My Little Zom-Pony: Apocalypse is Magicby thegibbie88ChaptersDay 0Night 0: It BeginsNight 0: RetaliationDear Princess CelestiaDay 0Day 0: Rainbow Dash: Man! It was crazy how it all went down! It all started the day of the fire in Everfree. I was just chillin out in the clouds. My training that morning had left me exhausted and I thought I could catch a few winks before I had to check in at the weather station and get the next days orders. So naturally I was napping on my own patch of cumulus, not a care in the world right? So anyway I'm woken up from my nap by a group of weather pegasi stealing my cloud bed! I was all like "C'mon! I'm trying to get some sleep here!" It turns out they weren't exactly weather pegasi but the Fire Department from Cloudsdale. One of the more gruff of the bunch claimed it was "imminent domain for the safety of Equestria" I grumbled a bit and gave the cloud over. I think he was just being lazy and didn't want to go to the other side of the town for another cloud. So anyway after being awoken I realize it might be a good idea to actually do my own duties today before I get written up again, so I hastily moved some clouds about, a few cirrus over sweet apple acres, a couple puffy ones I personally shaped into a lightning bolt shape over city hall, nothing major. That's when I noticed the steam rising from the Everfree forest. "Oh so that's what the fire ponies were doing" I thought to myself. After I was finished with all my chores I thought about going to help, but they seemed to have everything covered by then. I saw a couple of them carrying the cloudstealer between them back up to Cloudsdale. "Prolly got too close to the thermals of the fire and crashed, what an idiot! Serves him right." Even as I thought this, I was still a little concerned. He looked like he was bleeding from one of his wings. Later on, after visiting a bit with Twilight in town, I made my way back to the weather factory to check on the next days meteorological charts and assignments, only to find that the weather factory was locked, and it looked like the red spectra had been splashed all over the place. I assumed Derpy crashed into one of the pipes again and they closed the factory for repairs... yeah, its a mystery. Anyway, I figured I'd check the hospital and see if whats-his-face was alright, since I practically had a free day off and i know how much it sucks being a lain-up pegasus. As I approached Cloudsdale General Hospital I noticed there seemed to be more red spectra everywhere. Jeez Derpy musta really covered herself in the stuff and been flown here for insurance sake. As I reached the doorknob though I noticed something was off about the spectra that coated the windows. I nearly threw up when I realized... it was blood. There was blood everywhere. and not just on the door, but upon closer inspection it seemed like all of Cloudsdale had been spray painted red and there wasn't a single pony to be found. Then, I heard the screams...and the moans. They were coming from inside. What I saw when I went in there would change my life and destroy everything in my mind that I thought was important and replace it with another, survival. There was blood and ... meat... everywhere as you walked in to the building, and the waiting room looked like it had ransacked by an F5 Tornado full of tomato soup. I slowly looked around, trying to find any sign of life. I heard a whimper from behind the desk and found a meek little nurse pegasus huddled under it. "What happened here?" I tried to ask her, but before I could I watched her eyes go wide as she let out a blood-curdling scream and pointed behind me. I turned and saw the cloudstealer, or what was left of him. His left wing looked like it had been chewed half through, and the half that remained looked like it was rotting, like it had been left out for a week. He let out a low gurgling moan as blood and what I assume now were bits of pony bubbled out from between his clenched teeth. "Omigoshomigoshomigosh" I said, backing away from the creature. My back hit the wall as the thing looked hungrily at the nurse, whose screams were joined by a gurgling bleat before both were silenced as he dug his teeth into her throat, biting down hard and stamping down with his hooves, tearing the throat out of the poor mare before chewing it and swallowing. The nurse's body began to convulse into death spasms as I went into fight or flight mode. I turned and quickly gave the pony a buck that would have made Applejack blush, but there was nothing I could do for the nurse. Her body stopped shuddering and her eyes went glassy. She was dead. The assailing pony didn't seem phased by the brutal kick and was starting to make his way back to his feet. His eyes looked like giant pools of lifeless grey that stared out into nothingness as he met eyes with me. I was just about to run when something caught my back left hoof. I looked and it was the nurse! The DEAD NURSE! The gaping wound in her throat was still just as gaping as ever and her eyes were dead like the others, but her grip was firm and unyielding as she held my leg in place, preparing to bite at it. "GET OFF!" I cried as I brought both back hooves down on her head. It made a sickening crunch and bathed my whole hind quarters in blood and mare brains. My senses went into overload. I knew I had to get out. There were more moans from the back. I didn't stick around to find out how many there were. Like a flash I was out the door and flying just outside of Cloudsdale. I turned back for a moment and saw as hundreds of deformed moaning pegasi pursued me only to fall lifelessly to the ground below with audible thumps and splats. Apparently they can't fly. I took off with a speed I scarcely knew I could muster and headed with a sonic rainboom to the one pony whom I had any amount of hope in to figure out what was going on. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle: I was surprised to see Dash again so soon, I figured after work she would go lazing about or be training like she always did. I noticed something was amiss immediately when i looked into the blue mare's wide eyes and beheld her blood-covered body. "What happened to you Dash?" i asked as she barreled in and began sobbing on my floor. "I killed her Twilight!" "WHAT? Killed who?" I asked "The Nurse Pegasus, and maybe the Fire Pony I don't know" "Dash, calm down, you're not making any sense" "I was in Cloudsdale right? So I was going to check on the fire pony i saw who got hurt earlier and he ripped out the poor nurses throat Twilight! So I bucked him across the room." "I thought you said you killed the nurse, now you are saying he did?" "Well, he did, but then she tried to bite me so I... Stomped her head in." "After she was dead?" "Yes, I mean no, I mean... I watched her bleed out and die Twilight, then she just got up and tried to eat me!" "Just like the fire pony did?" "Yeah! so I stomped her, high-tailed it out of there and flew here as fast as I could. There were more of them Twi! I watched them fall out of Cloudsdale...I don't think they can fly." "They?" "Yeah those creatures. those ponies, whatever you want to call them." "Rainbow, this is important. I need you to calm down and try to think coherently and explain to me everything that happened in detail." Rainbow Dash took in a few deep breaths, steadying her shaking limbs. She told me exactly what had happened. I inherently believed every word, because it was beyond Dash to come up with something so brutal, so horrifying on her own. As she finished her tale the sun was just starting to set. "SPIKE!" I cried Almost instantly Spike was there, broom in hand like a toy soldier on parade. "Spike, we have no time for siliness, I need you to grab 'Deadly Diseases and Curious Contagions', 'Dark Arts of the Dark Hearts', and 'Ancient Pony Rituals J through Z'" I was already levitating a considerable pile of the books up by my desk and opened three of them, scanning through them with my magic. After about five minutes of the most condensed studying ever seen by pony-dom, I thought I'd found an answer. "Right here" I said, pointing to a copy of 'Ancient Mysteries'. "It talks of a creature called the zom-pony, or the draugr. Ancient ponies thought they were vengful spirits of deceased ponies who walk the earth and feed on pony flesh, turning the victim into another zom-pony." "Wow, that's absolutely fascinating, now how to do we stop them? And what caused this?: Dash said irritably. "That's all there is..." "Well that was helpful!" Rainbow Shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration. "What do we do now?" "I think we need to get our friends together, now." I said, growing more concerned by the second. "Wait a second... You said you think this whole thing started in the forest right?" "Yeah... and?" "That's awfully close to..." "Oh no..." "FLUTTERSHY!" We both said in unison. Night 0: It BeginsApplejack: I 'member that first night pretty well. Earlier that day Dash moved some clouds over my place but she didn't stick around. It was all for the best, I was as busy as a two legged applebucker trying to get my cart ready for Rarity's fashion show. She was holding a benefit for something or other and suggested that I and Pinkie both come and set up carts to feed the hungry patrons. I made up a bunch of apple pies and fritters, all kinds of delicious apple treats. The hardest part was getting myself into the dress Rarity insisted I wear to the event. Some fancy get-up to be sure. I'da been just as happy in nothing but since it was her event i was obligated to oblige the poor little diva. I headed out just before nightfall, my cart in tow. I stopped by Sugar Cube Corner and talked to Pinkie for a spell before we both went down to the city hall building, where the benefit was being held. Me and Pinkie got our carts set up, and after a bit of giggling over the fanciness of our get-ups, went to find Rarity. We found her rushing mares at a dizzying pace, arranging this and that. Her ability to multi-task was truly remarkable. One moment she was talking to a Unicorn in sunglasses running the DJ booth, the next she is talking to a blue unicorn in a robe setting up the firewor- wait was that Trixie? Anywho, it was a sight to behold to be sure. "Oh Applejack, darling," She beckoned them over with a hoof. She certainly did look the part, decked out in a big frilly dress with what musta been like a thousand gemstones. It was a blue dress and the gems seemed to catch the light just right to make her shine even when she was in shadow. needless to say she had put a lot of time and effort into all this, and the fact she made time to not only get the show started but to hobknob with the Ponyville elite led one to think she had found a way to be in two places at once. "Applejack, this is a good friend of mine from Canterlot named Upper Crust, do be a dear and fetch him one of your delicious apple confections, he owns a chain of retailers all through Equestria and I'm sure he'd just love to vend your treats in a few of his more...rural shops." Ignoring the whole 'rural' comment, I quickly ushered the unicorn over to my cart and let him sample the local flavor. He seemed mighty impressed. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to gloat, because shortly after the lights dimmed, the spotlights shown on the stage... and the first screams that would change all our lives were heard ringing across the event. Pinkie Pie: Oh that day. I remember it well because it was Gummie's 3/4 birthday and i had to bake him a special cake along with the treats I'd be selling at the show. Rarities show was gonna be so amazing, after all, if there's any pony who can rival me on party throwing, it'd be that mare. When I was out getting ingredients earlier that day I saw a bunch of lightning shaped clouds over city hall and giggled to myself "Oh that Rainbow Dash" I watched for a while as ponies set up for the big show. It seemed my good friend Vinyl was going to be in charge of the music, if the giant amplifiers were any indication. Looking down at my wrist, I saw that it was getting late and hurried home to finish my baking. This could be a great opportunity for Sugar Cube Corner, and with little Pound and Pumpkin, the Cakes could use all the business they could get. I met Applejack later that evening we each took our carts out for the big night. I was so excited! There were so many different ponies! I was gonna dance and sing and play pin the tail on the donkey, until Applejack informed me there probably wouldn't be any of that stuff, something about it being high class and not that kind of party. So, after we got there Rarity beckoned Applejack over to talk to some rich looking unicorn with a monocle. That's such a fun word. Monocle monocle monocle. Sorry, lost my focus. Anyway, while she was off doing that I decided to go over and talk to Vinyl before the show started. "Yo Pinkie wasup?" "Not too much, just waiting for the real party to get started." "Yeah I know what you mean, this is total dullsville. The only reason I'm doing it at all is because I kinda broke Octavia's coffee maker trying to install a bass amp in it, so I needed some quick cash." "Speaking of Tavi, how is she doing?" "Oh, she's around here somewhere. She got into a fight with Trixie over there over whether or not stage performance was better than musical theater. I tell you what though, for a bossy snob of a braggart she can sure put on a heck of a light show. I guess it's a curse with all performers though, I even see it in Tavi from time to time. Underneath all the hype there though is a little filly who just wants attention in both of'm" "The same could be said of all of us though" I giggled. "Well, I better go get ready, we start this show soon." "Okie dokie Loki! Catch ya later Scratchinator!" "Scratchinator, I like the ring of that!" When I got back to my cart, Applejack appeared to be winning some rich looking pony over. Then he went back to his seat and everything got real quiet. Then the lights dimmed and Rarity was on stage, spotlights making her dress shine like the night itself. I'm sure Luna would even have been jealous. Then, it happened. And everything was changed...FOREVER! Night 0: RetaliationVinyl Scratch: Man that party was sick. The lights all went out and I brought the music down to a low hum, when all of a sudden a scream rang out, which was kinda weird, because I didn't even have a scream track in this set. Next thing I know a bunch of what could loosely be described as ponies are storming the stage mosh style. They looked like you had taken a mob of ponies and threw them in a blender; truly gnarly stuff. That drama queen Rarity was trying to shoo the ugly things off stage, when a unicorn amongst the group charged at her. To her eternal credit, she stood her ground, but paid for by getting a horn right to the eye, which remained on the horn as she pulled away, screaming bloody murder. Not cool. It was totally like something out of a Romareo flick. Rarity went to the ground hard, clasping her eye and writhing in pain as the unicorn, joined by a couple of his friends, poised to pounce on the poor pathetic prima dona pony, when a fireball flew out from somewhere offstage, decapitating the unicorn and covering the whole stage in brain jelly. Trixie stepped out from the shadows where the blast came from and proceeded to blast down the last two ponies. The whole time this is happening, the audience is just sitting there, dumbstruck, like this was all part of the show. Finally I yelled into the mic "Run you idiots!" That got the crowd moving real quick. "Tavi! Get over here!" I yelled, scanning the chaos for my friend. I found her about 20 feet from me, hurrying to my location. as she got closer she tripped and one of those...things... was instantly over her, like it could smell a pony in peril and had caught whiff of the beautiful cellist. "Oh no you don't!" I levitated my favorite amp and brought the thing down on the unsuspecting creature. "Now that's what I call a Bass Drop! Tavi! hit the button on top and cover your ears!" Tavi looked shaken but managed to turn the thing towards a group of about four of them, and hit the button. The front of the amp folded out into an array of amps that sent an almost visible pulse of low frequency waves at the unfortunate group. The blast was so big it knocked Tavi back and blood shot out the Zom-ponies' ears and they fell to the ground, shaking and gnashing their teeth but otherwise unable to move. "Vinyl, what the bloody hell was that?!" Tavi shouted, hurrying to my side as I levitated the object back to me. "Oh, it's nothing special, just my BASS CANNON!" I shouted, turning it on another group of the zom-ponies and letting it fire for emphasis. the results were...effective. Rarity's friends were hurrying the dazed bleeding mare off stage by this point, and the crowd had quickly scattered, leaving just the dying, the dead, and the undead. Oh, and me and Tavi. They had us surrounded, and I didn't have the magic to fire my cannon anymore, we looked like gonners. I pulled Tavi close and hugged her, my eyes tearing. Then a blue blur leaped over into the fray next to us and proceeded to summon what looked like a giant green fireball that spun around us all at head level, decapitating the attacking swarm. "C'mon we gotta get out of here." Trixie said. "Wha-what? why are you helping us?" Octavia asked. "The great and powerful Trixie may be a braggart, but she's not heartless." She said with a smirk, "and besides, us performers gotta stick together." Trixie This was certainly an unforeseen circumstance. One minute I'm arguing with some snobby cellist and setting up pyrotechnics for that ... bleh... Rarity's little fashion show, the next I'm saving the prissy mare's life from a bloody draugr. When you have put on as many shows as I have, you have to learn about all the ancient monsters you can to keep your show fresh... not to mention i've always had a soft spot for zom-pony stories. The only way to get rid of the ruffians is to liberate the fell beast from its brain case. They really are a messy bunch I will admit, its head popped like a twenty pound bag full of tomato soup all over the marshmallow white diva. Priceless. I then skillfully brought the other two pursuers down with one fireball. I expected a little gratitude from Rarity but it seemed all she could do was roll around clutching her eye. Apparently she was gored in the struggle. Lucky for her the only way to become one of them is through a bite, not the horn, so she's safe...or as safe as a one eyed pony amongst a horde of rampaging pony-hungry killing machines can be I suppose. I hurriedly let another fireball fly, keeping this one in orbit around me to protect me from these vicious curs. The crowds were clamoring over each other to get away from the mounting army of supernatural foes. I saw the DJ drop an amp on one of them to save her friend, the snobby cellist, but there was no way she'd be safe for long in that melee. I was just about to step in when she hit a button on the thing and blasted down the group attacking her and rattling my teeth against my skull in the process. I even singed my hat with the bloody fireball because of that racket. I do say though, it was rather effective. It didn't kill the things, but it did seem to completely destroy their equilibrium rendering them to about the threat level of newborn foals with a biting problem. I managed to get my hooves to my ears before the DJ grabbed her weaponized amplifier and fired it again, but it wasn't enough, and soon the pair were surrounded. At this point my magic was waning, and I was having trouble keeping the fireball aloft. I had to think fast. Luckily, the Great and Powerful Trixie thinks well on her hooves. so I used my remaining power to accelerate the ball in its orbit around me, until it was moving so fast you could barely discern its shape and leaped into the fray, extending the rotation and taking out all the heads of the attackers in one fell swoop. "C'mon we gotta get out of here!" I shouted at the dazed duo. "Wha- What? Why are you helping us?" The DJ asked in bewilderment. "The Great and Powerful Trixie may be a braggart, but she's not heartless," I said with great flourish, "and besides, we performers gotta stick together," I finished with a wink. The DJ pony blushed slightly and the cellist shot me a glare. "Now let me tell you a story, its called LETS GO ALREADY!!!" "Ri-right." The Dj said, regaining her composure. "Lead the way." Dear Princess CelestiaDear Princess Celestia: It all started so quickly. It's amazing really how fast everything you know can change. One day you're biggest worry is being sent back to magic kindergarten, the next the very survival of you and your friends rests in your dainty little hooves. This Letter is an attempt to reconcile the events, to give the perspectives of the ponies involved, and perhaps shed some light on what actually happened, in the words of the ponies who experienced the tumultuous shift from the pacifistic naive nature of ponies to survivalists who will do anything to survive. We don't know how the outbreak started, but we think we have it narrowed down to something in the Everfree forest. It's been speculated that Zecora was the origin of the curse, but those facts will probably never be known, as her hut was burned to the ground shortly before the whole mess started. What is known is that the team of pegasi sent to investigate the fire are generally considered to be the first to contract the disease. The meager population of Cloudsdale never saw it coming. Throughout the letter I use terms like curse, disease, blight, and plague interchangeably, because it was all of those things, and more. Those who didn't fall prey to the menace would be forever changed, some in ways worse than the blight itself. These accounts are factual, in the sense that they are as each pony experienced them. What is true and false is irrelevant in the face of such overwhelming chaos. All that being said, here is what happened, as told by those who managed to live to tell it.
Day 0Day 0: Rainbow Dash: Man! It was crazy how it all went down! It all started the day of the fire in Everfree. I was just chillin out in the clouds. My training that morning had left me exhausted and I thought I could catch a few winks before I had to check in at the weather station and get the next days orders. So naturally I was napping on my own patch of cumulus, not a care in the world right? So anyway I'm woken up from my nap by a group of weather pegasi stealing my cloud bed! I was all like "C'mon! I'm trying to get some sleep here!" It turns out they weren't exactly weather pegasi but the Fire Department from Cloudsdale. One of the more gruff of the bunch claimed it was "imminent domain for the safety of Equestria" I grumbled a bit and gave the cloud over. I think he was just being lazy and didn't want to go to the other side of the town for another cloud. So anyway after being awoken I realize it might be a good idea to actually do my own duties today before I get written up again, so I hastily moved some clouds about, a few cirrus over sweet apple acres, a couple puffy ones I personally shaped into a lightning bolt shape over city hall, nothing major. That's when I noticed the steam rising from the Everfree forest. "Oh so that's what the fire ponies were doing" I thought to myself. After I was finished with all my chores I thought about going to help, but they seemed to have everything covered by then. I saw a couple of them carrying the cloudstealer between them back up to Cloudsdale. "Prolly got too close to the thermals of the fire and crashed, what an idiot! Serves him right." Even as I thought this, I was still a little concerned. He looked like he was bleeding from one of his wings. Later on, after visiting a bit with Twilight in town, I made my way back to the weather factory to check on the next days meteorological charts and assignments, only to find that the weather factory was locked, and it looked like the red spectra had been splashed all over the place. I assumed Derpy crashed into one of the pipes again and they closed the factory for repairs... yeah, its a mystery. Anyway, I figured I'd check the hospital and see if whats-his-face was alright, since I practically had a free day off and i know how much it sucks being a lain-up pegasus. As I approached Cloudsdale General Hospital I noticed there seemed to be more red spectra everywhere. Jeez Derpy musta really covered herself in the stuff and been flown here for insurance sake. As I reached the doorknob though I noticed something was off about the spectra that coated the windows. I nearly threw up when I realized... it was blood. There was blood everywhere. and not just on the door, but upon closer inspection it seemed like all of Cloudsdale had been spray painted red and there wasn't a single pony to be found. Then, I heard the screams...and the moans. They were coming from inside. What I saw when I went in there would change my life and destroy everything in my mind that I thought was important and replace it with another, survival. There was blood and ... meat... everywhere as you walked in to the building, and the waiting room looked like it had ransacked by an F5 Tornado full of tomato soup. I slowly looked around, trying to find any sign of life. I heard a whimper from behind the desk and found a meek little nurse pegasus huddled under it. "What happened here?" I tried to ask her, but before I could I watched her eyes go wide as she let out a blood-curdling scream and pointed behind me. I turned and saw the cloudstealer, or what was left of him. His left wing looked like it had been chewed half through, and the half that remained looked like it was rotting, like it had been left out for a week. He let out a low gurgling moan as blood and what I assume now were bits of pony bubbled out from between his clenched teeth. "Omigoshomigoshomigosh" I said, backing away from the creature. My back hit the wall as the thing looked hungrily at the nurse, whose screams were joined by a gurgling bleat before both were silenced as he dug his teeth into her throat, biting down hard and stamping down with his hooves, tearing the throat out of the poor mare before chewing it and swallowing. The nurse's body began to convulse into death spasms as I went into fight or flight mode. I turned and quickly gave the pony a buck that would have made Applejack blush, but there was nothing I could do for the nurse. Her body stopped shuddering and her eyes went glassy. She was dead. The assailing pony didn't seem phased by the brutal kick and was starting to make his way back to his feet. His eyes looked like giant pools of lifeless grey that stared out into nothingness as he met eyes with me. I was just about to run when something caught my back left hoof. I looked and it was the nurse! The DEAD NURSE! The gaping wound in her throat was still just as gaping as ever and her eyes were dead like the others, but her grip was firm and unyielding as she held my leg in place, preparing to bite at it. "GET OFF!" I cried as I brought both back hooves down on her head. It made a sickening crunch and bathed my whole hind quarters in blood and mare brains. My senses went into overload. I knew I had to get out. There were more moans from the back. I didn't stick around to find out how many there were. Like a flash I was out the door and flying just outside of Cloudsdale. I turned back for a moment and saw as hundreds of deformed moaning pegasi pursued me only to fall lifelessly to the ground below with audible thumps and splats. Apparently they can't fly. I took off with a speed I scarcely knew I could muster and headed with a sonic rainboom to the one pony whom I had any amount of hope in to figure out what was going on. Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle: I was surprised to see Dash again so soon, I figured after work she would go lazing about or be training like she always did. I noticed something was amiss immediately when i looked into the blue mare's wide eyes and beheld her blood-covered body. "What happened to you Dash?" i asked as she barreled in and began sobbing on my floor. "I killed her Twilight!" "WHAT? Killed who?" I asked "The Nurse Pegasus, and maybe the Fire Pony I don't know" "Dash, calm down, you're not making any sense" "I was in Cloudsdale right? So I was going to check on the fire pony i saw who got hurt earlier and he ripped out the poor nurses throat Twilight! So I bucked him across the room." "I thought you said you killed the nurse, now you are saying he did?" "Well, he did, but then she tried to bite me so I... Stomped her head in." "After she was dead?" "Yes, I mean no, I mean... I watched her bleed out and die Twilight, then she just got up and tried to eat me!" "Just like the fire pony did?" "Yeah! so I stomped her, high-tailed it out of there and flew here as fast as I could. There were more of them Twi! I watched them fall out of Cloudsdale...I don't think they can fly." "They?" "Yeah those creatures. those ponies, whatever you want to call them." "Rainbow, this is important. I need you to calm down and try to think coherently and explain to me everything that happened in detail." Rainbow Dash took in a few deep breaths, steadying her shaking limbs. She told me exactly what had happened. I inherently believed every word, because it was beyond Dash to come up with something so brutal, so horrifying on her own. As she finished her tale the sun was just starting to set. "SPIKE!" I cried Almost instantly Spike was there, broom in hand like a toy soldier on parade. "Spike, we have no time for siliness, I need you to grab 'Deadly Diseases and Curious Contagions', 'Dark Arts of the Dark Hearts', and 'Ancient Pony Rituals J through Z'" I was already levitating a considerable pile of the books up by my desk and opened three of them, scanning through them with my magic. After about five minutes of the most condensed studying ever seen by pony-dom, I thought I'd found an answer. "Right here" I said, pointing to a copy of 'Ancient Mysteries'. "It talks of a creature called the zom-pony, or the draugr. Ancient ponies thought they were vengful spirits of deceased ponies who walk the earth and feed on pony flesh, turning the victim into another zom-pony." "Wow, that's absolutely fascinating, now how to do we stop them? And what caused this?: Dash said irritably. "That's all there is..." "Well that was helpful!" Rainbow Shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration. "What do we do now?" "I think we need to get our friends together, now." I said, growing more concerned by the second. "Wait a second... You said you think this whole thing started in the forest right?" "Yeah... and?" "That's awfully close to..." "Oh no..." "FLUTTERSHY!" We both said in unison.
Night 0: It BeginsApplejack: I 'member that first night pretty well. Earlier that day Dash moved some clouds over my place but she didn't stick around. It was all for the best, I was as busy as a two legged applebucker trying to get my cart ready for Rarity's fashion show. She was holding a benefit for something or other and suggested that I and Pinkie both come and set up carts to feed the hungry patrons. I made up a bunch of apple pies and fritters, all kinds of delicious apple treats. The hardest part was getting myself into the dress Rarity insisted I wear to the event. Some fancy get-up to be sure. I'da been just as happy in nothing but since it was her event i was obligated to oblige the poor little diva. I headed out just before nightfall, my cart in tow. I stopped by Sugar Cube Corner and talked to Pinkie for a spell before we both went down to the city hall building, where the benefit was being held. Me and Pinkie got our carts set up, and after a bit of giggling over the fanciness of our get-ups, went to find Rarity. We found her rushing mares at a dizzying pace, arranging this and that. Her ability to multi-task was truly remarkable. One moment she was talking to a Unicorn in sunglasses running the DJ booth, the next she is talking to a blue unicorn in a robe setting up the firewor- wait was that Trixie? Anywho, it was a sight to behold to be sure. "Oh Applejack, darling," She beckoned them over with a hoof. She certainly did look the part, decked out in a big frilly dress with what musta been like a thousand gemstones. It was a blue dress and the gems seemed to catch the light just right to make her shine even when she was in shadow. needless to say she had put a lot of time and effort into all this, and the fact she made time to not only get the show started but to hobknob with the Ponyville elite led one to think she had found a way to be in two places at once. "Applejack, this is a good friend of mine from Canterlot named Upper Crust, do be a dear and fetch him one of your delicious apple confections, he owns a chain of retailers all through Equestria and I'm sure he'd just love to vend your treats in a few of his more...rural shops." Ignoring the whole 'rural' comment, I quickly ushered the unicorn over to my cart and let him sample the local flavor. He seemed mighty impressed. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to gloat, because shortly after the lights dimmed, the spotlights shown on the stage... and the first screams that would change all our lives were heard ringing across the event. Pinkie Pie: Oh that day. I remember it well because it was Gummie's 3/4 birthday and i had to bake him a special cake along with the treats I'd be selling at the show. Rarities show was gonna be so amazing, after all, if there's any pony who can rival me on party throwing, it'd be that mare. When I was out getting ingredients earlier that day I saw a bunch of lightning shaped clouds over city hall and giggled to myself "Oh that Rainbow Dash" I watched for a while as ponies set up for the big show. It seemed my good friend Vinyl was going to be in charge of the music, if the giant amplifiers were any indication. Looking down at my wrist, I saw that it was getting late and hurried home to finish my baking. This could be a great opportunity for Sugar Cube Corner, and with little Pound and Pumpkin, the Cakes could use all the business they could get. I met Applejack later that evening we each took our carts out for the big night. I was so excited! There were so many different ponies! I was gonna dance and sing and play pin the tail on the donkey, until Applejack informed me there probably wouldn't be any of that stuff, something about it being high class and not that kind of party. So, after we got there Rarity beckoned Applejack over to talk to some rich looking unicorn with a monocle. That's such a fun word. Monocle monocle monocle. Sorry, lost my focus. Anyway, while she was off doing that I decided to go over and talk to Vinyl before the show started. "Yo Pinkie wasup?" "Not too much, just waiting for the real party to get started." "Yeah I know what you mean, this is total dullsville. The only reason I'm doing it at all is because I kinda broke Octavia's coffee maker trying to install a bass amp in it, so I needed some quick cash." "Speaking of Tavi, how is she doing?" "Oh, she's around here somewhere. She got into a fight with Trixie over there over whether or not stage performance was better than musical theater. I tell you what though, for a bossy snob of a braggart she can sure put on a heck of a light show. I guess it's a curse with all performers though, I even see it in Tavi from time to time. Underneath all the hype there though is a little filly who just wants attention in both of'm" "The same could be said of all of us though" I giggled. "Well, I better go get ready, we start this show soon." "Okie dokie Loki! Catch ya later Scratchinator!" "Scratchinator, I like the ring of that!" When I got back to my cart, Applejack appeared to be winning some rich looking pony over. Then he went back to his seat and everything got real quiet. Then the lights dimmed and Rarity was on stage, spotlights making her dress shine like the night itself. I'm sure Luna would even have been jealous. Then, it happened. And everything was changed...FOREVER!
Night 0: RetaliationVinyl Scratch: Man that party was sick. The lights all went out and I brought the music down to a low hum, when all of a sudden a scream rang out, which was kinda weird, because I didn't even have a scream track in this set. Next thing I know a bunch of what could loosely be described as ponies are storming the stage mosh style. They looked like you had taken a mob of ponies and threw them in a blender; truly gnarly stuff. That drama queen Rarity was trying to shoo the ugly things off stage, when a unicorn amongst the group charged at her. To her eternal credit, she stood her ground, but paid for by getting a horn right to the eye, which remained on the horn as she pulled away, screaming bloody murder. Not cool. It was totally like something out of a Romareo flick. Rarity went to the ground hard, clasping her eye and writhing in pain as the unicorn, joined by a couple of his friends, poised to pounce on the poor pathetic prima dona pony, when a fireball flew out from somewhere offstage, decapitating the unicorn and covering the whole stage in brain jelly. Trixie stepped out from the shadows where the blast came from and proceeded to blast down the last two ponies. The whole time this is happening, the audience is just sitting there, dumbstruck, like this was all part of the show. Finally I yelled into the mic "Run you idiots!" That got the crowd moving real quick. "Tavi! Get over here!" I yelled, scanning the chaos for my friend. I found her about 20 feet from me, hurrying to my location. as she got closer she tripped and one of those...things... was instantly over her, like it could smell a pony in peril and had caught whiff of the beautiful cellist. "Oh no you don't!" I levitated my favorite amp and brought the thing down on the unsuspecting creature. "Now that's what I call a Bass Drop! Tavi! hit the button on top and cover your ears!" Tavi looked shaken but managed to turn the thing towards a group of about four of them, and hit the button. The front of the amp folded out into an array of amps that sent an almost visible pulse of low frequency waves at the unfortunate group. The blast was so big it knocked Tavi back and blood shot out the Zom-ponies' ears and they fell to the ground, shaking and gnashing their teeth but otherwise unable to move. "Vinyl, what the bloody hell was that?!" Tavi shouted, hurrying to my side as I levitated the object back to me. "Oh, it's nothing special, just my BASS CANNON!" I shouted, turning it on another group of the zom-ponies and letting it fire for emphasis. the results were...effective. Rarity's friends were hurrying the dazed bleeding mare off stage by this point, and the crowd had quickly scattered, leaving just the dying, the dead, and the undead. Oh, and me and Tavi. They had us surrounded, and I didn't have the magic to fire my cannon anymore, we looked like gonners. I pulled Tavi close and hugged her, my eyes tearing. Then a blue blur leaped over into the fray next to us and proceeded to summon what looked like a giant green fireball that spun around us all at head level, decapitating the attacking swarm. "C'mon we gotta get out of here." Trixie said. "Wha-what? why are you helping us?" Octavia asked. "The great and powerful Trixie may be a braggart, but she's not heartless." She said with a smirk, "and besides, us performers gotta stick together." Trixie This was certainly an unforeseen circumstance. One minute I'm arguing with some snobby cellist and setting up pyrotechnics for that ... bleh... Rarity's little fashion show, the next I'm saving the prissy mare's life from a bloody draugr. When you have put on as many shows as I have, you have to learn about all the ancient monsters you can to keep your show fresh... not to mention i've always had a soft spot for zom-pony stories. The only way to get rid of the ruffians is to liberate the fell beast from its brain case. They really are a messy bunch I will admit, its head popped like a twenty pound bag full of tomato soup all over the marshmallow white diva. Priceless. I then skillfully brought the other two pursuers down with one fireball. I expected a little gratitude from Rarity but it seemed all she could do was roll around clutching her eye. Apparently she was gored in the struggle. Lucky for her the only way to become one of them is through a bite, not the horn, so she's safe...or as safe as a one eyed pony amongst a horde of rampaging pony-hungry killing machines can be I suppose. I hurriedly let another fireball fly, keeping this one in orbit around me to protect me from these vicious curs. The crowds were clamoring over each other to get away from the mounting army of supernatural foes. I saw the DJ drop an amp on one of them to save her friend, the snobby cellist, but there was no way she'd be safe for long in that melee. I was just about to step in when she hit a button on the thing and blasted down the group attacking her and rattling my teeth against my skull in the process. I even singed my hat with the bloody fireball because of that racket. I do say though, it was rather effective. It didn't kill the things, but it did seem to completely destroy their equilibrium rendering them to about the threat level of newborn foals with a biting problem. I managed to get my hooves to my ears before the DJ grabbed her weaponized amplifier and fired it again, but it wasn't enough, and soon the pair were surrounded. At this point my magic was waning, and I was having trouble keeping the fireball aloft. I had to think fast. Luckily, the Great and Powerful Trixie thinks well on her hooves. so I used my remaining power to accelerate the ball in its orbit around me, until it was moving so fast you could barely discern its shape and leaped into the fray, extending the rotation and taking out all the heads of the attackers in one fell swoop. "C'mon we gotta get out of here!" I shouted at the dazed duo. "Wha- What? Why are you helping us?" The DJ asked in bewilderment. "The Great and Powerful Trixie may be a braggart, but she's not heartless," I said with great flourish, "and besides, we performers gotta stick together," I finished with a wink. The DJ pony blushed slightly and the cellist shot me a glare. "Now let me tell you a story, its called LETS GO ALREADY!!!" "Ri-right." The Dj said, regaining her composure. "Lead the way."
Dear Princess CelestiaDear Princess Celestia: It all started so quickly. It's amazing really how fast everything you know can change. One day you're biggest worry is being sent back to magic kindergarten, the next the very survival of you and your friends rests in your dainty little hooves. This Letter is an attempt to reconcile the events, to give the perspectives of the ponies involved, and perhaps shed some light on what actually happened, in the words of the ponies who experienced the tumultuous shift from the pacifistic naive nature of ponies to survivalists who will do anything to survive. We don't know how the outbreak started, but we think we have it narrowed down to something in the Everfree forest. It's been speculated that Zecora was the origin of the curse, but those facts will probably never be known, as her hut was burned to the ground shortly before the whole mess started. What is known is that the team of pegasi sent to investigate the fire are generally considered to be the first to contract the disease. The meager population of Cloudsdale never saw it coming. Throughout the letter I use terms like curse, disease, blight, and plague interchangeably, because it was all of those things, and more. Those who didn't fall prey to the menace would be forever changed, some in ways worse than the blight itself. These accounts are factual, in the sense that they are as each pony experienced them. What is true and false is irrelevant in the face of such overwhelming chaos. All that being said, here is what happened, as told by those who managed to live to tell it.
