Ancient Infection

As they came into the station as they gotten home, Princess Luna had landed in her carriage. Surprising everyone in ponyville. As she stepped out, she headed straight to Fluttershy, wrapping one large delicate wing around her.

“Dear Fluttershy, how are you?” Luna asked softly.

“I am well, Princess, thank you for asking.” Fluttershy answered in a rather tired voice.

“I’m sure you all are wondering why I’m here.” Princess Luna stated as she addressed the others.

“Yes we are, Princess Luna.” Twilight agreed as her friends nodded.

“My sister felt guilty for not being able to protect Fluttershy in time, so I simply told her that I shall be here to watch over the dear pegasus, in her recovery journey.” Princess Luna explained, looking at everyone in turn.

“Oh I appreciate that you came all this way from Canterlot, Princess, but I’m sure I’ll be fine. I even have my animal friends to help me out.” Fluttershy managed to get out, bags were evident under her eyes.

“I assure you, it’s quite alright, it will put my sister’s mind at ease if you allow me to do this for you. I must admit, even I feel guilty about what happened.” Luna confessed, dropping her royal voice for that moment.

Fluttershy let out a soft sigh that turned into a yawn, and nodded, she was starting to fall asleep again. Luna gently guided the tired mare to her cottage.

“I shall look after her, do not worry all, she’s in safe hooves.” Luna called over her shoulder, as the pair left.

Twilight had waved goodbye, as her friends watched quietly.

“Even Princess Celestia is worried about her.” Applejack stated softy.

“I’m sure everything will be fine…” Twilight answered warily.

“Well in any case we should remain strong for our friend. She’s injured still, and is recovering. We shall throw a party for when she’s better. Erm…well how about a tea party, as to not overwhelm the poor dear.” Rarity proclaimed.

“A tea party?? Wow! I can throw one of those! I can put together some streamers, and balloons, and cotton candy-“ Pinkie started to list off party supplies.

“We can have it in my castle, but I don’t think tea parties are like regular parties, Pinkie.” Twilight stopped Pinkie from continuing, causing the pink party pony to groan in sadness.

“Ooh okay…fine. Boring Grand Galloping Gala style party then…” Pinkie pouted.

“But you and Applejack can make the food!” Twilight tried to cheer her up, looking to Applejack, silently asking for her permission to help with the party’s food.

Applejack smiled and nodded, causing Pinkie to smile largely, cheering in excitement.

“This tea party is going to be super duper positively fun! And it’s going to take careful planning! Just leave it to me Twilight!” Pinkie shouted with a lot of enthusiasm to shake the ground slightly.

“Okay, Pinkie, but we should give her at least a week to recover fully. If she needs more time, then she will get more time. Okay?” Purple alicorn stated, making sure her friend knows how serious this is, how serious Fluttershy’s recovery should be.

Pinkie saluted, then bolted off, Applejack started to head to her family’s farm without another word to the rest of the group.

“Well, I guess I shall get to work on some fabulous gowns for us, oh! I know the perfect theme too!! Flowers in the Garden! Oh you all shall look so gorgeous!” Rarity started to gallop off, becoming excited to start her designs.

Before any pony could say anything else, Rainbow Dash left in silence. Spike and Twilight looked at each other, before heading to their home together. Spike hopped onto Twilight’s back, he was worried about Fluttershy, but refuses to voice it to stress his big sister figure out more.
As they waited for a week, they hadn’t heard a single word from Fluttershy, or Princess Luna. They were starting to get worried, so Twilight sent a letter to her other friends, to meet outside of Fluttershy’s cottage. She started to trot over to said cottage without Spike incase there might be something seriously wrong to have him witness it. As soon as every pony was near Fluttershy’s cottage, Twilight looked at each of them. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie had slight baggage under their eyes, Applejack looked fine, and Rarity looked normal.

“Alright every pony, we haven’t heard a word from either of the Princess or Fluttershy, we should check on them.” Twilight stated, turning to face the cottage.

A shiver ran down each mare’s spine as they looked at the cottage. It looked desolated, abandoned, and oh so eerily quiet. There were no birds chirping, as each of the pony’s clops were louder than normal. Twilight gently knocked on the door as they got to the door. No pony answered, but there was an awful smell coming from behind the door.
Twilight gently opened the door, the smell hit them straight in the faces. These were the smell of rotting corpses. As they all gasped, seeing a lot of half eaten corpses of animals. Even Henry the bear was laying there, dead, with two figures at his stomach eating. They were severely disfigured, but still had a pony like shape.
Twilight ignited her horn, pouring light to see what these figures were. The smaller one, was a pale grotesque yellow, feathers gone from what were once her wings. Her skin pull taught over her boney legs. Her snout was longer than normal, as she looked over at the group. Black blood poured from her mouth as her eyes were completely black as tears of red blood stained her cheeks. The taller one had an elongated horn, her wings were featherless as well. She did look similar to the smaller creature, but her chest had multiple bites taken out of it, and her horn was cracked and chipped. They roared at the group as Twilight screamed, slamming the door shut and barricading it with whatever she could find. Twilight turned to her friends as the bolted from the cottage. Leaving behind the sounds of something trying to get out.

“What in Equestria was that?!” Rarity shrieked.

“I-I don’t know! But what I do know is that we are in a lot of danger. Everypony grab your families, and what you need, then come to my castle. We’ll lock ourselves in, and I will message Princess Celestia for help. Got it girls?” Twilight stated, fear was evident in her voice.

Each of the mares nodded before splitting off to get their loved ones and their essentials. Twilight headed to the mayor, telling her to have every pony to stay inside and not come out until Princess Celestia had solved this problem. The mayor nodded and got to work, making the announcement, knowing the seriousness if Twilight looked as urgent as she did.
Twilight galloped back to her castle, making preparations, while having Spike write a letter to Celestia. Twilight made note of her food supplies, and decided to turn her balcony into a vegetable garden, as a knock came from her front doors. She quickly answered, thinking it’s her friends, but was surprised to see her brother and her sister in law. She immediately ushered them in along with her friends, as she saw what was once Fluttershy, jerkily making her way down through the town.
Once every pony was in, she quietly watched from a nearby window as her friends explain to the royal married couple the situation, along with their family members. Twilight watched as Fluttershy pounced on Berry Punch, ripping into her barrel, eating her inners as Berry Punch screamed in pain. Twilight grew more worried as she couldn’t find Luna, then there she was, watching another pony, transforming into one of them. Twilight shut and bored the windows, ordering Spike to do the same. Big Mac and Shining Armor volunteered to help, as they got to work. Twilight started to show the rest of the families around. When she noticed that Apple Bloom had a fever going. Twilight approached Applejack.

“Is she alright?” Twilight asked softly.

“She’s fine. She just has a fever. She won’t be any trouble, Twi, I promise.” Applejack stated, making sure to sound like this was a done deal.

Twilight nodded, watching Applejack move to where her little sister was. Helping her to get into her new bed. Little did every pony know, Apple Bloom had received a bite from a squirrel the day before. This was only the beginning…

…of the end.