Chapter 3

“Listen spike. You need to wear this.” I say sternly as I hover a face mask in front of him.

“But Twilight, it always feels so hard to breath with it on.” Spike complains to me as he reaches for the door to leave the castle.

“I don't care Spike. I'm not letting you go to Rarity’s house without it. You heard that ponies have been getting sick.”

“Wouldn't I get sick if I had it or not?” Spike asks but before I can respond he suddenly burps causing a green flame to come from his mouth that forms into a scroll with Celestia's insignia on it.

“Good, she responded. Listen Spike it's either you wear it or you don't go to Rarity's house. That's final.” Grumbling, he takes the mask and puts it on. As he leaves I follow close behind. “Oh and don't stay at her house too long. Back before the sun starts to set.”

“Ya ya. See you later Twilight.”

I wave but as I close the door my mask falls and I cumple against the door. The weight of last night's events still fresh in my mind. Turning around I look at the scroll on the ground. Hovering it over I unravel it and begin to read aloud.

“Dear Twilight, I've read your report over many times and have gotten in contact with Canterlot General Hospital. It would seem you are not the only place with patients exhibiting the symptoms listed. My sister Luna and I are working with Canterlots best minds to figure out what started all this and find a cure.

What we know this far is that our first cases started a few days before yours. We have documented everything we know so far but I fear Luna may have become infected. She has been showing signs that resemble a cold. I've tried to contact Cadance but have yet to hear any form of response. There are confirmed cases in most major cities across Equestria so it could be that they are also dealing with this illness.

Attached are photographs of the progressions of infection. As far as we know right now is that there are two stages of infection. Please keep in contact and share anything you figure out.

Princess Celestia”

Flipping the scroll over I am met with the sight of a wealthy pony in a suit in a hospital room. He looks like he is bored but all the while laying in bed. Flipping to the next photograph I see the same stallion but his clothes are roughed up and his eyes are bloodshot and dilated he looks ready to pounce at anything. Flipping to the next photograph I see the man has started getting the all too familiar twigs sprouting from his flesh but he has grown taller, he is more muscular and he's face has grown longer while his mouth hangs open. Cloud-like breath bellows from his mouth. Chills wash over me as I look at the photo, it's as if the being is waiting, like a perched predator waiting for its prey.

Gulping and taking multiple deep breaths I flip to the next photo but as I see it a yelp escapes me as I see it. The man has grown so tall that they need to bend their head down in an arch to be at eye level but they have their head dangle down into the frame upside down. Their body is covered in the twigs that now look more like vines. Black as Ink with barbs that are white as silver. These vines drape over them and they seem to know they are being watched and that the photo was being taken. Shivering slightly at the thought I push it aside.

“This is crazy… What could do something like this?” Getting to my hooves I walk over to a table and place down the letter and the photographs. There must be some sort of answer. There has to be.

Time slowly ticks by as I look at the picture. Nothing comes of studying them that isn’t readily apparent. Sighing I turn and walk to the doors to exit my castle, slowly I open it and look back inside. Slowly I close it and head into the quieter streets as I watch guards go around with their masks posting fliers on buildings telling ponies to wear masks and to clean their hooves regularly while others tell them to boil water and wash food thoroughly. We don’t know how this is spreading so we need to cover every base possible it seems. I slowly walk towards the hospital as I place the mask over my face. Once on I quicken my trot. I need to get a look at the blood samples they took and examine them.

My trot however is interrupted as I come to a house that has guards that are covered by more armor than usual as they hold weapons firmly in their hooves. Behind them is a house nearly in Ruins as it burns while a crowd gathers around. The sound of crackling and the crowd yelling at the guards. The smell of fire filling the air. Walking up to the scene the crowd notices me and parts allowing me access to the guards. “What is going on here?” I ask the now standing attention guards.

“Princess, A pony with the Infection left the hospital before the Quarantine took place. We came to try and take them to the Quarantine zone. They didn’t comply so we cleansed the area of any possible contamination.”

I feel my body freeze up as my breaths halt. They… cleansed the area? My mouth grows dry as I open and close it, the restriction on air making it known for the first time ever to me. Looking behind them my mind reels as it grasps there are ponies, dead, in that blaze. How has this all happened? How have we fallen to this level of barbarity?

“You executed ponies for not complying with you?” I ask with anger seeping into my voice as I look back down at the guard who doesn't move at all, instead making eye contact with me. His yellow eyes and silver coat visible under the loads of iron protection.

“I did. I did what was for the greater good. I was there, I was a first responder when the Hospital had the problem last night. My friend got ripped in half by that beast.” He says but as he speaks my mind reels back at the mention of the greater good as my blood boils.

“The greater good!?” I angrily cry. “You killed someone when we could have tried to find a cure.”

“Before they change. I care more about keeping the population not infected from being infected than to find a mystical cure we don’t even know is possible.” The Guard sternly bites back, narrowing his eyes as he looks at me, his hoof on his lance tightening. “Now if you don’t mind, Princess, My men and I need to keep the peace till the cleansing finishes. Move along. We have more escapees.”

“You are planning to do more!?” I growl out as my face nears his but yet again he doesn't back down.

“We are, since you couldn’t even handle an infected child.” He says freezing me in place, memories of last night filling my mind as the world around me becomes hazy to my senses.

“Mommy wake up.” The sound of Ditzy’s daughter crying fills my ears and mind.

“I am doing my best!” I shout as I turn and leave, galloping away as tears fill my eyes and sting them to the point I can’t see. I gallop and gallop not knowing where I’m going till I suddenly run into something and fall to my rump. Whipping the tears away my ears perk up to the sound of whimpering. Looking what I ran into, I see Spike sat on the ground whipping his face of tears. “Spike?”

“T-t-twilight.” Spike wails as he flings himself at me and hugs me. His mask wet with tears as he presses his face against me. “R-R-Rarity, she’s…” He says but that’s all he can get out before he sobs more. He doesn't need to say anything however, based on what is occurring my gut knows.

“Spike, it’s going to be okay. Go to the Apple farm, tell Sweetiebelle to not go home and tell AJ that I need her to come to Rarity’s as soon as she can.” I say getting a little nod from my assistant but before he leaves he looks up at me and calms himself as much as he can so he can speak.

“W-w-what about, y-you?”

“I need to go see… I need to figure some thing’s out.” I hope there are some answers at her house. There has to be some kind of answer. Giving me a nod he hugs me again which I reciprocate, we hold each other for a minute then with that we part. I Gallop towards Rarity’s with my heart aching and my ears ringing as I press my tears down. Be strong Twilight. Equestria needs you. Spike needs you, your friends need you. Be Strong. I tell myself over and over as I speed to Rarity’s, the Boutique coming into view. I get to the door with heavy breaths, from the outside you wouldn’t know that there is anyone home.

Taking a couple deep breaths to sooth my stinging lungs I use my magic to open the front door only to be met with the sight of blood covering the floor with a ripped apart carcass of Rarity’s cat, Opal, on the floor. The spell of blood along with the gore strewn about causes me to hastily lift my mask so I can puke beside the door, acid stinging my throat as the blood and acid scent mix in my nose with an undertone of perfume much like Rarity’s home typically has. Whipping my face I replace my mask on my face then head in, keeping the door open for a hasty retreat if possible.

Walking in I see partly finished clothes for an order along with a tea cup and pot. Walking over to it I see the cup is mostly gone. She was part way through her work? Looking over to the stairs up to the second floor I sneakily head to the back where the kitchen is. Looking around I don’t find anything unusual but then my eyes fall on the elixir from a week ago that Rarity bought from Flim and Flam. Half of the bottle is gone and beside it is a box of tea bags. She must have been drinking it in her tea to help with orders. I wonder how well it worked? Not finding anything I head back out but as I do out of the corner of my eye I see Rarity, but only her head as it dangles down from the roof coming from up the stairs.

“Hello Darlinggg~” Rarity says with dilated pupils that peer at me, her smile rivaling Pinky in its size. Her voice is unnatural and filled with sinister intent. Every fiber of my being screaming at me to run as I see what looks like veins in her cheek and neck wriggling and moving like bugs under her skin. I need to leave, NOW! Sprinting to the door I hear the rush of hooves hitting the floor behind me as Rarity’s voice cries out. “Twilightttt!”

I use my magic and blast it back at Rarity, I need to get out and survive! The door is close, meters, then centimeters. I hear her almost on top of me, the snap of teeth hits my ears as I feel my tail hair get grabbed in Rarity’s teeth as she pulls me back but with a swift swipe I cut my tail without thinking twice. I must Survive! Slamming my hooves into the ground I launch forward and out the door, I turn to see Rarity charging to come after me but as she exits she screams in agony as she closes her eyes. “MY EYES!” Rarity cries as I watch her eyes try to open only to shut again, a cloudy film forming on them as she tries to open them again and again outside. Writhing in pain she seemingly tries to feel around for me. Taking no chances I use my magic and grab her and push her back into her house. She tries to resist but with some effort she goes back in and I slam the door shut, keeping it that way with my magic. She tries to break free but after what feels like forever she goes silent allowing me to rest.

Sitting down on the front yard of her house I think about her appearance.I got glimpses through the door while trying to escape and keep her in. She has become far more muscular than she used to be, her eyes have dilated, she has become ridiculously agile too. As I think these over my mind slowly clicks the pieces into place. The Elixir.

Author's Note

Sorry it took a while but here is chapter 3. I hope yall liked it and next Monday will be chapter 4