Ancient Infection

Tears streamed down Twilight's face, as she ran with Spike on her back, her brother at her side, and a sobbing Rarity. They couldn't stop, they couldn't. They kept galloping and galloping. Shining Armor made sure that he was behind the smaller and smaller group, making sure everypony was there with them. Rarity was now gasping for breath, slowing down as her heart was pounding, her legs begging for a break. She kept going as the image of her sister burning to death stayed in her mind.

"Keep going, Rarity!" Shining ordered gruffly.

"I can't! I need a break!" She cried out, slowing down more, eventually limping.

Twilight slowed down with them, as they came down to a slow. Walking before sitting down. Twilight had started to cry, as she couldn't figure out what to do. Her brother hugged her, though it wasn't as warm and comforting as it used to be. She still took what she could in the comfort. Then she saw how dark it was getting.

"We should rest for the night." She muttered.

“No we should keep going, we have to get there.” Shining Armor growled, looking around to find away to help them travel faster “There! It’s a train, we can take it to Canterlot!”

Twilight and Rarity looked between themselves, Twilight was hesitant, but Rarity nodded. She was confident, in both the alicorn and the former captain of the royal guard. The siblings nodded to each other, the quietly made their way over to the train. They scouted around to see if they were going to have to avoid any of the infected ponies.

Though there were none to be found, Twilight and Shining Armor casted a shield spell together. Upon closer inspection, the train was in need of some minor repairs, nothing Twilight couldn’t handle thanks to her books. As Rarity and Spike settled down inside the train engine, Shining Armor and Twilight worked. Twilight telling Shining how to fix certain things, while Spike and Rarity are resting on the engine.

“What’s going to happen to us?” Spike asked softly as he watched Shining Armor worked, not looking at anyone.

“I don’t know darling, it’s hard to say. But I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise…” Rarity tried to comfort the baby dragon.

“Spike?” Twilight called.

“Coming Twilight.” Spike stated before heading over, he hesitated for a brief moment, looking at Rarity.

Twilight watched as he approached, before pointing to a part of the train, asking “Can you use your fire to heat up the metal so we can fix this?”

“I-I dunno Twilight…” He whimpered, he was feeling anxious.

The alicorn gently placed a hoof on his shoulder, with a kind smile, trying to encourage him. “You can do this, Spike, I know you can. You’re the only one who can.”

The baby dragon nodded, taking a few steps forward, inhaling, and blew fire onto the metal, heating it up high enough for the metal to turn white. Twilight used her magic to close the hole.

“That’s great Spike! You did it!” Twilight praised happily, hugging him tightly.

He coughed as he halts his fire, as he quietly watches Twilight work.

“Um…Twilight?” He spoke nervously.

“Yes Spike?” She answered.

“N-no matter what happens…y-you’ll be able to protect me, right?” He whimpered out, showing how much he truly is scared.

“Oh Spike.” Twilight turned and hugged him, holding him close “I’m sorry, so much has been going on, I forgot you were just a baby dragon. I will always protect you. You’re basically more like my little brother, I can’t lose you too. I promise, no matter what happens, I’ll put your safety first.”

Spike nodded, knowing that her vow was something she was determined to keep her promise. It did sooth his anxiety a little bit, but he couldn’t help but wonder what was to come.

“What do you think is going to happen when we get to Canterlot?” He asked out loud.

“I don’t know, Spike, hopefully it all ends well and we find a cure.” She answered, her work halting when she finished with a relieved sigh.

“Do you think Princess Celestia can help us find a cure?” Spike asked.

“I hope so…” The purple alicorn’s voice trailed off, as she looked to the sight of Canterlot, she could barely see it as she continues “We know that she’s alright since the sun and moon cycle is still going.”

The sun started to set when they were finished fixing the train. Shining Armor was magically spent, he laid on the ground. He was still on guard. Twilight added more energy to the shield spell to keep it going, as Spike started a small fire. They were all quiet.

Rarity quietly brought out her emergency sewing kit and had a cloth with her. She started to sew. Shining Armor rolled his eyes at this.

“What?” Rarity asked quietly, not knowing why the alabaster unicorn’s behavior was so bad, though she does have a clue.

“Nothing.” He growled.

“Shining-“ Twilight started, but was interrupted.

“Why didn’t anyone helped Cadence?” He asked.

The two mares were silent.

“You get bit, and your leg was amputated before the infection spread. But when my wife was bitten, no one did anything!” He snapped at them, his hoof slamming on the ground.

Rarity winced, her metallic hoof twitched.

“You couldn’t because of your leg.” He snapped then turned to Twilight “so why didn’t you save her?”

“She shoved us out before we could do anything. The Cales swarmed her after the bite, she shove us out. She even started to turn, I tried to teleport back in to grab her…but…” Twilight explained.

“But she didn’t let you back in…” Shining Armor finished.

His sister nodded with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“We lost so many ponies. Even Luna…” Twilight closed her eyes, finally letting herself cry and mourn.

“Wait, what?” Shining spoke in shock.

“She was taking care of Fluttershy, but went missing for a week, we went to see what was wrong and they were both like those things.” Rarity explained this time.

Things were quiet for a single moment before the bushes began to move. Rustling loudly as something emerged, something orange.