(This story has soft gore. Nothing hardcore mature- Rated: Teen)
The burning afternoon sun beamed down on my dirty face. My legs grew tired and my back gave way. I tumbled down a hill, scraping my legs on every rock. The grass wasn't soft, it was rough and coarse like concrete. The horde grew closer and followed me down the hill. They wanted nothing more than to dig their teeth into my flesh. Crazy bastards. What had the world come to?
Before I could get up, a yellow , bloody pegasus jumped on me. I noticed her cutie mark was torn off and replaced with a large wound. I was terrified, with one chomp and I'm a goner, I'll be infected once saliva makes contact with my blood. I lashed around and socked its snout with my iron boot. It's body fell limp, and began to bleed thick, black goop. No matter how many I killed, I felt sick. It was like I was murdering somepony. I finally was able to get up and run away. The adrenaline in my bloodstream allowed me to finally reach an end to my escape. A cliff. It looked like an easy enough to jumped across. My eyes betrayed me. *Smack!*
Before the outbreak...
The soft afternoon sun beamed down on my tired face. I had been walking all morning, and what vigor I had faded as the walk grew longer. I figured that I'd take advantage of the nice weather, and calmness to walk around and get to know the place. Though I just moved here, it already felt like home.
I entered the park, watching the trees in the cool breeze. The day grew more comfortable, yet tiring as time went by. I feel like nothing could possibly go wrong. I also took note of the large oak trees, perfect for shade. Groups of Earth ponies trotted by, most likely having a small friendly competition. They had earphones in, which surprised me. This technology was somewhat new, as are powered wagons, electricity, radios, and telephones. Though it was a part of a normal day, it had only been five years since they started factory production and almost ten years since the industrial revolution. They began testing new technology that did not require use of magic. Everyone could connect and interact digitally and fly to different parts of the world. Planes carried thousands of passengers to and from different parts of the world. Technology not only brought goods to the modern day, but problems. For every one new discovery, there's a thousand problems. Being new to Ponyville, I don't have a lot of money therefor I can't afford those flashy televisions or automobiles. I can barely afford a house.
Moving to Ponyville was only for one reason, to get away from the city. I like to think of myself as a country colt rather than a big city buck. Nonetheless I do enjoy the huge, steel skyscrapers. They were built quickly too, made by pegasi, and could scrape the very edges of Cloudsdale. The cities spread like a virus. Ponyville itself has already expanded over 10 miles in the last six years, I read up before I moved, go figure. Its still the same as it used to be, my mother told me. She had gone here for business over the last couple years before and after my father passed away. Maybe I should continue walking, I didn't move here to dwell in the past.
"Hello!" The trotting pony team said as I moved by. I gave them a smile and continued walking. My legs began to grow tired and my back went out. I had to sit down, luckily I was in the park and there was a bench nearby. It was cold and hard, made of sturdy oak and smoothed down to comfort the weary pony. I looked at the sky. It was bright and blue, a healthy color for a summer day. After some time, I grew bored of watching ponies walk by. The sound of powered wagons and busy ponies began to grow louder behind me, rush hour.
I got up and continued walking, slower and steady making sure to not strain myself. I feel a bit lonely right now, though the warm and homey feeling of the town. It was truly welcoming, but I need a chat with somepony. Maybe even start an argument on comic books. Oh early teen days, where have you gone?
Going into town, wagons rushed by. Most powered, some were old fashion. Being surrounded by lots of ponies and buildings made me claustrophobic, even if there wasn't too many. The sweet sent of baked bread filled the air, and was quickly fought with the small flower shop next door. New and old aromas filled my nose. This is how I got around, by the smells of a place. If it was sour, it was marked "kept away from', if it was sweet, it was "inviting". Anything else was either unknown or simply a boring place to go. I began to sweat in the beaming, direct sunlight. I quickly crossed the street and checked out the bakery. My eyes said eat, but my mind wanted conversation. A quick cab down the street would take me to the library. There has to be something interesting there.
"Taxi!" I yelled, watching ponies rush by, going to work. Most ran small shops spread throughout the large center of town, which most I had checked out. All completely useless and boring. Tools shops, antiques, banks, and lots of food and flower shops. A taxi pulled up, and I hopped in.
"Where to sir?" The driver said.
"The Library, please."
"Will do."
I rolled down the window and peeked out. We stopped at a red light next to an old school. Small fillies and colts played in the jungle gym and ran around. Next to a tree, I noticed a particular colt crying next to his mother. She pulled him up close to her, and rubbed his back. Over the loud play of the kids, I couldn't hear what she said to him, but I could tell she was trying to calm him. His leg was dripping blood, and a small chunk of skin was torn. He was pointing towards another kid. The little brown colt that hurt him just stood there, legs stiff and eyes pale as paper. Before I could get a better look, the light turned green.
The library had been replaced, an old mare told me. It once was a tree, much to my surprise. Now a two story, red brick building, it used to remain pretty empty other than the occasional pony checking out a book.
"I used to live here." The old unicorn said. She was a purple unicorn, and covered in wrinkles. "Lived with my dragon."
"Dragon? Aren't those extinct?" I asked.
"They are now." She began to shuffle, and sat down on a couch. I was beginning to think she was messing with me. Old ponies these days. They love telling false stories about their past to impress.
The new library was fresh and clean, and full of old and new books. I moved my way to the comic book section and looked for a victim to argue with. Nothing better than a good toss-around, I tell you. I noticed one mare in particular. She was holding the latest issue of Spider-Mane.
"I agree with you." I chuckled.
"I'm sorry?"
"I said I agree with you," I looked at the comic she was holding with her magic.
"Oh, hah, yeah. I always preferred super-hero comics." She said.
"Me too, they are much more diverse, and offer a better story."
"I know!" She looked excited, "I think they are better than films too! That theater down the street can't even compare to the awesome paper and print that is a comic."
"You read my mind." I laughed.
"Hey, aren't you new in town?" She asked, smiling.
"Yeah, I am. How'd you know?"
"I know just about everyone in town."
"How do you have the time to meet everypony?"
"Well when your mother is the element of magic, and one of the towns most popular ponies, you get to know a lot."
"Oh you're-" I smiled, "I see the resemblance. So do you work here?"
"Yeah, I was just skimming through."
"I actually have some classic Marvels at home, do you want to maybe," I shuffled my feet and tried hard to keep eye contact, "have dinner? I could bring some." I smiled.
"That would be awesome! I'm actually having a hard time finding any. They make new comics like its the end of the world!"
I went for a good argument, but instead, I invited a beautiful mare to dinner. Well that turned out good. I smiled to myself as I walked out of the library. Ending up not interested in anything it had to offer, I decided to go home. I have too much free time, I should get a job.
(Your vote will affect how the story plays out!)
A: Being an earth pony and being in big city law enforcement for the last three years, I bet Ponyville police would welcome me in.
B: I used to work in construction and it seems likes there's a lot of tall, unfinished buildings. An easy job for a pegasus.
C: I majored in medical, and being a unicorn, I'm thinking the hospital could use an extra hoof.
D: Random.
(The deadline is when the next chapter comes out)
By nine o’clock, it was getting dark. I slipped on my coat and walked outside. A light drizzle started, and a cooler breeze swept by. My legs shook, but I confidently waltzed forward. I live on the business end of town, near the hospital. It wasn't much different than the rest of Ponyville, you just won't see as much vegetation. It’s mainly roads and sidewalks with a small park in the middle and the occasional tree. I prefer the countryside, but you don't always get what you ask for.
*Knock, knock* I stood in front of the library, waiting. Any minute now... Oh wait, damn! I forgot my comic books. Now what am I going to show off? Maybe she won’t care about them- The door clicked open.
“Hey there!” she said.
“Oh.” I rubbed my head, embarrassed.
“Something wrong?”
“Nope!” I smiled brightly. “Everything's perfect.”
“Great!” She walked out the door. “I know exactly where we should go!”
“Where’s that?”
“The Winchester.”
“A bar?” I asked, confused.
“Yeah, couldn't get any better.”
We properly introduced ourselves on the way. Her name is Midnight Sky and she's the daughter of Twilight Sparkle, the famous element of Magic. She was a very deep purple and had even darker purple hair. Her horn was striped with two shades of violet. Her cutie mark was a star wrapped in a blue, magical ribbon. She must have the magical power directly from her mother, because I can feel the aura. Unicorns have this thing between each other.
“Do you know much magic?” she asked, trotting a bit faster than I.
“Well, I know the basics.” I grinned like a foal and picked up the pace.
“My mom always made me read and study magic.”
“So you’re like, what, super smart?” I chuckled.
“When it comes to magic, yes. What about you? Did you go to school for anything?” She gave me a wondering look.
“Yeah, a medical institute in New York.”
“You’re a doctor?” She asked.
“Well, I mastered in physiology and epidemiology.”
“Epic-derpology?” she sputtered.
“Epidemiology. I used to study and deal with infections and viruses. Kind of useless nowadays, with the CDC and all the drugs today.”
“Ah, we’re here! The Winchester!”
The large, old street-corner building before us was completely made wood and brick. The outside was decorated in elaborate carvings and different variations in color. It read “Winchester Tavern” in old iron letters on the front.
Off to the side, a buck was leaned against a phone booth with a mare, getting nasty. I turned away. Ugh, get a room.
We sat down inside and ordered a simple beer.
“I see you traveled light,” she said as the barkeep prepared our drinks.
I chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I forgot about the comics and remembered them when I was at your door.” I gave a convincing grin. The barkeep passed us a couple beers and I took a sip. It was sour and cold, just the way I like it. Ponyville being a big city, I couldn’t explore all of it. Bars are the one thing I like to check into now and then.
“Eh,” she shrugged, “that’s all right. Its not like it’s the end of the world.”
THUD
Midnight and I jumped and quickly turned towards the window.
“Heh, it was probably nothing.”
THUD
We jumped again. Something moaned in pain outside.
“Erm, what do you think it is?” Midnight whispered. I telekinetically moved the curtain aside and saw the dark silhouette of a hoof.
“You see? It’s nothing! Somepony is joking with us.” I leaned on the table and relaxed. Tonight was going to be interesting. Midnight and I talked about whatever caught our eye. The rifle behind the bar, the old pony with a wooden hoof, and all the different types of alcohol that could be mixed. It was around twelve when we left, drunk and dizzy.
We stumbled out the door and looked around. I couldn’t see much, but it was probably because of the excess of alcohol in my brain. Some ponies outside stumbled around as we did, making their way towards us. I ignored them, not looking for a fight. One of them already had, it seemed; his jaw looked broken, and from what I could tell he had several cuts along his face... and a scary looking bite mark. These ponies really fought tough. I got away before one of them could start the drunken trash talk. The same couple I seen before we came in was still there, except the mare was sitting on top of the buck, still doing the nasty. Wow, they’ve been there for hours!
Midnight could barely walk straight; I had to keep her up more than once. That Winchester really knew how to make a beer. We noticed several ponies running away from the direction we were walking, but I was too tired to pay attention long enough to worry. I hope I don’t regret getting drunk.
Ugh, blackness. I must have collapsed in the street. Where’s Midnight? She wouldn’t just leave me, would she? I have to find her.
In the distance, there was a pony. A mare. It looked like Midnight, but was completely grey and uncolored. Its eyes were white and its mane was dirty. It was covered in scratches. I began to move closer, but my legs weren’t responding. I looked down, and my legs were nothing but gore at this point. I began to panic, looking for a way out. The pony began to shuffle towards me, speeding up faster and faster. It was in a full gallop now.
Oh no, oh shit, what do I do?
WHAM!
“BAHH DON’T KILL ME!” I yelled, jumping out of bed with a pillow in my mouth.
All I could think of is, What just happened? Where was the street? That pony? “Oh wait,” I spat out the pillow, “it was just a dream...” I chuckled to myself. I thought I was a goner there.
I dressed myself and shuffled to the bathroom for a shower. My clock read ‘one p.m.’ Damn, last night seemed to last forever. I wonder what time I got home, couldn’t have been that late because we left The Winchester at, like... twelve. Whatever, today I should pull out my resumé and check out what medical institute is hiring. I’m guessing Ponyville Hospital is my best bet. Its not that popular, but I’ll be getting money either way.
I grabbed a bagel, my bag, and stepped out the door. It was sunny again, but there was an errie stillness, like everypony on the block was gone. I shrugged it off and moved on.
Downtown was as busy as ever. Powered wagons rushed by and important business-ponies raced to their next meeting. I felt very insignificant in the city of Ponyville.
The hospital was thick and short, only being three stories. The town isn’t big enough to need a full clinic, just an emergency center and doctors offices. I pulled my worksheets and records out of my bag and skimmed through them. All in order. This should be easy.
I trotted through the glass doors of Ponyville Hospital and scanned for an information desk. Doctors and nurses scuttled around crowded elevators, going here and there. No hospital I’ve ever seen has been this busy! A doctor was walking by me and I stepped in front of him.
“Free flu shots today or what?” I chucked. He got the joke and smiled.
“No,” he looked at his papers, “there is a lot of traffic today, and... stuff.” He had a bad poker face. That was a total lie and we both know it.
“Hm, okay. Could you point me to administration?”
“That way.” He pointed his snout down a hallway. I nodded and trotted along.
The hallways smelled like any other hospital hallway; disinfectant, hospital food, and the sweat of the working doctors. I followed signs on the wall and noticed “Administration Office”. Bingo. Behind the door, there was arguing.
“The hospitals is overcrowding! There are attacks in the streets, in public! You can’t keep this a secret for long, the rest of the city deserves to know what's really going on!” a stallion yelled, banging on a desk.
“This has nothing to do with you or the newspapers. Get out of my office or I’ll call the guards. Now!” another buck yelled.
I cracked open the door. and peeked in. The door was yanked open and a brown pony stomped out. He looked familiar
“The whole town is under attack and you're trying to hide it!” He slammed the door, and turned towards me.
“What are you looking at?” he said, frustrated.
“Oh, uh, I am looking to register here.” I shyly grinned.
“I wouldn't if I were you. There's something bad going on here and I’m going to find out what even if it kills me!” His rage grew with every word.
“I’m sorry, do I know you? I recognize you from somewhere.” I asked to ease the tension.
“What?” His rage was replaced with confusion. “Oh wait, yeah! We went to highschool together.”
“Clockwork, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I’m a reporter now.” He proudly boasted.
“Ah, after I got out of highschool I moved on to study medicine and- doctor stuff.”
“Maybe you can help me then!” He found an idea.
“With what?”
“Ponies are being attacked by other ponies all over town, and they all have returned here with bite marks or large gashes.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’ve been studying Ponyville’s medical institute for a small project I’m conducting. Unfortunately, the chief of staff wants nothing to do with the press. This is the only hospital in town.” He frowned. “Maybe you can get an insight for me? Old pal?”
“Clock, I don’t work here. I can’t go running around and spy on the patients, I could get arrested for that. Its an invasion of privacy.”
“Then do what you need to do to get apart of this! We could uncover something big!”
“Even if I was accepted today, it would take weeks of registration and other things required.”
“Well better start now!” He opened the door and pushed me in the office.
“But- wait!” I turned around to see a large, yellow buck staring at me. He wore a black suit with a red tie. His desk was full of unfinished papers.
“Oh- Hello sir, I’m a student from the New York medical studies college.” I levitated the paperwork out of my bag around my back and layed it on his desk. “Now I know I should mail this into the workers union, but I thought this would be better. Pony to pony interaction- you know?” I chucked. He said nothing while he read the papers.
“Masters degree in in physiology and epidemiology, nicely done.” His stated with a low tone.
“Thank you, sir. I moved to Ponyville just a few days ago. I thought this city could use some more doctors- heh.”
“Were in a crisis right now, son. You're the only doctor in the building that has studied this kind of stuff. Go speak to accounting,” he paused, “scratch that, go to the emergency clinic, second room on the left.”
“Seems a bit quick to accept me.” I grew suspicious.
“Your accepted, go! They’re gonna need you up there!” He yelled.
“Yes sir!” I bolted to the emergency clinic and stopped at the second door. I slowly opened the door and looked around. A doctor stood next to a patient, patching up his leg. The floor was covered in blood that continued to drop from the patient.
“I’m guessing you're the expert.” The doctor said, anxious. “Help me here.”
“Okay. I don’t really understand how this relates to epidemiology. What's the diagnosis- erm- other than the leg.” I said.
“Its a bite wound. He said his own mother attacked him before he passed out. He was just brought in, just like all of the others. It’s always reported a bite wound.” The doctor said.
“Let me take a look.” I walked over and examined the patient’s motor function and heart rate. No reflexes, and a low heart rate. Typical unconsciousness, yet it wasn’t from the blood loss. His pupils were turning white, and dilated. This was a late sign of... rabies. That can’t be true, if he was just attacked. There's no such thing as super rabies. It would have had to be chemically altered and injected into his bloodstream, or spread through saliva. Wait-
“Hes dead.” The doctor reported.
“But his vital signs still are reading brain activity.” I said, reading the monitors.
“What? Impossible.” He put his head on the patients chest.
Crunch!
The patient dug his teeth deep into the doctors throat and tore a chunk out. The stallion gasped in extreme pain. Oh shit, what just happened, I gotta get him off! I punched the pony and it fell over and tumbled off the medical bed. I picked up the doctor with my magic and moved him to the other side of the room. His throat was gushing blood, in seconds he’ll bleed out. I tried to grab the gauze across the room, but the attacker got back up. It tumbled over the medical bed and crawled towards me. I quickly escaped through the door, tripping over the doctors body. Quickly, I slammed the door shut with magic.
“Help! Somepony help me!” I got up and yelled, terrified. My hooves were covered in blood and my eyes blurred. Something grabbed me from behind. I shrieked.
“Relax! Its just me!” Clockwork said. “I followed you, we gotta get out of here! The whole hospital is under attack!”
“Are we gonna be able to get away?” I panicked.
"I've covered wars, you know." He stated boldly. "I know my way around. There's a helicopter waiting for me."
(Your vote will affect how the story plays out!)
A: Escape to the helicopter with Clockwork.
B: Escape downtown and find Midnight Sky.
C: Escape the hospital and run off alone.
D: Random.
(The deadline is when the next chapter comes out)
“We need to make it to the roof!” Clockwork yelled. Ponies began to swarm around, bursting through the wooden doors of the rooms. We ran out into another hallway, but it turned out to be a four-way intersection.
“That way is out,” Clockwork pointed, “to the lobby.”
“What about straight?” I asked, panicking.
“The stairs to the roof, that way is to the helicopter. If you want to escape town, go out that way.” He pointed towards the last hallway. At first he stared at me, then moved forward and turned back. “Are you coming with me?”
“I- can’t leave her behind.” I mumbled.
“Who? Who are you worried about?”
“Nopony, I barely know her. Let’s get to the heli.” I cursed myself for leaving her behind but the city of Ponyville was most likely overrun by this point.
We swerved around corners and charged through conference rooms to finally get to a maintenance shaft, which had stairs that led up to the roof. Other ponies were stranded up there waiting for help to arrive. Doctors covered in bites, nurses clinging to life with their legs torn and gashed. Another pony dragged himself off the building, nobody cared to stop him either.
“What is going on here!?” I yelled, looking at the handful of survivors. A pegasus doctor limped up to me, his neck had a massive split down the side and his wing was snapped sideways and hanging off, dripping blood. This gore was getting to me... I puked.
“My god!” Clockwork looked over to a small, pegasus nurse. She was getting ready to kill herself with a scalpel. “What are you doing?!”
“I- don’t want to turn.” She muttered in pain.
“What do you mean, turn?” I asked.
“Once you’re bitten, you change. You aren’t yourself anymore. The infection-” she paused “-it kills you, and brings you back. When you get back up, you’re not yourself. You’re-” she paused again to breathe, “You feed, and feed, and cannot stop. One bite is all it takes.”
“You look fine to me,” I said, “I don’t see any bites.”
She turned around and her tail was completely torn off. Blood slowly pumped out of the wound. She grimaced in pain.
“But if it was torn off, it can’t enter the blood stream,” I said. “That's how infections work. You’re not infected; you don’t have to do this!”
“Look around you,” she began to cry, “we’re stranded on a roof three stories in the sky. I’m not strong enough to make it down; there’s zombie ponies running around everywhere, and we have no way out. I think a knife seems like a good way to go right now. Its better than getting... torn apart... by those monsters! Pretty soon, whoever was bitten up here will turn, too. We’re fucking screwed either way!” She began to panic.
“We have a helicopter coming to save us.” Clockwork added. “We can get you out of here!”
At first she paused and looked around, then she nodded. She stepped away and dropped the knife, getting closer to me and looking around.
“We have to get that patched up.” I said, looking at her tail. “Before it really gets infected.”
In the distance, a helicopter buzzed through the sky. I was glad we were going to survive. Suddenly, the door behind us busted open and infected spewed out all over. They attacked the survivors on the roof and ran after us. The helicopter hovered near the building. The intercom rang, “Jump!”
“Run! Go! Get to the chopper!” Clockwork screamed.
We galloped as fast as we could with the infected close behind. Clockwork and the pegasus jumped first, and the helicopter pulled away. I was grabbed from behind and yanked backwards. I kicked the ponies skull in and jumped with whatever strength I had. Falling. I was dead. My eyes were closed, but I was still alive. I opened them, and saw the pegasus pony grabbing onto my front legs. I sighed and levitated myself up into the vehicle. Thanks for whatever luck I had.
“You would have died if you hadn’t saved me,” the pegasus told me. “Thank you.”
“I should be saying the same.” I chuckled in excitement, looking off the plane.
We landed just outside of Ponyville in an old radio station. It was dusty, but one of the only safest places to go. Downtown, from what we saw from above, was completely overrun with ponies. Automobiles crashed and caused explosions, smearing blood all over. Colts and fillies tore into eachother like rabid animals. Infected ponies horded and took over all of downtown Ponyville. It was true chaos.
The helicopter left for the news station to emergency broadcast. This virus was on its way to becoming worldwide but was confined to Ponyville until it could spread. Thank god its not airborne.
The room was completely dark. I looked around and searched for a light switch. Clockwork pulled a latch on the wall causing the lights to dim and flicker on. It was a small, claustrophobic room full of old radio equiptment collecting dust and cobwebs. He walked over to a red case in the wall and smashed the glass with his hoof. He motioned at the axe.
“Theres also a pistol on the second floor. I’m not sure its good on ammo though. We might be able to scavenge for some. Or you can go for the baseball bat in the lockers over there.” He said, looking around. He grabbed a camera and checked the film.
“You come here often?” I asked.
“I visit from time to time. I’ve been working on the radios. Thought I’d better not let them go to waist.” He chuckled. “It works for a shelter, for now.”
“What about the windows?” I checked the door, it was bolted shut. The thin glass windows had been cracked and weakened, though shielded by another thin metal mesh.
“We can get out of here or steal a ride in town and go for the hills.” The pegasus said.
“You really think we should go back?” I asked.
“Your choice.” Clockwork said. “I’m up for an adventure.”
(Your vote will affect how the story plays out!)
A: Grab the pistol and go for a vehicle.
B: Grab the axe and secure the building.
C: Grab the baseball bat and scavenge.
D: Random.
