Hope is the last thing that must die.

Chapters

Before the Storm
The storm sets in
After the storm

Before the Storm

I take a deep breath, and I sigh breathlessly. I peeked up, the starry sky greeted me and a refreshing cold breeze hit me.

My vision slowly lowered down to the buildings around me, and the streets below. I was sitting on the parapet of this building, the safests around, or that's what Captain Oak Shield said.

I looked to the side and saw a box of cigarettes, The end is nigh, might as well see why everypony likes them so much. I grabbed one of them but stopped when I heard a bang.

A commotion started in the building ahead of me, I heard shouts and curses for a couple of moments, my heart speeding each second while my eyes stared at the windows. It took me a moment to realize the danger, so I ducked back and hid behind the parapet.

Bang, the front double door of the hotel slammed, and flashes of light lit the windows below.

Bang… Bang… Bang…

I grabbed my shield and spear using my magic at the same time the door opened, a body went flying and fell limp near a light pole; and eerie silence filled the air until the screams started.

At first it was low, as a wimp or a shy cry, but every moment it increased in intensity and volume, I pressed my shield near my chest, as if it would protect me more.

A foal bolted from the building, the little thing lost its balance when it saw the body on the floor, the poor thing screamed in terror, falling right over the body. Its pearl fur tainted with black and red stains, the thought of what that poor thing saw until now filled me with dread and shame.

I’m a royal guard, I should be doing something to stop this madness, I should levitate down there and help him, comfort him, yet here I’m, hiding high in this place, witnessing the horror of this… condition that plagued Equestria.

The foal got up, and peaked back at the building for a couple of seconds. I wanted to say anything, he was a pegasus so maybe he could fly up here?

But before I could formulate a course of action he dashed away, running vigorously, his little wings flapping.

Another figure dashed out, and I felt my hoofs trembling and my stomach revolting with the vision.

There was a mare, and she was covered in flames, bubbles of flesh popping by the seconds.

“DARLING! RUN! RUN!” She shouted, her voice shrill and laden with agony.

The smell hit me in no time and it took a monumental amount of effort to not vomit.

She rushed behind it, screaming all kinds of curses, she was begging for help, mercy, clemency. Then the screams started again, her cracked voice shaking my very core. I need to help her.

I got up, ready to do something certainly foolish. She was as good as dead, part of her wing was literally held by a tiny piece of flesh, but maybe I can save her child.

Then two more figures emerged from the building. Both unicorns.

One was a blue sky, and the other one green. I gulped, and skipped a heartbeat when I saw their eyes, their sclera completely coal-black, their iris and pupil a vibrant red, and black cracks snaking around their eyes and mouth.

“Infecteds” I whispered in terror, immediately ducking down and hiding again.

They walked in an animalist way for a few meters before staring at the mare, then they started teleporting after her, in less than a second they swarmed her, caring little for her self immolation condition, she squeak one last screak before silence filled the air, just the sound of flesh eating flesh remained.

“NO!” The foal screamed, half hidden in the corner of a building, I cursed the gods for what was about to happen. Both infected eyed the foal and chased after it, their bodies now in flames too.

It took half a moment for the poor thing to realize its mistake and start to run, screaming. I just sighed in defeat when they started teleporting after him.

His screams stopped shortly after it. I felt tears running down my cheeks while I laid against the parapet. “I should have… I could have done something…”

------

The night went on, screams and explosions and an occasional building collapsing were the only sounds breaking the dead silence that consumed this city.

The trapdoor near me opened, and a head peek out, then it hides and peek out. I could not help but giggle at the scene.

“I saw you Blaze, stop fooling around.”

“What? Me? I would never!”

One gray unicorn wearing royal guard armor emerged and I felt a cold grasp on my chest, he was covered in blood!

“B-Blaze are you okay?! What happened!”

“I’m fine, Hope, this but a scratch! I’m invincible y’know.” He replied but I cared little for his games, I moved him around, looking for any serious wound.

After finishing a quick check up, I shrugged in relief.

“Are we leaving?” I asked while levitating my equipment towards me.

“It looks so, the captain wants everypony back to the mall, we are evacuating this city.” He turned to the side and spat. “Or abandoning the ponies here if you will.”

“We ain’t abandoning them Blaze, I mean, we tried didn’t we?” He leaned back and breathed out heavily.

“We failed.”

“Bu-”

“We failed, Hope, we received orders to protect this city! Take a look around, our entire regiment died!”

“W-what do you mean, Flower and Spin survived…” I glanced around, oh no… “B-Blaze, what happened? Where are they?”

“I saw a family… they were scared, confused… you name it. I wanted to do the right thing and…”

“Blaze?”

“We got ambushed by infected pegasus, that's all.” He gazes to the horizon, bit his lower lips in a futile attempt to contain his tears.

“I’m so sorry for-”

“It’s okay, I'm fine, just… what the heck is going on, Hope?”

I gazed back to the streets, the faint smell of burned meat still in the air.

“I have no idea.”

“Were you there?” I broke the silence while we walked by the ghostly alleys.

“Hm?”

“In Canterlot, when everything started. Heard it got the worst.”

“Canterlot won't fall, that's for sure.” I scoffed at his optimism.

“How can you be so sure? This city is tiny compared to Canterlot, yet look at the chaos around us!”

“Want me to prove to you? Look there.” He pointed at the sunrises.

“I don't get it? Am I supposed to get blind until your jokes start making sense or what?”

“No, you silly, the sun is rising! Celestia lives! And as long as that is true, Canterlot won't fall, you’ll see, the captain will tell us to march there and everything will be ok.”

I can't argue with his logic, wait, Blaze makes sense? I snorted, gods help us, this is truly the end of days.

We continued our walk quietly, if one ignored the occasional body and destruction around us, and the fact that every single little noise put us both on edge, one could say it went smoothly. Except for one single detail.

“Why are you walking like that?”

“Like what? A warrior?” He tried to make a pose, but grunted after putting too much weight on one hoof.

“Okay that's it, let me see your hoof.”

“Ohh, is miss medic feeling commanding now?” He mocked me with a grin.

“I’m no medic, now shut it and give me your hoof.” He rolled his eyes and continued to look around.

“We both know you aren’t a medic on paper, I mean, wouldn’t your graduation ceremony be in a week or soo?” I ignored his attempts to annoy me, his hoof had a bandage, firstly I cursed myself for not noticing this early, this bandage was so dirty it got camouflaged, well, let me ju-

“HOLY SHIT!”

“H-Hope, watch the volume!”

His hoof had a laceration, the wound looked…

“What happened?”

He stared at me blankly, pulled his hoof away and started reusing the same bandage.

“I’m fine, it’s just that one of them got me good, just that.”

“How did it happen?”

“Tried to save Flower… as you can see, I didn’t make it.” He shook his hoof in the air, I immediately grabbed it and started disinfecting the wound and changing the bandage.

“H-hey, what are you doing? There are lots of ponies hurted in the mall! They need those supplies!” I grinded my teeth and slapped his shoulder

“My friend needs them now.'' The wound is deep, but he won't lose a hoof, maybe in a week he will be as good as new. I peeked at him and saw him blushing, while looking around, I felt a bit of heat in my cheeks, but after a quick shake I focused on the task at hoof.

“There, as good as new!” His mouth made an O while moving his hoof around.

“Oh! Chic! You didn’t cast a healing spell right?”

“No, your hoof isn't in danger, and I’d prefer to spare myself, if the mall is filled with so many hurted ponies as you say I’ll need all the energy I have.”

“Oh I get it, I aint that important.” I widened my eyes and glared at him.

“How could you say such a thing! You’re my best friend!”

“I’m joking.” He defended himself, “Just joking around, you know me.”

“How can you say such things? If something happened to you I-”

“I know.” He sighed, then smiled “You would kill me.” I slapped his shoulder again and he laughed in defense.

“How can you be so reckless in times like these? I mean, jokes? Now!?”

“Sorry, it’s just… I have been through a lot, it helps lighten the mood.”

My fury ceased when I saw his genuine smile, a smile that hides a lot of pain. It’s his shield during these trying times I guess. I smiled back at him, okay I can play this game too.

“Well, you’re right, if you die, I’ll kill you.” I bumped him. “Capitche?

He blinked before laughing.

“Yes ma’am!”

We continued our walk, the mall already in sight. I was surprised we haven’t seen one infected, but hey, I ain't gonna complain.

“Wait, Hope.”

I turned, just to see him a bit behind me, having considerable difficulty walking. Did he pretend to not be that bad this whole time?

“What? We are almost there!” I pointed at the mall.

“Hope, wait.” He sat down, wiping sweat from his forehead and I approached.

“Are you okay?” I looked at his hurted hoof. “I-I can cast a spell if you-”

“No, it's just…” He raised his hoof and stared at it. It felt wrong seeing him not have a smile or cracking two jokes every two phrases.

“Do you know… what zombies are?” I blinked absolutely incredulous with what he has just said

“Do I-Are you nuts? Those stories, you mean?” It took me half a second to put one and two together.

“Don't pretend you didn’t think of it, we don't know what's going on, and ponies are eating each other! I mean, I could be putting everypony in danger!”

I grabbed him by his shoulder and pressed my forehead against his, and stared him dead in the eyes.

“Blaze Heart, this ain’t a zombie apocalypse, and you're not going to turn into that, we don't know how this works, but those things die, they die like any of us and dead ponies don't come back.”

He looked at me, his smile slowly getting back.

“Thank you, I needed that, I guess.” He chuckled, and like that we went inside the mall.

“Be prepared.” Blaze warned me, but before I could say anything he pushed the doors, revealing a hall filled with ponies, from all ages and genders, but the worst were the wounded, I could see exposed fractures and burn wounds.

A commotion erupted and a guard wearing royal armor with purple details jumped between us and the civilians immediately, his sword ready.

“Soldier Blaze Heart reporting for duty.”

“Soldier Hope Eyes reporting for duty, captain.” I heard an ouch from Blaze.

“It was about time.” His voice was old and commanding, carrying wisdom of one hundred battles, or that's what Blaze would say, I’d guess he ran out of his throat pills.

“We are leaving? Canterlot requested us?” Blaze approached him, I looked at the wounded and trotted at them, some nurses already overloaded and surely needed a hoof.

“Wait Soldier Hope, we need to chat here.”

We settled near the door, I gave a quick peek around it, the windows were boarded, some of the doors blocked.

The captain sat down, took his smoking pipe, oh right.

“Here.” I said while handing him the pack of cigarettes I had found, a smile formed while the undoned and dropped the cigarettes contents inside the pipe.

“Do you mind?” He moved his pipe and Blaze nodded, igniting it.

“So? Any news from Canterlot?” Blaze said, puffing his chest and eyeing me, I just rolled my eyes.

Captain Oak took a good puff of his pipe and expired a trail of smoke, looked around and leaned towards us.

“Canterlot fell.”

Blaze bursted into coughs, almost immediately.

“S-Sir? You can't be serious!”

His tired eyes looked at an invisible point at the floor, he took another puff of his pipe and took a blue crystal from his bag.

“The city fell, as far as I know, the first and second regiments got obliterated, the third is still holding the castle, but there is a whole city storming those doors.”

“W-who told you that?”

“Princess Twilight herself.” He shook the crystal. “We received orders to evacuate everypony we can to the Crystal Empire or Manehattan. Apparently they managed to secure the city and now are sending refugees to the griffin lands and we can't wait much, here, so we are moving now.”

“W-wait sir, there are many wounded ponies, we can't just move!”

“We don't have time, soldier, Princess Twilight informed me that Cloudsdale is on the move.”

“W-wait. You mean-”

“Yes, they’re gonna use it to clean the infected cities.” It took me half a second to understand Blaze's reaction. “The city also resisted the infection, and now they are putting all their energy into unleashing an endless storm below it. The Tartarus is on Equestria, soldiers, for the first time the world will see the fury of that city.”

“T-that's madness, there are still ponies in those cities!”

“I agreed.”

“What?!”

He took a long puff of his smoking pipe.

“All the captains, the ones alive that is, agreed with Princess Twilight's decision, we can't afford to lose this war.”

When he left, making his way towards the crowd of ponies I looked at Blaze with concern, his breath getting funny.

“This can't be right, Canterlot can't have fallen.”

“Blaze, I know yo-”

“M-my pa-parents, they are in-I have to- fuck, I need to do something!”

“Blaze,” I grabbed his hoof, my eyes resting over his wounded hoof, “You already did a lot, everything you could.”

“Bu-but.”

“Shh, it’s okay, I know what you’re feeling, I know.” I hugged him. “The best thing we can do is keep having hope for them.”

His face was a mess, his eyes wet and breath uneasy, he just nodded and hugged me back.

------

And so we started our journey, half the ponies could not make the journey, their wounds were too severe to even get up, imagine starting this odyssey.

When we left the city, we saw Cloudsdale closing by, the city was glorious, rainbows connecting all the four main segments, and the sound was magnanimous, and endless cascade of thunders rained below the city we were in, some ponies even cheered when they saw it, at least until one thunder hitted a building that very likely is the mall we rested in, it’s hard to tell from this distance, but the similarity was undeniable.

A scream filled the air when a mare pointed at the city, and we all saw in dread when thousands of pegasus started to fly towards the city, many which got blasted by thunder.

“What's going on?” One pony shouted.

“Infecteds.” Captain Oak said, “They’re trying to take over Cloudsdale”

“B-but there are Thousands!”

“More, much more.” One hooded pony said and at the same time magic explosions filled the sky, most missed, but some hit the targets, turning them into a cloud of red mist and crimson rain.

“Where did they all hide? We haven't seen that many!”

“Count yourself lucky miss.” Blaze said, his eyes never dodging the carnage we were witnessing.

I gulped, memories of when our fort got attacked by the infecteds coming back, we were a whole regiment, the tenth, more than two thousands of my comrades died that night, I felt a cold wave snaking down my spine. They were… countless, for each one of them we struck down, two more took their place… how many of them I killed? My tears disguised amidst their blood while I kept fighting… I gazed at my spear, it’s not mine, it broke during the fight, it’s not even the first or the second I took from fallen comrades to keep on fighting. I’m just glad it all ended.

We marched for a whole day. We settled down near the road when the moon rose, the civilians resting in the center and me, Blaze and Captain Oak in a triangle around them.

Time went on and on. I barely had any sleep since it all started, but I need to keep on, I raise my head and see Blaze in the distance.

I yaw, shit, I need to move. I got up and trotted towards Blaze, it’s not like my side is going to be attacked now right?.

When I approached Blaze, he was facing the darkness, humpf, always a duty boy. But hey, is his head tilting? Oh my little Blaze is sleepy.

I sneak towards him, making sure to soundproof my hoofsteps with magic.

“Boo.” I whisper, and he immediately falls on the ground, shaking in all directions as if he was about to be jumped.

He raised his head towards me and shouted something disjointed at me.

“Ha ah! I got you good Blaze!”

He stayed on the floor.

“Blaze? C’mon it’s not like you have never done that.”

He remained down.

“Blaze?” I approached him, his chest breathing in an arrhythmic pattern, oh shit!

I immediately knelt down by him and put a hoof over his head, just to recoil it back immediately.

“You’re burning in fever!”

“W-what? No am fine I Jus-”

“No you’re not! Yo-”

“I’M FINE!” He shouted full lungs, leaning on one hoof now and waking up half the camp,they gazed at us, the majority of them just went back to sleep after I waved at them with a forced smile.

I casted a small light spell, ready to see his hoof, but when my saw the state he was I felt the world around me collapsing, his head do not stay still, his breath taking long pauses between each one, but what really made me shed a tear was the small, but visible black cracks around his eyes.

“S-sorry for shouting.” He said between coughs and looked back at me, his face forming one of his characteristic dumb smiles. “What gives? Am I that pretty to tear at sight? he he-” Another wave of coughs bursted, this time droplets of blood landing on my fur.

I used my body to shield the others from seeing him in this state. I levitated my medical bag and opened it.

I levitated a canteen at him and he didn't drink it, he drowned on it, as if each gulp would be the last. After finishing it, I helped him sit down, and I could see his eyes wet.

“I’m scared, Hope.” I sat by him and mixed some herbs to help him deal with the fever and one pill to retain liquids.

“Here eat this and let's apply this on your wound.” He didn't say anything, just complied with my demands.

Finally I took a piece of bread and gave it to him.

“Here, this will help.”

When he took a bite, his half closed eyes went wide and he shoved his hoof at his mouth and took the bread away.

“W-what's that shit! Are you trying to poison me?!”

“N-no? It's just bread.” I raised it at him and he stared at it, as if he couldn't believe it.

He hesitantly tore a piece of it and tasted, again he spat it out.

“It tastes like ash! This bread is rotten.”

“No it is not.” I tear it apart and eat some. Maybe he was right, I wished he was right, but no, the bread tasted perfectly fine. He stared at me, analyzing my reaction with care.

“You’re right.” I spat it on the floor and trew the bread away.

He pointed to his bag and I grabbed it and handed it to him.

He opened it and he pulled two candies on a stick.

“Remember when we used to eat these when we were kids? I love these things.” He handed me one and gnawed on his.

I stared at him vigorously and he just blinked a few times before finishing his bite and staring at his stick, then he looked at me and nodded at mine.

I took a bite and it tasted normal, nothing out of order. He looked back at his and took another bite.

“Anything wrong?”

“No, it’s just that… it feels, I don't know, off… forget about it.”

“Soldier Hope, a word.” Captain Oak shouted over me, and now it was my time to jump scared, at least it managed to take some laughs out of Blaze.

“Sorry for startling you, but I need a moment with you.”

We moved a bit far from Blaze's position before he stopped and turned at me.

“Did you get bit, soldier?”

“I’m sorry, sir? I don’t-”

“It’s a question, soldier. Answer it.” His voice stoic and commanding, I just shook my head in denial.

He gazed me up and down, breathed in and out before sitting down. I followed quickly.

“How versed are you in teleportation spells?”

“Not very good sir.”

“Well, forget about it for now.”

“I’m sorry, I don't follow.” He peeked over my shoulders, at Blaze.

“Princess Twilight contacted me.” He took the crystal and rested it on the floor. “Equestria is initiating the protocol Null Pillars.”

I blinked, totally confused at him.

“It’s.. an old mechanism of the past. It’s been activated as we speak. Long story short, it’s a massive pillar of ancient runes that nullifies magic, and it's been calibrated to teleportation spells.” I nodded, trying to follow. “So no more Teleportation okay? You’ll just fail, focus on other types of magic.”

“I don’t… I don't get why she is doing it? Where is she?” He moved his head towards one direction.

“North, she fled to the Crystal Empire, and about your other question, it's to stop the infected unicorns from running rampant.”

“Rampant?”

“Which infected is the worst to battle Hope Eyes? We both fought to defend our fort back in Salt-Lick Bay.”

I didn’t answer, I couldn't, never stopped to think about it

“Earth ponies are tough. Hard to kill, even for our standards.”

“You don't need to remind me, captain.” The image of one of my comrades bashing his shield against the head of one of the infected multiple times and failing to kill it flashed in my eyes.

“Pegasus are fast, and nimble, and those darn things keep flying.”

“Yes, they bash through windows and take down our own pegasus.” Captain Oak nodded.

“But the unicorns… you don't escape when you are being chased by one of those bloody things, they-” His eyes rest over my horn, “Sorry no offense.”

“None taken.”

“Well, where was I? Oh right, when one of those bloody things wants you, or you get it good, or it gets you.” He pulled his armor to the side, a bandage wrapped around his neck. Oh shit oh shit!

“Did they-”

“Yes, during the battle. Got swarmed by three of those fuckers, It’s impractical to combat them when they can just blick from here to there.” He points to some locations around him. “And if you’re against more than one, well, those things don't seem to get tired at all.”

“I-I’m sorry sir.”

He looked again at Blaze, before going back to his speech.

“And I’m not even speaking about the fact that they can use teleport just to move long distances. That's why the pillars are up.”

“I don't- why are you telling me this captain?”

“I asked for help Hope Eyes, and help is coming, it’ll arrive by tomorrow, and you’ll need to lead those ponies.” He points at the civilians.

“N-no wait, you’re the captain here, an-and this help, won't they just lead us to Manehattan?”

“I’m pretty sure it’s not, Princess Twilight told me she could not give much information, since she feared somepony might be hearing our communications.”

I blinked again, confused with the real meaning of his answer.

I looked back at Blaze, then at Captain Oak.

“I ain't gonna leave you both behind.”

“Let's face it, Hope, Blaze isn't well.”

“Well he is-”

“I saw the cracks near his eyes.”

My mouth opened, but no coherent answer came out. No matter how much I twisted the facts, I couldn't make it look good for him.

“He might make it!” He smiled genuinely at me.

“You really live up to your name right? Face it Hope, he is turning.” He raised his hoof. “And I don't know why it’s taking me so long to turn too, but I can feel in my bones, my days are numbered too. So it only leaves you to lead those poor ponies.”

“B-but I-”

“Promise me soldier, it’s an order.” I stared at him, then at the ponies sleeping. “We owe them. We asked them to leave their loved-ones behind with the promise of a tomorrow, and they did."

“I-I’ll do my best sir.”

He sighed, as if the entire weight of the world slipped off his shoulders, and I breathed in, as said weights now rested over my shoulders.

“Go take some sleep, I’ll keep an eye on us.” He got up and started walking towards Blaze. I tried to follow, but he asked me to keep my distance.

They started chatting for a bit then soon the moments turned into minutes, and minutes stacked until suddenly everything went black.

The next day came smoothly, we all woke up, packed what we needed and continued our journey east and to the meeting point.

Me and Blaze stayed at one end of our column, while Captain Oak led it on the other end.

Blaze was… awful, he tried to put a facade, head high, cocky smile and everything, but he could barely maintain it for a minute, his bitten hoof did not touch the floor. The cracks, they got bigger now, small ones erupting near his mouth.

“Stop thinking about it.” I whispered, getting near him.

“About what?” He tried to joke back.

“Y’know what, you’re gonna be fine, we’re gonna regroup, get to a hospital and give you a panacea, you’ll see; you’re gonna be as good as new!” He didn't answer..

“I’m scared, Hope, it’s getting difficult to think, to process what's happening sometimes. And then there is this fever. I don’t-”

“Stop.”

“Wh-”

“I told you to stop! This line of thought is off limits, you’re gonna be fine. You’re gonna make it, so stop filling your head with such pessimist thoughts.”

He stopped walking and blinked at me emotionless for a few moments before bursting into laughter, my heart eased when I saw him genuinely smiling.

“W-when did you became miss optimism?”

“Well, I- you’re a mess right now! One of us has to.” He chucked, starting to walk again.

“So that leaves me with what? Naked reality? Brutal facts?”

“Hey! I was never one of those! I’m just more.. grounded in…”

“Reality? Facts?” He grinned at me.

“Events, actions and its reactions.” He grumped

“That one is new.”

I approached him, leaning against him.

“Do you think my parents are okay? I can't stop thinking about them.”

“Well, knowing your father, I guarantee you that.” He smiled, cleaning his wet eyes.

“H-he he, you’re right, my old man would blow up half the block before letting anything happen to my mom… thanks Hope.”

I pressed my head against his chest, gulping while hearing his heartbeat. It was… slow.

------

It didn't take long before we arrived at the meeting point, Celestia sun at its peak.

“We’re gonna stay here and wait, you must have faith in Princess Twilight, she would never abandon us. Help is on its way.” Captain Oak shouted at the ponies.

“This road leads to Canterlot doesn't it?” Blaze said to no one in particular while resting like all the others, his equipment falling flat on the floor.

“Think so, after two cities that is.” I sat by him, eyeing his gear. “I told you to give me that, you can barely walk straight, imagine carrying those weapons!”

“What? And let a mare carry my spear?” He winked at me. “The boys back at the academy would never shut about it.”

It took me half a second to realize his insinuation, I blushed and pushed him, knocking him down, he fell laughing, naturally.

“S-sorry sorry.” He wiped a tear. “I just couldn't resist.”

“Jerk.” I pushed him down again when he was almost standing.

A silence paired between us, we both stared at each other, until we both laughed at the situation.

And a heavy cough interrupted him, a trail of blood painting the floor in front of him. I followed it, until we saw the civilians staring at him. I imagined they had their doubts, but now I know, they know it too.

Blaze just sighed, hiding his face with his helm and turning away from them.

“H-hey Blaze, they are just scared, Th-”

“If they are scared, imagine how I am.” He took off his helm, his mane, even though it was short, was somehow a mess. The worst was the sweat. I twisted my muzzle at the smell.

“You need a shower.” I push his shoulder gently, and he looks at me, his fear easing.

“You know, you look absolutely stunning against the sun, your fur blends in perfectly with it.”

“E-easy there Casanova. I might fall for your tricks if you keep this up.” I joked back at him, he opened his mouth to speak, but Captain Oak called us and we marched at him. All the ponies opened a path for us to trot there

The crystal glowed for a few moments before we arrived.

“-understood your highness.”

“Yes Captain?” He peeked over us and got near, whispering every word.

“The palace of Canterlot got overrun. The third regiment is no more.”

Blaze and I traded glances.

“Princesses Celestia and Luna?” Captain Oak shook his head.

“No signal from them since Canterlot fell.”

“Well, they gotta be okay right? I mean, the sun rose!”

“He is right! Only they have the power to do that!” I completed Blaze words, just to have Captain Oak shake his head again.

“Let us all pray that it’s true.”

“Anything new? Where is the backup?”

“I don't know, but Princess Twilight told us to have faith, she sent her best ally to help us.” We both looked at each other, naturally unaware of what he meant by that. “Blaze, do a counting how many we still have with us.”

Blaze nodded and put his helmet on, and walked at the crowd.

When I turned back to the captain he handed me the crystal.

“Here, you’ll need this more than me.”

“I- Captain, this is yours! I can't accept it!”

“I feel like I won't need it anymore.” I blinked at his statement, puzzled by that, he looked perfectly fine, a bandage here and there, but not similar to what Blaze is going through.

“Thirty-two, Captain.” Blaze shouted.

He closed his eyes and leaned back, taking his time to absorb the information.

“Okay… Okay we can manage that, Hope, ask some pegasus to fly high and keep a watch for us, we don't know how long we’ll stay here, might as well do something.”

I nodded and marched at the civilians, explaining the situation. Some of them refused to fly, saying things like an infected pegasus would rain on them, but after some squabble I managed to convince some of them to help me.

After doing that I turned to trot at Blaze and the captain, but I stopped my advance.

They were shouting at each other. I couldn't quite make anything out of their words, but I could see their faces. Blaze had tears in his eyes, pointed his hoof at the captain, then back at the civilians. Captain just smoked his pipe during it all, then waved at me, pointed his pipe and said something.

Blaze looked back, his eyes meeting mines, he immediately took his helmet off and threw it at the floor, cursing the skyes and beyond. That part was clearly audible.

Soon the hours stacked, and the sun started to settle for the sunset. The tension builded at each moment, until one pegasus flew from the sky.

“THEY ARE COMING!” A mare shouted.

“She's right!” Another one said, “It’s like a wave! A wave of infecteds!”

I got up, and watched at the horizon, a thin line getting bigger and bigger. I felt my grasp on my shield and spear fail me when I realized the sheer amount.

“Hundreds of thousands” One pony whispered in dread.

Dots emerged too, and soon a swarm of what I can only imagine to be infected pegasus appeared.

A thunder broke the dreadful silence that fell upon us, and looking back I saw something I didn't expect to see so soon.

“Cloudsdale.” As soon as I said its name, the city roared once more, and another thunder fell below it, then another one, and another, and soon a whole storm devastated everything under that mammoth of a city.

“We are surrounded!!” A pony shouted, and then panic involved our little camp.

I looked around this mess, looking for Captain Oak and Blaze, just to find them walking towards the wave that approached at a distance. I rushed at them, doing my best to calm everypony on my way there.

“What's the plan?” I yelled at them.

Blaze stared at the horde emotionless and mumbled something I couldn't hear, Captain Oak took one last puff off his pipe and threw it aside.

“You must have faith, Hope, our princess gave us her word.”

“Bu-but sir! We need to move!”

He unsheathed his sword, and stared dead at the horde, Blaze spat a clog of blood on the floor, put on his helmet, his shield and spear levitating near his body.

No, this can't end like this, really? That's how this ends! Please, somepony, something, help us!

Trumpets echoed, the kind that only sounds during coronations, and the chaos in our camp stopped immediately while we all looked for it, maybe it was a really strange thunder?

Again, the trumpets thundered and red carpets manifested around us all; the carpets tumbled up and down magically, until finishing to unroll. Pieces of… something flew out of the carpets and joined themself over us, and the trumpets sounded once more.

“Do not be afraid.” A soft voice said in a melodic manner while a figure descended from the sky, it had a long body, with goat and lizard legs and an arm of lion and eagle.

“Discord.” I mumbled in disbelief while the lord of chaos descended wearing a white robe, a harp in one hand and a dew branch in the other.

When he touched the ground his eyes opened, and literally jumped out of his eye sockets with the vision of the horde. One particularly loud thunder erupted, and he grabbed one of his eyes and pointed in the Cloudsdale direction. His lower jaw fell and the trumpets echoed again, but very low and shyly.

With a snap of his fingers his performance stopped and he appeared around us.

“You all are indeed in a pickle, Twilight wasn’t kidding.”

“You’re late!” Captain Oak shouted at him

“Oh please, I was busy. You’re not the only group needing help right now.” He raised one finger. “And as far I can tell, I’m the only lord of chaos around.”

He stopped his shenanigans and looked back, eyeing the crowd.

“H-how many, how many ponies you got here?”

“Thirty-two.”

“Thirty- what!? I told Twilight to tell you folks! I can just take twenty of you with me!”

“I know, but maybe we can make it work. I aint abandoning these good folk here.”

Discord pressed his eyes and sighed as if he had this exact chat many times already.

“Unless you got an alicorn under your hoof, I'm afraid we can't make that happen.”

“B-but you’re the lord of chaos!” I interrupted. “You can do anything!”

“Flattered, truly, but those pesky Null Pillars are messing with my magic, even teleporting myself is getting more and more complicated! I can save twenty of you.” He crossed his arms, and eyed around. “And it doesn’t look like you have much time to argue about it.”

“Well, then help us fight our way out of this mess.” Blaze shouted “You can defeat an army, surelly can deal with that.” He points his spear at the horde

“Well, you see…” Discord scratches the back of his neck. “My magic won't affect them.”

“What?!” Everypony shouted in unison.

“Look, Whatever this disease is, whoever created it, made it in a way that my magic just doesn't work okay, Twilight had the same reaction and I’m getting tired of this, I’m not amused by that information too.”

“J-just twenty?” One pony cried in the crowd. Discord raised his hands, but then let it fall defeated.

“I’m sorry, if I try to save more of you, I’ll just end up causing more harm.”

“Well, Imma stay.” Blaze stated, turning to the lord of chaos. “I don't have much more time, so give my ticket to one of them.” He points at the crowd

“Same here.” Capitain Oak said while stretching his body. “Give Miss Hope my ticket.”

I tried to protest but an old stallion in the crowd cleared his throat and stepped forwards.

“I’ll stay too.” He said, his voice low and tired, carrying the very weight of time in each word. His wife tried to protest, but he continued.

“It’s okay pumpkin, Those good ponies saved us, I’m happy to have lived this long through these trying times. But let's face it, what good a music teacher is gonna do?” Her eyes tearing up.

“B-but I need you!”

“I know pumpkin, but now I need you to do something for me, I need you to live.”

He walked and rested by Blaze. After a few moments another stallion stepped ahead, he was young and he had a punk manestyle. He looked at the horde ahead, and the city behind.

“Fuck it, we ball.” He opened his bag and took a guitar from it and soon two other stallions with similar manestyles joined him, he looked back and laughed. “I thought you pussies would chicken out.” They shared a laugh together.

He approached me, and looked at me up and down, then at the crowd, finally at me again.

“Hope, right?” I nodded. “Take care of my lil’ sister, it’s the only thing I’ve been doing so far, and it looks like it’s the end of the line for me.”

A green unicorn filly cried amidst the crowd, one elderly mare hugging her. I froze, lacking an answer, then I nodded.

Again and again, another pony said they would be left behind, for each one that voluntarily chose so, Captain Oak's smile raised and he even threw some sticks he had with him away. Many sticks with similar lengths, one particularly smaller.

Finally it was done, twelve ponies rested on one side, and nineteen on the other.

Discord watched it all in silence, and when they finished he stepped forwards.

“My magic doesn't affect them, but it affects the land around them. The least I can do is give you guys a chance to fight.”

And then, with a snap of his fingers, the land itself tumbled while massive walls of stone raised around us, a thin corridor being the only entry.

“Their number will be useless with such a thin path… may the gods have mercy on your soul.” Discord raised his claw, but I stopped him with a shout, and rushed at Blaze.

When I approached he at first dodged visual contact, but finally gave in.

“Hi.” I sat by him, and tears started to form. I wanted to yell at him for being so selfish, I wanted to hug him, comfort him. I wanted to… to…

“It's okay, Hope.” He said with a low tone, his voice clearly weaker than ever. “I’m going to be okay.” His eyes darted ahead. “With this corridor we have a chance, so let's make a promise.”

“A-a promise?”

“Yes. We are going to survive… this.” He waved his hoof to the horde. “Then we are spearheading to the Crystal Empire. I’ll be waiting for you there, so you are forbidden to die before that, m’kay?” He chuckled, his smile cracky and his eyes sleepy. His pupils… they got red…

“Okay.” I answered, clearing the tears forming on my face.

“Oh, do-don't make that face. Remember what am I?” He raised his hoof and pressed his muscle with the other hoof.

I gave in with a chuckle, pressing my head against his chest armor.

“Invincible.” I repeated his mantra.

“Yes… that. Now go there, they need you.” He moved me aside. Our eyes aligned, I felt my heart racing, my breath got uneasy while I stared at his red-blazing pupils “When we see each other again there is something I want to tell you.”

“W-what?”

“But you better endure, okay? So no giving up, Hope, fight, fight until we see each other again.”

I froze, I knew many things I wanted to say, yell my heart's desire, but I just didn't have the strength to do soo. With a hug we departed.

“Hope?” Discord broke my line of thought, but I didn't take my eyes out of Blaze while he got up and prepared for the battle ahead. The ground crumbled again. “Whatever you do in there, don't open the boxes okay?”

What now? I turned to him to ask him to repeat, but I just had time to see his fingers snapping and his magic enveloping me and all the other civilians.

Author's Note

At first I was like, well let's just write a cheap and short prelude, since, you know, it’s a story about post-apocalypse survival in a tropical island/environments, but then I kept writing and writing and I was like:

"Bitch, we gotta make a summary here! Can't spend a third of the 22k words on the hecking PRELUDE!" But alas, this is what this chapter ended, and I could have extended more, had to prune some parts.

Hope y’all enjoyed it.

The storm sets in

Immediately the ground felt absent beneath me and I started free fall. Screams filled my ears and I only managed to fix my balance when I hit the floor.

I got up, spitting bits of sand from my mouth, and then I realized, they are all falling! Popping into existence just to fall, only a pair of them appearing correctly on the floor.

I heard a crack, and I turned to see an old stallion in tears, with his hoof bended in a sickening angle.

“Everypony who can fly! Grab the others!” I shouted, and some dizzy pegasus nodded and flew up to ease their fall. I approached him, yet half stunned with what was happening.

“MAH HOOF!” He screamed, holding it near his chest.

“Let me see it.”

“N-no! You’re gonna break it more!”

More shouts and screams filled my ears, and wanting to not lose time here I pulled his hoof back into place, a pop and crack emanating from it. Okay, now I need something to make splint-

Before I could finish my thoughts an axe fell right by him. That will do.

I used magic to hold his desperate attempts to struggle, and finished the splint casting a spell to help the bone heal faster.

When I turned I saw some pegasus flying, child's crying with bruises around them, ponies shouting and unicorns running in the direction of the sea. I peeked back and saw an intimidating forest staring back at me.

“Where the fuck are we?”

------

We all grouped around a campfire, the cold breeze of the ocean sending a freezing feeling down our spines.

A cloaked pony walked in, settling near another one equally dressed.

“She didn’t make it.” He said nonchalantly and gasps and weepings broke out around the fire.

I peeked over my shoulder and saw a body with a sheet over it.

“She fell into the ocean, didn't know how to swim. I tried my best, I’m sorry.” He continued, then lied down facing away from the fire.

“What a horrible way to go. Survive all our journey to die here, on the beach.” Nurse Honey Words said, gazing at her hurt bruised hoof for a moment.

I sighed, and they all looked at me, I could see their eyes shining with fear, but also solace. Now is the time which Blaze would make one of his inspirations speeches, or Captain Oak Shield would orchestrate a plan to get us out of this.

I got up, a bruise here and there making themselves known.

“Folks,” I started, some got into a more comfortable position to hear, others stopped their silent cry. “We lost a lot, but we need to have faith, and move on, for those who didn't make it.” I grabbed the crystal from my bag and stared at it. “We owe it to them.”

They shared and looked at each other, a shy nod sparking between them. I was never good at speeches, I know that Blaze would smash the sand, and would say something about the princesses, say that hope isn’t all lost or something. I hate myself, how can I be so pathetic?

“Thank you, guard Hope.” Nurse Honey Words spoke, breaking the silence of the night. “Thank you, and thank you to those who stayed behind.” Her eyes glared at the ocean.

“Thank you.” Another pony said, “Thank you.” Said another, and soon all the camp said it in unison.

“Thank you, for saving us.” Honey finished and soon everypony started settling to sleep.

I wiped a tear that sneakily formed and looked up at the moon. Its shining surface illuminated this solemn night. I always preferred the night over the day, it’s comforting being able to look at the moon, on contrary to the sun. I’ll tell this to Blaze next time I see him.

The next day started early, all the adults preparing a funeral for the poor mare. We carried her along the beach and then dug out a grave for her at the skirts of the forest. Luckily no foal witnessed it.

A grim aura fell under us while we buried our first member, not even a day in this place. Some of the ponies traded some experiences, trying to recall her name or things to say, not much was accomplished.

“Her husband called her pumpkin.” Nurse Honey Words said with difficulty, her hoof yet hurting while she put a flower over the grave. “I believe they loved each other very much.”

“They are together now.” We all joined together in prayer for her.

When we returned, an unsettling feeling permeated the air, what now? We survived the apocalypse, what do we do? I could see in their eyes the doubts stacking, and even though I wasn't very good at giving speeches, I received orders to save them, and that I can handle.

First I needed to get them occupied, an idle mind can do a lot of damage, so I asked them to pile everything and check our gear.

“Sorry, you need me to do what?”

“Fly.” I point at the ocean. This pegasus, the only one that is realistically unharmed, eyed me, then the sea and blinked emotionless back at me.

“I… don't follow.”

“I need you to go there and check if you find land, or any boat. Since you’re fine and all, you’re the most capable to do so.”

“To the ocean.” He points at it. “You want me,” He waves his hoofs at himself. “to go there- let me repeat, me go alone in the ocean.”

“Precisely.”

“I… I'd rather not, thank you.” I huffed and puffed my cheeks for a moment.

“I need to know our location, and more precisely how far we are from land-”

“Oh, just that? This I can do.” He turned to the sea, chewed on his cheeks and put a hoof on his chin for a long moment before nodding and turning to me. “We are far from land.”

I felt one of my eyes twitching, oh the nerve, the very nerve! I was about to yell at him when one unicorn approached us.

“Uhm, miss- guard- captain- guard miss- I’m sorry what do we call you?” He introduced himself. He was a unicorn, had a black-obsidian fur and wore big glasses. Well, one of the lenses is missing, and the other is cracked, but he still wore it, even adjusting the glasses when they got loose.

“Ahmm, call me Hope.”

“I see, My name is Bright Future.” He did a small bow, and the pegasus tried to sneak away. I grabbed him by one ear and dragged him back. “And I can help with that.” He levitated a considerable big bag near us.

He opened the bag, and started unpacking. I saw all types of equipment for research, from microscopes to some funny glass pots. When he pulled out the third microscope I pressed my eyes in disbelief and blinked at him.

“Ha ha!” He declared victoriously holding a mini telescope. “With this I can read Luna’s stars and find our location in comparison with Salt-Lick Bay!”

“I dont-” I looked at the pegasus, just to see a white-tuft of his fur on my magic and he was flying towards the other ponies. Darn it.

“So? Should I start?” He asked, I peeked at his cutie mark, two metal rods touching each other, electricity sparking out of them.

“Can you do it?”

“Oh, yes of course! I loved stargazing when I was young.” He chuckled, fixing his glasses. “And I’m guilty, I gazed at them while in Salt-Lick when no pony was looking, so their location is fresh in my mind!”

With a sigh I nodded at him. He squeaked like a child and nodded vigorously.

I moved away, but for some reason I decided to look back. He was taking wood planks out of the bag, a box of nails and a hammer and started to build something. What the hay.

“Guard Hope?” I jumped in place, just to see nurse Honey Words smiling at me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

“N-no no,” I peaked back one last time to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Four legs and a base, he just built a table. I shook my head and turned to her. “Please call me Hope.”

“Alright, Miss Hope, we need to open an area to treat the wounded.”

I do a quick gaze around, the majority of us have some bruises here and there, the landing was rough for everypony, especially for the foals.

“Okay, ask Bright Future,” I pointed at the unicorn near the beach. “He must have some kind of blankets with him.” She nodded, but before she left I handed her my bag.

“We need a scouting group inside the forest.” I shouted approaching the group.

“We will do it.” One of the hooded ponies said and I nodded at him, soon they left.

“Now, is anypony willing to walk around this beach and tell us how big this island is?”

“What makes you think we are on an island again?”

“It's just a hunch, but Captain Oak told me we would be safe here, so therefore this is the most likely scenario. I mean.” I looked at the forest. “I don't remember seeing trees like these in Equestria continental land.”

“We might be in the south, it has a big jungle!”

“Enough! We are burning sunlight here. Volunteers?” Two ponies walked forward, they had some injuries, but nothing serious. “Good, you guys go that direction.” They shared a nod and moved.

I saw mister-scared-of-oceans whistling, clearly avoiding visual contact.

“You.”

“Oh C’mon, I aint flying to the ocean alone! Do you know how dangerous oceanic air currents are?”

“Scout the sky, grab some clouds to help nurse Honey Words take care of other pegasus.” He grinned.

“That I can do.” With that said, he flew fast up.

I looked back at the camp, five foals, three elderly ponies and a mother hugging her unconscious child. I thought about asking her to come with me, but the fear on her face while she sank her face in the colt mane was all the answer I needed. I looked at the old mares.

“Take care of the kids okay? We are setting up a medical zone soon.” I peeked back and saw Honey Words flying with what looked like a tent on her hooves. “Maybe sooner than later. I’ll be back soon.”

“Wait for me.” One old stallion shouted, he got up with difficulty, then I saw the splint on his hoof.”

“Sir, you can't move, we need you to rest-”

He raised his injured hoof, the one with an axe as part of the splint.

“Talk with mah axe miss.” He pointed that thing at me. “I still got some fight in me, and this ol’ fella here needs to stretch mah bones.” We argued, and he refused to settle, threatening to just follow me when I leave. “As ya said, we’re burnin’ sunlight.”

Sighing in defeat, I agreed and we both started our walk in the opposite direction of the other group.

We started walking a bit slow, he was limping a bit due to his injuries. I wanted this moment to ponder, to reflect and put my head in order, but now with him here it got difficult, for some reason.

And the worst wasn't that he talked through his elbows, it was the fact that he didn't talk at all! It felt weird. Or maybe I'm weird? I'm used to being surrounded by chatty ponies.

“Miss Hope.” He broke the silence. “I’d like to thank you.”

“It was no-”

“No, I mean it. I was having a tantrum and you put me back at mah, place, saved mah hoof and all.” I glanced at his hoof, then at his flank, a fallen tree as a cutie mark.

“Sorry for your axe.”

“This old fella here never let me down, was with me since I can remember. Helped me put down many trees, now helps me walk. What do ya town folks call it? Poetry or somethin’?

“Poetic?”

“Tha’ word.” He chuckled.

“What's your name?” I asked, realizing I didn't know.

“Name’s Wood Craker miss.” He shouted with a smile, moving a hoof as if taking off a hat he clearly lacked.

We continued our march for two hours, taking some pauses for him to catch a breath and exchanging stories. His best friend was one of those who stayed behind.

“I’d kill for a drink now.”

“Same here.” I rolled my eyes. I was never a drinker myself, but by Celestia as my witness, I wanted some booze right now.

“Oh, look at that fella running’” He pointed forwards and there was the other group, wait, why is there only one of them? I quickened my pace and soon approached him.

“You guys need to see this.” He declared breathlessly.

------

It took us a few minutes of running to reach our destination, but Wood Cracker gave up after some time, his injuries taking a toll, so he decided to wait.

My mouth opened involuntary when I saw the massive metal box sinking slightly on the sands of the beach, a brown pegasus resting atop of it with a branch on her hoof.

Just when I approached I realized the size of it.

“Big, right?” The pegasus said atop of it looking around. “I think we can fit our whole group inside this thing.” The door was ajar.

“Did you open this?” I cautiously approached the entrance.

“Nope, was like this when he arrived.” The other pony said, “This was near the door.” He pulled a sturdy key.

I tried and it fit perfectly on the keyhole. The inside was almost magically dark, the sunlight refusing to illuminate its interior.

“You didn't enter, right?”

“Do we look stupid to you? Of course not!” The pegasus shouted, raising her hoofs high, knocking the branch off her lap. It bounced on the ground and rolled inside the box. “My stick!” She yelled in terror.

“Okay, back off.” They both nodded and moved away.

“Careful there miss!” One said.

“Wait, let me get you another stick.” The pegasus continued.

With a loud click I closed the box and turned to them.

“Like hay I’m entering this. Let's get outta here.”

------

We found old Wood resting by the beach, and soon we got together to continue our walk to our camp. By what they told me, the time they walked and I, plus some variables, this island circumference is I don't have the slightest clue!

When we returned, I was a bit amazed with their progress, one tent stood high, with some sheets for the wounded, and nurse Honey Words flying between each other, administering them with bandages and medicine.

We settled down for some time, waiting for the return ones that adventured into the forest; and that white pegasus, that I quickly learned his name, Rowdy Ciclone, was nowhere to be seen. I chuckled, his name fit him well for some reason.

“Do you have a moment, Hope?” Honey said, her kind smile warming my heart in a way that only a nurse could do.

“Of course! About What?” She eyed the others near us.

“In particular.”

We trotted shortly away from the camp, always eyed by them, but soon their curiosity was surpassed by hunger, and in no time they started munching on our last rations. That is a problem.

“-do you think?”

“Oh sorry, I wasn't listening.”

“Our medical supplies Hope, we ran out of it. I did my best to make everything count, but…” She peeked over her shoulder at the sea. “My… my supplies got into the ocean when we got here and we lost basically everything. If we hadn't yours, well, some of the injuries could get a lot worse.”

“You- wha-everything?!”

“Y-yes, I mean, those poor foals were crying for Celestia's sake! I'm not very good at handling injured children.”

“N-No, it’s okay I guess, can't demand that from you, but they are fine right? No surprises?”

She stopped for a moment, biting her lower lips before looking me in the eyes and then waving at the others.

“They are… stable, one broken hoof here and there. But they are young, so it's not going to be that problematic. There is that mare though.” I follow her eyes and see a cream earth pony hugging her brown foal maternally, singing a lovely lullaby in such a melodic way that some of the other children rested near her.

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know, she doesn't let me see him. She just asked for bandages and water. When I pressed her to let me help she got, ahmm-” I blinked at her. “violent if you will. Had to dodge a hoof-full of sand!” She snorted at the end and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“So what do you think? Do you need backup to hold her or-”

“N-no, I was expecting you to go there and talk this out.”

“Me?”

“Well yes, you’re our… leader, right?” She tilted her head.

“Y-yes yes.” I coughed at my hoof, “A leader! I’m just new at this stuff.”

“Well, you better start getting good at it, that foal needs you.”

“Okay okay, you’re right, anything else I should know? I haven't seen Rowdy here.”

“Oh, him? I asked that sweet stallion to go look for the continent after he finished giving me the clouds you told him to, he is such a sweet.”

“And he said yes?”

“Well, he more likely volunteered, I spoke out loud about it and he told me he’d do it.”

“Riiight.” I looked at Bright. “What about him?” She just shrugged.

“Her name?”

“Cream Heart.” And with that information, I marched at her.

She saw me getting near, her motherly smile instantly turning into a furious frow that just a mother could produce.

“Hello Miss Cream, I think we never introduced ourselves formally.” She eyed me up and down.

“Greetings guard.”

“You don't need those formalities, you can just call me Hope.” I sat near her. “It’s not like somepony is going to punish us or something right?” I smiled at her, and her frown eased for a moment.

“What's his name?” This question took her off guard, she took a moment to recompose herself.

“It’s, ahmm, Button.” She caressed his mane slowly, “My little warrior here is fine, I know why you’re here.” She fulminated with her eyes, somepony over my shoulders. “He’s just asleep, give him some time and he’ll be fine.”

“Miss, we have a nurse, and few supplies left, he might be really hurt.”

“H-he is not! He was fine before we teleported! H-he hit his head in the fall, it’s just that.”

“He did what?! He might have a concussion! How could you not tell us that!”

“H-he will tough it up!” She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears, her voice was half sobby, half cracked. “H-he was always a bit e-energetic, always f-falling here and th-there.”

I dead stared at her, then at him, when I tried to approach her she shouted at me, waving her hoof violently towards my direction.

“Get away from me! Don't touch him!”

I blinked a bit stunned by it, before I could react she pulled a knife from her mane and I immediately got up, everypony near her did the same.

“Okay ma’am, we need to calm down now.”

“N-no, you don't understand, you ca-can’t touch my son. I won't allow!” She swung that knife threateningly at me for a pair of times before stopping.

“We are not going to hurt him, we’re here to help, but you need to help us.”

She didn't answer, her stare piercing me as if I was the aggressor here. I saw the two ponies me and Wood traveled around the island with, the stallion nodded at me, the mare gulped, and they moved sneakily towards her. I moved towards her.

“Easy there, we are not your enemy. We-we are living ones here.” That word inflated something inside her, her hug got stronger and her frown filled with more disgust than anger.

“I-I don’t want to hurt you, just, let me and my son be, we’re fine, y-you’ll se, in a day h-” But before she could finish, both the ponies jumped her and I quickly followed, using my magic to levitated the knife away from her.

She screamed, screamed as if we were about to butcher her child while we carried him to the tent. The eyes in the camp were a mix, some nodded at me with a shy smile, others shook their heads in disapproval. But the worst was the kids looking absolutely dreadful towards me.

When we entered the tent, I could still hear her screams, some ponies holding her down.

Nurse Honey tore a piece of the tent with her mouth and poured an empty bottle of disinfectant in it. Her face was dull, her comforting smile absent.

I rested Button on a sheet on the floor and quickly started helping Honey with her work. She didn't eyed me for a moment.

“You know, if I wanted to tear a child from her mothers embrace, I could have done that with the help of the others.” Her voice was cold, and almost supplanted by Cream Heart screams.

“What?” She took a scissor with her wings and started cutting some bandages.

“What you did was wrong.”

“I-wh- you told me to do something!”

“Yes, but not that! When I first saw you, I thought you could be a- I d-don't know, a medic or something, but alas.” She eyed me up and down, “You’re just like the rest of them. Just another bloody soldier.”

“Now wait a minute, he needed immediate medical assistance, I did what was needed! Question my methods, not my results.” She scolded, utterly incredulous with my words.

“Bet that's what you told yourself when we abandoned those poor souls in Salt-Lick Bay some days ago. It was… necessary.” My blood boiled for a moment.

“B-but they wouldn’t make it!”

“Yeah? And how does that make you feel? I hope it helps you sleep at night, it surely does not help me.” With a precise push she cutted the last bandage and her eyes went wide.

“How could you-” I charged at her, was about to- what was I about to do?

“He is bitten.” I stopped my charge, just to gaze upon his wound in his shoulder.

“Fuck.” When I spoke, his mom bursted into the tent, her guards barely delaying her unstoppable charge towards her child.

“D-dont’ hurt him!” She screamed, falling just a few centimeters from him

In no time she rested between me and Honey and Button.

“P-please… Don't.”

I don't know what to do, I could see the eyes of those outside the tent, whispers spreading like a wild fire between them. Nurse Honey opened her mouth, but then stopped and moved to the side and stared at me, I felt as if she stared at my very core.

A spear came into my mind, the order, protect the civilians also sparked too. I just… What the actuall fuck am I thinking! I shook my head, clearing what was hoofs down the scariest thing I’ve ever thought, that foal is alive and breathing for Celestia’s sake!

“Miss Cream.” I started, trying to hide the anxiety in my words. “He is bitten.”

“W-we don't know how this works! H-he got bitten on the first day! It's been almost a week now! Look at him! He is healthy.” She turned to him, her voice getting somehow even more broken. “He is my healthy boy. My brave and fearless little boy.”

“Miss.”

“Then just let us go! We won't be a problem! I-” But before she could finish her words, I hugged her, her shaking hoofs slowly hugging me back while my breath got erratic for a moment. I hugged her stronger while I looked at her kid. He looked so peaceful and well, one could mistake him by a sleepy child.

I ended our hug, not without her protests and I looked her in the eyes.

“We lost too much already, friends, purpose.” I peek at the entrance and see the green unicorn. “Family, home. I won't ask you to give up on your kid, neither will I ask you to leave.”

“But-” One pony shouted.

“As she said, we don’t know what will happen, nor how this works.”

“We all saw what happened to Blaze.”

I sighed in defeat, then I looked back at Cream, I could feel the anxiety in her eyes.

“Then,” Her breath stopped, “We will deal with it.” Her hoofs stopped, she fell, doing her best to grab onto me to not collapse into the floor. “But for now he is a healthy boy. Nurse Honey, please, continue your work.”

When I looked at her, she had that same dull face, but I spotted a small smile forming in her face while she returned to the foal.

“Everypony out.”

We sat by the entrance, I tried to ease her heart, but a silent hug was the best I could muster, I hope it does any good.

“D-do you think, do you think he’s gonna be fine?”

A quick yes mustered in my mind, but I didn't dare to say it, I couldn't lie to her, or worse, to myself. I gently pressed her head against my chest.

“Have hope, that's everything we can do now.”

------

Quickly the moments piled up and turned into minutes, and soon a whole hour. Her sobbing slowly, but gradually easing. Then a little voice broke the silence.

“Mommy?” There he was, a brown little colt under Honey wing, scratching his eyes, as if he had just awoken from a slumber.

Cream Heart immediately threw herself at him and embraced him. Honey sat by me.

“He was fine, little concussion that's all. Nothing that a little wakey-wakey spell couldn’t deal with.”

“He is…”

“I don’t know.”

“Well I th-”

“My tent!” Bright shouted, passing one hoof through one of the many holes in it. “I lent it! I wanted it back in one piece!” I roll my eyes and gaze at the ocean. It's mesmerizing. I was never a beach pony, now I know why so many love this vision, wait, what is that?

“Well, looks like Rowdy is back, can you check on him? I’ll calm down Bright.” And just like that she got up, told some reassuring words towards Cream Heart, but not before patting on my shoulders.

I sighed, let's deal with this already then. What a day. I peek back at the mother, she smiled at me, and did a shy nod. I felt… happy.

Rowdy crashed on the beach, rolling aimlessly until he stopped by me.

“Well well well, so you can go into the ocean after all?”

It took him a few moments to recompose himself, he grabbed a comb and fixed his messy mane.

“Well, what can I do? It’s a stallion's duty to please the ladies.”

“I-I’m a mare you know?”

“Well, yes, but you’re a soldier mare.”

“There is- there is no difference!”

“Oh believe me there is.” He winked at me. “You gals are just built differently.”

Contrary to punching him, I just restrained myself to sigh.

“What did you see?”

“Well, mostly the sea you know, it’s a big-”

“Cut that out okay? Not in the mood.”

“See? You soldiers ladies have no-” He stopped when I stared deadly at him. “Ahemm, not much, mostly water.” I squinted my eyes and he raised his hoofs in defense. “But that's true! Look at poor me! I fell twice into the sea!” He flapped his wet wings, and I let my bravado down for a moment. “And I wasn't going to risk a third fall.”

“Okay, just get in-”

“Oh, and there is a storm coming, a doozy.”

“What?” I felt my left eye twitch.

“Yes, a big one!” He raised his hoof high. “In about a day or so.” my left eye twitches uncontrollably.

“AND THAT WASN'T THE FIRST THING YOU TELL ME!”

“Hey hey, chill there, you see you just proves my-”

“I swear for Celestia, you say that again."

“Okay okay I shut it.”

“Did you see it?”

“Nope, but I felt it in my wings.”

“What?”

“Look lady, you unicorn folk can feel magic fields and whatnot, we pegasus can feel storms and whatnot, you need to see what earth ponies can sense.” He smirked.

“Isn't that highly imprecise?”

“Oh-oh believe, I ain't wrong. Not about this.”

Deciding to not waste time or indulge him in his game I told him to move.

“MISS HOPE!” Somepony shouted behind me and my peace was shattered, back to duty I guess.

When the night came we had a somewhat functional resting place. Mister Wood, lent us his expertise on cutting down trees, and the axe supporting his hoof for some time. It was a fight to convince him, but in the end he agreed, as long as he would supervise the knuckle-head that would use his axe so no harm was done to it. How charming.

We used the logs to form huts, and the large leaves from the trees together with vines we found in the boundaries of the forest for walls, truth be said, it was rudimentary, but better than sleeping with nothing. The kids slept in Bright’s tent that had the holes patched up with leaves. I chuckled when recalling his reaction to us sewing that.

“Hope?” Nurse Honey whispered by me, giving me my bag back.

“Yes?”

“Bright wants to talk to you.”

“Okay.” I sigh, looking at the forest one last time.

“They still haven’t returned? I hope everything is okay.”

I didn't answer, what could I say? I sent those ponies there.

“H-hey, they are fine okay? The-I- well, I don't actually recall their names now that I stop to think about it, but they looked tough didn't they? They surely can handle themselves.”

“There are many dangers in a forest like that at night!”

“Hey there.” She rested an assuring hoof over my shoulder. “Worrying about them won't make anything easier, nor will make them show up sooner. You should get a rest.” We traded nods and she trotted at the camp.

I turned and walked towards the sea, Bright had a little laboratory of his own! I still find it puzzling how he took it all from his bag. He gazed into his little telescope, annotated something in the sand with his magic, and repeated. I stood there near him analyzing his doings, but I couldn’t keep pace with him. He would write down lots of things, half of them I understood. Many fancy terms, like, what is a parsec? He then would wipe it all, and start rewriting in the sand.

“You wanted to talk to me, Bright? Any good news?” When he turned to me I did a little jump be. By the gods his mane is a mess and his glasses are barely hanging on his snout.

“H-hi miss, I-yes-yes, I have good news.” His horn glowed and he fixed his glasses; and the wall of numbers and calculations vanished, forever forgotten in the sands of time.

“Well? Then spill it.”

“W-well, you see,” He fumbled his words for a moment. “I don’t know the name of this island, never been into cartography and stuff like that, you know? I’m more of a real science guy-”

“I get it, can you go to the point?” I scratched my eyes.

“Okay, okay, we are five hundred and seventy kilometers from the nearest coast.” I coughed with the information.

“W-what? That’s-”

“More than the Three Sister Archipelago, I know. As I was saying before being rudely interrupted, I’m no maps guy, never heard of this place; b-but the alignment with the stars doesn't lie, we are five hundred and seventy kilometers on the east coast of Equestria. We are actually closer to the Dragon Lands than from Equestria if my latitude numbers are correct.”

“And I presume that they are?”

“Always.” He fixed his glasses.

I looked him up and down, truly believing I would regret my next sentence.

“And you’re like this due to happiness? Why the crazy mane?”

“O-oh, that.” He stopped, breathed in for a long time before releasing the air.

I expected him to turn to me and explain, he instead looked again into the telescope while furiously writing his number down in the sand. After half a minute he pushed the telescope away and started kicking sand and cursing the world before sitting apathetic.

“Bright? What was that?” He didn’t react to my answer, just looked up, gazing at the stars.

“Tell me, what do you know about stars and their positioning?”

“To be honest, not much, it wasn’t my, my jurisdiction if you will, in my squadron.”

“There are five fundamental patterns.” He raised a hoof and clapped it at the floor as he spoke. “First, is the primordial night; then the monster night followed by the victory, fear and love night, each with a particular set of stars.”

“Okay?”

“Three days ago it was the primordial night, which, by my calculus, is impossible, it should be monster night.”

I looked up at the stars, a constellation here and there, but nothing an untrained eye could grasp.

“Why? Why by the name of the gods do I still see the alicorn constellation! It should not be there!” He panicked and he prepared to redo his math.

“Okay,” I grabbed him by his shoulder and gave him a good shake. “Compose yourself and explain.”

“I-I- did you ever hear of Princess Luna fumbling her nights? That never happened!”

It took me a moment to fully process what he was, was- no he has to not be-

“You’re not implying that Princess Luna-”

“I don't know, but that.” He pointed a hoof at the starly sky. “That is an anomaly beyond mere panic.”

“Maybe she is just busy, and doesn't have time for it, she does mold the night after all.”

“That's… unlikely, just a tiny portion of the sky truly changes each night, normally it has to do with a dream she witnessed, or a nightmare she defeated, and decided to share with her subjects… but there it is, the same new constellation I saw in Salt-Lick Bay. Luna hasn't touched the sky since this nightmare began.”

A moment of silence followed, he just whimpered in silence, doing his best to hold his fears and tears. He failed.

I approached him and rested a hoof over his shoulder.

“Hey there.” I said, feeling anxiety rising and the bile in my stomach revolting with the news. “You know, it's cold, why don't you join us by the fire?” I point at it, my vision turving a bit, am I about to pass out?

“B-but the pr-”

“What are you gonna do about it?”

He froze, my words sinking into him, he raised a hoof for a moment, then gave up.

“I don’t… know. I don't know what to do.”

I bit my lips to stop me from throwing up, I closed my eyes to stop my dizziness and breathed in to ease my heart. I tap on his shoulder, and I smile.

“You can join us by the fire.”

“I-I think I will. It's just… the princesses are okay, right?”

I saw his eyes, they had nothing but hope and excitement during the whole time, now they are filled with fear, confusion and despair.

“C’mon now, the food is getting cold” I tapped his shoulder and walked towards it.

------

When we arrived a fuzz started while they waved at us, giving Bright a can of beans that he eagerly accepted. The kids are all sleeping in their tent.

“What do you think Hope?” I blinked, too focused on the fact we are eating our last meal and last bit of fresh water to fully grasp his question.

“About what?”

“Well,” Rowdy shrugged and pointed in all directions. “‘bout everything, those things for exemple, what do you think they are?”

“I told yer air-head, it’s a punishment by the gods!” Wood shouted. “We mettled with the dragons and all-changing folk, by the gods, the lord of chaos himself got into this mess!”

“Here we go again.” A mare rolled her eyes.

“Oh don't ya tell me that, everything worked when every folk knew their place, not meddling with each other.”

“Are you implying this all happened because we got closer to the other races?” Wood stopped, and reflected for a moment “If your memory is that bad oldy, the lord of chaos saved your flank.

“I’m not happy about it, neither do I like it, but the world worked when every single kind knew where they belonged. Dragon folk in the dragon lands, griph-gra- bird kin in their nests, and the lord of chaos keeping out of material matters! I don't need to like it to see the truth. We are being punished by the almighties.”

Some nodded at his points, others rolled their eyes at it.

“Maybe they really are zombies? I mean, the necromancers, they do exist.” One pony said.

“Existed.” Bright corrected him apathetically. “They got whipped out almost two millennia ago.”

“But what if they survived?”

“Unlikely, besides, the… zombies, as you call them, weren’t like the ones modern media illustrate. They didn't spread with a bite, or used magic and flight as those do. They were simple bodies being reanimated with magic. Simple as that.”

Some ponies signed with relief, others looked even more worried.

“So just a disease then?”

“Also unlikely.” Bright interrupted again. We all looked at him and he shrugged.

“A disease that does- I can't even- it’s impossible, simple as that.”

“Our smart-ass folk, the peak of ingenuity.” Bright grunted.

“A disease can’t… do that, it’s clearly magical in nature since the lord of chaos himself couldn't do anything about it; and the pathogens that cause diseases are too small to hold any magical properties, one of the few camps of study without a magical element in our world.”

“So, a magical condition? Like a poison joke?”

“It’s also unlikely, magical conditions don't spread. They are isolated events that can be replicated with control, not cultivated or passed by each individual like we all saw.”

“Sooo, you’re saying that we know, that we know nothing, how comforting.” Rowdy chuckled

“You want me to lie? Facts are facts. I’m more inclined to trust Mister Woods here,” Wood smiled, “as much as I hate to admit.” His smile turned into a frown.

“What if they are a mix of both?” A low voice echoed and we all jumped away from the green filly staring at us.

“Thinker, dearly, you should be sleeping!” And the old mare moved, her back hoof trembling while she rushed the child back to her tent. “You can't sneak upon us like that, we are discussing adult talk here.”

“But could it not be?” She questioned while walking towards the tent.

“Kids, am I right?” The old mare jocked after returning and sitting again.

“Well.” Bright starts. “No, it's impractical to do it, you would need to find a perfect balance, and the amount of power, it’s just sci-fi at best.”

“Powerfull, like the lord of chaos?”

Bright's eyes blinked a pair of times, and he kept opening and closing his mouth for a couple of moments.

“He… with time… I think so.”

“So, with time, an equally powerful one could manage that?”

“Yes.” We all looked at him. “I mean, I’m no virologist, nor a healer! I’d need a lab and a good supply of infected to find that out through tests, and some months to actually learn virology and advanced healing principles!” We all shrugged.

Time went on, and the subject slowly turned away from that. At first it was jokes and stories, and even a couple of prayers, but soon they started sharing their stories, how they ended up in Salt-Lick Bay before everything started.

“I was on vacation.” One said, cleaning a shy tear.

“Lucky you, my boss told me to go there to check the clouds to see if they are ready to be harvested! Damn that city sucked!” Rowdy spoke, yawning slightly

“Hey, that's my city!” A brown pegasus spoke loudly, slamming the floor.

“But it did! There was nothing there! Neither a good pub, nor a good brothel! An Absolutely awful place.”

“First of all, only someone living there can say it, yes it sucks but hey, thats is- was, my home.'' The mood died a bit, but she shook her head, buffed and stared at him… seductively?! “And about the brothel thing.” D-did she just licked her lips? “You clearly didn't look for it enough.”

Before any of us could react, she got up, stretched and started walking away.

“I feel like a good flight right now, be right back.” And just like that she flew high into the night, winking an eye before leaving.

Everypony stared at Rowdy, whose mouth was ajar, his wing holding a spoonful of beans ready to devour. He just handed it over to the next pony and got up

“You know, I feel like one too.” Without any further warning he flew towards the other direction, but we all saw him changing directions mid flight and going after her.

“Well, that just happened.” Honey spoke and we all shared a good laugh.

Honey leaned towards the fire, and started humming a lullaby, it was low tone, but clearly discernible. Lullaby for a Princess, one of Equestria's most traditional songs.

“My father used to sing it to me when I was young. You see, I was quite the chicken.” She chuckled. “And my father, he was so brave, I wanted to be like him, I wanted to save lives like him. That's why I became a nurse, in a year I would be a doctor like him.” She bit her lower lips, tears forming in her eyes. “Fuck. Fuck.”

“H-hey miss, you okay there?”

“I miss him,” She wiped her face. “He was always so… hard to rationalize. I tried everything to make him move, but he wouldn’t, he needed to save those poor souls back into the mall. Can still remember his words.” Her breath failed a couple of times, but she finished. “Can’t abandon them, they need me. Fucking stubborn- piece of-” She gazed at the fire, before letting out the longest sigh I have ever heard. “I miss you dad.”

I decided to stay awake. Told them I still needed to wait for others to come back, and the love birds too, and in less than an hour they all went to sleep.

Nothing happened, it hurts so much to say it; not a single leaf from the trees moved. Gods, I hope they are okay.

After some time the mare returned, she flew in a funny way, her mane was… well, her mane. She froze when she saw me awake, I nodded at her, pretending to take off my helmet. She blushed even more and went straight to her bed. Well at least somepony is having fun.

Not much time after it, Rowdy returned. He had the biggest grin I have ever witnessed in my whole life. Oh boy here we go.

He approached me, always grinning, and let out a heavy sigh. He chuckled a couple of times and patted me on my shoulder.

“Nice talk, Hope.” And just like that he went to bed. What in the hay?

I stayed in guard all night, shooing away some small rodents that came from the forest from time to time. They didn’t return.

When the sun started to rise, I yawned, and retired myself to my hut. I believe I need a good rest. A good… and nice rest. I didn’t realize I was so… exhausted. Even thinking is hard.

“Good night Blaze.” I mumbled some words while rolling and nesting into my hut.

After the storm

I opened my eyes, and breathed heavily, skaters of the nightmare still lurking in my mind, the voices of my fallen comrades haunting me. I put a hoof on my face and I felt the sweat and saw the sun from between the cracks on my tent.

I stayed there, lied down, immobile, I felt tears forming while I silently let out my anguish into a silence cry.

------

I left my tent and went straight to the beach to take a bath. They tried to talk with me, but I just shrugged.

“Not now.”

“But miss-”

“First, I’ll take a bath, later. The world won't end until there.” And with that they left me alone.

I wasn't always a fan of baths, but now it felt refreshing. It cleanses the soul of bad spirits, but in the last days only served to clean blood from my fur. It felt, nice; to have a normal bath for a change.

When I finally finished, I went towards them, their eyes concerned telling me this won't be a happy morning. Wait, I look up and see the sun was high, is it post midday already?

“Hope, there is something you need to see.” A group of ponies surrounded me and we started walking, every time I tried to question them they told me I needed to see it first.

“Should I get my spear?” I jocked and they stared at each other for a moment before nodding hastily. Oh boy.

I rushed forwards, my spear popping into existence by me. Did somepony get hurt? Fuck, why did I wasted time taking a shower when they needed my help!

In no time I saw Honey and Rowdy, one million things went through my head, and before I knew I had teleported behind them.

“HOLY SHIT!” Rowdy flew away. “You can't just do that!”

“What's going on? Somepony is hurt?”

“It’s not that.” Honey spoke, a flower in her hoofs; but before I could ask anything she pointed down and I saw a hole dug, and then I realized.

“The grave?”

“Yeah, something dug it up, and dragged her body there.” Rowdy pointed at the trail leading into the forest.

“Did any of you saw anything?”

“Nope, was like this when we arrived.”

“Hope,” Honey put the flowers inside the grave with care, then turned to me. “What do we do? It ain't safe here anymore, it could have been one of the children!”

A rustle erupted near the trees by us, Rowdy and Honey flew high and I jumped away from it.

“We talk it out in the camp, we are not safe here.”

Without waiting for their confirmation I started to move away from the rustle, never taking my eyes off of it.

------

“We need to get out of here! I’m telling you!”

“You crazy?! We can't fly towards Equestria! And what about the others?”

“There is something inside that forest, and it’s going to pick us one by one! We can't just sit idly like ducks!”

Those thoughts, and many more flooded while we sat by the campfire discussing what to do.
“We need-” I try to intervene, but I notice a green filly running towards me, the poor thing is breathless.
“M-miss Hope.” She says between long pauses to breath, I look up and see two more fillies leaving the forest.
“Thinker, dear, what happened?”
“They want to talk with you.”
“They? They who- and who told you could go to the forest! It's dangerous!”
“But it's boring here! There is nothing to do.” She inflated her cheks and crossed her hoofs.
“Ye-I- who you spoke-” But my words stopped when I sawn the hooded pair near a tree. One walked in the forest immediately, while the other nodded at me, and signaled me to follow, quickly disappearing too. They are fine!
I got up and I saw the foals sneakily returning to their tent. I got my spear, which was sunk into the sand, and my shield to move towards the forest.
“H-hey hey! Where are you going?” Honey flew by, pointing towards the anxious crowd.
I moved Thinker towards her. Little bugger was hugging my back hoofs.
“I need to go there, I think I saw somepony.” She just blinked at me
“We are in the middle of something here!”
“It won't take long, and tell them to not let the foals venture into the forest again.” And like that I rushed towards the forest, hopping to not lose the track of those two nutheads.
“Again?!” I heard Honey yelling far from me.

------

I have been running and dodging for some time already, I shout at them to slow down, grasping barely a glimpse of them from time to time. The vegetation was too dense, I couldn't even see my hoofs on the ground!

“STOP!” I shout again.

They finally stop running, and both of them puff out of existence. They were unicorns?

When I approached the place they stood, I saw the small clearing, in the middle of it another of those huge metallic boxes. This one was opened too. They both sat by the door.

“You pieces of-” I start, slipping down the little hill to reach them. “When I put my hoofs on you.” I jump a small ditch, ready to fulminate those hooligans with a good scolding.

“Stop right there.” One of them spoke, his voice raspy and cold, almost the same as Captain Oak. I stopped in sheer reflex a few meters from them.

“This is a bad idea.” The other one spoke, his voice much more jovial and energetic, and yet I felt bits of sarcasm. Blaze's voice came to mind. It's.. similar.

“You shut it Sword, I don't want to hear it.”

I looked at the box, it was of similar size, and also looked sunk into the ground, as if it fell there.

“Soldier Hope, right?”

“Yes, but you don't-”

“I insist,” He interrupted me, “as a fellow guard, it’s the minimum we both can do to maintain a bit of order.” As he said it, a brooch levitated out his hood, a six pointed star. A purple star.

I blinked at it, but as the other snorted and levitated a similar brooch I couldn’t deny it any longer, or better, I didn't want to not believe it! But then, a question sparked in my mind.

“Why didn't you both reveal yourself before? If those brooches are to be trusted, why didn't the royal guards of the Princess Twilight herself speak about it before?”

They traded a glance at each other.

“This is a bad-bad idea, Steel, I’m telling you.”

“Soldier,” He spoke, with the conviction only a superior ranking official could, “I know you’re a good pony, and I need you to keep yourself together.” He slowly started to take his hood off.

“What do you… you…” My words failed me when I watched his eyes, black like tar, pupils red like blazing fire.

My body moved on its own, my spear raised and my shield floated between us. Am I mad? Did I just hear those things talking?

“Now take it easy girl, we don't want problems here now, do we.” He spoke again! his fur navy blue, barely visible due to the hood, and his- he doesn't have a horn. I blink at that fact, they, teleported back there right? Realization hit me instantly, and I eyed the other one.

“I told you this was a bad idea!” The younger one said, also taking his hood off, his fur a soft moss green color, his eyes were equally terrifying, black like the darkness of the scariest nights; and his pupils, burning with a fire that only the blazes of Tartarus could match.

“I told you to shut it!” He scolded the young one, then stared at me and I felt a jolt piercing my spine. “Soldier Hope, please, hear me.”

“What are you? How come you’re… like that and still talking!” I shouted, pointing my spear at them the whole time, feeling the anxiety building, waiting for them to disappear and jump me.

He hesitated, twisting his muzzle in a thoughtful way before letting out a big sigh.

“I don't think you’ll buy it if I say we don't know?”

“Like crap I will.” I take a step back, maybe I can rush towards the beach?

“Wait!” He shouted and I tensed, “Lets not do anything harsh here, why don't we sit down and talk, lower our weapons… maybe we can go to the beach, you do look more comfortable there.”

Captain Oak's words came into my mind as fast as he finished his sentence.

“YOU WON’T HURT THEM!” I slightly lunged forwards, and the young one's eyes widened. He quickly drew a sword which this rascal hid the entire time!

“I TOLD YOU! THEY WON'T LISTEN!” He swung his sword in the air threatening towards me, how far is he? Maybe if I teleport fast enough… I might make it-

“Soldier Dawn Sword you’ll lower your weapon this instant!”

“She will-”

“IT’S A DIRECT ORDER, SOLDIER!” With reluctance, he… lowered his weapon? I also lower mine, much more due to trying to remember if I have ever seen one infected using weapons than anything else.

“You’re gonna get us both killed.” After saying that, he sheathed his sword.

“Good, now see Soldier Hope, we mean no harm, we just want to talk.”

I felt my breath getting uneasy, flashes of those things killing and devouring my fellow guards sparked in front of my eyes, it would be so easy. A teleport and one precise thrust and one of them is down, then I use my shield… Captain Oaks' order resounded into my head once more, my breath now is clearly erratic, What should I do? Why am I hesitating?

“Soldier Hope?” He asks once more, my grasp in my spear strength, for one moment I see clearly, I just need… I need to protect the others! Why am I so pathetic! What would Captain Oak say! What would… Blaze say… what would he do?

Almost every single piece in my body says this is a stupid idea. The tip of my spear touchess the soil. I’m going to die. I’m going to end up killing the others. These were the thoughts that permeated my mind, yet, deep down, I feel a pain in my heart that I can't describe, and doubt when I imagine what Blaze would do in this situation.

“Wh-why should I trust you?” He breathed in soundly, slowly unsheathed his sword and threw it away, then looked at his friend.

“Like shit I’m doing it.” One fierce glare from the older one and he soon did the same.

“We could have jumped you, not revealed our… condition, and many other things. You’re a smart mare, a soldier full of wisdom-” I scoff at that statement. “-so use it. I repeat myself, we mean no harm.”

“Ok.” Celestia has mercy on me. I do hope I made the best choice. “Okay, let's talk then.”

He smiled, and I could see his sharp teeth, a characteristic many didn't notice about the infected. I, unfortunately, noticed.

“Please.” He gestures as he sits down, his friend quickly accompanying him. I walk-move inch by inch towards them. “Soldier Hope, your weapon?”

“Yes? About it?” He frowns more confused than annoyed.

“We can't have a normal and civil conversation while you hold your weapon.”

He has a point. I think internally, I glance at my spear, my only failsafe if my hunch goes south, the manifestation of my doubts in this questionable idea. I sink it on the floor, together with my concerns and fears. I breathe out a weight from my shoulder that I haven't realized I carried for a moment.

I sat near them, but not so close, he stopped me.

“I can feel your uneasiness. This distance is okay, soldier.”

We traded a long stare for a long time, I didn't know what to say, neither what to ask. I look at them again, they have every characteristic of infecteds, the eyes, the teeth, except… the cracks.

I eye at the brooches once more, a symbol of Princess Twilight royal guards.

“Greetings,” He said with a gentle smile. “I’m Lieutenant Steel Resolve, and this ray of sunshine by me is the Soldier Dawn Sword.”

I felt one eye twitch with the fact. He is a Lieutenant, a leader of a platoon, Like Spin used to be. For some reason the only thought in my mind at the moment is the fact that he outranks me.

“So, Soldier Hop-

“Captain.” I interrupted him immediately, speaking in sheer reflex. Why did I say that?!

“I beg your pardon?”

“Captain Oak promoted me before his… demise.” I felt a jolt of pain in my heart when I said that last word. “I never understood his reasons to do so, but he did.” Steel analyzed me deeply, barely buying my lie. Why did I lie?!

“Well, I knew that old-pipe-enjoyer, but did not expect him to give in his position, not before dying that is.” He laughed, and I shyly followed, then his eyes widened, and he hastily got up and punched his buddy to do so and saluted me

“Lieutenant Steel Resolve from the Purple Star!” His friend looked at him, flabbergasted, mouth half open. Steel discreetly kicked him and he recomposed himself.

“I ahm… I, Soldier Dawn Sword from the Purple Star.”

“We present ourselves to you, Captain Hope from the tenth regiment.”

“I- at ease.” They both sit down again, Sword rolling his eyes and mumbling something about over-protocols.

A dull silence followed us, while we both stared at each other, uncertain what to say, I gazed at their eyes. It was a dreadful sight at first, but now, without the tension ruling high, it just looked… off, not that threatening as before.

“There is something in my face, captain?”

“No it’s just… what is your… deal?”

“Oh, yeah, that.” Steel stared down for a moment, Sword rolled his eyes, again. It looked particularly unsettling the way he does that with a black sclera.

“We told you before!”

“Sword! Show this captain some respect!”

“No it’s okay, I think we can skip the formalities when just between us.” My heart skipped a beat. “But in front of the others, please, use the appropriate honorific.” They both nodded at me, and I moved a bit closer.

“So you both don't know anything about what is happening? Like why you’re speaking, and not… not-”

“Munching?”

“Yes.” I looked at Steel, waiting for an answer, but it was Sword who followed suit.

“We were.” He said emotionlessly. “I’m certain of it.”

“You… were?”

“Look, we went through a lot too in those last few days, so can you cut to the questions please.”

I nod, what once was an emptiness of questions in my head, now it's filled to the brim, questions creating questions. I breathe out heavily one time, and move again near them.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in the Crystal Empire?”

They both sighed in unison, sad eyes forming for a snap of a second before disappearing.

“I can answer that.” Steel spoke. “You see, we were on a mission escorting Princess Twilight's friends home to Ponyville after their monthly reunion.”

“We who?” He gently cared for his brooch.

“Our entire group, you, you know who we were, right?”

“Purple Star? The newly formed regiment which is under Princess Twilight jurisdiction, right?”

“Well, yes, we weren’t one regiment yet, just a prototype of one. We mustered a total of twenty members.” I heard the pain in the back of his voice while he kept gazing at his brooch.

“Lieutenant?”

“Sorry, captain, we were tasked to escort Princess Twilight friends, a simple task.”

“Then everything went south.”

“No.” Sword interrupted. “It was before, and maybe-”

“Sword.” Steel scolded.

“What? She has the right to know!”

“Desinformation isn’t going to help us.”

“Please Soldier Sword, procede.” He grinned at his friend, again I saw the sharp teeth and remembered what they… were.

“They decided to visit Ms. Rarity, after visiting their friend Ms. Fluttershy in the hospital.” I blinked at that fact. I knew about Ms. Rarity isolation, delayed requests and everything, but didn't know Flutershy was in the hospital.

“She was…” He looked at Steel for a moment, then continued. “We believe she was patient Zero.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It’s hard to explain, you had to be there to know. She didn't simply isolate herself, she literally nailed her windows and door! Ms. Applejack had to buck down the door!”

“Then?”

“Then nothing, for a long time, just a yellow mist, or was it dust? Something filled that boutique, something evil. Then Rarity appeared, yelling how we shouldn’t have taken down her door, how we freed something.”

“Her appearance?”

“The one you’re expecting, black eyes, I mean, like us.” He pointed at both of them. “Plus the cracks near the eyes. It was frightening. Ms. Applejack tried to escort her to medical assistance, but something broke in her, she snapped.”

“Went feral?” He nodded.

“She dragged Ms. Applejack inside. It got us off guard, me and this old fella here, togueder with Ms. Pinkie, were the only ones that managed to enter before a magic buble closed the door; the interior was… horrific, everything was broken or rotting, food spilling through the whole floor, water dripping from the second floor, mannequins twisted in weird positions, or missing chunks of them. The only thing that got my attention in that pandemonic environment was a delicate yellow flower sitting near one of the few cracks of light entering that place. It was almost alien seeing such a beautiful thing in contrast with the rest.”

Sword raised his hoofs, bulged on his cheeks while he held in vomit.

“Let me continue.” Steel intervened. “It was like he said, we found them both fighting on the floor, Rarity’s teeth sunken deep into Applejack hoof. We tried to hold her, but when we put our hoofs on her she teleported and blasted Sword with her magic.” I look at him.

“Yes, I flew through one of the windows.” He says finally recomposing himself.

“Before I could do anything, she teleported again and a sickening scrench filled the air, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, she bit Pinkie in her throat.”

“Shit.”

“Shit indeed. I saw blood squirting, it was bad. I tried to tackle her, but Applejack got her first, bucking her right in her torso. I could see it in slow motion, even now. How Rarity flew fast through the same window Sword did, a piece of Pinkie's throat yet in her mouth.”

He didn't say anything for a moment, I could see it in his eyes, he was experiencing it, flash spinning in front of him.

“What then?”

“Then we subdued her.” Sword intervened. “A quick hit to the head and she was knockouted out. When we saw the state Ms. Pinkie was in… we picked her and went straight to Canterlot Hospital, Ms. Rarity was escorted to the dungeons of Canterlot.”

“Did, Ms. Pinkie Pie, you know?”

“She survived, we got there fast and the doctors stabilized her. It happened the night before everything started.”

“Oh.”

“We both stayed there as her bodyguards, while waiting for orders from the princesses.” Steel continued. “The night was… long.”

“The longest night ever.” Sword completed.

“One moment we were there, struggling to make sense of the world, on the other we were in the middle of the city, it was in ruins. It was already a pandemonium.”

“We found each other, and then we went west during the whole day. We ended in a small city called Salt-Lick Bay, stumbled into a group of survivors, and well, I think you know the rest.”

I analyzed what they said, a hoof near my chin while I processed this information, trying to find inconsistencies or contradictions, anything to just say that they are lying for some reason. Three of the elements of harmony… good heavens.

“What do you mean-can you be more precise? What do you mean woke up in the middle of the city? Can you be more specific?” Steel pressed his lips for a brief moment, then nodded.

“It wasn't a good time, I hope you understand when I say it’s a delicate matter. A time we wish didn't happen.”

“Okay, then why west?”

“‘Cause I had family there.” Sword answered immediately, I thought about asking him about them, but I sawn the hurt in his eyes and I knew the answer to my question.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It did help us find you all.”

A ravenous thunder erupted, and I felt my heart beating in unison with it. My line of thought broken, fuck, the heck was that?!

“It seems it came from the beach.” Sword spoke, already getting up and grabbing his sword.

Right, they will go to the beach. Shit.

I get up, and they both approach me, signaling me to lead the way.

“After you, captain.” Steel said with a genuine smile. His sharp teeth, barely noticeable.

We move. It was a thunder, strange, did that storm reach us sooner?

“There is one last question I need to ask you both.” I slow my pace slightly. “It's about, your… diet.”

“Oh, I figure you’d ask that. Let me help rephrase it for you, you want to know if we pose any threat to others?”

“I believe in you, that you both have good intentions.” I peek back at their pitch-black eyes. “But you both admitted that you did turn. should I be worried one of us will disappear during the night? Or that you’ll have relapses?”

“WHAT?! I-”

“It's okay Sword, she raises a fair point, and therefore, deserves a just answer.”

“C’mon, we don't know how this works!”

“We do.” Steel answered fast, and quickly overpassed me, signaling me to stop.

“Hope, we have, how do I describe it?” He quickly glances at Sword, who in response shrugged and looked away. “Voices in our heads, not one or two, but hundreds of thousands whispering… things. We need to feed, we need to consume food. It’s always food, but even though they don't say it, I know what they mean by it.”

“Meat?” He nodded.

“Then there is the pain, it starts slow, but raises constantly all the time. Have you ever, ever felt hungry, Hope? Not that I don't have anything good to eat type; but my freezer is empty and I don't have one bit in my wallet type. Everything hurts while thousands of needles puncture us in our guts, our body eating itself. And the voices oh oh the voices. They scream even louder when the pains begin. I think that's what the infected are experiencing.”

“You are… hearing them now?” I took a step back.

“No, nothing but occasional whispers that might as well be the wind. This madness, this hunger, it goes away when we feed. I believe that's how this disease works, if one finds… food, they can stop the symptoms. Overcome the howls of insanity.”

I tried to rationalize what he said, more questions formuling, then another thunder erupted and I bolted towards the beach. What the fuck did I got myself into?

------

I left the forest, and I felt my shoulder fall. I just look astonished at them trying to rope a storm cloud, thunder escaping and hitting the floor or flying aimlessly to the sky.

Rowdy is riding the thing, rope in his mouth and all.

“The hay.” I shout and everypony stops and stares at me, the rope escapes Rowdy lips and the cloud puffs. “What are you doing!”

“Protecting ourselves! We tried to tame it to use as a weapon!” Rowdy says, getting up and flying at me just to stop abruptly. I look back and I see they are both using their hoods, oh right, now I need to make this happen.

Quickly a crowd of ponies approached us.

“Caring? Can you be a dear and take the kids to their tent? We need to discuss something serious.” I say to the elderly mare, which just nods.

In a matter of minutes it's done, and unsettling tension fell on us while they tried to engage in conversations with Steel and Sword, but they deflected all their questions, looking at me from time to time.

A funny thing I noticed about those hoods they wear. it is magic, enchanted, their faces are magically blurred.

“Okay guys, I have… we have something to show you all. But you need to stay calm.”

They traded a few glances between them and shrugged it off.

“What is it?”

“No, I mean it. You need to keep yourself together.”

“Why are we wasting time talking? There is a pony-eating monster in the woods!” Rowdy shouted, but Steel scoffed and walked forwards.

“I can help with that. You see, when Captain Hope here told us to venture into the woods, we got… got lost there.”

“Yeah? We know, we got worried and all of that.”

“We know what happened to that mare that passed away and got her grave… tainted with utmost disrespect.”

Sword walked by Steel, and gazed him up and down.

“Oh yeah? We know what happened to her?” His words are slow, and methodic.

“She got dragged by a monster in the forest.

“I knew it! WE need to-”

“But we killed it.”

“What?” Everypony uttered in unison.

“It was a quimera. Me and Sword found the beast and killed it off.” He unsheathed his sword. “We… saw the body of the poor mare, and followed the trail of blood until we found the beach again. So fear not, the beast is vanquished.”

I don't know what to say, neither do all the others around me.

“Is it true? Where is it!”

“In the bottom of a lake inside the woods.” Steel pointed towards the forest. “You’re safe now.”

A cascade of smiles and cheers erupted among the ponies while they hugged each other. Sword coughed by me, and I saw his camouflage flicker for a moment.

“Ponies please, we still need to discuss something.”

“Wait, wasn't that what you-” Wood froze mid sentence, his eyes fixed on Sword.

I sigh, and breathe in and out.

“I want to present to you the Lieutenant Steel Resolve and the Soldier Dawn Sword.” As I finished my sentence, they took off their hood and a silent gasp echoed. Two mares fainted and screams ensued.

I woke up, my eyelids heavy with fatigue, when did I? I think I fainted. I smiled at the sight of my equipment placed orderly by my bed.

One ray of light that sneaked by one of the cracks in my tent hit me in the eye. I grunt.

I leave, pushing the curtain of a door aside and leaving my tent. I’m greeted with the blinding light of the sun, and after a few moments my eye adapted and the world made sense again.

The first thing I saw was two kids running and giggling, passing by me while they shared a long and joyful laugh.

I gaze at our camp with pride, the thick trees protecting us from the scarce wild life outside this clearing we settled our camp in.

With a hopeful smile I enjoy the warmth of the sun and take one of the few paths connecting this clearing with the rest of the forest. There is one thing I need to do.

I mumble many melodies while I trot in the forest, right here and left there, turn on the broken tree and walk over the fallen log above the stream and in no time I left the forest.

I sigh, this is good. It feels good. I continue walking towards the sea, and peek around to see if anypony is sneaking up on me. After making sure I'm alone I dig a little box out of the ground and open it. A smile formed again on my face, and the brick of soap inside greeted me back shining under the sun.

Bright gave me this on the first few days, and I feel so dirty by keeping this from the others, but it wouldn't last more than a week if they all used it! And I need this.

I broke a little piece off of it, and hid it again. I’m dirty, I’m always dirty; If I close my eyes I can almost smell the blood on my hoofs, a stain that will never be purged off of me.

Deciding to not give in those thoughts, I walk into the ocean to rejoice myself.

Funny thing isn't it? Before… well, everything, I would barely take a shower. I had that bad mentality of, why shower if I’m gonna get dirty again? I have to exercise in thirty minutes! A wet towel over my muzzle and perfume could do the trick. Now? Now I can't stand to start a day without a proper shower.

I feel the cold embrace of the ocean enveloping me while I dive myself into it. It's cold, freezing cold, but it's also good, it's right.

I clean myself with the soap, I clean those invisible stains that will forever be with me. low screams start to echo, and I clean harder, flashes of faces of friends show in front of my eyes and I dive my head into the water.

I open my eyes under the water, and in front of me is Blaze. I chuckled and bubbles erupted when I saw his smile, that dumb... funny… charming smile of his.

He says something, but I don't understand, he repeats, now louder, yet I failed to hear it. My lungs flame in protest and lack of air, but I don't care, I need to hear him! I need to hear his words!

What is it?! I scream under water, but my voice is muffled by the water. He pressed his hoof gently near my cheek, shook his head and started to sink into the vastness of the waters below. I can't do anything but watch as he simply disappears. The thought of diving after him sparked into my mind, but then my lungs protested again, but this time it was unbearably painful and I emerged from the ocean taking huge gulps of air.

I felt water running down my cheeks, and I blinked at it, is it the ocean? No, I was crying, crying since I put my hoof under water.

With an unmotivated sigh I resign to clean myself, trying to control my emotions and tears.

I failed.

------

I leave the ocean, the water pulling me back in a fruitless attempt to hold me there, to clean myself more, or share more tears and fears with it, but I can’t, and… I shan’t.

I rip off a leaf with magic from a far tree and start drying myself. Something picks my attention in the corner of my eye. I stare at it for a moment, then I sigh.

I moved towards it, finishing to dry myself and throwing the leaf away, and in no time I reached my objective. I sat in front of it.

“Hi Wood.” I speak at the grave, one of three we had to bury since we got here. His axe is still there, sunken over it, watching over him. “We…” Words failed me, as they always do, I never get past saying hi. Still, I smiled.

I looked at the other two. One had pumpkin written over it in a bark the kids crafted. The last one was small. Small for a small pony. I felt needles puncturing my heart while the memories dared to return, poor little child, she didn't deserve.

“Comb.” I spoke out loud as I read her grave.

“Hope?”

When I turned, I saw why the voice was familiar.

“Honey! You can't sneak on a pony like that!” The yellow pegasus giggled at my scene, resting bouquet of flowers evenly over the graves and doing a quick prayer.

“You… really does this a lot right? I think you never missed a day.”

“What can I say?” She giggled. “I used to do this to my mother before… well, everything. Since I can’t do it for her anymore, maybe this will help me… deal with the situation we’re in.” I pondered about answering, but I’m in no position to judge nor lecture others how they should cope with reality.

“It's beautiful.” I point at the flowers. “They would love what you’re doing.”

“Oh please!” She shook her hoof in the air. “Wood would grumble all day-long about how I’m wasting such beautiful flowers!” I laughed, yes he would. I thought, a smile forming in my face, then I looked at the grave once, and it slowly faded away.

“It’s not your fault, you know that?”

“I sho-

“Shhh.” She pressed her hoof on my lips. “We tried everything, sometimes, even our best isn't enough, no matter what we do.” She recoiled and sighed. “And the fever got us all by surprise. Not going to lie, Hope, if it weren’t for Sword and Steel, I don't think we would’ve made it.”

“Yeah.” I nodded at her, remembering how debilitated all of us got. They looked fine.

“Tropical fever is no joke, we’re lucky it only got two of us.” She blinked blankly “Oh please don't tell the others I just said that!” And just like that she hid her face full of shame with her hoofs.

I give the graves a quick nod and give Honey a tug to get us moving.

“Have you seen the boys? They haven’t returned since tonight."

“They are probably hunting a bunny. A lizard if they are unlucky.” I joked. “If they have to resort to eating fish again they will be mad!” We shared a joyful laugh.

“You know, Hope, in the beginning I have judged you wrong, I… haven’t had the best interactions with guards, always saw you all as bullies, but bullies that sometimes are in the right. And… you know, this disease and all. I was scared you would be a sore flank to tolera- what I’m trying to say is, thank you, for being here for us, and sorry for scolding you.”

I scoffed, and raised a eyebrow

“Which scolding? You have quite a number under your belt, miss.” She laughed in response.

“Okay, maybe not all of them, you deserved some.” I nodded in agreement. Flower used to say that many perspectives work better in smaller groups, I need somepony telling me where the stop sign is sometimes, I can’t be mad at it.

“Have you seen Bright? I didn't see him this morning.” She asked, and I shook my head.

“He is probably trying to synchronize the crystal I gave him, you know the guy, trying to connect us back with the world.” She rolled her eyes at my answer.

“I still don't know why you did it.”

“He needed something to occupy his mind, that's all."

“You know, there is something we want to do.”

“Hmm?”

“In two days it’ll be Button Smash's birthday, and his mom wants to throw a party.”

“Okay, and?”

“Can we? I’m asking you because we don't have much left, they are trying to make sugar out of those sugarcanes. I don't know if it works like that. And the flour, we still have some from those beans, and oh oh, lots of bananas.”

“Banana cake it is?”

“Most likely.” I sigh.

“Go ahead, but don't use all our food, this island can just provide so much.”

She smiled ear to ear, nodded and rushed ahead, and just then I realized we had arrived at the camp.

Cheers and laughter fill the air, there are ponies dancing and sharing drinks. They didn’t extract sugar out of those sugarcanes, but managed to turn it into some kind of beverage. I rolled my eyes at it, and made sure to spare some for me when this is over, can't have then seeing me utterly drunk.

I glance around, spotting Sword and Steel near the edge of the party, both gnawing in some fish, and staring at the ponies all the time. I grab some drinks and approach them.

“Hey fellas, having fun?”

“More than him I guarantee you.” Swords nod at the party and there I see Bright sitting near his trinkets and wires, meddling with the crystal. I rolled my eyes and they laughed.

“Do you want some?”

“Blagh, dont torture us please, I’d kill for a drink I can het drunk off. Maybe…” Swords grabbed one of the cups, took a long and deep sip before spitting it all out. “This tastes like bile!” Using this nice excuse, I take a sip and do a sonorous moan. Gods how I missed alcohol.

“Tastes just fine.” I grinned and they both waved at me.

“Torture I say.” They laughed.

“Comon, join us, you don't need to stay here all the time.”

“I don't know Hope, we don't want to press the boundaries.”

“Boundaries?”

“We both know they dont like us around, we are… well, us.”

“Well, we’re a group, and as such you both will be part of it.”

I used my magic and dragged them towards the party, caring little for their complaints, I hic, ops, am I tipsy? I was always a light drinker.

The night went on and on. It truly was a sight to behold, I lost myself enjoying the music and the jokes around, a good story here and a prank there. If I closed my eyes, I could easily forget the situation we’re in.

“I GOT IT!” Bright shouted, interrupting the party for a moment, and before any of us could say anything he pressed the crystal into his machine. It came to life in a snap of a second, and a faint, yet audible voice spoke.

“Who is there?

Everypony froze, the stupor was just too big.

“We ar-” Bright words were silenced when I closed his mouth with my magic, and rushed at the crystal.

It was a mess of wires and tubes, I couldn't even hope to make sense out of it, but the crystal shone, and that made sense to me.

“Who is there? Is this a prank? This is beneath you.” The voice spoke again, authority filling each word.

They all looked at me, expecting something, no one daring to speak. I cleared my throat and approached it.

“Here is Captain Hope from the tenth regiment.”

A silence filled the air while we all awaited for an answer, and soon, the answer came.

“Lies. That would be Oak Shield.” I felt that statement.

“Who do I speak with?” Again, silence ensued. A new and more motherly voice answered.

“Greetings captain of the tenth regiment. Equestria stands.” The voice cracked, and flickers of light erupted in the crystal, the communications were going down. Before I could say anything, Bright was on it, moving metal rods and mixing unknown liquids. It came back, just with more static this time.

“Captain? Are you there?”

“YES! Please repeat.”

“Equestria stands. The infection is under control.” In that moment, the silence was broken beyond control, they started screaming in joy, hugging each other, and a pair of them even flew to the woods to celebrate. “And it seems you ponies enjoy the news? Please. State. Your. location.” I felt a jolt going through my spine, the voice seemed… wrong.

“I-” I looked at the others, they all stared back at me with smiles and tears.

“Captain. State. Your. Location.” The voice demanded again, and again I had that nauseating feeling, something was… off.

But before I could say anything, Bright jumped between me and the crystal, and started spilling coordinates, when I realized what he was saying it was already too late.

“I see. That's… odd. Did Discord transfer you there?”

“YES!” Bright shouted, and I pushed him away.

“Understood. A… fleet will arrive there in a week. Enjoy your time there, we’ll arrive in no time. Oh, one las-” Before the voice could finish the crystal shone like a mini-sun for a moment, and melted on the other.

“NO! It overheated!” Bright cries by me, rushing at the destroyed thing.

I felt the world around me spinning. It's happening, help is coming. Help, I hope.

If the party was vivid before, now it was like nothing else, barely resembling a child's party, now the adults are celebrating. Any decor about holding on the drink was off the table, one lied drunk there, other here. The childs are having fun meddling with the drunk-passed-out ponies though.

Then I see Button giggle-full-run stop when he coughed a blob of blood, his mother rushed by him, and with surgical ease cleaned his mouth and pushed him to continue playing. We locked eyes for a moment, but no word was spoken.

Bright drank until he passed out, joining the many that already did that, Sword and Steel are together with the more sober ponies, piece of flesh in hoof and everything. Looks like the end of this nightmare finally broke that barrier that held them off I guess.

Finally I find Honey by the… the… the apparatus Bright built to amplify the crystal.

She had a thoughtful look on her face, touching the melted crystal from time to time.

“Honey?”

“Yes.” She didn't break eye contact with the crystal.

“Did you… do you have a bad feeling about this?”

“You too? The voices were… odd. I feel like I’ve heard them before, and they seemed so… so…”

“Empty?”

“That. Bright guaranteed me it was due to the signal flickering, a miracle it even managed to reach to the mainland. His words, not mine.”

“Maybe it’s just us freaking out like the others? They drink, we doubt, we prepare. It’s our job after all.”

“You know what? Maybe you’re right, this nightmare is over and I don't want to- dont know if I can handle it otherwise.” She stared up, letting Luna’s moon illuminated her face.

“I’m going to see my mom when I get home, what about you?” I blinked at it. I never stopped to think about the if or what to do when inevitably I left the island.

I shook my head, there is only one answer.

“I’ll go find a friend.” She looked at me and nodded, then she raised a half empty jar of alcohol and drinked the remains.

“Nice.” Her voice is tipsy. “But now ‘scuse me ma’am, but Rowdy is trying to get into my bits since we landed here, and I'm down to have some bloody fun now!” She took one step and fell face flat on the floor, snoring ensued. I just rolled my eyes with the whole situation. We did it, hum?

I sit idly near the end of the forest.

“They should be arriving soon! Can't wait to leave this place.” One spoke.

“I wonder how my home is.” Another spoke, and those types of conversations ensued.

I still couldn't believe its ending, our stay on this island was so short, yet so long, some even lost their lives here. I felt a cold grasp around my heart. If only they endured more, if only I had saved them all.

“Hey.” Honey sat by me. “Don't cry for those you couldn't save, be happy for the ones you saved.”

“That’s. That's lovely.”

“My father used to say that.” A sad chuckle ensued. “Smile, Hope, you did it. All the souls here owe you. All the stories they’ll live, and the children they'll bear, it’s all because of you.”

“T-they are here! There!” One pony shouted and they started leaving the forest.

“Here, let me help.” Honey grabbed me by my hoof, and we both walked out of the forest, the light hitting us right in our face, blinding.

I closed my eyes when I left the forest, took one deep breath in, then out and smiled genuinely for what felt like ages, and opened my eyes.

“Wherever you are Blaze, I’m going to save you.”