Ancient Infection

Rarity and Cadence were walking around the castle, getting to know one another. They’ve never really had spent anymore time together, not since the Games. Now they had plenty of time to talk. It felt like a normal day in the castle. The two mares had made their way over to where the Apple family’s room is. Rarity knocked lightly on the door, it was Big Mac who answered, looking a little haggard.

“Big Mac, is Apple Bloom doing any better?” Rarity asked, as she stepped in after he had stepped aside.

The red stallion nodded his head and pointed to where the filly was, laying in bed, playing cards with Granny. She wasn’t going to win anytime soon, but she looks better. Applejack was in the corner looking relaxed for once. There was a sense of peace and calm in the air, that was, however, till a scream ripped the peace to shreds. Applejack turned to her family, telling them to stay there as she, Rarity, and Cadence galloped to where the scream was coming from.
The Cake’s room was barely open, when the group arrived. Running in, they found Pinkie atop the dresser as they all watched in horror of the matriarch of the family was eating her husband with one of her foals, where was the other?
Pain shot through Cadence’s hind leg, as she kicked away whatever cause it. It was Pumpkin Cake! She was one of them, as her limps were long and pointed, teeth were sharp like tiny needles, eyes black as coal, as tears of red ran down her tiny cheeks. Her twin brother looked almost exactly like her, save for his missing wing. Their mother was more round, and limbs were elongated with jagged ends instead of hooves. Her mouth was long, dropping all the way down to the floor.
Cadence watched as her veins start to turn black, she could feel her body slowly shifting as the time slowly began to run out. She quickly telekinetically moved the mane six out of the room, before locking it.

“No! Cadence! No!” Twilight shouted, trying to get back in, pounding on the door.

She tried to teleport in, but felt the powerful shield that prevented her from doing so. That was when Shining Armor charged onto the scene, looking at every pony, confused on where his wife was. Applejack pulled her hat off solemnly.

“She…got bit, and barricaded herself inside. She did it to protect the rest of us.” Applejack broke the news to him, his face fell as tears swelled in his eyes.

Twilight only sat at the door, her wings were drooping, as Shining sat next to his little sister. Her hooves found themselves wrapping around him as she cried into his shoulder. Every pony sat in silence. Mourning another loss of one of the four princesses.
After a few moments, Shining stood up, Twilight watched as he placed a magical shield over the doors, so they not break down if the infected tried. Twilight added a magical health bubble over the layer of shield, since she had learned of this spell when she hand last hung out with her sister-in-law, and their adventure with Discord.
The memory stung her eyes with tears, as both she and her brother quietly made their way back to the throne room. The rest of the girls followed, as Pinkie walked in both shock and horror. It was when each of the remaining mane six sat in their respected thrones the questioning started.

“How did this happen? Did you know they were infected, Pinkie?” Twilight asked, her voice was showing that the purple alicorn was still in shock and sorrow.

Pinkie simply shook her head, as tears started to finally run down her cheeks, dampening them.

“They’ll be alright, right Twilight? Right? You’ll figure this out and fix them! It’s going to be okay. You’re smart, you can figure this out…right?” Pinkie stated, more to herself than to her friend.

Twilight hesitated “I…I don’t know, Pinkie, this problem is new to me, and isn’t in any of the books I have in my library. But I promise, I’ll do everything I can to turn every pony back to normal.”

“Can you promise that, Twily?” Shining asked, his two blue toned mane covered his downcast eyes.

“I…I’ll do my best. I have no guarantees right away, but I should be able to study it the best I can. I promise that Shining. For now.” Twilight declared as her wings spread out before them.

Rarity looked between her friends, feeling the heavy air around her, she sat up tall and proud.

“Let’s not what had happened bring our mood down. Yes, we have lost loved ones, yes the outside world has gone to complete Tartarus. We might not have all of the elements of harmony, but by Celestia we are still its bearers! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going to keep my mood up. Twilight, if there’s anything I can do to help you make a cure, please do let me know. I am more than willing to help.” With that, Rarity trotted off, leaving every pony in the room speechless.

“Rarity is right, we shouldn’t let this slow us down. I will be down in my lab if any pony needs me. I will solve this.” Twilight stood up, hopped from her throne, and marched herself to her lab that was under the castle.

While Applejack and Rainbow Dash headed off to go up stairs to the room for some fresh air, leaving Pinkie and Shining Armor alone. In silence.

“…did you know?” Shining asked quietly, clearly anger seething under his breath.

Pinkie sniffled, whimpering out a soft “…no…”

“…I’m sorry…”

“…I’m sorry too…Cadence was a good mare…a good princess too…”

“The cakes are amazing too…before this…we sent out a letter asking them to bake a specific cake…”

“What kind of cake?”

Silence filled the room, neither equestrian spoke for a moment. That was until Shining Armor revealed a secret that only broke the pink pony’s heart, as well as her mind, only just a little bit more.