To Cure a Broken Heart

Sunset gasped, watching the arm fall to the ground before letting out a relieved sigh. “Fucking hell…” She slid onto the floor and sat down, breathing heavily and wincing as she rubbed her calves.

“They’re so aggressive…” Twilight mumbled, following her to the ground.

Sunset nodded. She looked up at the elevator numbers, watching it go from 1… to 2… to 3… “I can’t believe this shit is even happening.”

“It feels like just yesterday that all this stuff started.”

“Did it really start at the school?”

“It could have started anywhere…”

Sunset rested her head on the wall, closing her eyes to rest. “Maybe it was bioengineered.”

“Bioengineered?”

“Man-made. Which means they probably put it out on purpose. I don’t know…” Sunset shrugged, “Just making theories, I guess.” Sunset winced as she adjusted her position on the floor. The wound on her chest wasn’t exactly helping her in this type of situation.

“Do you really think they’re… zombies?”

Sunset stood up, stretching her arms and twisting her back side to side as she popped it, trying not to hurt herself in the process. “Any novel, TV show, or even video game would tell you these things are zombies. They eat people, bite them to infect them, I mean it’s pretty obvious. But—maybe it is like rabies. Or Mad Cow disease but in humans. There are human cases, right?”

Twilight shrugged, holding her knees to her chest, “Maybe… but I don’t think they call it that.”

Sunset glanced back at the number. Floor 8. “When we get to the top floor, we should stick together and keep quiet. The ding might attract some infected—if they’re still here.”

“What about weapons?”

“Find them on the way…” The elevator suddenly shifted, leaving Sunset to balance herself. “What was that?”

The elevator suddenly dropped, causing Twilight to hold onto the handle above her as Sunset scrambled to grab onto something. The doors creaked open, and as the elevator stopped abruptly, Sunset was tossed onto a random floor. Sunset gasped, looking back at Twilight, who was still holding on for dear life.

“Here— give me your hand.” Sunset held her hand out, but as she heard the wires snap, she jumped back, not wanting to risk amputating her own arm. The whole thing suddenly collapsed, but only fell a few floors down. “Twilight!” Sunset yelled, ignoring the fact she may attract some unwanted attention. Her eyes watered, not wanting to assume the worst.

“I’m okay…” The timid voice calling out to her caused her to let out an exasperated breath.

“Are you safe?”

“I’m… between two different floors. It’s tipped upward.”

“Can any of the infected come in?”

“Yeah… ”

“I’ll go down a few floors and get to you. I’d… hop on the top but I don’t want to risk the elevator falling completely. Just stay quiet and don’t move till I get there.” Sunset pushed herself up from the ground, glancing around before moving towards the stairs. “You’ve been here before, Sunset… you know this place like the back of your hand…” Noticing a fire axe, Sunset bent down to pick it up, only to also notice a scratch… on the back of her hand. She rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the irony.

Exploring the hospital… which was now run-down and destroyed… it was strange. Sunset had her own… more personal visits here at the Medical Center, but seeing it in this state compared to the white and pristine appearance months ago—it was creepy… almost even depressing.

Sunset made her way through the halls, stepping over glass—debris—and bodies. She held the axe firmly against her chest, prepared for anything to jump out and scare her. Obviously this wasn’t like those old haunted houses she’d go to back when Nightmare Night was around, this was real. Anything here could attack and kill her.

“Find a cure.” Sunset mumbled before stopping in her tracks. “Right… because I know exactly what that would look like.” She let out a long sigh before lowering the axe. “This is stupid… What am I even looking for?”

Sunset paused for a second.

“You’re not looking for a cure, Sunset. You’re looking for Celestia.”

Twilight’s words repeated in her head. She wasn’t wrong in any way. Sunset’s search for a cure was indeed an excuse to look for Celestia… but at the same time—finding a cure would also mean saving not only herself… but ALSO Celestia.

“Please tell me she’s alive.” Sunset mumbled. Sure, it had been however many months since Celestia first left Sunset behind, and the probability of Celestia fleeing the Hospital was more than likely. But that didn't stop Sunset from coming here. Maybe she hunkered down for… three months in the same place.

No, that didn’t sound right. No idiot would just sit in one area unless it was packed to the brim with supplies and food. Which… the mall would have been that one area, but it was overrun by the infected in 30 minutes.

Sunset shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts clouding her mind. It wasn’t time to doubt her mission. It also wasn’t smart, considering how distracting it was.

Forget the cure.

Find Celestia.

She walked through various rooms and supply areas. The perks of a hospital meant more first-aid kits. Even if half of the hospital was already ransacked to shit. She gathered the most she could, even finding a spare gun beside a dead military soldier. One problem, the gun was right next to his face.

She bent down slowly, grabbing it quickly before moving away. Literally any horror game would turn that into a jumpscare, so when nothing happened, Sunset was a bit underwhelmed.

“Well that was anticlimac—”

“Sunset!” The scream caught her off guard, but she soon assumed it to be Twilight.

“Twilight? Twilight! Dammit! Are you alright?” Sunset ran through the hall, only to stop when a familiar shadow appeared on the corner. “Oh fuck…” Sunset stepped back, only to trip over the military soldier’s corpse. She gasped, but remained still—frozen in fear.

“Sunset!” As Discord walked into the hallway, that’s when she realized it. The voice was coming from him. Out of all the encounters, not once did she hear his actual voice—screaming out to… her.

It was terrifying. In no way was it comforting at all… if anything it made it completely worse. He sniffed and snarled, shaking his head before yawning, revealing sharp canines and incisors and large molars strong enough to break every bone in her body. Sunset let out sharp intakes of breath as she shuddered, crawling backwards and completely forgetting the existence of her gun.

After all, who even knew if gunshots would work on him. His originally lean body was larger and a bit more muscular… like his body literally built up thicker skin since the infection first took hold. Her eyes watered as he crept closer. The darkness surrounding the two served as camouflage for Sunset, which worked amazingly as he was just about legally blind in the darkness.

However, when it came to hovering completely over her, the perfecality of her camouflage wasn’t too exciting; considering how she had to practically hold her breath while Discord crawled above her, it was blood-curdling.

She closed her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she leaned her head back. His drool dripped down onto her chest, and as he leaned in closer—just barely touching her cheek with his muzzle, gunshots repeatedly went off behind him.

Sunset immediately placed her head to the ground, gasping and letting out yelps as blood splattered on her face. Discord’s body collapsed onto her, his head landing onto her chest. The pressure nearly made her choke and gag—but that could very well have been from the blood in her mouth.

She slowly sat up, looking up at the figure who shot Discord. “Twilight—” she said, barely seeing her silhouette in the darkness. “Oh dear, Celestia… t-thank you. I thought—I-I swear I was dead…” She squirmed and grunted as she tried to shove Discord’s limp body off of her. “I didn’t think gunshots would work… but I guess headshots are the next best thing.” Sunset laughed, but as she looked back at Discord, she found herself moving to pet his head. “I’m sorry you got mixed up in this, buddy…” her eyes watered, but as she looked back at Twilight, she paused.

Twilight dropped her gun, remaining still as could be, and honestly scaring Sunset. What if she was bit? What if she was turning right this second? What if—

“Sunset?”

Sunset’s eyes narrowed. That voice…

“Sunset!” before she knew it, she was suddenly pulled into a hug. “Oh my god… I… I never thought I’d see you again.”

Her eyes widened in realization. “Celestia?!” When she pulled back, Celestia’s eyes were full of tears, smiling as she nodded. She pressed a firm kiss to her forehead, and as Sunset’s mind finally acknowledged what was happening, she wrapped her arms firmly around her before sobbing against her chest.

“Shh… shh, honey. I have you, you’re okay. We—” Celestia pulled back again, “We have to get out of here… Come on.” She helped Sunset up before moving to lead her away.

“W-wait I…” Sunset paused as Celestia stopped. Her eyes filled with tears again as she spoke up, “I… I was so hurt when you left me. And I was so scared you’d never come back. You promised you wouldn’t leave—but you did—and I’m mad at you but I’m so happy you’re alive—”

“Sunset, breathe. I’m here now.”

“D-did you find a cure?” Sunset asked through her tears.

She shook her head, “There is no cure…” Celestia brushed the hair away from Sunset’s face, “Our best bet is to get out of here, and go somewhere safe and as far away from everyone as we can possibly get.”

When Celestia tried to pull her along again, Sunset protested, “I—I have to save Twilight. She’s in the elevator… I don’t want to lose her too.”

Celestia nodded, allowing Sunset to lead the way.

When it came to freeing Twilight, a horde was on their way towards them. Sunset reached out, and the moment she grabbed Twilight’s hand, she pulled her up before the elevator could take her down the rest of the decline. Sunset hugged Twilight before getting nudged by Celestia to move along.

“Quickly… we have to get out of here.” Celestia said, moving to lead the way as she brought them out of the hospital. Upon reaching the parking garage, Celestia closed the door behind them. “Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

“What? No–I’m not leaving you again!” Sunset stepped forward.

Celestia kicked the door as they tried to bust through, leading to one of the infected biting her ankle.

“No—!” Sunset tried to run towards her, but was held back by Twilight. “Let me go—!” When gunshots stopped all three of them in their tracks, Sunset was quick to grab Celestia. “They’re distracted, come on!”

She stopped when Celestia wouldn’t budge. “Sunset… I can’t.”

“I don’t care, alright? I don’t care if you turn, but I’m not letting you go. Not again.”

Celestia sighed, already knowing Sunset would continue this back and forward argument for as long as possible. “Alright… but promise me the moment you see the signs…” When Sunset nodded, Celestia allowed her to pull her along.

Running out of the parking garage turned into a fight of survival after Celestia collapsed on the ground. “No— no!” Sunset tried to urge her up, but loud footsteps alerted her. “Please… please get up. I can’t… I can’t lose you.”

“S-Sunset we have to go!” Twilight tried to pull Sunset up, but she shoved her away. “Sunset please!”

“Anybody ask for some help?” Applejack’s voice alerted the two of them. She was holding a shotgun over her shoulder. Rainbow Dash was beside her, as well as Pinkie and Fluttershy with their own set of weapons.

—

Sunset probably slept for twelve hours that night, waiting impatiently by the bedside. Her head was resting on the bed, but she was sitting in a chair beside it.

When stirring beneath the covers woke her up, Sunset was quick to jump up in excitement.

Celestia had been knocked out cold for nearly twenty-seven hours. The girls reached Sunset just on time, and Celestia was fortunate to avoid the infection from taking host.

“Celestia—!” Sunset hugged her, ignoring how Celestia squirmed slightly.

“Sunset? What happened?” She tried to sit up on the bed, but as she pulled the covers off… her leg was amputated.

Sunset looked down, “We didn’t know if it would work… but I wasn’t about to let you go. Not now… not ever.”

“Where are we?”

“Applejack’s farmstead. It’s probably the safest place we can stay.” As Celestia sighed, Sunset moved onto the bed before hugging her. “I was so scared… that you were going to leave me again.”

Celestia hugged her back, “I’ll never leave you again, Sunset. I promise. And this time, I swear on my life I’ll keep it.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”