The Cold Evening Winds [Part 1]
Sweetie Belle shuddered as she stared at the campfire.
Scootaloo held her goosebumps down as she stared at her friend.
She threw a twig into the fire, making it roar for a second, catching Sweetie Belle's attention.
"What're you doing?" She asked curiously.
"You're cold." Scootaloo replied.
"So?"
"We might as well have some comfort, considering the situation."
Sweetie Belle grinned softly at her, "You're silly."
She replied with a momentary smile, "And you're cold."
Sweetie Belle gave her a look of happiness, "Not anymore."
Scootaloo felt a little better by this.
She thought it through and decided just to wing it.
"Hey."
"Yea?" Sweetie Belle looked up at Scootaloo.
"I'm sorry about her."
Sweetie Belle frowned now.
"Hey...At least it wasn't in vain."
"Oh?"
"It was one of us or all of us."
"Hm."
"I guess we weren't the ones to decide, eh?"
"Ah guess not.."
Sweetie Belle sat still, remembering the crazyness of the past two days.
Scootaloo rushed into Carousel Boutique, running straight into Sweetie Belle's room.
"SWEETIEBELLESWEETIEBELLESWEETIEBELLLLE!!"
"Whatwhatwhat!" A startled-off-her-bed Sweetie Belle replied.
"It finally happened."
"What happened?"
"You know how I said that kid who got killed was already dead or something?"
"Oh not this again.." Sweetie Belle facehoofed.
"Dammit, Scootaloo, as much as I'm interested in the concept at work- RIGOR MORTIS IS BULL.SHIT."
"No but listen." Scootaloo whined, "I SAW a zombie. Nearly killed it too. It's strapped down right now."
"What the heck are you talking about? Is this another one of your pranks?"
"Okay, LOOK, We do NOT have time to go through the stupidities until you finally believe me. There was a zompy, it attacked, so did I. Right now it's attached to a tree near Sweet Apple Acres. Come see."
Sweetie Belle thought for a moment.
"Okay, but this better not be some stupid prank with AB."
"I wish it WAS. Then we wouldn't be in the beginning of a possible zompy apocalypse."
Sweetie Belle scrunched up her nose. Scootaloo wasn't usually like this.
"Okay hang on a sec."
Sweetie Belle reached into her closet, retrieving a large bag and put it over her shoulders.
"The hells that?" Scootaloo commented.
"Emergency Zompy Outbreak Survival Bag. Guess I'm more of an idiot than you."
As Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo arrived at the destination, Scootaloo's eyes widened.
"Oh shit."
The zompy she'd strapped down was loose, having tugged on it's hands enough to rip them off.
A few other zompies were wandering around the trees, possible bites from the first.
"Welp. Let's put this thing to use!" Sweetie Belle gulped.
"Ruuun!" Scootaloo ordered.
All the zompies looked at them and began approaching.
"Dammit! Look what you did!"
Sweetie Belle reached into her bag quickly, pulling out a large pocket knife.
She opened it up and charged at the zompies, knife in hand.
"What're you doing?!" Scootaloo exclaimed.
"Using my brain!" Sweetie called back.
"They eat those!"
Sweetie Belle stared at Scootaloo momentarily with a frozen gaze.
She shoved the knife into the under part of one the zompies' mouth.
The zompy fell instantly as Sweetie Belle backed up again.
She looked at the other three zompies and deviced a plan.
Sweetie Belle lead the zompies in one direction, causing a line up of them.
She then charged into them stabbing the knife through all three's heads.
Pulling the blade out of them and wiping it clean she turned on Scootaloo.
"What were you thinking? Oh wait- you weren't!"
"What are you talking about YOU're the one who just ran into all of those zompies! That's dangerous!"
"No it was self-defense and the prevention of the 'infection' or whatever this is from leaking into the city- they could've bit more ponies!"
Scootaloo thought it over.
"I guess you're right. But why would something like this happen so abruptly? I don't see a logical explanation other than infection."
"And neither do I. But what kind and how'd it get to these ponies? It could have started IN Ponyville.."
"And that's what I'm worried about."
"Well then that makes two of us." Sweetie Belled scorned.
"We should go check on Applebloom since she could be near by. Then we should all head into town."
"Aye."
The two ponies ran into Sweet Apple Acres not knowing what horrors awaited them.
Sweetie Belle shivered a little bit at the sadness that'd overcome her.
She thought about things like Applebloom, Rarity, if Rarity is safe, and about what was going on.
"Hey Sweets, you okay?" Scootaloo called from across the campfire.
"Yea, I'm fine." She replied coldly.
"What's up?" Scootaloo responded, knowing something could be wrong.
"Nothing really, I was just remembering the whole thing."
"I guess I'm more of an idiot than you." Scootaloo tried with a smile.
"No arguement there."
"Shut up.." Scootaloo retorted playfully.
She sat with Sweetie Belle and nudged her on the side.
"I remember too."
Me and Sweetie Belle are running our asses off.
I hope Applebloom's okay.
Those zompies where mighty close to the Acres.
I frown.
Me and Sweetie Belle are approaching the Acres but got caught off right at the entrance.
A small horde of zompies are there by the entrance by the Sweet Apple Picket Fence.
I look at Sweetie Belle with worry.
I give her a silent look I think she understansd, Well?
Sweetie Belle starts walking backwards, checking her surroundings.
I'm guessing she's looking out for zompies.
"What are you DOING?" I call out to her.
"Come on, back up with me!" She continues backing up, calling to the zompies.
I follow her carefully. What is she even doing here...
After about a minute of backing up with the zompies starting to get too close fer comfort, Sweetie Belle yells.
"RUUUUNNN!!!"
I follow her into the Everfree forest, the zompies close behind.
"What are we doing?"
"Just trust me!"
We run around in circles leading them behind and then take an unmarked path through the leaves.
She leads me back into town but I can't see or hear any zompies behind me at all.
"What the hell was all THAT?" I huff.
"I was leading them away from the farm- there's too many to take on at once without proper equipment."
"Maybe you TELL ME the plan next time?" I remark.
"Sorry...Short notice.."
I take a look around.
"Well now we're on the other side of town."
"Dammit." She says angrily, "It's already late enough as it but the hike back to Carousel Boutique is about an hour from here!
"How'd we even GET here?" I ask confused.
"This path, " She points at an entrance into the Everfree Forest about 10 yards away, "It's a shortcut..."
She breathes out deeply, "But it's too risky to go back from- we need to walk back THROUGH town."
I think these things through.
I'm quite a little worried.
"It doesn't really help that it's-" I check my watch, "Six PM."
"No it does not. At least sundowns isn't for another hour and a half or so." Sweetie Belle agrees.
Thank god for summer.
"We should get moving, eh?" I ask.
"Yea.."
We begin the trek back to the other side of town.
I'm scared.
---###---
Me and Sweetie Belle walk quietly into Carousel Boutique.
I follow her, creeping up the stairs and into her room.
We close the door quickly.
Sweetie Belle holds out her arm to tell me to wait.
I watch her check every possible hiding place for zompies or Rarity.
Nothing.
We check the rest of the house for Rarity.
Nothing.
Sweetie Belle says nothing upon confirmation her sister is not here.
I watch her go behind the counter and into the Supply Closet.
She comes out with a Hammer and Nails and a ton of wooden planks.
Sweetie Belle turns to me, "Well? You gonna help or what?"
---###---
"So?"
"Hm? 'So' what?" Sweetie Belle responded quizzically.
"Why the fire and not the lightsbulbs? There's electricity for some reason." I reply, a bit confused.
"Well, Scootaloo." She answers me, "You see, as far as we know: there's a zompy infection out there."
"And?"
"And that means we don't want them to know we're in here- that's why we also barricaded and set up long cloths."
"And?"
"And if that's correct this could be just the beginning, meaning we're really close to the source and could possibly stop it whether helping or as the leaders to the latter objective."
"Go on."
"That's all! We could save all of Equestria from a zompy infection, or at least help in doing so, or die TONIGHT!"
I stare at her with an expression as blank as my flank.
"Ah."
She sighs, "Oh whatever..."
"So why not use a lamp?"
"I just don't wanna use power..." She mumbles while looking to the ground, "I wanna conserve energy- it could be limited now."
"Ah okay." I stare around without full expression.
"So...."
"Just say it.."
"Why do you have a Emergency Zompy Outbreak Backpack and a seven-inch long blade pocket knife?"
"Reasons.."
"Tell me..."
"Alright alright. See it works somefin like this:"
A zompy outbreak is very possible!
"Uh-huh."
You see, viruses can spread quickly and infect many, ESPECIALLY if treated without proper cleanliness.
"Uh-huh"
And you see- there are already many zompy viruses, hell, a few animals are already zombies by nature!
"Whoa!"
And technically- so are cockroaches!
"Ew.."
And so blah blah blah.. Blahblah blah-blah-blah blahblahblahblahblah!
"Mhm..."
Ah blah blah blah! Blah blah blah. Blah!
"Ah! Right right..."
Eh blah blah blah blah- BLAH! BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH?!
"Yea yea....."
BLO BLO BLAH! BLO BLA BLIBLABLIN!
"Mhm...Sure.."
BLAH!
*POP*
"HEY ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?!"
"Huh wha~?"
"I WAS TALKING ABOUT A *LOT* OF IMPORTANT STUFF HERE, SCOO-TA-LOO!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just...I had this wonderful dream that there was a possible zompy apocalypse.
And this was terrible! But then you saved the day- with science of course! And then you turned into this sweet little angel who spoke to me in it's melodic 'blah blah blahs'.... Ah..."
"THAT WAS ME."
"Huh?"
"You dozed off when I started talking about why Zompy Outbreaks are very possible and why it's good to be prepared for them!"
"YOU DID? WAIT. THERE ISN'T ANY ZOMPIES OUT THERE RIGHT? RIIIGHT??
You just pulled that out of your ass!"
Sweetie Belle smacked Scootaloo.
"Ow..."
"Scootaloo, play time is OVER. We're in serious danger and I want to be prepared!"
"Geez why are you freaking out so much? I mean you're not acting like you at all!"
"Because this is serious business, Scootaloo! I'm worried for your welfare and don't want you to DIE!"
"I don't have any money issues..." I said dazily rubbing my cheek.
*SMACK*
"WAKE.UP."
Sweetie Belle stood enraged and headed downstairs, out her room.
"Hey where are you going? Sweetie Belle!"
"My sister could be dead or trapped somewhere BARRICADED. And so could Applebloom! I'm not going to sit around with you if you won't cooperate for our benifits!"
"...."
I sat on the floor by the small fire, rubbing my cheeks.
I felt horrible.. I'd just disappointed Sweetie Belle at the worst time...
This isn't just another science class with Miss Cheerilee...
Celestia knows if she's even alive to ever tell another lecture again....
Now Sweetie Belle's leaving and it's not safe and...
OH SHIT!
I immediately ran after her at high speed.
"Sweetie Belle~!"
"Sweetie Belle wait! Don't do this!" Scootaloo said rushing into the kitchen.
"The hell are you babbling on about?" She said reaching into the pantry.
"Don't leave!" Scootaloo tried.
"Leave?LEAVE? Are you calling me *stupid* now?"
"What no it's just that you said you weren't gonna sit around."
"Yea- I'm not. Right now I'm getting some damn supplies We'll need food."
"Uh yea..." Scootaloo toke out some cheese from the refridgerator.
"No that won't do."
"Why not?"
"It's not a non perishable- It'l just spoil quick,. No reason I can't use it now though."
Sweetie Belle grabbed the cheese and put it to the side and continued packing.
"What about this?"
Scootaloo held up a pack of Ramen Noodle Soup.
"That's perfect-how many are there?"
"20: 10 Chicken, 10 Beef"
"Okay we'll split it. Here put that in here." Sweetie Belle opened the food filled pocket on her backpack.
"Now...Weapons.."
"Okay I'm not even BOTHER asking why in the world you have these." Scootaloo said.
"Ugh just take it. Do you know HOW to shoot?"
"I guess I could manage.." Scootaloo replied examining the pistol in her hands.
"No that won't do." She walked next to her and started pointing.
"Okay this is the safety so you don't shoot yourself like an idiot.."
"Ah.....I was *about* to pull that.."
Sweetie Belle facehoofed
"So how come YOU didn't grab a gun? Only got one?"
"Uh yea...Well I did grab one but it's far to deadly to use out of emergencies only. For now...."
She pulled out her 7-inch long blade pocket knife.
"This outta do just fine. Oh here."
She handed Scootaloo a machete.
"There. Use that unless in case of an emergency. Put the gun in this."
She handed her a holster.
"Okay WHY do you have guns in the supply room and a machete in the living room?"
"Just...Stuff..Uh camping..Had to beg Rarity...Yup...Camping..."
Clapping her hooves together she headed upstairs.
The next morning Scootaloo awoke feeling confused.
She still just couldn't put her finger on why Sweetie Belle had changed so drastically.
So quickly anyway. And what about that bag and those weapons?
She turned to look at the gun in the holster attached to her flank by a belt.
Scootaloo examined it a little better now, getting to know it and checking the feel on it.
Afterwards she got up, quickly used a spare brush and washed her teeth and face.
Then she head downstairs.
Scootaloo saw Sweetie Belle at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the doorway coldly.
"Hey.."
"Hey."
She sat down next to her, "Sleep good last night?"
"Eh." Sweetie Belle shrugged.
"I've been up all night keeping watch."
"You should've let me know- I would've taken a turn."
"Nah...I got it..I just need a coffee."
"I'll get you one."
"Nah I like it my way."
"Why are you doing this?"
"What're you talking about?"
"You're acting really strange and stubborn."
"Well that's *one* way to look at it."
Scootaloo stared at Sweetie Belle.
Sweetie Belle stared at Scootaloo.
Then Sweetie Belle stood up and walked into the kitchen, Scootaloo close behind.
"Let's head out now." She said.
"Won't you pass out?" Scootaloo asked.
"Pfft. Please." She took a big gulp and downed the whole cup of coffee, throwing the cup behind her.
"Let's go."
Scootaloo stared at Sweetie Belle.
"Hey thanks.."
"Why?"
"I meant being prepared. And the gun. That stuff."
"Ah okay..Well, I guess when Twilight takes Rainbow Dash and Rarity and the others she'll say 'Who's unprepared now.' "
They shared a chuckle.
"If she WAS prepared anyhow."
"Well you were.."
Sweetie Belle thought about Applebloom.
She tugged her bow close to her, "Not enough though.."
The Cold Evening Winds [Part 2]
Cutie Mark Cru-Saviors
Season 1, Chapter 2 - The Cold Evening Winds Part 2
Scootaloo rushed into Carousel Boutique's living room, looking for Sweetie Belle.
"Sweetie Belle?" She called.
Nothing.
She ran into the entrance and saw a small gap in the barricade.
"Oh no no no no no no no..."
She looked past it and saw nopony.
Scootaloo turned and screamed.
"Hey..." Scootaloo told Sweetie Belle, "It's NOT your fault."
"I didn't say it was.." She replied stubbornly.
"You sure act like it.."
"I just wish I could have saved Applebloom."
"Hey.... It's alright. She's in a better place now. At least now she won't get mauled to death.."
"Well I guess that's an up..."
"Let's just relax for tonight okay? I'll set up the tents and cook up something but you just relax."
"Okay. Thanks Scootaloo."
"What're friends for right?"
"Ahhh!"
A hoof covered Scootaloo's mouth momentarily.
"Ah..."
"You better?"
"Celestia sakes, Sweetie Belle, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Scootaloo huffed.
"What?" Sweetie Belle asked, "I thought you heard me say I was in the kitchen."
"Oh... Guess I spaced out?"
"Ugh. Well I was just getting tools to fix this hole."
"I thought you were LEAVING!"
"LEAVING? At THIS hour? Please, Scootaloo, I'm an A student."
"WAS an A student."
"Shut up."
After fixing the hole, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo head upstairs to eat and figure out what they were to do.
As sunrise came, Sweetie Belle re-stated the plan to assure it.
"Okay, So."
We head to Sweet Apple Acres to check on Applebloom.
If nopony's there it's because they left probably by AJ or Macintosh's order.
They could've also left with Twilight and the rest.
"Aye"
If we find Applebloom we seek refuge in the Club House for the night, one of us keeping watch at a time."
If we don't, we run back into town, and into the Schoolhouse.
"Why there?"
Miss Cheerilee could be there possibly. Other than that, we can raid the School's emergency supplies.
Sound good?
"Aye, let's move out!"
Sunrise showed as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo finished mapping out their day course.
"Okay," Sweetie Belle chanted, "Let's move out!"
"Careful, Scoots" Sweetie Belle whispered.
"Yea, I know... Lurking 'round every corner- I get it, Sweetie Belle."
"But keep it in mind! You'll thank me later."
"Yea yea...Seriously though- It's just the Alley turn- what could go wro-"
Sweetie Belle withdrew her "pocket knife" and integrated it into the lashing zompy's cerebral sector ((Ooo~ Fonceh!))
Scootaloo huffed and regained herself.
"Thanks..."
"Told ya."
"Oh shut up."
"Whatever, let's keep moving" Sweetie replied.
"Applebloom!" Scootaloo cried upon entering the premises of the Apple Family.
"Not so loud, Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle hushed, "Do you WANT to get killed?"
"Sorry sorry..." She whimpered.
"Now. Let's lay low." The white coated filly ordered while squatting.
"So what's our game plan?" Scootaloo inquired.
"Okay..." She thought momentarily, "Let's head for that shed. From there we'll run to the barn when the cost is clear."
"Alrighty then."
"Move out...!"
Sweetie Belle charged silently across the plain open fields of the Apple Family's Acres.
Scootaloo ran ahead loudly, dashing across the mud creating soft *pop*s
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle cried after her, "Squat, dammit!"
Scootaloo didn't hear and ran straight through the door to the shed.
"That damned filly is gonna get us killed..." Sweetie Belle muttered angrily.
As Sweetie Belle approached the shed a loud yelp came from within.
"Oh shit!"
"Fuck, Scootaloo! Just FUCK."
Sweetie Belle trotted inside, ready.
Pulling up her knife, she lit a match.
"The hell did you do?"
A growling noise came as a response.
"Heh heh....Shit."
Belle began to hack away at the air.
A slashing noise beget it self on her ears.
"Ha!"
She cut in the designated area, slashing at a nearly 'invisible' zompy.
"Alright then...Scootaloo?"
Nothing.
"Scoooootalooooo.. I killed the bastard- come out."
No response.
"Oh god dammit."
...
"No...."
She examined the corpse in front of her.
Sweetie Belle made no noise when seeing Scootaloo, hacked up- she couldn't manage any.
Suddenly she felt a soft tapping on her shoulder.
"Ah!" She cried, turning sharply, knife in hoof.
"Ow!" Scootaloo cried behind her, falling to her knees, "Did you REALLY need to cut me because I dashed ahead?"
She gripped her wound tightly for a few seconds before standing.
"What are you doing just sitting here?" She asked.
"Um....Nothing, nothing..."
Sweetie Belle examined the corpse again, seeing a pony she did not recognize.
"Nothing..."
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stepped inside the barn.
"Applebloom..!" Sweetie Belle called out cautiously.
Waiting for a bit, receiving no response, she called again.
"Applebloom!"
"Oh step aside, sister." Scootaloo shoved, "Applebloom, get your possibly dead ass down here!"
A figure began wobbling down the staircase.
"Oh goody."
"Girls?" A very familiar voice called out, "Is that you?"
"Oh Applebloom! I'm so glad you're alive!" Sweetie Belle hugged Applebloom.
"What're y'all talkin' about?" She yawned, "Where's Applejack? And Big Macintosh? Granny Smith?"
"They're gone. Possibly dead." Sweetie Belle said coldly.
"What?!" Applebloom snapped awake.
"Applebloom..Do you even know what's going on?" Scootaloo stepped in.
"Somethins' goin' on?"
"So like. The Zompy Apocalypse just broke out..."
"Oh goodie." Sweetie Belle said, "Another victim of the Zompy Awakening. Ha."
"Wait...WHAT?!"
"Shut your trap, Applebloom. We don't want any 'unexpected vistors.' " Sweetie Belle hushed, "Now come. We have much to talk about.."
