The Last Stand

Being Alone

"Alright, that'll do for now." Applejack examined the musty room, the cellar was filled with food and cider, enough to keep them alive for a while, and the only way in was through the door she just nailed shut. That was three weeks ago. The food and cider that had been stored was running out.

"Sis, ahm scared..." Applebloom shuddered.

"Ah know, so am ah. I've made sure to lock up that door nice and tight."

"Will it keep them out?"

"Yes." Applejack lied. Even though she's the element of honesty in living form, this is the one time where she felt lying would be better than the truth. She didn't want to say it, but it'd be only a matter of time before their combined weight would crack the door.

"What if it doesn't? What if they get in? What will we do?" Applebloom began to panic.

"Well, your big sis is gonna put up a fight. I wont let any of them touch one hair on yer head." Applejack rubbed Applebloom's head and gave a reassuring smile, "Now, get some sleep, you need your rest." Applejack tucked her sister in the corner and laid a blanket over her.

"Applejack?"

"What is it, sugarcube?"

"Do you think that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are alright?"

"Ah bet they're doin' just fine. They're smart lil' fillies, ah don't think anything happened to them." Applejack lied once again. She didn't have high expectations for the survival of the other crusaders. If any, Sweetie Belle would last the longest, she had Rarity to keep her safe. Scootaloo on the other hoof. Applejack's heart sank into her stomach at the thought.

Applebloom quickly fell asleep from exhaustion and ignored the sounds of moaning coming from above. They had agreed that they'd take shifts so that someone would always be on guard, but Applejack didn't sleep, she didn't have it in her to wake Applebloom. If they were to survive this, Applebloom would never be the same.

"Please... Celestia, help us." Applejack began to sob, "ah don't wanna die like this. This is the one time I don't wanna do something alone!" Applejack perked up when the sound of something bashing on the door alerted her. She immediately checked her pocket and found five shotgun shells.

"Shit. This wont last very long." Applejack said as she loaded two shells into her shotgun, she snapped the barrel back into place and aimed it at the door, ready to defend Applebloom from whatever wanted to get in. Applejack could hear the sound of the wooden door beginning to crack when something distracted them. It was a scream and a very high pitched one at that. Anypony who's lived in Ponyville would know that there was only one pony with a voice like that.

"Sweetie Belle!" Applejack exclaimed. Without thinking she rushed to the door, removed the barricade and pushed the door open. The light was blinding, they had been in the darkness for so long, it took at least ten seconds for her eyes to adjust to natural sunlight. When her vision returned, the sight she saw put her in a state of fear and joy. She was amazed to see Sweetie Belle alive, but three of them surrounded her and they'd soon be upon her.

"Rarity! Help me!" Sweetie Belle cried.

"Don' worry, sugarcube! I'm commin' for ya!" Applejack began to charge. She swung the shotgun out and blew away the legs of one of the monsters surrounding Sweetie Belle, causing it to stumble to the ground. Even with a leg missing, it continued to reach for the filly. Applejack fired her second shot into another one, this time she aimed for the head. She buckshot hit the creature and replaced it's head with a fine red paste, silencing it for good. The third was almost on top of Sweetie Belle, there wasn't enough time to reload, she had to act. Applejack swung her shotgun like a bat, making a loud cracking sound as it sent Sweetie Belle's attacker clean off it's hooves. It wiggled around on the ground a bit before managing to stand back up again.

"Raaaarity!" Sweetie Belle's voice cracked as she screamed.

"Come on! Let's get out of here!" Applejack picked Sweetie Belle up and tossed her on her back. She ignored everything around her. All she could see was the cellar door, safety. Using the strength she had acquired over the years of working on the farm, she dashed into the cellar, slammed the door shut and put wooden board through the makeshift latch she made. She then proceeded to nail several more on the weakened points.

"Sweetie Belle!" Applebloom yelled, "Applejack said you'd be okay and you are! Thank Celestia!"

"Back up, Applebloom, give her some space to breathe. Now, what were you doin' all the way out here on yer own?"

"Rarity... she's hurt..." Sweetie Belle gasped for air, "she was bit... by... one of them... she's at... Carousel Boutique..."

Applejack was speechless. Sweetie Belle ran all the way from Carousel Boutique to Sweet Apple Acres, on her own hoping to save her sister.

"Well, what are we waitin' for?" Applebloom said bravely, "Let's go get Rarity. It'd be better if we're together."

"No." Applejack winced upon hearing herself say that word.

"W-what are you talkin' about? Why not?" Apple Bloom asked.

"Because..." Applejack knew that this conversation would not end well, "there's nothin' we can do. If what Sweetie Belle says is true, and that she has been bit, it's only a matter of time before she turns."

"N-n-no... I don't believe you! No! It's not true!" Sweetie Belle ran to Applejack and began punching her in a fit of rage. Applejack didn't protect herself from the filly's fury. She felt that she deserved it. Sweetie Belle's punches got weaker and weaker as fatigue began to overpower the young pony. Soon enough, she collapsed on the ground and was sound asleep. Nopony said anything, the room became silent and the only noise that could be heard was the constant moaning from outside.

"I-is there nothin' we can do for Rarity?" Applebloom said, breaking the silence.

"No, she belongs to the dead now."

"How could you say that?!" Applebloom choked, "Ah thought she was your friend! Friends help each other!"

"Applebloom, there's nothing we can do! What if something were to happen to me if we went to save her? Or you? If anything happened to you, ah'd never forgive myself, there'd be nothing left in the world for me to live for. You have to underst--"

"Ah hate you!" Applebloom interrupted, "we both have friends here! You're friends with Rarity, and ahm friends with Sweetie Belle, you don't wanna help either of 'em! Ah hate you!"