of her uniform. Then, she removes the helmet angrily to see the face that killed her niece and pauses. "You.., You... YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Twilight spits at the deceased face of Rainbow Dash. In a fit of rage, she grabs the AR Assault Rifle and unloads all the rounds at Rainbow Dash's face, damaging it beyond repair. "BURN IN THE FIRE LAKES OF HELL, YOU WHORE MONKEY!" Twilight stomps the skull of Rainbow Dash, breaking the bones and squishing the brains.

Twilight walks up to her brother and taps his shoulder. "We need to go."

Shining Armor overheard Twilight's outburst. How dare Rainbow Dash take her daughter away. He gets up, still clutching to his deceased daughter.

"We'll find a place to bury your daughter, Shining. Right now, it's time to go."

Shining Armor doesn't say a word. He walks with Twilight to Rainbow's military truck and places Flurry Heart in the backseat. On top of the hood, Shining Armor grabs a blanket and wraps his daughter. He sits in the passenger's seat and covers his face. "Take us away from here."

Twilight gets in the truck and drives out of Canterlot City. The two are in shambles after what they witnessed.

Ten Hours Later

Ten hours later. It's a bright sunny day on the outskirts of Canterlot City. From afar, there's smoke, fires, and chaos. The army got overrun by many civilians wanting to escape the massacre that laid waste for reasons unknown. Twilight parks the military truck at a gas station, refueling as much as possible. Shining Armor starts packing much-needed supplies for the journey to who knows God knows where. Luckily for him, the monitor of the gas station is still active. He's listening to the news.

Breaking News:

There is worldwide mass contamination of food such as bread, cereal, pancake/waffle mix french toast, pizza, sandwiches, cakes, pasta, and bagels. Please advise; don't consume flour and sugar-based until CDC confirms their safety. If anyone digests the products, terminate quickly to prevent the spread from escalating further.

Shining Armor now knows what he needs to bring. He drops all flour and sugar-based foods and resupplies rations. After twenty minutes, Shining Armor comes outside and sees his sister filling some barrels of gas for the trip.

"Shining?" Twilight knows her brother is still heartbroken about the loss of his daughter and her niece, Flurry Heart. However, she needs to know if her brother is okay.

"We're good with supplies for a week at best if we rationalize; No sugar or flour-based food. The world is fucked up because of it."

"Is it airborne? Manmade?" Twilight asks her brother.

"If it's manmade, those fuckers screwed the world big time. I would hunt them down and exterimate them off the face of the earth!" Shining angrily shouts. "According to the news, nothing about it being airborne. Whatever the virus is, it's in our food supply."

"Okay."

Twilight finishes fueling four barrels full of gasoline and puts them on top of the back of the truck. Shining sits in the front and tosses Twilight an orange. The two have their snack in peace with no soldiers patrolling. After a few minutes, Twilight drives the car into the open road.

"Sh-Shining.., what is that?" Twilight sees a black mass flying in the skies. Waves of them in motion, heading to sister towns of Canterlot City.

Shining Armor looks up. Before becoming a commissioner of the Canterlot City Police Department, before having Flurry Heart, Shining Armor enlisted himself for the United States Marine Corps. He wanted to be a soldier and got that wish. However, from his experiences, he endured a lot of bloodbaths and close-quarters gun fights. He's seen many airstrikes from different gunships. Witnessing a wave of this magnitude has him afraid.

"Twilight! Drive into the forests! NOW!" Shining Armor knows what's coming. He sees many trees in the distance on the open road.

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirits are in motion. They have a wingspan of 172 feet. The length is 69 feet. The height is 17 feet. They are known as stealth bombers with the sole purpose of demolishing cities populated with many infected people while the innocents are trapped.

Rainbow's dispatch plays, informing all soldiers to evacuate. Death strikes are inbound in twenty minutes. Over a hundred of them are coming to destroy all heavily populated cities, leaving the countrysiders alone until further notice.

It wasn't long before the dispatch displayed sounds of cries with the bombing in the background. Even their own soldiers got caught in the situation without warning. It was horrifying to hear the sounds of men, women, children, the elderly, and babies crying before death.

"Truly, evil..," Twilight comments after hearing the dispatch going static.

"Fuck this country," Shining Armor retorts. He closes his eyes, and the memories of Flurry Heart dying is all he sees. He cries again, covering his eyes and face in sorrow.

Twilight continues to drive deeper into the forest until they reach a lake. She parks the truck only to realize that she and Shining Armor are in Camp Everfree.

"Why did you stop the truck, Twily?" Shining Armor turns to Twilight.

"I don't think the military would bomb a campsite, Shining," Twilight exits the truck and arms herself with the sniper rifle.

Shining Armor exits the truck and reloads the AR Assault Rifle. He hopes some survivors can help. "Keep your guard up, Twily! I can't lose you too..."

"You won't lose me, Shining. I promise," Twilight gulps a little, hoping to keep the promise.

Twilight and Shining move slowly to the main building of Camp Everfree. With their weapons drawn, they hear clashing and loud clangs. The front doors burst open with Gloria Daisy running and tripping over, yelling. She's wearing her camping attire.

"HELP ME!" Gloria Daisy is in tears. Timber Spruce runs out with tendrils coming out of his mouth, groaning while wearing brown pajamas.

"DIE MOTHERFUCKER!" Shining Armor shoots multiple rounds at Timber Spruce's head. He drops hard and twitches a bit before dying.

Twilight pants heavily; she couldn't pull the trigger on her fiance. "TIIIIIIIIIIMBEEEEEEEER!" Twilight drops to her knees and cries.

Gloria Daisy's eyes widen in shock and horror. Her brother, whom she loved dearly, is gone within an instant. She crawls over and sees the blank stare on his face. "NOOOOOOOOOHOHOHOOOOOO!" His blood covers Gloria's clothing a little.

Shining Armor kneels down and holds his sister tightly. Twilight screams every swear word in the book in anger and despair.

Gloria Daisy turns to her rescuers. Despite her brother's passing, she smiles with tears burning her eyes. "Thank you."

"What did he eat?" Shining Armor asks.

"Homemade pancakes," Gloria responds. She then cries again.

Half an hour later, Shining Armor explains what he knows about the viral infestation that spread globally. Gloria Daisy is devastated. Her brother ate many cakes last night during a festival. She couldn't since she was watching her diet. Gloria believes the cake and pancakes sped the process for him to turn into a ravenous beast.

"Gloria.., if it's not too much to ask..," Twilight turns to her former camp counselor.

"You saved me from death. I owe you my life, Twilight. And you, Shining."

"My daughter, Flurry Heart, was shot to death last night. I request to bury her here in her favorite camping site of all time," Shining Armor remembers the stories Flurry Heart would say during her week in Camp Everfree.

Gloria Daisy nods, respectively. She remembers how much fun Flurry Heart used to be during that time. "There are shovels inside. Help me dig a grave for my brother."

"Okay," Shining said.

Two hours later. Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, and Gloria Daisy dug side-by-side for Flurry Heart and Timber Spruce. Twilight and Gloria cleaned Timber Spruce and carefully placed him in his grave.

Shining Armor cradles Flurry Heart for the final time. Happy memories swirl into his mind, seeing her smile, laughter, and passion; especially resenting Peanut Butter and Jelly's family since they were weird with Peggy. Shining Armor remembers the last "I love you, Dad." comment. He starts tearing up and kisses Flurry Heart's forehead for the final time.

"I-I-I-I L-L-L-LOVE YOU B-B-B-B-BABY GIRL..." Shining Armor fatherly expresses with love. He sniffs while slowly putting her into the ground.

Shining Armor, Twilight, and Gloria Daisy fill the grave with dirt. They cry very much so with the pain lingering in their hearts. After a few minutes, the trio stops. Gloria Daisy runs to her office to grab the vase of flowers to pay respect. Twilight Sparkle didn't move. She looks at her niece and fiance. Shining Armor walks to the truck to grab something precious to him.

Gloria Daisy comes out with two white carnation flowers. She places one on each grave. She and Twilight stand on the left side that belongs to Timber. The two hold each other and weep.

Shining Armor returns with a plate of birthday cake he snagged at the gas station. He is wearing gloves for the occasion. Twilight and Gloria step back as Shining places the cake piece on Flurry Heart's grave.

"Have any words you want to express, ladies?" Shining asks. He knows what he wants to say.

"I'll go first..," Gloria coughs. "Timber. You were an amazing brother I had the privilege of growing up. Working with you in Camp Everfree has been the best moments of my life, watching campers having fun, telling ghost stories, and holding annual events. Being with you," Gloria rubs her eyes. "We made many kids happy in honor of our parents. You helped so much and devoted yourself to the camp. I loved our times hiking together in the woods, going to school, dissing some teachers, and getting into trouble. Nothing will ever replace you. I'll continue here and build a monument in your honor; Until we meet again. Sayonara."

Twilight takes a deep breath. She tries to utter the right words, but the pain is too much. She wails in sadness for both Flurry Heart and Timber. She's not strong enough to say what's in her heart. Gloria hugs Twilight in mourning.

Shining Armor turns to Flurry Heart's grave and relives the moment he got home. He kneels to pat the grave. "Flurry.., I-I.., I've kept my promise. I.., didn't buy the cake but I brought it to you.., I love you so much.., I miss you..." Shining Armor closes his eyes. "I want to join you and your mother. You were both taken too soon." Shining shakes his head, ignoring the suicidal thought. "Tell your mother I said hi. I can't wait to see you soon." "Sooner than I think." Another notion comes to his mind. There's a gun in the truck. All he has to do is pull it.

Shining Armor walks away from the grave and sees Twilight. His only family left. He groans bitterly. "How can I think about being selfish in a time like this? Someone or something will end me soon." Shining Armor walks to his sister and hugs her and Gloria. The three wept in remembrance of their loved ones.

20 Years Later: Part One

Loud door knocks wake Shining Armor up after reliving the same dream when the outbreak started; he sees Flurry Heart dying in his arms after getting shot by a soldier, a soldier he and Twilight knew that showed no sympathy, only taking orders while oblivious to the fact that he and Flurry weren't sick. Shining Armor sits up, fully clothed; he's wearing a blue flannel western-cut shirt, dark-colored faded denim blue jeans, and brown timberland boots. His hair has faded, showing signs of salt and pepper hair blending with his grayness.

"I'm coming!" Shining Armor goes to the door and opens it, allowing Tempest to walk into their apartment.

Tempest is wearing a button-down sleeves-less shirt in wine red with a faded neck jersey shirt underneath, a grey bandana, black forest jeans, and mid-calf combat military brown boots.

Tempest goes to the table to pour herself a shot glass of liquor. "Hey, how was your morning?" She drinks her cup. "Want one?"

"No, I don't want one," Shining replies.

"Well, I have some news that'll interest you or piss you off," Tempest said, finishing her drink.

"What news, Tempest?" Shining is in no mood for lollygagging.

"Good news is, while you were asleep, I did the drop for us at the West District," Tempest pours herself another drink.

"Good God," Shining Armor shakes his head in disbelief. "I'm guessing the deal went south, and the client took all of our pills, right!?"

"Relax, the deal went off without a hitch. We got enough ration cards to last us a couple of months, easy," Tempest places all of the ration cards on the table to make her statement.

"That's a first," Shining Armor laughs a bit; usually, things are difficult for the trade.

"Yea, well, that's not the point," Tempest goes to the kitchen cabinet and grabs a rag to clean up the wound she concealed with the bandana.

Shining Armor approaches her, about to hug Tempest from behind; when he sees the dried blood mark. "Care to explain the injury?"

"I was on my way back here, and I got jumped by these two assholes, alright? Yeah, they got a few good hits in," Shining Armor has doubts about the ambush. "But.., Look, I managed."

"I'll take that," Shining Armor grabs the rag and helps clean Tempest's wound. "Are they still with us?"

Tempest laughs. "Funny, but no. Those assholes are long gone. However, that's not the point. I know who fucking sent them."

"Who?" Shining Armor is now interested in getting the culprit.

"Blueblood. He knows we're coming after him, and he's shitting his pants. Right now, he's preparing to sell our shit to a higher bidder."

"Fuck it, let's fucking go," Shining Armor grabs his backpack from the closet and leaves. Tempest takes her gear and follows.

Boston QZ. A miserable place for those who are hopeless and trying to live in a fucked up world dominated by the cordyceps-infected people outside of the walls. The population is over a hundred thousand, but the numbers decrease due to the strict regulations that F.E.D.R.A. instructs on all inhabitants. People went by with their work routine enforced by F.E.D.R.A., but some people not working are trying to find solace in living. Some are starving, waiting in ration lines, cleaning up Fireflies logos with paint, and cleaning the streets. F.E.D.R.A. soldiers are patrolling the streets of Boston, having stakeouts on the rooftops, ensuring the safety of their citizens from the Fireflies or infected if the walls get breached.

The people with little hope are trying to live life to the fullest while others are telling them the harsh truths about living in the Boston QZ. It's either work for F.E.D.R.A. or killed by thugs, gangs, or infected. Those people even said that F.E.D.R.A would kill them to make an example or thin the number of residents.

Shining Armor and Tempest are outside their apartment and take in the scenery. Not much changed; just another gloomy day in the fucked up world they live in. Shining Armor follows Tempest down an alleyway leading to a small get-together outdoor restaurant. Shining stands aside while Tempest sits at a table to discuss Blueblood's location with a lackey of Blueblood.

A man walks up to Shining Armor. "Hey, man," Shining Armor turns to the guy. "You seem lost in life and out of place. If you're looking for something-" Shining Armor interrupts him.

"If you say look for the light, I'm going to break your jaw, beat the shit out of you, make you eat it, so I can beat it out of you a second time," Shining Armor coldly says since he's aware of the motto of the Fireflies and has a deep detest of them.

The man backed away fearfully and ran from Shining Armor. Tempest pays the lackey with a week's worth of ration cards after receiving the info and departs. She approaches Shining Armor and walks away from the outdoor venue.

"We got him," Tempest smiles wickedly. "Blueblood is on his way to a red-tagged building on Stillman and Cross."

"An old building once used by Rich," Shining Armor remembers another well-known store owned by Filthy Rich before the outbreak came.

"We take the old subway tunnel under Haymarket, get into the building from below, and take Blueblood by surprise," Tempest said. She's eagerly ready to beat the shit out of Blueblood.

"Sounds good. I'm looking to pay this fucker back," Shining Armor imagines breaking every bone in Blueblood's body.

Twenty minutes later. Tempest locates barred doors that lead to the subway tunnel. Shining Armor takes the bolt cutters from Tempest and breaks the chains to the door. The two walk inside and prepare themselves for possible ambushes by other smugglers within the Boston QZ. Tempest and Shining take out their pistols and flashlights.

"Ready?" Tempest asks Shining Armor.

"Let's not keep the fucker waiting," Shining Armor goes down the stairs with Tempest.

The subway tunnel is dark and powerless due to F.E.D.R.A. using the reserve energy to empower the Boston QZ. The light Shining and Tempest uses views of the rats roaming on the tracks and water from broken pipes raining down. Shining and Tempest used the subway tunnels numerous times and had no problem running into any infected or smuggler. Using their flashlights, there are different ladders and doors with different markings that smugglers use as bulletin marks whenever they read the map.

After ten minutes of travel, Tempest reads the map and locates a white painted mark with a period in the center and a half-circle outline. "Found it!" She climbs up the ladder and opens the door. "Not much further."

"Good," Shining Armor follows Tempest while checking his surroundings for dangers.

The room Tempest walks into appears to be a small-maintenance office room with a computer installed. She inspects the room for an exit.

"OOOH! OH FUCK!" Tempest screams at the horrifying image plastered on the wall.

"What! What happened?!" Shining Armor rushes over to Tempest when he sees the gruesome detailing written on the wall.

A man covered in fungi cordyceps is on the wall; the jaw is stretched with stained yellowish tendril roots blooming, the eyes are eyeless with fungi sprouting, and the rest of the body is frail, faded, and skeletal.

"He's finished," Shining Armor said after observing the body.

Tempest exhales from the startling experience. "Yeah. I know. I just.., I wasn't expecting to see anything like this down here."

"So, he wasn't down here last time?" Shining Armor asks after seeing how badly the body decomposed due to the cordyceps.

"No. You think he came down after he was infected?" Tempest theorizes the possibility of the man's demise.

Shining Armor sighs. "No. I believe down here is where he was infected."

"Let's get moving," Tempest said; she and Shining needed to stay on course and not get distracted by anything else.

Shining Armor follows Tempest slowly and silently. He believes any other infected person would lurk; Since one person died infected, more could be around the area.

The silent moving wasn't needed when Tempest finds the ladder, leading upward into the store owned by Rich. After a few minutes, the two arrive in front of a door; leading into one of the hallways of the building.

Tempest attempts to move the door and feels something weighty behind, blocking it. "What the fuck? Someone put a piano in front of this?" She slams it a bit.

Shining Armor sniffs. "You smell that?"

Tempest takes a whiff of the smell. "Yeah, gunpowder," She and Shining flash their lights on the floor and see a pool of blood. It drips, indicating that it's fresh, not old.

Shining Armor takes his pistol out as Tempest shoves the door open. A body slumps over to the left as Tempest walks out to investigate. Shining pursues and sees many of Blueblood's men dead in the hallway.

"Well, there's the fucker," Tempest is upset that Blueblood has a bullet in his head next to a burnt-out car battery. "The battery is dead."

"Fantastic," Shining Armor sarcastically expresses in anger. "We needed that fucking battery for next week's trip!"

One Week Ago

Shining Armor and Tempest approaches Blueblood's office in the Southern District Pier after receiving intel about a working car battery. Shining Armor longs to reconnect with his sister, Twilight Sparkle. She left the Fireflies many months ago and headed to Wyoming.

Shining Armor groans bitterly. He hates waiting for spoiled brats who think they own everything. "Where is he?" Shining complains.

"He'll be here in a few moments. Blueblood does have other clients to attend to, Shining," Tempest reassuringly says, wholeheartedly knowing how badly Shining yearns to reconnect with Twilight since he believes Twilight may not handle the outside world fondly.

"God, he's taking forever!" Shining moans. He looks behind and sees many of Blueblood's workers moving crates and taking inventory.

A security guard with a stolen F.E.D.R.A. uniform opens the door to Blueblood's office. "He has arrived."

Shining Armor and Tempest walk inside the office. They see Blueblood going over some documents from the last shipment. The security guard close and guards the door from any F.E.D.R.A. agents or anyone seeking retribution or raiding Blueblood's supplies.

Blueblood is wearing a leather jacket, a white buttoned shirt, black denim jeans, and black boots. "Ah, here are my two favorite people!" Blueblood charmingly and elatedly says. "What can I give you on this lovely day?"

Tempest speaks for Shining Armor. "We have sources that you acquired a car battery."

"Indeed, that is correct!" Blueblood takes a cigarette and lights it. He smokes to ease his tensions of the day. "Why would you need a car battery? Surely, you two lovebirds love it here."

"Cut the crap with your goodie two-shoe persona. You don't need to deceive me," Tempest sternly says, getting straight to the point.

Blueblood tosses his cigarette aside. "Alright. Here's the real me," Blueblood snobbishly says. "Now, answer the question. Why do you need my car battery?"

"We're leaving this hellhole and searching for a dear friend. Nothing more or less," Tempest coldly replies.

"What's in it for me? Do you have something worth valueable in exchange for my battery?"

"What do you desire? We wouldn't mind trading for the car battery."

"What about him?" Blueblood nudges his head at Shining Armor, who remains silent during the conversation.

"Do you have a juiced-up battery or what? If not, I'll reveal incriminating details about you giving false necessities to all of your customers."

Blueblood horridly gasps. He doesn't want someone to ruin his reputation. "No-no, that'll be bad for business. I'll give you a battery ready to take you anywhere you want!" An idea comes to Blueblood's mind. He knows that Tempest and Shining have impressive weaponry, something that his crew lacks. "You need to control your boy! Otherwise, no car battery!"

Shining Armor glares at Blueblood and does the arms cross while he waits for the meeting to conclude on a good note.

"Don't pay attention to him, focus on me. What do you want in exchange for the car battery."

"I'm expecting another shipping in a few days, and I fear raiders and Fireflies may come and slaughter us unless we borrow some of your guns. Lend us your best weaponry to fight them off, then we'll return them to you with the car battery," Blueblood intends to double-cross them once he receives the guns. "Do we have a deal?"

Shining Armor groans, but what other choice does he have? F.E.D.R.A. soldiers are useless to bargain with, and no other factions within the Boston QZ want affiliation. Shining Armor sighs in defeat which gives Blueblood much-needed satisfaction.

"You will give us our weapons? Fully stocked with ammo and provisions?" Tempest reads Blueblood's body language.

"I swear in my name and honor that I will fulfill my end of the arrangement. In one week, you'll have everything you need for your journey," Blueblood extends his left hand, ready to solidify the deal with a handshake.

"Don't make me regret trusting you," Tempest shakes Blueblood's hand.

"Trust me. You and Shining will have an adventure unlike any other," Blueblood smiles. "In your graves, that is."

Present

Shining Armor stomps the deceased face of Blueblood in anger. He hates being lied to and cheated on.

Tempest grabs Shining's right shoulder. "Enough."

"What the fuck are we supposed to do?!" Shining Armor stops and kicks the wall across from Blueblood's corpse.

Tempest sighs. "I don't know."

Echoes of a person wincing catch Tempest and Shining's attention. They two draw their guns and slowly walk to the location. Sounds of grunts become louder as the two get closer to the culprit. Shining Armor leans on a wall with another hallway interceding the one they're in and looks to his left. He sees a woman hunch over, trying to help a comrade from the supposed attack with Blueblood or something.

Shining and Tempest slowly turn and walk cautiously when a door to a room opens. A young girl with a knife attempts to stab Shining Armor. Using the girl's momentum, Shining tosses and slams her into the wall, aiming his gun at her head. She looks up, glaring at Shining Armor.

The two women overhear the commotion of a young girl colliding into the wall and hear her grunt in pain.

"Shining?" She sees Shining Armor for the first time in months.

"Chrysalis?" Shining sees Chrysalis and what appears to be Ocellus.

Chrysalis is wearing a white racerback sports bra with a charcoal grey tank top on top, khaki tactical pants, and brown combat boots. She has a bullet wound on the left side of her ribs.

Tempest sees Chrysalis and Ocellus. She then notices the young girl Shining is aiming his pistol at. "Chrysalis."

"Tempest," Chrysalis has cold feelings about Tempest but pushes them aside. Chrysalis turns to the young girl. "Sunset, are you okay?"

"Yea," Sunset reaches for her knife, and Shining steps on it. "Asshole!"

"I can't believe Blueblood screwed us over with you, Fireflies," Tempest is pissed off that Blueblood attempted to sell her car battery to them despite it being dead.

"What do you need a car battery for?" Shining Armor sternly asks since Chrysalis is the woman that drove Twilight away from him. Sunset attempts to take her knife back. "DON'T!" Sunset puts her hands up.

"Not at her!" Chrysalis and Ocellus point their guns at Shining and Tempest. "Point it at me."

Shining Armor death glare Sunset into submission, then points his weapon at Chrysalis. Chrysalis and Ocellus lower the guns.

"To answer your question, I need it for a better use than your reason to go after Twilight. No offense, but Twilight is one woman."

"You're the fucking reason why you turned Twilight against me," Shining Armor is preparing to kill Chrysalis for ruining his last bit of family with a false promise.

"With the car battery, we were planning to move Sunset out of the zone tonight. Due to slight delay of my forces, I'm thinking, you're going take smugger her out of the zone."

"I ain't going with them!" Sunset protests. She refuses to leave Chrysalis behind.

"Tempest. We don't have time for this," Shining said. He wants nothing to do with Chrysalis' plans.

"You don't have any time? Fucking soldiers will arrive here at any moment due to Blueblood's fucking dead ass! I suggest you take Sunset."

"We don't smuggle people!" Shining Armor barks at Chrysalis.

"Listen!" Chrysalis shouts. "There's a team of Fireflies waiting for Sunset at the Capital Building. You get her there, we'll give you a truck full of provisions and guns for the trip."

"And if they're not there, we'll shoot Sunset," Tempest interjects herself into the bargaining chip.

"Deal!" Chrysalis quickly accepts the terms.

"Seriously?!" Sunset is upset with Chrysalis' quick decision-making.

"Tempest! May I remind you what's out there?" Shining Armor rudely remarks, indicating the swarm of infected near the Capital Building.

"Look, we were going with a squadron for that reason. Right now, F.E.D.R.A. is on their way, my numbers are thin, and all I have is you. Unlike Blueblood, I tend to keep my promises. So do as your told, and get Sunset to the Capital Building."

Shining Armor groans and lifts his foot, allowing Sunset to retrieve her knife. "If you have things, get them, kid."

"Fine!" Sunset scoffs and enters the room to retrieve her backpack.

"And, Shining. Don't fuck this up."

"Fuck off," Shining Armor responds to Chrysalis' statement.