Outbreak: Unknown

The afternoon passed in relative peace, the horror of the morning still fresh in their minds. Even with the hospital burning in the distance Twilight could not forsake the feeling of dread. The empty town was certainly a strange thing, not a single living soul was seen in the vacant houses surrounding the library. She prayed that her friends were safe from whatever contagion had infected the hospital.

"Do you think the others are alright?"

"I sure hope so Rare... If any of that...thing escaped, surely we would have seen it by now."

"Your right, it's just Ponyville seems to be quite...dead."

"Perhaps Celestia managed to evacuate the town, in case she couldn't handle it?"

"Yes most likely."

"How is Sweetie?"

"She's... coping. I'm not sure what kind of bug she's got but it sure is tenacious." They both glanced back towards Sweetie Belle fast asleep on the floor, a single thought entered their minds simultaneously. Was she infected?

"Ah don't know bout you gals but its awfully strange that your sister gets sick around the same time. I'm a little worried we may have a problem on our hoofs..."

Rarity whirled in anger toward Applejack, "Hey! Just because you lost your sister doesn't give you the right to throw accusations around."

"Accusations? I'm just makin' sure she ain't gonna change!"

Twilight forced herself between the two mares and stared directly at Applejack,

"Applejack, please! Spike had no visible symptoms until this morning with the sleepwalking. We have to find the others, not bicker over whether to tell a child she may be infected with something she doesn't have!"

"See at least Twilight is keeping a cool head."

"Whatever..."

Satisfied that she had kept the peace, Twilight began to write down plans on a singular roll of parchment. After a long winded argument on the best approach for dealing with the deserted town they settled on gathering the others. Hopefully somepony else would be aware of what exactly had happened to the townsfolk.

"Pinkie Pie should be first as she lives pretty much smack bang in the center. If anypony knows what's going on she would most likely be the first."

Rarity shook her sister awake and gave her a small pill for the queasiness. Applejack grabbed a few bottles of cider and placed two in each of their saddlebags, a cool beverage would be a wanted commodity over the next few days. With bags packed and stomachs full, they headed towards the colorful building of Sugarcube Corner, standing alone and dark on this chill eve. The doors were thrown open in what appeared to be panic, though there was no evidence of violence or blood around the handles. Despite the lack of blood Twilight felt quite nervous. Applejack pushed past her and headed towards the second story, ignoring the warnings from both her friends, she continued up the stairs and moved out of sight.

"Applejack! Applejack! Rarity stay with Sweetie, I have a bad feeling about this."

Twilight began to jump up the stairs two at a time, her heart pounding in anticipation of whatever may await her. Every bedroom was barred shut with nails and boards, furniture was piled into the center of the hallway. Applejack stood against the barricade and kicked it with all her strength. The force of the buck was enough to splinter the desks and chairs that held it in place. The sound of crying could be heard from the furthest room.

A muffled voice called from the sealed door, "M-mrs Cake i-is that you?"

"It's me, Twilight! Applejack and Rarity are with me too! Are you ok, Pinkie?"

"T-twilight? What happened to the Cakes?"

"I'm umm not sure, looks like they fled in a hurry."

"I heard screams... Horrible, horrible screams..."

"Lets get you out of there!"

"O-ok."

Both Twilight and Applejack pried the large boards from the door frame and pushed the door open slowly. Huddled in the corner was a terrified looking Pinkie Pie, her usually fluffy mane was straight as a razor and hanging across her face. A tiny smile formed on her lips as she saw two of her best friends standing in the doorway. She ran forward and embraced Twilight in her hooves, her fresh tears staining the unicorns mane.

"Twilight! I'm so glad to see you, I was scared trapped up here by myself. Mr Cake blocked my room off so I'd be safe from whatever was outside the door. I don't think he made it..."

"Don't say that Pinkie, everyone's probably ok! At least I hope... You wouldn't happen to know what's going on would you?"

Pinkie Pie shook her head and gave an apologetic shrug. "Sorry, I have no idea what's happening. It seems pretty bad."

"Yeh the towns deserted, not a single pony is wandering the streets."

"Where's Spike?"

"He umm, he became infected with a virus and h-his d-dead!" Twilight choked back several tears as the memories of her friend flooded her sub conscious. Pinkie gave her another hug, not wanting to see her friends pain and loss.

"I'm gonna miss Spikey...he was a great little dragon. Maybe after all this passes we should throw him the best funeral ever! How about that?"

*sniff* "I would greatly appreciate it Pinkie."

Applejack had been staring intently out the window, making sure nothing would sneak up on them. She was alerted by a strange shadow moving across the fog-ridden backdrop. Its relatively pony-shaped form would be almost perfect if it weren't for the tendrils upon its back. It stared up towards where Applejack was standing and seemed to release a subsonic screech in her direction.

"Umm girls, I don't think we should stay here much longer... One of those things just saw me!"

Twilight ran to the window to catch a glimpse of whatever it was but struggled to even see the street below. If something had been watching them it apparently had fled into the empty streets.

"Well it appears to be gone AJ, I don't think it's coming back." Out of the corner of her eye Twilight could have sworn she saw Applejack's face briefly contort but decided it was just her nerves getting the best of her. "Anyway we should probably reassure Rarity downstairs before she panics... Plus we still need to find Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

"Yeh let's go, this place is giving me the creeps..." Pinkie shivered at her empty room and couldn't help but feel upset about the Cakes disappearance. She took a deep breath, stepping out into the hallway and towards the lower floor.

Rarity sighed in relief as her friends came down the stairs with Pinkie Pie in tow. Her usually happy demeanor was replaced by pain and hurt, even her hair seemed to lack any of her usual self.

"Oh Pinkie, you look absolutely dreadful darling! This day is quickly becoming a living nightmare. Twilight, I think I saw somepony or something outside but all we could see was shadow."

"Yeh, I saw it too, hopefully it's another pony like us."

Applejack cleared her throat in a rather rude fashion, "Hate ta burst ya bubble sugar cube but ponies don't got tendrils..."

"Thanks for the idea of hope... I think we should head to Fluttershy's cottage, Hopefully she avoided whatever happened being so far from town. Rainbow Dash is probably alright in Cloudsdale I would think."

"But what about Scootaloo?" Asked Sweetie Belle with a heartbreaking sigh, "I don't even know who her parents are..."

Rarity turned to her sister, "I promise we will find Scootaloo as soon as possible. Do you know where she lives?"

"I-i think she told me she lived somewhere near here. I can't exactly remember to well."

"Don't worry Sweetie, I'm sure we can find your friend! In fact i may have seen her house." Pinkie gave the young filly a reassuring smile and ran a single hoof through her mane.

"Let's get going girls. The longer we wait the more likely something bad will happen to them." Twilight opened the door as they all stepped out into the empty streets, the fog had seemingly grown thicker over the course of their brief stop. Slowly they proceeded down main street trying their hardest to peer through the dense grey fog that drifted over their bodies. Several buildings were almost invisible but still kept a dim outline. Many of them had lights on but nopony was home. The shattered windows and splintered doors were not a sight one would wish to see.

The sound of light flapping came from a large two story building a few meters from where they were standing, Sweetie pulled herself from Rarity's grasp and ran towards the house, ignoring the sounds of protest from the other ponies.

"Sweetie Belle! It's not safe!"

The determined Sweetie galloped into the house and bounded up the stairs without stopping, skidding to a stop before the tattered remnants of the bedroom door. Sweetie stepped inside with a look of unease, the flapping sound continued from the darkened closet on the right hand side of the room. Slowly she crept forward and put her hoof against the doorknob and swung the door open. The smell of musty decay greeted her nose as Sweetie's eyes fell upon the offending flapper. A long scarf that was flapping gently in the breeze from the open window. The pastel colored scarf was oddly shaped, with large lumps all through it.

"Sweetie Belle! Don't scare me like that! What if you were attacked or became infected?" Rarity hugged her sister and followed her gaze to the strange looking scarf. "Hey what did you-"

Rarity let out a loud scream as she figured out what it was. The other three burst into the room with a look of fear on their faces.

"Rarity what is it?"

The white mare was even paler then usual as she pointed a hoof at the offending item. On closer inspection Twilight nearly gagged at the piece of intestine she held in her hooves. She threw the organ through the window where it hit the ground with a dull splat, spilling out its contents. Pinkie Pie couldn't keep her food down as she swayed side to side and dry heaved. Everypony else simply looked away in disgust, trying to erase the horrible image.

Sweetie Belle burst into tears, worried that her friend had met such a horrid fate. Rarity hugged her tighter as her sister bawled in pain. Pinkie stepped forward and placed a hoof on Sweeties shoulder. "Don't worry Sweetie, it's not Scootaloo. Not that it makes it any better for whoever it was..."

"How do you k-know?" Sweetie asked through her stream of tears.

"Because this is a stallions room, see that poster on the wall? That is Sapphire Shores, who I'm pretty sure isn't one of Scoots favorites."

Sweetie looked up at the picture of Sapphire Shores and sighed in small relief. Her best friend was not here and perhaps still alive somewhere.

"If shes safe I'm sure we will run into her while heading for Fluttershy's cottage." Twilight was trying her best to reassure Sweetie Belle even though she was beginning to have doubts about Ponyville having any living ponies left.

Once again the group left the building, this time heading to the north where Fluttershy lived and where the Everfree began. The lights that were on before had switched off, whether because the power had run out or something had got whoever had turned them on. Apparently it had now become the afternoon as a small sliver of red and orange could be seen, even through the cloud like fog. Eventually the houses and shops began to thin as Ponyville gave way to empty fields.

The grass was brown and sickly as the winter frost slowly killed it off. The wet ground slushed under-hoof as they wandered down the long dirt path. Nopony spoke a single word as thoughts were preoccupied by the events that had passed. The horrible image of the Spike-monster would remain with Twilight for some time.

"Hey girls, do you think Celestia is trying to fix this? I'm worried something may have happened to her...or to Canterlot."

"Ah think she will be fine, she does control the sun and its still moving by the looks of things. Probably busy finding a cure or somethin."

Yeh, i guess you're right AJ, it probably would have stopped if she wasn't here anymore. Still it seems strange that we haven't seen her yet." Twilight stopped suddenly as a strange sound reached her ears.

"What in tarnation?"

"Ooooh is that a band?!"

"Oh my, how wonderful!"

"There in the distance, I think I see a group of ponies! HEY YOU!"

Twilight shouted loudly and waved her hooves, trying to get their attention. The music that had been echoing in the breeze abruptly stopped as four shadows appeared on the hillside beside them. A single male voice called back with a single question, "Are you infected!"

"No, none of us are infected!"

The shadows huddled together in a ring, obviously discussing what to do with another group. After a minute or so they broke up and the voice called again, "Ok stay where you are, we'll come to you!"

Soon enough the shadows slowly came into view revealing a small group of ponies and a lone female zebra.

"Zecora! You're alright?"

"Of course my dear Rarity, it seems I avoided the main calamity! But where is young Applebloom, did she meet an unfortunate doom?"

"Ah lost her Zecora... One 'o those things got her and Big Mac. I should have protected her..."

Zecora looked quite saddened by the news, Applebloom had become her little friend that always visited and she had her back when she was accused of evil. A single tear fell down her cheek, the face of her lost friend fresh in her mind. Applejack pulled her away from the others as they talked about the best Applebloom memories.

The three stallions introduced themselves to the group and shook hooves with Rarity who was sort of a celebrity in town. Though it was probably her looks that caught their attention. After the day they were having it was almost funny to see something non heart-wrenching.

The leader was a golden-feathered, lanky pegasus who had a nasally voice and spoke very quickly. He introduced himself as Falconmane, a former falconer who worked at Canterlot Gardens before all this began. The other two were apparently twins, even though one was an earth pony and the other a unicorn. Both were a deep purple with spiky manes that were a lime-green hue. The older of the two called himself Terravolt, a hardworking electrician that had saved the younger brother from one of the infected. He seemed very self-assured and brave, a stark contrast to the skittish unicorn who kept flinching every time somepony went to close. Skitt seemed an appropriate name for him. A prominent stutter made him almost unintelligible but luckily his brother could decipher the mashed together words.

Skitt stepped closer to Rarity and gasped loudly, he mumbled a few words and quickly trotted backwards in fear.

Terravolt grabbed him in both hooves and shouted, "Are you sure?"

A slight nod was all the answer they needed as Terravolt and Falconmane pinned Rarity down and started to hit her, "Die monster!"

Twilight threw the pegasus off with her magic, pinning him to the ground, "Get away from her! What in Tartarus is wrong with you!"

"She's one of them! We have to burn her, its the only way!" The unicorns horn lit up with fire.

"Are you insane? How would she have gotten infected? We were with her the whole time!"

"It probably got her before then... That's what it does! We have to vaporize her... Your friend is dead!"

"No! You're wrong! I made sure it didn't get into my mouth! You ruffians are beating up a lady and accusing her of lying!"

Rarity tried to buck the powerful earth pony off but was pushed further into the muddy ground. Skitt stood over her and released a small fire ball at her face. Twilight blew the fire away with a spell and lifted the unicorn off his feet.

Terravolt stood up and glared at Twilight. He watched helpless as his brother floated above them. A loud scream caused them to jump as a large shape erupted out of the bush shaped vaguely like a zebra. The shock of seeing the Zecora-thing was enough for Twilight to drop Skitt on the ground. The three stallions fled in fear and left the girls to fend off the attack. The Zecora-thing turned its mass towards Twilight who was trying to use a fire spell. The creatures large hoof/hand grabbed her small body and slammed her into the ground with incredible force.

Pinkie Pie threw herself at the arm and bit deeply, the foul tasting flesh made her gag but she continued to bite through. Her teeth finally gnashed together cutting the arm into pieces. The creature quickly retracted the stump and tried to split it into tentacles. Rarity tried to burn it with her own magic but was not able to keep the spark.

"I can't burn it, I've never used offensive magic! Twilight, I just can't!"

Twilight choked out a few words as the other arm closed around her throat, "Just..urrk!..use.. *cough*..the magic word.. ack!.. for fire..."

Her voice faded as she began to faint. Twilight was about to give in when she felt the heat wash over her. The acrid smell of burning flesh and the beasts primordial screams brought her back to consciousness, Twilight watched as Rarity's horn released a torrent of fire into Zecora-thing's face. Pinkie Pie tore a chunk of the claw around Twilight's neck and proceeded to pull the rest of it apart with her teeth. The beast quivered under the assault and dropped Twilight on the ground. The Zecora-thing tried to shape-shift back into zebra form and fled from the ones who attacked it. Pinkie Pie was about to chase after it until she saw Applejack lying still behind the bush she had gone behind.

Rarity ran forward and placed her head on the apparently lifeless Applejack, she was about to cry when the faint beat of a heartbeat was felt against her cheek. Twilight stepped forward and healed the cuts and bruises on Applejack's face with a simple heal spell. Applejack slowly opened her eyes and smiled up at Rarity.

"Ah ain't going that easy! I got a few more of those things to buck!"

"I'm glad you're alive, did it infect you?" Twilight tried to look for large wounds but couldn't find anything that looked off.

"No I don't think so... In fact I'm not sure it even tried. Can we continue on to Fluttershy's cottage? I feel like its important we do."

"Shouldn't we rest first?"

"Twilight, she's fine! You're the one who nearly choked to death!" Rarity gave Twilight a stern look and checked her for any wounds.

"Rarity, I'm fine alright! What did they mean before? That you were infected?"

"Darling please! They were simply delusional! If I was, don't you think I would have attacked by now?" Her face was a mirror of anger, hurt that Twilight would even consider it.

"I suppose you're right...but still what if you were?"

"I'm not...plain and simple!"

"Gals, let's just get to Flutter's ok? Poor girls probably terrified!" Applejack interjected her own two bits, promptly avoiding an unnecessary argument.

Twilight gave a loud sigh and helped Applejack to stand up off the ground. With a slight limp she trotted forward towards the cottage with determination on her face. Rarity gave a single derisive snort and followed behind her. I hope you can fix this Princess... The future of Ponyville is looking grim right about now.