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.