The Equestrian Apocalypse

— Twilight —

Twilight caught her breath, slowing down once more from the long trot they had been on. Ever since she and Spike had met up with Rarity, they made an effort to keep pace. She looked back to see them struggling for air as well. They happily slowed down with her and walked by her side.

“It’s not too much farther,” Rarity said.

Thank Celestia.

They were headed to the school now. When they arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, they were met with just Granny Smith and Carrot Top. Granny had informed them that both Big Mac and Applejack ran for the schoolhouse to get the fillies. Twi had thanked her and made sure they were safe before leaving. Twi had faith they would be alright, as they locked themselves up in the barn, but she still had a bad feeling about leaving them there.

On the way, she thought about her brother. Before she ran out of magic this morning, she quickly sent him a letter, in fear of losing communication with him. However, she never got a return letter. She worried about him dearly, and her mind went into overdrive throughout their walk. She tried not to think about him, as she needed to focus on solving the problem here. This apocalypse was brewing quickly, offering her no time to think about other cities. It didn't help that he lived so far away.

She looked down the path as she caught her breath. There was a small hill ahead of them, and Rarity insisted the schoolhouse would be in view as they went over it. But as they continued, a pony’s head started emerging from the top of the hill. The purple outline of Cheerilee came into view as more heads appeared. Twilight’s group stopped as they watched Cheerilee, followed by fillies, rush over the hill. Behind them was Applejack. They all kept galloping over the hill, even after seeing them. Twilight noticed the glimmer of a knife reflecting off of AJ’s foreleg and an unusually short tail behind her. There was also blood on Cheerilee’s forelegs and front hooves.

“Good heavens, what are they running from?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know,” Twilight replied, “but get ready.”

The other group slowed to a stop in front of Twilight. AJ wiped the sweat off her forehead. “Oh, thank goodness,” she said, running up to Twilight and hugging her quickly.

“What’s going on?” Twi asked.

“Listen, we need to leave. Big Mac-“ AJ started. Twi listened as she paused, seemingly dealing with grief before continuing, “-Big Mac is about to come. He turned into one of them already.”

Crap. Twilight gritted her teeth angrily. Far too many ponies were turning already, and she felt overwhelmingly defenseless with no magic. She hoped the others were managing okay, but this disaster had escalated far too quickly. She felt lucky that she was still normal, as she had already experienced the close call at the castle.

“Look, we need to use your barn while we figure this thing out. Is that okay with you?” Twi asked.

“Uh- of course it is, sugarcube. But … what about the castle?”

“The castle is not safe.”

“Awe shucks,” AJ replied. She took a moment to observe her before continuing, “Well … now hang on, Twilight, what about your magic? Don’t ya' know some spells that could help us out here?”

“I do … but I can’t use them. I can’t access my magic, and I don’t know why.”

“Son of a bitch,” AJ remarked.

“Applejack!” Cheerilee exclaimed, glancing at the fillies.

“I beg your pardon, but this is some deep shit we are in,” AJ replied.

Cheerilee sighed. “I know.” She met eyes with Twilight. “You all should head to the barn,” she suggested, “but I need to visit Zecora.”

Twilight observed her, looking at the blood on her front hooves. “Why?”

“A potential cure. I think I remember seeing a book about it at her place last time I visited. I need to make sure.”

“I think I know the book you’re talking about,” Twilight said, “but are you sure Zecora would have it?”

While she knew a lot about books, Twilight was not too knowledgeable about the one she was thinking of. If she remembered it correctly, the book Cheerilee was referencing was partly science and partly experimentation. Obviously, there had never been an actual zombie apocalypse in Equestria's history, but there was enough fiction about it to drive the curiosity of many science ponies. Even if the book was there, would the magic research inside even work? It was debatable.

“Yes, if I remember correctly.”

“Okay then. I just remember that she focuses on natural remedies and the like. I wouldn’t expect it there.”

“It’s worth a shot. I know what I saw. I will return to the barn once I find out.”

Twilight thought of the situation. She was afraid of Cheerilee’s idea, and how dangerous the Everfree forest could potentially be at a time like this. She didn’t want anypony else to risk their lives unless it was absolutely worth it. She looked around at Rarity, Spike, and AJ.

“One of us can go with you. It’ll be safer that way.”

“No, Twilight. I don’t want to split us up any more than this. I will be fine. The Everfree forest may be one of the safer places anyway. Think about it.”

Twilight realized she had a point. Nopony really lived in the Everfree forest. While stray zombie ponies may enter the forest, it might be safer than someplace like downtown Ponyville. As she thought some more, a familiar green mist filled the air in front of her. Sparkles accompanied it until a shoebox, a baseball bat, a body-length stick of some kind, and a letter appeared and fell to the ground. The bat rolled in front of Spike, and the broom-like stick rolled between him and Rarity.

“Oh wow,” he said, “she didn’t even go through me?”

Twilight looked down at the box. “I’m surprised she still has magic. Maybe everything will be okay.”

A newfound excitement entered Twilight’s mind as she considered the possibility that Celestia retained her magic somehow. As Spike picked up the bat to observe it, she opened up the letter and started reading.

Twilight … sorry to disappoint you, but no, I am running out of magic as well. I need you and Devan to come to Canterlot immediately. It is safe here, so we can work out how to beat this thing. I know it sounds crazy, but please use the stuff I sent in the box. Defend yourself. There may not be an end to this without you.

• Celestia

With that, her excitement quickly faded away. Twilight set the letter down and hesitantly opened the shoebox before the others could question her. Inside it, there were saddlebags tucked beside a weirdly shaped black and yellow object tucked inside a holster. She pulled out the saddlebags and opened them. Inside of them was: a sharp, combat-style knife inside a holster meant to wrap around a pony’s foreleg, a flashlight, some medical supplies, and a hatchet. She quietly observed the stuff for a minute before returning to the box.

She recognized the shape of the object inside when she picked up the holster and pulled it out. It was gun-shaped, if she remembered right, but it did not look like one. The only reason she knew about guns was through hushed conversations with Devan. They were the primary invention that Celestia so hardly fought to keep secretive, but now she was just giving her one? When she realized this, she set it inside of the holster and dropped it back in the box. There was no way Princess Celestia really thought they should go to these extremes.

“What is this, sugarcube?” AJ asked, picking up the gun holster.

“Don’t!” Twilight exclaimed, reaching forward and accidentally grabbing the weird gun out of its holster instead of the holster itself. AJ held the holster in her hoof and looked at the gun in hers. She raised her head in suspicion before nodding slowly.

“Oh … is that one of them guns ya' mentioned?”

"SHHHHHHH!" Twilight exclaimed, looking over at Cheerilee.

Okay, maybe she wasn't the best at keeping secrets. It was still Devan's fault. She thought for a moment, realizing she might not need to keep it a secret anymore, seeing as Celestia was just hoofing them out now. She wondered if Devan had received a box like this too, and if she gave him a gun.

But, this wasn't a gun! What was it? After observing it a bit more, a lightbulb lit up in her head. Twilight suddenly remembered a conversation with Devan that described this gun. It was a taser! ... if she remembered the name correctly. She explained this to the others to the best of her ability before letting Spike hold it. He observed it and the way it fit in his claws.

"So, I just pull the trigger and ...?"

Spike, demonstrating no trigger discipline, accidentally pointed it at AJ and fired. Two thin lines shot out of it, and she vaguely saw two black dots land on AJ's shoulders. A buzzing sound immediately started radiating the air. Right after the dots connected with her, she seized uncontrollably. Twilight watched as her friend dropped the holster and fell over, spazzing for a second longer as Spike held down the trigger.

“Stop!” AJ yelled when it was over. She swiped at the dots, throwing them off of her as she stood up again. “You little twerp!”

She lunged for Spike, but stopped as he raised his claws in front of his face. “I’m sorry!”

Applejack sighed her anger away and looked back at Twilight. “So, she does want us to fight?”

“Well …” Twi spoke, “only if we have to. I really hope we don’t.”

AJ exchanged a glance with her. “Sugarcube, I hope we don’t too, but let’s be honest. We will have to.”

Twilight looked at the blood on Cheerilee's hooves and realized she was right. She had never been the violent type, but she was slowly understanding the need to be now. She took a moment to observe the rest of the stuff Celestia had sent. She pulled the hatchet out of the saddlebags, noticing there was a three-holed harness-like holster for it as well, buried underneath the rest of the supplies. After deciding this would be her weapon of choice, she took the holster and set it on the ground. AJ helped her slip it over her rear-end, tightening the two loops around the top of her hind legs as well as the main loop around her hip. The hatchet sat comfortably in the holster on her right side, and it was easy to access.

"Thank you," she told AJ.

"You're welcome."

She talked about the rest of the supplies with the others, and eventually, they all decided on who got what. Spike ended up with the taser, as his claws were the most efficient at pulling the trigger. He demonstrated that pretty well. He also got the baseball bat, as it was of the right size for him to hold comfortably over his shoulder. Rarity got the stick, which also had a strange method for carrying it. They helped her put on the two straps, one for her hip, and one for her chest. On the side of the straps was a flexible, connected fabric tube that could hold part of the stick on her side. Rarity also got the saddlebags, which she draped over the top of the stick holder. Finally, Twilight took the knife after Cheerilee refused to take it.

AJ looked over at Twilight after they were all settled. "So, did the letter say anythin' else? Or just to protect ourselves?"

"It did. New plan ... Canterlot. She wants us there as soon as possible, so that we can figure this thing out. She says it's safe there, so that's where we'll go."

Twilight observed their expressions, realizing not everyone seemed on board.

“Twilight,” Cheerilee said, setting a hoof on her shoulder, “I’m going to see Zecora. I’m sorry. Good luck out there.”

Before Twilight could respond, Cheerilee went up to the fillies and rubbed Applebloom’s head. The mare met eyes with AJ once more and nodded as she left for Zecora.

“Wait!” Twilight shouted. She ran up to her and detached the knife holster around her foreleg. She picked it up with her hoof and held it out in front of Cheerilee. “Take it. Just in case.”

“No, Twilight. You all ne-“

“NO. Take it, please. You might need it.” Twilight shoved the holster against her chest.

Cheerilee reluctantly took it and set it around her foreleg. “Thank you ...”

As Cheerilee set off, she was met with AJ’s gaze. “Twilight ...” she started, “... I’m sorry, but I need to get these fillies to safety. I can take them to my barn.”

“But Celestia said Canterlot-“

“No. Twilight,” AJ interrupted, “We don’t even know if the train is running, and it is a long journey without it. I know the barn will be safe. Please trust me.”

Twilight thought hard about her decision. As she did, a groaning came from over the hill. They looked over to see Big Mac slowly trotting above the ridge. They were out of time to think.

“We’ll be fine, Twilight. I promise.”

"Okay, okay ..." Twilight responded, rushing forwards and wrapping her hooves around her. AJ returned her hug forcefully.

“Thank ya', sugarcube. Be safe!” she said.

She watched nervously as AJ took off with the fillies and made sure Rarity and Spike were ready to go. They looked back at her and nodded. With one last glance at Big Mac behind them, she took a deep breath.

“Okay … Let’s go.”