The Trotting Dead: VG

Celestia, along with Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had arrived at the treehouse the night prior. Spike had sent a letter to the princess of Twilight's AJ's and Rainbow's disappearance, and took the liberty of gathering their friends himself.

"I just don't know what happened. One minute they were downstairs and the next, they were gone. I swear I didn't see them leave." Spike explained.

"It's okay, Spike." Celestia's voice was soft. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about, maybe Twilight just teleported herself and her friends out of the library."

"Yeah, maybe." Spike scratched his head. "But that still doesn't explain all of the noise I heard right before I went to check on them."

"What kind of noise? What ever were they doing down there?" Rarity asked.

"Twilight told me she was going to show Applejack and Rainbow Dash that invention she's been working on." Spike answered.

"Ooh, I remember her telling me about that! It's the one where unicorns can boost their magic to do all sorts of crazy stuff, right?" Pinkie grinned.

"Yeah, that's the one." Spike nodded.

"Interesting." Celestia tapped her chin. "How long has Twilight been working on this...machine?"

"It's been about a couple months, I think." Spike estimated.

"Was it finished?" Celestia continued.

"Well, no...actually." Spike tapped his claws together.

"Could something have gone wrong?" Celestia began to worry.

"Maybe...I don't know. I never even went around the thing, so I don't know how hazardous it could've been."

"Well, if the machine's function was to increase a unicorn's casting power, and it was incomplete, it may stand to reason that they were possibly teleported somewhere far away." Celestia didn't know just how right she was. "But that is only my educated guess. There could be numerous other reasons why they would disappear for the entire day, but I believe that is the most likely." On the inside, Celestia was distraught for her student and her friends, but kept her composure as not to panic her subjects. "I will return to Canterlot, and issue an immediate search party for them."

"We want to help too, your majesty." Fluttershy added, equally concerned.

"Thank you, Fluttershy. The royal guard will have everything under control, but you all may help if you wish." Celestia smiled. As the ponies left the library, The sun sovereign's smile faded, and she closed her eyes tight. 'Please, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash. Please, be safe.' She silently prayed.

The drive to Macon had been a long dull one. No one spoke much except for Twilight who couldn't help but feel partially responsible for Shawn's death. Applejack and Rainbow Dash tried to console her in every way, but didn't seem to be getting through to her. The sun had set only moments ago as they arrived in Lee's hometown. Kenny's hopes sank as the fuel gauge rested on "E". The truck sputtered, and kicked, shaking the mares in the bed of the vehicle. Once the worn out machine refused to go any further, Kenny put it in park, and disengaged the ignition.

"Well, this is as far as were going." Kenny spoke in a glum manor.

"Then it's far enough." Lee added as he opened the passenger door.

"What happened? Why are we stopping?" Twilight asked as she hopped out of the bed.

"The truck's run out of gas, so were stuck here until we find more." Kenny replied. Kenny had managed to park the truck in the back ally of a Drugstore; coincidently the very store that Lee's parents owned. Lee stared sadly at the neon sign that rested above the entrance. He hoped that his family had been prepared. He hoped for the best, but assumed the worst. The group then made their way out into the street. The wrecked cars, and liberal debris indicated that Macon hadn't been spared of the undead's rampage.

"You know, Ah really admire how widespread this civiliazation is. We've been riding in that thing all day, and still we come across settlements like this." Applejack gawked at the brick buildings, and various businesses.

"Not sure if you can really call it a 'civilization' anymore." Dash added. Duck strayed a little ways from the group, and spotted someone on the far end of the street.

"Look!" He pointed at the stranger. The figure was on his knees half hidden by an overturned vehicle. Kenny took a few steps closer to get a better view.

"Hey there! You friendly? Truck's run out of gas." Kenny waved his arms. Each of them squinted trying to focus on the stranger, but to their horror, Kenny's greeting was met with a fleshy face, and an angry snarl. "Fuck!" Kenny put his arms out to the sides, keeping his family behind him. As the walker got up, a great number of his buddies showed themselves from virtually every direction. The group backed slowly into a small circle. Twilight's horn glowed brightly, showing she had an offensive spell at the ready. Rainbow hovered, and put her hooves in front of her, unsure of what to do. Applejack crouched into a fighting stance, but backed away as the sub-humans closed in.

"What do we do!" Twilight cried, panic setting in.

"We're trapped!" Katjaa yelled. Walkers continued to appear from behind wreckages, inside buildings, and past street corners. Focused on the growing number of walkers, Kenny and Katjaa failed to notice Duck getting seperated and grabbed.

"AAHHHH! NO! NO!" Duck hurried to get away but the walker already had a hold of him, while everyone turned their heads to find the young boy. Before the walker could take a chunk out of him, Duck was yet again saved, only this time by a gunshot from an unknown source. Duck's attacker fell partially on top of him, knocking him down and covering him in grime and muck. Everyone turned their attention to a woman standing in front of the drugstore; a pistol raised in front of her. Duck ran over into the safety of his parent's arms. The unknown woman took another shot, hitting her mark as a second walker fell.

"RUN!" Yelled another stranger, this time a man. He waved them into the drug store. The group wasted no time bolting for the door to find safety. The woman spent a couple more bullets before returning inside as well. The man waited for everyone to pass the sliding security gate as he closed it behind them, and locked it with a padlock. He tugged it to confirm it's hold, and quickly followed them in. With everyone safely inside, a second women approached the scene, anger present on her face.

"We can't take risks like this!" She snapped.

"And we can't just let people die either." The first woman countered.

"When I say 'that door stays shut no matter what', I fucking mean it."

"What the fuck are those things?!" A tall, built, but elderly man pointed at the colorful equines. The second woman stared at them questioningly.

"THIS is why we don't take risks. We don't know who these people are, or what those things are. They could be dangerous!"

"Worse, they could've led them right to us." The elderly man added.

"Where the hell is your humanity? They woud have died out there!"" The gun wielding woman stated.

"Please, listen. We're not dangerous." Applejack spoke, and as she did, everyone who didn't know them glared at them in disbelieve.

"I don't think we should be taking our chances with this pack of freaks." The old man frowned.

"Larry, come on, you're jumping to conclusions!" The first woman scowled.

"We have kids with us." Lee said, trying to gain compassion.

"I see one little girl." Larry replied with a sour tone. Clementine grabbed Lee's hand to get his attention, while the groups argued.

"What is it?"

"I...I have to pee."

"In a minute, Clem." Lee knew that the immediate situation needed his attention.

"They've got kids, Lilly." The man that had locked the gate defended them.

"Those things outside don't care." The second woman, now known by Lilly replied coldly.

"Maybe you should go join them then, you'll have something in common!" Kenny responded angrily.

"Look, everyone please, just calm down. We can talk this through." Twilight tried to maintain peace.

"I'm not the only one hearing these talking goats, right?" Larry gave them another distrustful glance.

"Who the hay are you calling a goat?!" Dash flared her wings.

"Rainbow, take it easy." Applejack prompted.

"Goddamn it, Lilly. You have to control these people!" Larry referred to the man and woman's risk.

"Carley and Glenn just ran out there!" Lilly explained.

"I don't give a flying fuck! We're in a warzone."

"She's not wrong, they took a risk." Lee tried to see it from Lilly's perspective.

"Yes we did." Lilly concurred.

"And we appreciate it. Now let's settle down." Lee added.

"Holy shit..." Larry looked behind him to find Katjaa cleaning the grime off of her son. "Son of a bitch, one of them is bitten!"

"No, he was only grabbed, he wasn't bitten!" Twilight was quick to step in.

"Hell he wasn't!" Larry approached Duck and his mother. "We have to end this, now."

"Over my dead body." Kenny subtlely blocked Larry's path.

"We'll dig one hole." Larry snidely remarked.

"No! I'm cleaning him up, there's no bite! He's fine!" Katjaa cried.

"Don't you fucking people get it? We've already seen this happen. We let someone with a bite stay, and-and we all end up bitten!" "Larry reasoned.

"Shut UP!" Kenny barked.

"We gotta throw him out, or smash his head in!" Larry heartlessy proposed his solution.

"KENNY! STOP HIM!" Kat pleaded.

"That's just about enough out of you, partner." AJ clenched her teeth, and stood next to Kenny, ready to help.

"Yeah, just try something, old timer!" Dash blocked Larry's advance as well.

"Ha, would you get a load of this! The inbred mule hick, and flying pride parade are gonna stop me." Larry taunted both AJ for her drawl and Rainbow Dash for her mane. Patience in both ponies was already wearing thin.

"Lee, what do we do about this guy?" Kenny looked to him. Lee knew tensions were already high, and with the walkers just outside, things needed to calm down if they were to remain inconspicuous.

"We reason with him." Lee crossed his arms.

"I agree, perhaps we can get through to him." Twilight added.

"With the bloody end of an axe handle, maybe! No one threatens my boy!" Kenny stuck to his guns.

"Dad, come on, it's just a boy." Surprisingly, Lilly spoke against him.

"Lilly, you know as well as I do that we can't take that chance. We're doing this."

"You're not doing ANYTHING!" AJ scraped the floor.

"Stow it, you. Hell, if I wanted, I could punt you clear across the room!" Larry scoffed.

"Don't you talk to my friend like that!" Rainbow glared at the old man.

"Applejack, Rainbow Dash, please calm down! This isn't going anywhere good!" Twilight tried to convince her friends.

"I'm sorry, Twi, but this guy obviously ain't gonna listen to reason. If kickin' his flank is what it takes, then that's what's gonna happen." AJ replied.

"Aww, listen to that, they don't even swear." Larry taunted again, noticing AJ's replacement for 'ass'. Applejack's fuse was burning fast.

"Everybody chill the fuck out!" Carley exclaimed.

"Nobody is doing anything!" Lilly added, trying to get control of the situation.

"Shut up, Lilly." Her father was tired of her interfering. "And you, shut the fuck up." He glanced at Carley. "They will find us, and they will get in here, and none of this will fucking matter. But right now we're about to be trapped in here with one of those things!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kenny asked.

"He's BITTEN! That's how you TURN!"

"What part of 'he's not bitten' don't you understand?!" Dash yelled impatiently.

"I've just about had it with you freaks. Move aside!" Larry glared at the equines.

"He's not bitten! Lee, stop this, it's upsetting him" Katjaa pleaded as she continued to clean Duck.

"Oh, I'm upsetting him." Larry laughed. "Upsetting is getting eaten alive!"

"We get it, dad, it's a big deal." Lilly made another attempt to calm him.

"What if this was your daughter?!" Lee confronted him.

"Never would of happened." Larry replied with all confidence. "She's not some snot nosed toddler, okay? She's United States Air Force."

"Oh, fuck you and her!" Kenny let hatred fuel his words. "I'm gonna kill him, Kat! Just worry about Duck."

"Lee, what are going to do?! Things are getting too far out of hoof!" Twilight cried.

"I'm trying, Twilight, but if things don't settle down soon..."

"Lee!" Clem had wandered off to the back of the store where the restrooms were, and called for him.

"Yeah?"

"There's someone in there." She stood in front of the restroom, shifting in discomfort.

"It's just locked; key's behind the counter. Probably." Lee assumed, as he thought it best not to leave the heated argument.

"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here, I'm just looking out for my daughter!" Again, Larry tried to justify his intentions.

"No, you're just the guy arguing for killing a kid!" Kenny countered.

"He's covered in muck! She'll find the bite, watch."

"She won't" Kenny proclaimed.

"And if she does?" Larry stared hard at Kenny. "The first thing he'll do is sink his teeth into his mom's face. Then, once he's dead, he'll probably pounce on one of you two." He nodded to AJ and Rainbow.

"This is your last chance to back off." Applejack said threateningly.

"Just wait, it's only a matter of time." Larry ignored her.

"He's a little boy; I think we can handle him." Lee disputed Larry's earlier prediction.

"A little boy?" Larry scoffed. "He'll be an uncontrollable man eater!"

"It's not gonna happen!" Kenny repeated.

"It is, and we're tossing him out NOW!" Larry inched forward.

"I don't think so!" Dash did the same.

"And after he's dealt with, you freaks are NEXT!" Larry scowled at the ponies.

"Lee!" Twilight yelled, and powered up her magic. Lee clenched his teeth, and knew that the time of negotiation was over. He knew that bruatality was the only way to deal with this bastard.

"NO!" He shouted. "You don't touch that boy! You don't touch anybody! I've got a little girl I'm trying to protect too." Lee got up in Larry's face, while Larry was ready to snap. "You wanna get violent you old fuck?! Well, COME ON! You better have a plan to kill me though, because it's me before anyone else in here!" Kenny, AJ, and Dash smiled thankfully at Lee's explosive reaction, but the moment was short lived as Clementine's screams sounded in the back. Everyone turned their attention to a walker stumbling out of the bathroom, and snarling at her.

"Jesus!" Larry exclaimed, but made no attempt to help.

"CLEMENTINE!" Lee shouted, and rushed to her aid. He bumped into Lilly, making him trip, and slowing his rescue. He picked himself up as the walker was about to grasp Clem's feet. Before Lee could rush down the aisle, a spectrum of colors zipped by and knocked the attacker away from Clem. Lee kept going as he saw Rainbow wrestle the creature away while Clem escaped. Dash had smashed the walker just above it's chest, snapping it's collar bone but not killing it. Before she could escape as well, the growling zombie wildly grabbed at Dash's wings, and found hold.

"LET GOOO!" She screamed, and thrashed crazily. The walker brought his head up to her flapping wings, and bit down.

"How goes the search?" Celestia stated casually, but dreaded the answer by the look on the search party captain's face.

"I am sorry, your highness. We've combed nearly the entire forest, as well as some of the neighboring mountains. But there is not hide, nor hair of Twilight and her friends." The guard replied regrettably. Celestia hung her head low, and let a single tear fall. She was beginning to fear the worst.

"Continue searching. Have your men check the planes West and South West of Ponyville. Proceed a few miles past the Everfree's end, and then report back to me."

"Yes, your higness." The guard saluted. He left in a hurry, shortly before Shining Armor arrived. He arrived in an anxious manor.

"Did I miss the search party report?" Shining asked in a distraught tone.

"The captain left just moments ago." Celestia confirmed.

"...What did he say...?"

"RAINBOW!" Twilight and Applejack screamed in unison. They ran to help their friend, but Lee was the first to reach the distressed pony, and jolt the walker away from her.

"Get off of her you son of a bitch!" Lee grabbed hold of the walker's shirt and pried it off of Dash. He swung the snarling monster around, but the walker turned back, and lunged onto Lee. Lee put his arm across the zombie's chest, but was slowly being overpowered. "Ah, fuck! Get...off!" Lee struggled, but the walker's maw inched towards his neck; blue feathers stuck in between his mishapen teeth. Just as the creature was about to get a second mouthful, Carley intervened with another well placed shot. The walker's head jerked from the impact, and Lee shoved the useless corpse away from him. "Man..." He managed to catch his breath. Lee looked back at Carley who still aimed her gun, ready in case her shot had missed.

"You okay?" She lowered her weapon.

"Just great, thanks." Lee examined the hole in the walker's dome.

"Uh...guys?" The man who Lilly had referred to as Glenn could hear the sub-humans outside. The small horde banged on the outside walls and gate, attracted by Carley's quick thinking. A third man who had yet to say a single word backed away from the front door, where he had stood until now. Clem hid behind Lee, while Rainbow Dash's friends examined her wing.

"Everybody down. Stay quiet." Lilly ordered. Everyone watched as the wooden planks shook with every hit from the hungry mob outside.

"They're gonna get in." Larry whispered.

"Shut up." Kenny shushed him.

"Rainbow Dash, are you okay?" Applejack looked over her wing again.

"Will you be quiet?!" Lilly barked in a hushed voice. Sounds of what seemed like gunfire echoed from outside along with mild explosions.

"Is that the military?" Lee spoke up.

"I don't know." Lilly shrugged.

"Thank God for whatever it is." Glenn sighed. A helicoptor could be heard passing overhead, and once the walker's attention had been drawn away, everyone eased out of hiding. Larry was the first to speak.

"We almost died because of this bitch and her itchy trigger finger! That was stupid! That was..." Before he could finish, Larry groaned and clutched his chest. He fell to his knees as his heart pulsed in agony."

"DAD!" Lilly rushed over as Larry slumped to the floor, grunting in pain. She took a knee and tried to analyze the problem.

"What's wrong with him?!" Lee asked.

"It's his heart." Lilly answered.

"Well, if you ask me he kind of had that comin'." AJ talked under her breath.

"My pills..." Larry rasped.

"Uh-um, Nitroglycerin pills?" Katjaa's medical training aided her memory.

"Yes, we're out. We've been trying to get into the pharmacy since we got here!" Lilly explained. "Please, try to get in there behind the counter where the pills are!" She pleaded.

"There's probably another entrance. Maybe through the office." Lee looked past the locked bars across the counter.

"How do you know that's an office?" Carley prodded.

"Educated guess." Lee shrugged, almost giving away his relation to the pharmacy.

"It doesn't matter." Lilly added. "We need nitroglycerin pills, so please get in there. I'll keep an eye on my dad." Lilly guided her father near the office door, and had him rest against one of the shelves. Larry's breathing was forced, but he appeared stable enough for now.

"Lee, I think Rainbow Dash got hurt!" Clem cringed and pointed at Dash and her friends. Rainbow was taking deep breaths, while Twilight thoroughly examined her wing. "I have to go check on her!" Clementine said anxiously.

"Go right ahead, I'll come find you in a minute, okay?"

Okay!" She hurried to help her equine friend.

"Everyone else should get comfy and look for anything useful. We could be in here for a while." Kenny momentarily took charge.

"I'm starting to think this drugstore isn't a permanent solution." Glenn smirked.

"You're right, this ain't exactly Ft. Knox." Kenny agreed. Him, Glenn and Lee continued to discuss what they're next step was, as well as who was in charge of what. Meanwhile Clementine, Twilight, and Applejack bombarded Rainbow Dash with concern.

"Guys, come on, it's okay. I don't think it got any skin." Dash reassured, stretching her wing.

"I think she's right. There's no visible blood, just a few missing feathers." Twilight sighed, relieved to find her friend unscathed.

"Tarnation..." AJ muttered. "That...was too close."

"Thanks, Rainbow, for protecting me." Clem smiled.

"Think nothing of it, kid. I'm just glad Lee showed up when he did." Dash chuckled. As the girls continued on, Glenn had volunteered to head toward Peachtree in search of gas for Kenny's truck. Kenny then took the liberty of giving people their jobs.

"You, you keep an eye on that front door. You're our look out." He adressed the man who had ironically been standing near the door the whole time.

"It's Doug, you got it." Doug confirmed.

"And I'm Carley." The crack shot introduced herself.

"Okay, Carley, you'll shift in with Doug when he needs it. For now, get some rest, you're a good shot and I'd like to keep it that way." Kenny concluded.

"Wait, what about...her?" Carley looked past Kenny to Rainbow Dash. "Wasn't she bitten?" Carley put both hands on her gun. Twilight's ears pricked up, and she stood.

"We checked her and she's not bitten!" Twilight scowled. "We are NOT starting that again!"

"Okay, okay! I was just being cautious." Carley backed off.

"Hey, Kenny." Applejack stood. "I'm going to go sit with Katjaa, and Duck; see if they need anything."

"I'd appreciate that." Kenny smiled his thanks. "Alright, everyone knows what they need to do, so we'll focus on getting you those pills." Kenny glanced at Larry, who said nothing in response. As everyone left to their duties, and with everything calmed down, Lee was able to take the time to soak in the nostalgia of being in his parent's store, with their old office just down the aisle. The memories slowly came back to him of his brother who had worked for his parents for many years. He wondered more about his brother's whereabouts, assuming that his parents may have been here at the store when all of this happened. Lee ultimately thought it best to check in with everyone before heading into the office, where his worst fear could come to life.

Celestia commanded the sun to set, as sorrow washed over her. An entire day gone by with no sign of her student, or her friends in Equestria's borders. Shining Armor was faring no better, worse even. He had hardly been able to carry out his duties knowing that his kid sister was out there somewhere, lost but hopefully not alone. Celestia had tried her best to lighten the burden of worry with multiple search parties, but with as many guards unable to find three ponies, at the end of the day it only made the feeling of hopelessness worse. 'It will be okay.' Celestia thought positively. 'It's only one day. They must be out there somewhere. It's only one day.'