Hope is the last thing that must die.

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.”