Equestrian Evil

I didn’t trust him, and I knew quite well that he didn’t trust me. But if we were going to survive this thing, we would have to work together, like it or not.

I tried to stop him as he entered the hall with my now deceased comrade, but he ignored me and entered anyways. I expected him to gasp or flee at the sight of a dead body, but he surprised me by doing something I didn’t expect.

He did nothing, and instead just walked right on past.

He led me down the hall to the door that the blood trail led to. Did he not see the blood trail? Or did he just think it was from my fallen team-mate? Whatever it was,  I just hoped he knew how to use the gun enough to kill a zombie that was trying to have him as a midnight snack.

“Here. This is the door. It’s the only way up to the second floor that is unlocked as far as I can tell. Then again, I haven’t quite been to the other wing. I’ll lead you back to where I fell through, and then you can lead from there.”

“Sure, just don’t fall through the floor anymore.” He turned at me and gave me a stare as if he was mentally ripping me limb from limb. Obviously he wasn’t a very happy pony. I would have to be careful to not anger him.

He started to open the door slowly, and as he did I looked through the opening to make sure it was clear. Fortunately, it was as far as I could tell, but the zombie could easily be right out of eyesight. We would have to be careful, lest we become the second and third course for the zombie pony.

“Be ready to shoot. That thing can be anywhere, and it’s probably best to not let it get a taste of you.” He simply gave me a blank stare and a barely noticeable head nod, then walked in confidently. I was beginning to doubt that this pony was who he said he was, but I wasn’t about to say anything without proof.

He quickly snapped his head back and forth before walking forward with more confidence than Princess Celestia on the day of the Summer Sun Celebration. With slight hesitation, I entered the room and looked around. Despite the lighting being off due to the candled littering the room not being lit, I was able to see enough to gather that this was a bar of sorts.

On the north wall was a bar complete with multiple drinks that called out to me. Normally I wasn’t a drinker, but having the warmth of alcohol would be just what I needed right now. On the wall across, next to the bar, was a simple staircase that led up to the second floor. With my superior S.P.A.R.C training, I easily presumed that this staircase was our destination.

With ever growing caution, I moved to the staircase. I eased up a tiny bit when my “partner” reached the stairs and glared impatiently at me. I began to pick up my pace when I heard a loud growl, followed by a shriek as the zombie pony from the hallway jumped down the stairs landing on Zentra.

“Get it off me! Get it off!” I aimed right between the zombies eyes and pulled the trigger. Thankfully, my aiming was good enough to knock it off of the doctor, but the thing STILL wasn’t dead.

“Oh for the love of…” I charged at it before it could get up and bucked it in the head with all my might. I wasn’t about to give it the chance to make a meal out of me, so I continued smashing the zombies head until it’s brains were of a consistency rivaling that of the finest quality mashed potatoes.

“You really don’t like those things do you?” I began to try and shake the blood off of my hoofs as I replied to him.

“Nope. Anything that wants to eat me isn’t exactly going to get a hug from me.” I stepped aside allowing him to walk by up the stairs. Needless to say, he was cautious this time, and with good reason. I avoided stepping in the mashed zombie again as I followed the doctor up the stairs. I looked back down the stairs once more just to be sure that the thing wasn’t going to jump up and start slinging brain matter at me. Luckily it seemed to finally be as dead as Rainbow’s jokes. And her jokes were pretty horrible.

“Uhm… Big Mac? We might have a little problem.” I ascended to the top of the stairs as I responded.

“What is it- HOLY MOTHER OF CELESTIA!” We both stood there wide eyed at the sight of multiple “dead” zombies lying on the ground; large bullets clean through each of their heads. In the middle of the group of slaughtered zombies, stood none other than good old Barry Blood-drop; his special made Lightning Phoenix in his mouth.

“Hey Mac! You’re a little late to the party!” He lowered his head and placed the gun in its holster, then resumed talking to me. “Of course they didn’t stand a chance against my gun. Where’s Rainbow at?”

“Other wing. She is having us split up and search for clues about what happened here, and a back exit. See any other ways out of here?” He closed his eyes as he thought.

“Now that you mention it, there was a bridge that went into the mountain up on the fourth floor. But that’s all  saw. All I’ve done since I got here was run around and “kill” these… Things. Anyways, you go on ahead, I’m going to go find rainbow and report in. My radio stopped working, so I can’t just call in.”

“Okay, don’t become an appetizer alright?” He laughed and he walked past me; placing one hoof on my shoulder. Never understood how he did that, since I stood at least a couple inches taller than him.

“Don’t worry about me. I can handle these things.” He started to go down the stairs before he stopped. “Oh, and I found this. I don’t know what it’s too, but I have a feeling it belongs to this wing.” He reached down to the pack that was on his chest and pulled out a small key, and threw it too me. With expert precision, I caught it in my mouth, careful not to swallow it. I dropped it into the open pack on my chest, then closed it.

“Thanks, you ready to go Z-“I stopped and looked around when I noticed that my follower had disappeared.

“Who you talking too? You’re not going crazy are you?”

“No I… Don’t worry about me, just go report to Rainbow.” He gave me a questionable look and raised his eyebrow, then shook his head.

“I never will understand you. Just don’t go trying to have a conversation with one of those things.” He began to descend the stairs. “They aren’t exactly the most talkative types.”

“He gone?” I jumped a little as Zentra spoke up from behind me. I turned to see him peeking out from behind a painting, which served as a hidden door.

“Why’d you hide? He’s on our side.” I walked towards him.

“Sorry, I just don’t trust ponies.” He was looking at me, but it looked as if he were actually staring past me. “Always trying to steal my work; take credit for MY genius!” I backed away as he began to smile quite maniacally. “I’ll show them!” He released a creepily maniacal cackle as he fell out of the doorway.

And he didn’t move.

“Hey Doctor, you okay?” I put a hoof on his neck to feel for a pulse, and didn’t get one. I began to inspect his body to see what had caused his death.

When I found a hypodermic needle jabbed into his stomach.

It looked self inflicted, which worried me to extreme extents. But what worried me more was what was in the needle. There was a trace amount left inside the tube, and I didn’t recognize the substance. It wasn’t a color I had seen before in any medicines, and it most definitely wasn’t anything poisonous. My examination was cut short as the body began to move, and the skin on his hoofs began to shed away, revealing the muscle underneath.

Naturally I backed away, and reached for my gun. My eyes went wide with terror as he slowly stood up, and the skin continued to rip away. What scared me the worst however was the fact that a blade shot out from his chest, and barbs began to sprout out around his hoofs. I began to slowly back away as two more bladed tentacle burst out of his sides, right where a Pegasus’s wings would normally be. “He” took a step slowly in my direction, and opened his eyes to reveal them to be bloodshot and now a reddish green color. I saw his mouth open as he spoke two simple words.

“Must… Feed…”