WARNING: THIS FAN FICTION CONTAINS MANY STRONG SEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE THAT MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
It was about noon when one of Celestia's Royal Guards, Gladius, came bolting up the stairs to her chambers. He nearly shouted her name as he burst through the doors. "Princess Celestia" he said in a way that he considered to be, "a tone louder than respectful". "Please...pardon me your majesty, but I come as 'The Bearer of Terrible News.'" She had been expecting this for some days now, and very surprised it hadn't come earlier. "Oh?".....It was the only response she could think of passing from her lips without showing the fear that she felt toward her subjects, and herself. "Y..yes Your Majesty...Ponyville has fallen." She tried her hardest to not let the tears that had started to form fall from her eyes, but a few escaped despite her efforts. "Were..there..any survivors?" She asked between tears. "We know of 6....Your Highness." She shut her eyes as tight as she could, images and faces racing through her mind. "Who could they possibly be?", she silently thought to herself. "Twilight Sparkle was sent to the Canterlot Research Center as you requested. We were fortunate enoung to be able to reach her in time." The Princess tried not to seem relieved as about 75% of her subjects were confirmed dead. "Sister?" Said a dark blue alicorn. "What is the issue? Have we lost another?" She was concerned, yet managed to keep a straight face. "Yes" Celestia responded while staring downward at the floor. "Ponyville." Princess Luna knew what a terrible loss it had been and decided to let her sister be for now. As she walked away, all she said was, "I'm sorry," for she knew, as well as everyone else, that if she said more, she would cry too. "Can I speak to her?" Gladius was asked. He turned to Celestia, her tear filled eyes watching him, waiting for the response. "I regret to inform you..that all roads leading to Canterlot Castle are currently closed...Your Highness." He was worried for her response, but she merely looked past him with a straight face and asked "Who are the others?" He had forgotten the reason he was there. "Oh. Yes...a grey pegasus with a lazy eye named Derpy Hooves. She didn't seem very phased by the situation. A mint green unicorn who we believe to possibly be named Bon-Bon. That was all that was audible under all her sobbing. We're keeping those two here in Canterlot Castle." He looked nervous at the glare she was starting to give him. "The other three?" She was almost angry that he was hiding something. "A unicorn and his family...they...left the city." He kicked his hoof, knowing that he hadn't tried hard enough to stop them. "Would...would you like me to get the spell book?...Your Majesty..." A look of terror crossed her face as she remembered what had happened with Fillydelphia. "No!....no....not until we're sure there are no more survivors...then I'll perform the spell..
THE TROTTING DEAD
