“If we get back to the gymnasium, we might be able to try to steer everyone in a, hopefully, safe direction. And maybe you being there will let them regain some source of comfort.” Sunset said, pulling a backpack off from the ground and filling it with some things that could possibly come in handy later. Like tape, Band-Aids: even if they were kid variants with colorful ponies on it… which was somewhat ironic, and an emergency kit from the back of the room.

The two had slept through the night, but if the others were lucky, the gym would be in the same state as Sunset left it. And once they saw how willing Sunset was to put herself in danger for the rest of the group, maybe they’d start forgetting about her stupid old self once and for all.

Not that this was about her, nor was she helping to prove a silly little point, Sunset just wanted the school to see she wasn’t just a bully anymore… She cared about all of them, even those who hurt her—and those she hurt too. Nobody deserved what she went through, but nobody deserved what she put them through either.

“I suppose they’ll need some sense of wisdom in this state of horror.” Celestia threw Sunset out of her thoughts as she helped her gather some things, even moving to grab her journal from the ground. Slowly, Celestia handed it to Sunset, causing her to smile.

“Thanks…” she began, putting the journal into her backpack before finally zipping it up. “I really hope Twilight is just busy with other things, rather than dealing with a different type of virus in her universe.” Celestia looked at Sunset with a sense of confusion, but she narrowed her eyes as if she was trying to understand. “Right, you’re still new to the whole… other world thing. Let’s just worry about sticking together and getting to the gym.”

But as the two finally headed out, moving through the strangely enough clear hallways and dodging obstacles, they reached the gymnasium doors. Sunset was reluctant before she knocked on the doors, realizing they may still have them boarded up.

“They’re probably too afraid to let anyone in…” Celestia mumbled, but that didn’t stop Sunset.

“Guys?” Sunset began, “It’s me! I’m back, and I brought some help!”

No response.

Sunset looked puzzled for a second before moving to pry the doors open, but she didn’t even need a second's worth of strength. The doors moved open with no problem… but there was one tiny little detail that seemed to be missing: Everyone was gone.

“What?” Sunset ran forward, looking around. Maybe they hid somewhere? But as she ran to the storage area and crawled onto the stage to peek in the far corners backstage, Sunset was completely bewildered. She walked past the curtains and onto the stage. “I don’t understand… they–they were just here, I swear!”

Celestia moved to help her down, “Perhaps they’re hiding..”

“I looked everywhere!” Sunset snapped, “They’re gone and—oh my god what if they’re all dead? The doors aren’t barricaded and the windows are wide open!” Sunset began to sob, “Oh my god, they’re all gone.”

“Sunset, look at me. There’s no blood.”

Sunset calmed herself down for a second before looking around. No… that wasn’t right. There was blood—but where Bon Bon’s body would have been… if it was there. Oh god… what if she wasn’t dead? What if she came back to life, throwing them all in a panic?

Sunset placed her hands on her knees, gasping for air despite not overexerting herself. She stood there wide eyed for a second till her eyes began to water once again. She began to sob, falling to her knees as she looked for any sign that they were okay.

“Sunset… we can’t stay here. We have to leave.”

“But where will we go? We don’t know where they are, and we sure as hell didn’t get a fucking clue.” Sunset wiped her tears with the back of her hand, sniffing before wiping the snot sliding down her lip.

“We’ll find someplace… someplace south. Out of the city. You and me. When this thing blows over, we can try to find your—our friends.”

“Really?” Celestia nodded before helping Sunset up.

“I made you a promise, didn’t I? We’ll get through this. Me and you. Together.” Celestia hugged Sunset, kissing her forehead before pulling her along. “Let’s get out of here.”

The two ran out into the yard, moving quickly towards the parking lot. It looked like a wasteland. Some vehicles looked completely busted, while others were covered in blood both inside and out. Tires slashed, and not to mention the smell and the obvious bodies of those who didn’t make it, or those who were the reason why.

“Maybe it did spread further than here…” Sunset mumbled, glancing over at Celestia who shared the same look of worry.

“It’s fine—it’s fine.. we’ll uh… we’ll take that.” Celestia pointed ahead at the school bus, immediately running to enter it. As soon as the doors swung open, a blood-vomiting zombie snarled at her. Celestia gasped before using the fire extinguisher to bash the zombie’s head in. Repeatedly.

Sunset gulped, watching her former Principal hold nothing back as she continued to beat it senseless. “I… think it’s dead.” Sunset cleared her throat.

Celestia looked back at her before nodding, “Right.” She dropped the fire extinguisher before walking down the aisle, checking the seats for any more of those things or hopefully survivors.

“Remind me to keep you on my team…” Sunset closed the doors after dragging the body out, not wanting to risk it coming back to life.

After realizing the coast was clear, Celestia moved to sit in the driver's seat. She looked at the controls a bit dumbfounded before sighing and shaking her head.

“You know how to drive a bus?” Sunset asked.

“Uh… no, but none of these other cars will do and I suppose I can learn now.” Celestia turned it on before grabbing the wheel. “I’m sure it’s easy.”

Sunset gripped onto the seat. This will probably end well. Which was a bit of an overstatement considering half of the time it was Celestia not knowing she had to turn the wheel 360 degrees to make a hard left. So when they inevitably slammed into a light pole, Sunset cleared her throat.

“Right. Easy.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes before glaring back at her. “Thanks, Sunset, for your input.”

“You’re welcome.” Sunset retorted till her eyes widened, “You should probably back up now—” but as soon as she said it, Bulk Biceps slammed into the front of the bus, causing Celestia and Sunset to yelp. Quickly, Celestia put the bus in reverse and backed up, all while turning the wheel to center herself correctly on the road.

When a thunk caused them to stop, Celestia gasped, “What did I just hit?”

“Uh… nothing…” Sunset called out before mumbling to herself, “Just a child.”

“What?!” Celestia flipped her head to look back at Sunset, who was now at the back of the bus.

“Oh wait… it’s an adult. And they’re back up, hallelujah.” Sunset deadpanned.

“Sunset!” Celestia growled, definitely not appreciating her joking—albeit dark—nature right about now.

“Well you could either yell at me or drive forward!” Sunset spat back, immediately moving towards the front of the bus—only to get thrown into one of the seats as Celestia turned. “Hey—!” Sunset tried to tell her to slow down, but Celestia just kept driving… and turning. “You can go straight! That’s a direction too!”

“Don’t blame me, half of the roads are blocked off!”

“Drive through it! We’re in a fucking bus!”

“Oh…” Once she gained that little bit of knowledge, she rammed into a vehicle that had been blocking the road, only for Sunset to nearly have the wind knocked out of her as she slammed against the seat ahead of her.

“Warn me before you—”

Celestia interrupted her, “You just told me to drive through it!”

“A little heads up would be nice too!”

“Don’t yell at me—I’m not good under pressure!”

Sunset finally regained her footing in the aisle before narrowing her eyes at Celestia’s admission, “That’s a little ironic… don’t you think?” After Celestia harshly turned once again, Sunset was suddenly tossed into one of the seats. After a few seconds, the bus stopped.

“Did you wear your seatbelt?” Celestia asked through her ragged breaths.

“Of course, but it’s invisible.” Sunset squirmed in the tight space, trying to pull herself off the ground and into the seat.

“What?”

“No.” Sunset groaned, her now messy hair flinging over her face as she sat up. “School buses don't have seatbelts."

“Right… right.” Celestia cleared her throat, rubbing the wheel as she then looked back at Sunset, “Are you okay?”

“We might need to fix our driving arrangements. Like for instance: I call dibs on driving next.”

“Yeah… yeah that might be a good idea.” Celestia turned back to the wheel, watching as people ran past the bus and debris to avoid the infected. “It really is the end of the world, isn’t it?” Celestia gulped, watching as they tried to steer clear, but some were unfortunate.

As someone tried to enter the bus, Celestia tried to move to open the door, but Sunset leaned over the seat before gently grabbing her shoulder, holding her back.

After, Sunset elaborated, “I watched that one… she was bit.”

“Sunset… She's a child.” Celestia’s eyes watered, watching as she tried to get in.

“I know.”

Celestia looked away as the girl was taken by a stranger, who wanted to help, only to get bit by the now turned girl. “I can’t do this, Sunset.”

Sunset’s heart dropped, “What do you mean?”

“I can’t just… watch these people die… I have to help.” Celestia grabbed her bag before mumbling, “I’m sorry.”

“What? Principal Celestia, what are you—!” Sunset hopped from her seat as Celestia left the bus, immediately placing a plank over the handles. “Celestia!” Sunset screamed, banging her hands on the door before glancing at the infected that were running her way. “Get back on the bus, now!”

“Stay safe, Sunset.”

“Celestia! Stop—no please! What about your promise?!” Sunset tried to open the doors, but it was no use.

“I’ll go to the city, I’ll find out what’s happening, and I swear—I swear I’ll be back for you. Go South. When things calm down I’ll find you. I promise.” Celestia placed her hand on the glass, letting out a small smile before quickly running down the street.

“Celestia!” Sunset tried to kick the door open, but as one of the zombies began pounding on the door, Sunset gasped and jumped back. She ran to the front window, watching as Celestia continued to run through the crowd and towards the city. “Celestia!” Sunset desperately banged on the window, begging for her to come back… but she never did.

As the glass behind her began to break, Sunset snapped out of her hyperventilation and moved to the wheel. As a few of the infected crawled inside, Sunset honked the horn before driving through the dispersed crowd. The abrupt speed allowed the zombies to fly out of the bus, and as Sunset was tempted to follow Celestia, who was still running, Sunset yelled before turning the wheel.

“Fuck!” Sunset screamed, sobbing and trying to wipe her tears as she turned the bus the other direction.

After the bus slowed down and came to a halt, miles from the city and town they lived in… Sunset slammed her hands repeatedly on the wheel before burying her head on top of it. The horn blazed, but she didn’t care.

Miss Cheerilee, Vice Principal Luna, her best friends, fuck—even Flash, and now Celestia? All of them were gone… either dead, missing, or maybe one of those things.

“Now what?” Sunset asked herself.

“Survive.” The voice in the back of her head said.

“Survive.” Sunset repeated out loud, “Yeah… cause that’ll be fucking easy. Sunset put the bus into drive before grabbing the wheel, heading South while her mother-figure headed North. Distancing themselves further from one another.

Author's Note

Wowzah definitely longer than 1.5k... which is surprising cause I expected my ass to not follow up with what I said at all in the past chapter.