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Thread 52: Stories 1-15

PrincessApplejack
Jan 11th, 2015
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  1. Thread 52 archive: https://archive.moe/mlp/thread/20855918/
  2. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  3.  
  4. Thread recap!
  5.  
  6. >Pommel finally engaged in the final battle with Baramos! It ended with lasers.
  7. >Cordy started swarming Canterlot
  8. >AJ continued fighting the infection
  9. >Rarity saved Vekir
  10. >SA and Celestia fought off what they could with impromptu Magic Love Bombs, it didn't work as well as against the changelings
  11. >Dash, Pinkie and Fluttershy are still fighting
  12. >Flash and Fizzle made their way onto PD's airship. She is PISSED, but hasn't kicked them off.
  13. >42 is trying to get Cadence to the portal
  14. >Poindexter is trying to work up the courage to ask Mane-Iac out, the Empire has no idea the world is under attack
  15. >32 met up with Arana in the Gun Club room, after talking with her for a bit he set out with Q and left the two of them together
  16. >High Roller snuck up to the hospital, and after he reached it Blue's part was done and he tore off, zombies in pursuit.
  17. >Twilight and Chrysalis continued trying to devise a cure, and Chrysalis eventually revealed that Applejack was infected. No cure in sight yet.
  18. >Spike had a heart to heart with AJ through the door, he has no idea she's infected and ran off
  19. >Actarius, JJ and the Lings are still holed up in the ballroom
  20. >It's revealed that the Cordy has a looser control on 88 than the others
  21. >Jetset spots Shiny and Celestia fighting together and realizes he is not needed, and sets off
  22. >Blueblood meets up with Haymaker and asks for his help for a plan. The plan as it turns out is to break out Flim and Flam, and go activate some robots he squirreled away.
  23. >Unfortunately, someone else beat them to the punch and tore the robots apart. Flim and Flam shrug it off and start assembling a new robot out of the scrap. They also sing, because of course they do
  24. >Screwloose fails to stop the spread on 12, and eventually is forced to use herself and some... drastic measures. She is now barely conscious after blood loss
  25. >Luna is currently fighting the cordies while her guard are picked off
  26.  
  27. >29 and crew make it to Zecora's hut, and she uses stuff to make an illusion that the cordies run around and miss them entirely. They are now holed up and waiting
  28. >Arana might be racist.
  29. >While fighting the zombies, Spike, 7 and 77 discover a guard who had been knifed in the back with a cordy blade. 77 notices a marking on the blade and runs off, with the other two in pursuit.
  30. >Eventually, 77 catches up to the source, 88, and breaks down when he sees her again. She almosts infects him, but he is saved by 7, who flew ahead of Spike.
  31. >This actually enrages 77 as he cries for 7 not to hurt her before being forced down.
  32. >88 takes off, and after breaking free from 7, 77 follows her. 7, strangely, chooses not to pursue, and lies to Spike when the dragon finally catches up, and both leave.
  33. >Silver Spoon tracks, but looses the trail of, DT. She does, however, meet up with Filthy Rich, and the two are now running from zombies.
  34. >While chatting, 7 brings up the concept of Pure-Hive. Essentially, original, non straggler changelings from Momsie's hive. He also brings up Flakes, which are those stragglers. Seven is DEFINITELY a little racist.
  35. >Chitania pic appears, Cuteness is super effective!
  36. >The Wonderbolts arrive
  37. >The scientist from when the cordies learned the insta-heal trick makes his way at last to his ex-wife's labs. After a confrontation with gunfire and stuff-tornados, he finds out she mutated herself while trying to make the Changeling Infusion viable, and now has changeling bits.
  38. >They both also discvoer PD played them, that neither actually got rid or betrayed the other, and this whole mess was to increase their productivity. They reconcile after that.
  39. >Applejack starts thinking about her family and everyone she's letting down, and now is in full breakdown mode
  40.  
  41. >Spike at last confronts 007 about all the stuff that's been going on, and offers him a chance to switch sides. While it looks like 7 might take him up on the offer, it turns out to be a trick, one Spike sees through and puts him at gunpoint.
  42. >7 continually tries to explain this isn't what Spike thinks, but the dragon is hearing none of it and repeatedly cuts him off. Nonetheless, 7 manages to get off a spell to knock Spike out before he could get shot.
  43. >Suddenly, Jetset outta nowhere! The two agents fight back and forth, with Jet attempting to break the other's neck and making liberal use of Teleport spam.
  44. >Eventually, 7 gets the upper hand and wins, draining Jet until the pony can't stand. He starts heading towards Spike with a strange disk...
  45. >And gets shot.
  46. >A LOT.
  47. >Like, a lot.
  48. >He still keeps trying to talk and crawling towards Spike, Spike keeps shooting him.
  49. >Rarity, who had just arrived, suddenly says "LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!"
  50. >Turns out, he was warning Spike about the Manticore cordy. Whoops.
  51. >Spike is bitten, 7 uses the device(which turns out to be a teleporter) and him and Jetset disappear
  52. >Converted, Spike sets his eyes on Rarity, and the pony tears off, zombie-dragon in hot pursuit.
  53. >The cordy is VERY interested in his new acquisition.
  54. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  55.  
  56. >Cadence
  57. "42"
  58. '??'
  59. ~~~
  60.  
  61. “This is bad.”
  62.  
  63. They were coming at her in droves. The magic upon her fists was flickering, struggling to keep any of those sickening looking spores from piercing through and taking her over. Put to the limit in the face of the horde. With their endless numbers, it seemed hopeless, it felt hopeless...
  64.  
  65. >W-why don't you go on ahead? S-someone... someone needs to warn the Empire... if it's even still standing.
  66.  
  67. But she would not, could not, let those feelings sink in. The princess behind her, walking painfully sluggish, was counting on her, depending on her to transport her safely, and by the million eyes of the hivemind that's what she was going to do!
  68.  
  69. “I am fine, continue at your own pace.”
  70.  
  71. The princess glared, unconvinced by the grunting changeling as she punched down another pegasus from the air.
  72.  
  73. >Y-you are not fine! You can barely... you can't keep up like this.
  74.  
  75. “We are almost there.”
  76.  
  77. A sad breath escaped her, and she stumbled once again.
  78.  
  79. >That's what you said an hour ago...
  80.  
  81. “My calculations did not factor in Cragodiles. Have no fear, I have redone the numbers appropriately.”
  82.  
  83. She grunted, unamused.
  84.  
  85. >Forty Two...
  86.  
  87. “I will not leave you, end of story.”
  88.  
  89. They passed the gun clubs armory next. The doors had been opened, from the looks of it by the lock being picked, and weapons of all kinds were scattered upon the ground. Empty bullet casings, unloaded rocket launchers, bent knives, even a...
  90.  
  91. >HOVERBIKE!
  92.  
  93. Cadence squealed just like a filly as she ran up to it, excitement plastered across her face and a burst of adrenaline driving her on.
  94.  
  95. >Oh thank goodness! Thank goodness thank goodness...
  96.  
  97. Every drop of enthusiasm left her when she saw the controls had been slashed, torn apart from the outside by some creatures sharp claws.
  98.  
  99. >N-no... I just... I just want to go home...
  100.  
  101. A compassionate hoof reached out, hovering just over the ponies shaking shoulder.
  102.  
  103. >I just want to go home...
  104.  
  105. But it would not connect.
  106.  
  107. Well? Go on! Hug her!'
  108.  
  109. The changeling growled at the depths of her own mind, mumbling under her breath.
  110.  
  111. “Shut up, brain.”
  112.  
  113. 'Perfect time, come on! She needs us!'
  114.  
  115. “No... she doesn't.”
  116.  
  117. Her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare, burning within.
  118.  
  119. “The princess needs to be returned to her Empire, immediately. And I shall do just that.”
  120.  
  121. She gently pulled the alicorn away from the device, supporting her as she pointed her down the hallway. Her voice changed, now loud and powerful.
  122.  
  123. “We shall continue on, Princess. We do not have much more ground to cover, it is of little consequence the speed.”
  124.  
  125. Morosely, the pony nodded, nothing else to do.
  126.  
  127. “Come, we-”
  128.  
  129. >FORTY TWO LOOK OUT!
  130.  
  131. She did not hesitate in the slightest, kicking herself up into the air and spinning on a dime, hind hoof lashing out and clipping the infected pony who had charged her right in the face. She landed smoothly, her back already to the princess and pose low and steady.
  132.  
  133. “...Where did you come from?”
  134.  
  135. Her eyes trailed around, looking for any opening it could have emerged so silently from. Nothing, nothing but...
  136.  
  137. Her view slowly swiveled upwards, right to the ceiling.
  138.  
  139. The ceiling with all the ventilation pipes.
  140.  
  141. Which was now quite wide, metal bulging outwards like a bloated corpse.
  142.  
  143. “...Greenspit.”
  144.  
  145. Metal tore away like foil, the creatures that had been stuffed to the gills chasing any stragglers who went into the vents now burst forth, a wave upon the ground like a sea of death.
  146.  
  147. She snapped into action without missing so much as a beat, hooves already flailing in precise, deadly strikes against every single one of them. In any other event, every single blow would have been fatal, spines snapped, organs ruptured, skulls shattered like glass. Of course, not a single one was, in blazes of fire every single piece of damage was repaired. And yet... it took longer and longer, the more fatal she made it.
  148.  
  149. And that's all she had to do.
  150.  
  151. Make it last.
  152.  
  153. But no matter how hard she fought, they just kept coming. Inching her closer and closer to Cadence, what little room they had rapidly running out. It was just a matter of time, a part of her knew, just a matter of time before-
  154.  
  155. >AHHH! GET AWAY!
  156.  
  157. Her neck snapped back so fast she felt the onset of whiplash. Behind her, Cadence was backpeddling away as fast as she could, horn flickering uselessly as it attempted to force out any magic, but not able to focus so much as a drop.
  158.  
  159. “CADENCE!”
  160.  
  161. The changeling's response was not well thought out.
  162.  
  163. She did not care a single bit.
  164.  
  165. The shapeshifting creature rolled back in the air, backflipping until her front hooves dug straight into the prone hoverbike Cadence had been next to. Without missing a beat, she somersaulted backwards once more, arcing over both the alicorn and the creatures that pursued her.
  166.  
  167. For a moment, the alicorn panicked, now surrounded on both sides by walls of infected that rapidly closed in.
  168.  
  169. That panic carried over when she felt magic grab hold of her, and toss her straight up.
  170.  
  171. “GRAAAAHHHHH!”
  172.  
  173. The creatures had no means to respond to their prey's newfound height before the scrape of metal on the ground filled their ears. The massive hoverbike slammed hard into the backs of those who had been chasing the alicorn, and the faced of those very infected slammed even harder into the mass that had battled the changeling a second ago.
  174.  
  175. She mashed the entire lot against the wall, a roar of fury reverberating through the halls has she held them all in place, barely able to keep clear of their clawing, biting mass.
  176.  
  177. >FORTY TWO! COME ON! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!
  178.  
  179. But she could not obey the panicking princess, not yet. The moment she let go, they would be upon them both, she knew. Yet all the same, she could not send her out on her own. She knew all too well that Cadence was in no condition to make it through the rest of the distance.
  180.  
  181. Her mind sparked wildly as she struggled to find the last piece to the puzzle, to the answer that would see them both safe... but could not.
  182.  
  183. 'Have to save her have to save her have to save her....'
  184.  
  185. For once, her mind and body were in perfect tune.
  186.  
  187. And yet... even then, she knew what she was about to do was foolish.
  188.  
  189. >Forty Two? Come on already! We've got to...
  190.  
  191. The world slowed when she saw that ebony horn ignite.
  192.  
  193. >W-what are you...
  194.  
  195. “You will not touch her!”
  196.  
  197. And fire.
  198.  
  199. >NO! NOOO!
  200.  
  201. She cried as she nearly fell to her knees, watching as an explosion filled with flames rippled through the room before her, the magical core within the hoverbike producing a multitude of colors as shrapnel ripped through the air and the fire consumed all.
  202.  
  203. Wide, stricken eyes stared blankly into the flames, breath barely able to leave her lungs in the face of it all, a near whisper of words spilling from limp lips.
  204.  
  205. >What have you done...
  206.  
  207. “My duty.”
  208.  
  209. From within the flames, she stepped forth. Chunks had been ripped from her chitin, hair upon her head singed, burns marks cast across her helmet of helmets, the smell of smoking muscle permeating the room. Yet, even in the face of such ghastly wounds, Cadence could not contain her exhileration.
  210.  
  211. >YOU'RE ALIVE!
  212.  
  213. She stumbled forwards, barely able to stand on unsteady hooves. Every bit as shaky, Cadence moved to rush to her, only to be stopped by a hoof sternly raised before her.
  214.  
  215. “You... are going... home...”
  216.  
  217. The pitch black horn ignited with sage magic. From just off to her side, the princess watched as a single dot of fire ignited.
  218.  
  219. “You... are...”
  220.  
  221. It trailed around her, cresting around her in a perfect arc.
  222.  
  223. “you...”
  224.  
  225. At last, the line of fire connected, a perfect circle now encompassing both of the pair.
  226.  
  227. “...YOU ARE GOING HOME!”
  228.  
  229. Her horn blazed with every drop of magic she could bring up from her vast pool. Months upon months of love magic cast away in an instant, in an single spell cast. Like a twister of flame, the fires swirled around them, consuming them in its embrace.
  230.  
  231. The flames whisked away an instant later, as if it were a candle carelessly blown out. With it, the room was left barren.
  232.  
  233. Nothing but the still flicking fires to remain...
  234.  
  235. And then, for the changeling, there was nothing but darkness.
  236.  
  237. Darkness... and joy.
  238.  
  239. “I did it.”
  240.  
  241. Her mind practically sang with elation.
  242.  
  243. “I did it!”
  244.  
  245. At last, at long last, that which she thought impossible, that which she thought unobtainable, which her queen claimed beyond her wildest dreams, fireflight... she had actually succeeded! She had managed a fireflight! They said it couldn't be done, but here she was! She had done it! She had...
  246.  
  247. She had...
  248.  
  249. “...No”
  250.  
  251. Her vision was slow to return, darkness hanging over the corners of her eyes. It was as if the sun itself rose before her, illuminating a room that had always been lit.
  252.  
  253. “No...”
  254.  
  255. Already shaky hooves ceased their battle against gravity, a loss punctuated by her fall to the floor beneath her.
  256.  
  257. “No...”
  258.  
  259. The pony at last rushed to her, gingerly rolling her to her side so as not to agitate her burns any longer. Her eyes were full of sympathy as she looked down upon the changeling, understanding in her eyes as she watched lips curl into a snarl.
  260.  
  261. >We... missed...
  262.  
  263. Forlornly, she looked out the window. From here, she could see Celestia's balcony, the room merely a one over from that which they sought. They had not grown a single inch closer, if the barriers had been gone. But worse than that...
  264.  
  265. They were in the wrong area of the castle altogether now.
  266.  
  267. They would have to fight all the way back around just to return to the previous spot they had just left.
  268.  
  269. “C-can you fly?”
  270.  
  271. Sadly, the princess looked to her wings, watching as they hung limply on her side.
  272.  
  273. >I can barely keep myself up.
  274.  
  275. A hiss escaped the changeling, regret shooting through her very core.
  276.  
  277. “I-I failed.”
  278.  
  279. >You tried your best.
  280.  
  281. “I was a fool to try something like this...”
  282.  
  283. >You can barely walk, you were just trying to get us to safety.
  284.  
  285. “I've failed you...”
  286.  
  287. Gingerly, she sat beside her wounded friend, softly lifting the helmeted head onto her lap. The changeling coughed, the warmth of that lap matched only by her own cheeks heat when she registered where she was.
  288.  
  289. >No... I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to sacrifice so much for me.
  290.  
  291. Her horn flickered pitifully, unable to call upon her magic even still, after all this time. Nothing would come, no matter how much she wished to heal.
  292.  
  293. >I'm useless... I couldn't keep them out, I couldn't help you fight them off, I couldn't save anyone, I couldn't do anything...
  294.  
  295. “Don't... don't say that.”
  296.  
  297. She smiled sadly, her hoof idly brushing the changeling's charred hair. Beneath her, she watched as the changeling's eyes struggled to stay open.
  298.  
  299. >I wish Shiny was here... I know that makes me sound weak, but I don't care. I wish Shiny was right here with me, bursting in with shields blazing, telling me it will all be okay. I miss him...
  300.  
  301. Coal colored lips curled upwards in a delirious, barely conscious smile.
  302.  
  303. “Y-yeah... Shiny comes in too... that would be nice.”
  304.  
  305. A deep, long sigh left the princess above her at that, snapping her back to the reality she had been slipping away from.
  306.  
  307. “I... I mean for you, of course! Y-you're husband would... would of course be capable of t-taking you to safety, I've trained him well enough for that, and-”
  308.  
  309. >You would be happy to see him.
  310.  
  311. She sputtered a bit, eyes darting away and trying to look at something, anything else instead.
  312.  
  313. “NO!... I mean, yes! Of course I would, because he would save you, and I wish you to be... not for me, of course, I have no personal desire to see him... I mean, besides that of a friend who is happy to see her friend is indeed still okay, of course, because of course I wish him to be okay!”
  314.  
  315. Another sigh, more panic.
  316.  
  317. >I can sense your feelings this close, you know... not that I need to.
  318.  
  319. Suddenly, she felt very much like a bear caught in a trap.
  320.  
  321. “I-I have no idea what you mean! My love stores were burnt out taking us here, I couldn't light a candle now! You are likely over-exhausted, you are seeing colors... or is it numbers? You're seeing something you should not be seeing, is what I am seeing-SAYING!”
  322.  
  323. Her eyes looked almost pitying.
  324.  
  325. >Forty Two, even if I didn't have my entire magic base centered around this... come on. I know how you feel about Shiny. Give me a little credit.
  326.  
  327. That's when the panic went right into overdrive.
  328.  
  329. “I-I have no idea what you are talking about! You're confused! I don't feel anything special for the Prince!”
  330.  
  331. >Forty Two...
  332.  
  333. “M-my relationship is entirely platonic, friends and nothing more! P-perhaps not even that... r-right! I work for him, I train his soldiers, that's-”
  334.  
  335. >Forty Two.
  336.  
  337. “I-it's nothing! Just a quirk in my mind! Brain is like that, always saying things to annoy me, because she knows it riles me up! It's funny to her, that's why, there's nothing-”
  338.  
  339. >FORTY TWO!
  340.  
  341. She desperately clutched at the foreleg that held her, eyes pleading for her to listen.
  342.  
  343. “I-I'm not like them! Believe me! I'm not! I'M NOT LIKE THEM! I-...I...i...”
  344.  
  345. Her lips flapped as more wordless denials came, throat struggling to force more out, though nothing but air would come. Pathetic squeaks hissed out of her lips as her eyes darted around, desperately trying to look anywhere but the face before her.
  346.  
  347. The first choke came when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of that very face.
  348.  
  349. >I understand...
  350.  
  351. The shakes finally came when she heard that tired tone.
  352.  
  353. >It's not like I'm surprised, between Chrysalis and Eighteen and all those other mares and... I get it. It's just how it is.
  354.  
  355. Finally... the words at last left the changeling.
  356.  
  357. “I'm sorry...”
  358.  
  359. It had been so, so very long since Cadence had seen this. And yet, even now, the memory of what had passed remained fresh in her mind. This sight, the mirror of what had been so long ago.
  360.  
  361. The sight of tears coming from 42's eyes.
  362.  
  363. “I'm so... so sorry...”
  364.  
  365. She could only watch, stunned, as the tear streaked face turned away from her in shame.
  366.  
  367. “I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...”
  368.  
  369. A shaking, bloody hoof reached up, pressing against the alicorn's chest.
  370.  
  371. “I-I-I didn't want it... I didn't want to... it just kept happening, it just kept coming back, and it got stronger, it wasn't just... I'm so sorry.”
  372.  
  373. Shock rippled through the alicorn, her mind already a frenzy.
  374.  
  375. >No, no, Forty Two, it's fine, it doesn't-
  376.  
  377. “IT'S NOT FINE!”
  378.  
  379. She devolved into a shriek, her hoof mashing against the front of her face in shame.
  380.  
  381. “I-it isn't fine. It isn't fair...”
  382.  
  383. >You can't-
  384.  
  385. “It isn't fair to you...”
  386.  
  387. She froze, blinking awkwardly at the response.
  388.  
  389. >To me? What? This... don't be silly, Forty Two, this isn't about me, it's-
  390.  
  391. She laughed.
  392.  
  393. The pony could not believe her ears. The changeling beneath her actually laughed. A bitter, almost spiteful laugh, but a laugh all the same.
  394.  
  395. “Of... of course you think that. With how they talk, how could you not think that? They kept you from seeing it, just like they can't see it...”
  396.  
  397. >Seeing... what?”
  398.  
  399. Sad, tear stained eyes looked into hers.
  400.  
  401. “Everyone talks so much about Shining Armor, so much of what he did for us, how much he did...”
  402.  
  403. She hissed again, pain flaring up in her shoulders and chest. She waved off any attempt by the pony to help, continuing when the numbness came.
  404.  
  405. “I will always, always be thankful that he challenged me to fight. If I had to relive my life a hundred times, not a one would be completed if I do not know him... he has so much love in his heart, and so much to give...”
  406.  
  407. Again, Cadence looked away, feelings she couldn't quite admit to flaring up once more.
  408.  
  409. “They know what his love is like. They've tasted it, felt it, lived it. They see just what he has inside, and it is wonderful. But... they only see what he gave to them. T-they're too blind to see it... They see what he gave...”
  410.  
  411. Slowly, Cadence turned her head back, locking once more with wide, shimmering eyes.
  412.  
  413. “They're too blind to see what you had to give up. And that you doing so was so... strong. So much stronger...”
  414.  
  415. A stunned numbness rippled through her, leaving her breathless, unable to so much as move.
  416.  
  417. “You gave up so much for us... and no one ever thanked you for it. Everyone thanks him for what he did, no one cares how much you lost.”
  418.  
  419. Her eyes grew fuzzy as she continued, words growing quieter.
  420.  
  421. “You gave up peace of mind when we walked your halls. You gave up a good nights sleep. You gave up keeping others from him. He gave us love... you gave up so much, for us... we hurt you... so much we hurt you... and then came the day I walked by you in the hallway of your castle. I was not your ally, I was not your friend, I was not someone you wanted around, and there I was... in your home... and you let me go. You gave up so much when you let them chase him, let him give them love... love for you...”
  422.  
  423. She choked again, her hoof shakily rising up, towards the gaping, awestricken face.
  424.  
  425. “B-because that's who you are, no matter what they say. You have so much in your heart, every bit as much he does, you have so much kindness and caring and are wonderful right down to your core, even if they can't see it... you're not stupid, you're not useless, you're not...”
  426.  
  427. “They think you don't deserve it, that you just came first... a-and they're wrong... you do deserve Shining Armor's love, you deserve it more than anyone. They want it, but you deserve it, you earn it every day. Every day you just be yourself, you earn that. You've earned it a million lifetimes worth over and over... T-that's why...”
  428.  
  429. Blood dripped from her hoof as it hovered beside her face, nearly touching the tear streaked cheek.
  430.  
  431. “You deserved someone who you could trust. You deserved someone who wouldn't hound him like they did. You deserved a little peace of mind, knowing that someone did not want him like that, did not l-... did not feel like that for him. Who would not look at him... like that. Who would spend time with him and you, and you never had to worry of... those thoughts. You deserved a real friend. And I... I wanted to be that for you. I wanted to pay you back just a bit for all you have done for me...”
  432.  
  433. As if struck away, that hoof dropped, and the changeling's head rocked to the side.
  434.  
  435. “I didn't want to be like them. Like Eighteen, or her Majesty, or... I couldn't be like them, I had to be something else, different. I had to... I had to...”
  436.  
  437. A choke wracked her body, eyes clenching shut in pain.
  438.  
  439. “B-b-but it just kept coming back. I-I tried to make it stop, I did, but it just kept happening, and I fought it, I got rid of it as best I could... but it wasn't enough. I kept losing, and it kept coming back.... and then it got stronger... spread... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry I couldn't give you one friend, just ONE friend, who didn't see your husband like that. A-and I couldn't...I couldn't do that... what I felt for him or... or y-... I'm sorry... it's all my fault...”
  440.  
  441. Numb. That was the only thing that could describe the feelings that seeped into every inch of the alicorn's mind, the desperate attempt to reconcile everything she heard and felt.
  442.  
  443. The stunned feeling from the secrets made real.
  444.  
  445. The heartbreak from the knowledge that even Forty Two desired Shining Armor.
  446.  
  447. The sorrow she felt that the changeling had to hurt herself so for her.
  448.  
  449. The warmth that anyone would think so much of her, despite her failures.
  450.  
  451. ...and the horror, the all encompassing, skin permeating horror she felt when the root of the words finally took hold, and she realized just what it was she, the princess of love, had done.
  452.  
  453. “You're special. You are one of the most special creatures to ever walk this earth. You deserved so much more, something in return for all you gave up... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...”
  454.  
  455. So unable to feel anything, she barely reacted when the changeling struggled to roll over, to stand up once more.
  456.  
  457. “P-please don't think you don't deserve it... you do... you... you're a kind, loving, b-... beautiful... amazing pony. You deserve the best...”
  458.  
  459. At last, she stood, and looked right into her eyes.
  460.  
  461. “I'm sorry I couldn't be that for you...”
  462.  
  463. That's when she felt it. The tell-tale thumping of hooves and claws and other such things upon the castle floor, the rush of air and screeches of the turned as they neared this spot. They would be upon them in seconds, and she could not outrun them, neither could, and knew this well.
  464.  
  465. “I could never do enough for you.”
  466.  
  467. The creatures neared now, so close, so very close...
  468.  
  469. “So, if nothing else, I shall do this!”
  470.  
  471. The princess let out a cry of surprise when she found herself hefted up into the air, two hooves tucked under her stomach and holding her aloft as the bleeding, burned changeling struggled to walk.
  472.  
  473. >NO! Put me down! Stop it! I can carry you! I can get us both out of here! Stop it! STOP IT!
  474.  
  475. She would not obey, not the commands above or the commands from her very body to cease damaging it further, to stop this every labored step as she walked nearer and neared to the window. She ignored them all, and the roar of the horde that drew ever closer as well.
  476.  
  477. With one last genuine, warm smile, she cocked her hooves back-
  478.  
  479. “Return to them... all of them... and please, remember... you deserve it.”
  480.  
  481. >DON'T DO IT!
  482.  
  483. -And hurled the alicorn with every ounce of strength she still had.
  484.  
  485. >NOOOO!
  486.  
  487. The changeling grew smaller and smaller in the distance as she soared through the air, barely a shape left... before she crashed through the balcony window to Celestia's room, and even that smiling, warm face was gone.
  488.  
  489. “...Well?”
  490.  
  491. The warrior turned, a feral growl on her lips as she regarded the swarm that stood at the end of the room, every hungry eye locked right in on her.
  492.  
  493. “...Who wants to get their ass kicked first?”
  494.  
  495. As one, they charged.
  496.  
  497. Without a care, Forty Two smiled, and lifted her hooves. Her horn ignited with whatever scrap of power she could scrape up from her barely beating heart, and she waited.
  498.  
  499. “Sorry... I wish I could give you just one last fight, Shiny...”
  500.  
  501. She smiled sadly as they neared, her hooves clenching in tightly as she prepared for the onslaught.
  502.  
  503. “But this life... was worth dying for.”
  504.  
  505. The princess rushed back from where she had landed, over to the edge of the balcony, just barely able to still see the window from where she had been thrown...
  506.  
  507. But all she could see was a glimpse of green, a single tiny flash, and then those things filled up every corner of the room. Not so much as a trace of the changeling remained.
  508.  
  509. In despair, Cadence could do the only thing that could worm its way into her horror stricken, despondent mind. She turned, and she ran.
  510.  
  511. Her legs positively burned, but still she ran. The adrenaline that pumped through her veins that just barely kept her moving ran low, but still she ran. Her heart ached in every possible way it could... but still she ran.
  512.  
  513. She ran, and she ran.
  514.  
  515. Until at last, she found it.
  516.  
  517. The portal...
  518.  
  519. That wonderful, beautiful portal that would take her away, far far away from here, this horrible place, this horrible feeling, these horrible things, everything. Take her home. At last, home...
  520.  
  521. She punched in the code from the symbols on the side, and waited.
  522.  
  523. And waited.
  524.  
  525. Desperately, she did it again. And again. And again and again and again and again and again.
  526.  
  527. >N-noooo...
  528.  
  529. Her heart sank right to the floor.
  530.  
  531. >No... no... no....
  532.  
  533. With it, she sank as well.
  534.  
  535. >I want to go home.
  536.  
  537. Tears streamed from her eyes as she laid her back to the portal, that even now remained closed.
  538.  
  539. >I want to go home...
  540.  
  541. But no matter how she cried... it would not come.
  542.  
  543. “I want to go home...”
  544.  
  545. Alone, she could only wait.
  546.  
  547. >...I want to go home...
  548. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  549.  
  550. >Vekir
  551. "???"
  552. '???'
  553. ~~~~
  554.  
  555. >...Whyfor should Vekir sit here? Scout ahead, she say... Vekir is best scout! Vekir is ten times scout shinystone princess is... has shinystone princess ever outrun glorp? VEKIR DIDN'T THI- wait, shinystone princess went with brother-Rekulk to retrieve not-bad-spider-thing... okay, MAYBE she outran a glorp, but sniffing-eyes don't live over there, she never outran one of those! YEAH! Vekir should be scout, not her! Vekir is better at scout than all princesses! Vekir shall give her piece of... AH HAH!
  556.  
  557. "VEKIR RUN!"
  558.  
  559. >VEKIR THINKS SHE IS... HEY!
  560.  
  561. But the white princess ignored her, rushing straight past.
  562.  
  563. "VEKIR HAS THINGS SHE MUCH WISHES TO..."
  564.  
  565. 'SCREEEEEE!'
  566.  
  567. Rarity subsequently got a taste of her own medicine when the armored blur shot right past her.
  568.  
  569. >VEKIRWILLSCOUTAHEADITLOOKSLIKESHEISRUNNINGBECAUSESHEIS!...AHHHHHHHH!
  570.  
  571. "Vekir, wait for me!"
  572.  
  573. >VEKIR IS FASTEST RUNNER!
  574. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  575.  
  576. >High Roller
  577. "Screwloose"
  578. '12'
  579.  
  580. >...
  581.  
  582. Slowly, with a methodical gait, the stallion stalked his way through the hospital, past overturned gurneys and IV stands, down desolate and abandoned hallways. The only sounds mere scuffles of movement that told him the location presumably more monstrosities like the one that had chased after Blues. Convinced that the sound had contributed to Blues' demise, he'd shed the guard armor before entering. He just needed to find his objective, secure her or confirm her death, and get out.
  583.  
  584. >...
  585.  
  586. He really began to regret not just cutting the boss lady off after the changeling job. He had money, he had what that old dead deer bastard would've called 'Fuck off' money, he didn't need this.
  587.  
  588. He looked around the corner to regard the staircase down towards the more...high security area of the building. The coast was clear so down he went, posture low to the ground, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
  589.  
  590. >...
  591.  
  592. Like fucking seriously, it was like Fawntaine had said, never take 'one last job', jobs were like a really tasty kind of snack, you can't slip into a 'just one more' mentality. That kind of thinking fucks you over in the end, just like supposing you've got a situation absolutely pegged.
  593.  
  594. He crept with a purpose down the hall at the bottom of the stairs, eyes peeled, ears perked, looking for any signs of life. Either belonging to his objective or from the creatures...if one were to call that living.
  595.  
  596. You never knew what kind of insanity would jump at you...
  597.  
  598. There, a sound, not a scream, not the uneven walking sound of the monsters moving around. No, it was breathing, some indistinct speech. Whoever it was, they were alive. With all the speed he could manage while remaining stealthy, he crept towards the noise emanating from a room near the end of the hall...
  599.  
  600. Insanity a bit like-
  601.  
  602. -your former co-worker missing a hoof and operating a very obviously infected changeling.
  603.  
  604. >...
  605.  
  606. "'...'"
  607.  
  608. '...hi.'
  609. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  610.  
  611. >Lucky Strikes
  612. "Coco Pommel"
  613. ~~~
  614.  
  615. All things considered, he thought the cadet was holding up well.
  616.  
  617. "I DON'T WANNA DIIIEEEEEEEEE!"
  618.  
  619. Well, in comparison to the... vast majority who had turned and took off running, he meant. At least she stuck around.
  620.  
  621. "THIS IS ALL WROOOOOOOONNNNG!"
  622.  
  623. >...Huh.
  624.  
  625. That said, while her method was unorthodox, he could not deny her strategy of 'close her tear stained eyes and flail wildly with her spear' was not an effective one. Be it by sheer luck or unhoned instincts, she hit every single one the moment they got close.
  626.  
  627. She had also smacked him several times in the face with the flat end, but nevermind!
  628.  
  629. But even still, her surprising abilities just did not seem to be enough. They had their backs to the castle wall, and the number of those things was only growing...
  630.  
  631. >Soldier, I'm going to be blunt with you, I don't think we're going to win this one.
  632.  
  633. "GETAWAYGETAWAYGETAWAYYYYYYYY!"
  634.  
  635. >But I want you to know, I admire your perseverance, your dedication to the safety of Equestria!
  636.  
  637. "BADZOMBIESGOAWAYGOBITESOMEONEELLLLLLSSEE!"
  638.  
  639. >Your skills are rusty, yes, but I felt that for your level you were exemplary, and I was all too happy to work with you. And furthermore, I-
  640.  
  641. "WHY THE SNUGGLING CHEEKS DOES THIS ALL HAPPEN TO ME!? I DIDN'T WANT THIS, SUGAR CANES IN COFFEE I DIDN'T WANT THIS! ZOMBIES!? WHY AM I BEING ATTACKED BY FLUFFY BOTTOMED ZOMBIES!? WHAT PRETTY PLANET IS THIS OKAY ON!? IS IT BECAUSE I SAID SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS THAT ONE TIME!? THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED YOU BIG CHEEKED FUNNY HEAD! THAT'S THE NAME OF THE MUSHROOM! I DON'T CARE WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE! IT'S A SHIITAKE MUSHROOM AND IT TASTES MOTHER-CUDDLES DELICIOUS! YOU HEAR ME YOU PATTYCAKE FACE!? DELICIOUS!... I'M SORRY! I'M SUGAR LOVING SORRY! I'LL WASH MY OWN MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP AGAIN! I PROMISE! I'LL JUST CALL IT THE FUNNY MUSHROOM! I'LL EXTRA CLEAN MY ROOM! I'LL EVEN THROW IN A SUPER-EXTRA FOR GUMMIBEARS SAKE! JUST PLEASE! PLLLLEASE! NO MORE ZOMBIES PLLLLLEEEEAASSE!"
  642.  
  643. >There there, lass, it'll all be-
  644.  
  645. "I'M NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE! I JUST TOOK A WRONG TURN AND THEN THEY PUT ME IN ARMOR AND IT DIDN'T FIT SO THEY ORDERED MORE AND I TOLD THEM NO BUT THEN I HAD TO PAY FOR THE ARMOR AND THIS IS ALL WROOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGG!"
  646.  
  647. >... Wait, what?
  648.  
  649. "JUST PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE WITH PINK SUGAR SPRINKLES A MOTHER-LOAD OF CUDDLES A SMOOTHIE FOURTEEN CUPCAKES TWO CARROTS A HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD AND I'LL EVEN THROW IN A SIDE OF FRIES! PLEASE!"
  650.  
  651. >...Lass, I don't think-
  652.  
  653. "AND SOME CAKE TOO! MADE WITH KISSES AND LOVE!"
  654.  
  655. He was about to continue on after so rudely being cut off, when a glimmer caught his eye. A red, bright, very bright star up above.
  656.  
  657. ...In the middle of the day....
  658.  
  659. >...Wha-
  660.  
  661. In the blink of an eye, the world before him became an inferno, a positively gigantic fireball erupting in front of the stunned pair and shooting out more power than a bomb, singeing their hair and tossing the creatures every which way.
  662.  
  663. >...
  664.  
  665. "..."
  666.  
  667. 'YOU GUYS AREN'T GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!'
  668.  
  669. The changeling standing in the middle of the charred crated started wildly waving his hooves, an act that jingled the chains strapped to his body.
  670.  
  671. 'Okay, so there's like... red stuff! And it makes you crazy! And it's super, super scary! I know, it sounds dumb, but it looks like... like...'
  672.  
  673. >Like that?
  674.  
  675. He pointed to one of the downed zombies, which even now was struggling to repair the damage.
  676.  
  677. 'YEAH! Just like that! We've gotta warn the ponies before they get here!'
  678.  
  679. >...
  680. "..."
  681. '...'
  682. >...
  683. "..."
  684. '...'
  685. >...
  686. "..."
  687. '...'
  688. >...
  689. "..."
  690. '...'
  691. >...
  692. "..."
  693.  
  694. '...WELL!?... Could we, please?'
  695.  
  696. >...Sure, we'll... warn the ponies. But in the mean time, could you, uh, keep us from being attacked?
  697.  
  698. 'SURE!'
  699.  
  700. >Good. Let's get to a more fortified location.
  701.  
  702. "Can we stop at the bakery on the way? I need to pick up some ingredients for a cake."
  703.  
  704. >You know what? Sure.
  705.  
  706. 'COOL! I love cakes!'
  707.  
  708. >Great...
  709. "..."
  710. '...'
  711.  
  712. >It's never going to hit him, is it-
  713.  
  714. 'WAIT A MINUTE!'
  715.  
  716. >Nevermind.
  717. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  718.  
  719. >SA
  720. "Celestia"
  721. '???'
  722. [???]
  723. {???}
  724. ~~~
  725.  
  726. >So, what are the odds the castle staff made it to the emergency shelter?
  727.  
  728. She didn't answer him, instead choosing to simply grunt and pick off an infected creeping up behind the Empire's prince.
  729.  
  730. >I'm a bit more hopeful than that.
  731.  
  732. Again she grunted, ducking down just as he fired a sphere over her eternally waving mane, connecting hard with a dive-bombing gryphon that had primed its claws for her sunny princess hide.
  733.  
  734. "These things are endless."
  735.  
  736. >More things to shoot?
  737.  
  738. "Are you seriously trying to be optimistic right now?"
  739.  
  740. >No, I'm succeeding, Twili will have the cure soon, we just need to keep fighting.
  741.  
  742. He flinched, watching another of his soldiers be taken down bu the mob.
  743.  
  744. >Even if it's just us.
  745.  
  746. 'That doesn't sound very optimistic!'
  747.  
  748. A blue sonic boom blasted past, scattering a wave of the creatures that had been sneaking up from behind.
  749.  
  750. [Yeah, don't ignore us!]
  751.  
  752. On cue, another joined it, red this time, taking the already knocked down things and scattering them to the wind.
  753.  
  754. The red and blue streaks whirled around, creating a hurricane around the royal pair that sent the infected every which way it could.
  755.  
  756. It was only then that they came to a stop, twin salutes shooting up from the twin hovering ponies.
  757.  
  758. [Wonderbolt Soarin', reporting for duty, Highness!]
  759.  
  760. 'C-... Ex-commander Spitfire reporting as well.'
  761.  
  762. After the wind had settled, another floated down between them, saluting as well.
  763.  
  764. {And Wonderbolt Fleetfoot, reporting for duty!}
  765.  
  766. The three waited, as if waiting for something else to join them.
  767.  
  768. [...Uh, Fleet? Where are the rookies?]
  769.  
  770. {On a perimeter sweep. Don't want to get taken out while we aren't looking.}
  771.  
  772. [Oh... smart?]
  773.  
  774. {I thought so.}
  775.  
  776. 'Enough! Majesty, what are your orders?'
  777.  
  778. The princess nodded gratefully, stepping up to regard all of them.
  779.  
  780. And then... looking a little sad.
  781.  
  782. "Is this really all that's left?"
  783.  
  784. {You mean besides the rookies? Well, yeah, we're all the Wonderbolts period. What do you expect?}
  785.  
  786. They glared at the pegasus, who could not seem to find a single care to give.
  787.  
  788. "Oh... I see..."
  789.  
  790. She shook her head, looking around the area for any others.
  791.  
  792. "Is your captain out there?"
  793.  
  794. 'Wouldn't know, we were hoping you had seen her.'
  795.  
  796. "I'm afraid not."
  797.  
  798. 'Well... then we take orders directly from you now! What's the mission?'
  799.  
  800. "Actually..."
  801.  
  802. She jerked her head back, towards the thus-far silent prince.
  803.  
  804. "Shining Armor has resumed his post for the duration of the invasion. With Dash missing in action, I shall have to return you to previous leadership. It will be just like old times, you two can work together just like you used to-"
  805.  
  806. In the most unprofessional thing any of them had ever seen, the others got to watch a wonderbolt groan loudly, and slam a hoof to her face.
  807.  
  808. Even Fleetfoot was surprised it wasn't her this time.
  809.  
  810. 'Him? Really? That has got to break some international laws of some kind.'
  811.  
  812. >Really? You're going to do this now?
  813.  
  814. The white stallion walked right up to her, yet she did not back down an inch.
  815.  
  816. 'I'm just saying! Looking at the big picture, some real... dependability problems with this, from a political view.'
  817.  
  818. Shining Armor threw up his forelegs, dramatically rolling his eyes.
  819.  
  820. >Oh, here we go!
  821.  
  822. 'The fact have to say it at all should be the real problem!'
  823.  
  824. >The fact you think you have to say it instead of accepting the real problem is the real problem!
  825.  
  826. 'You wouldn't know the real problem if it was plasters on that pink princess's ass!'
  827.  
  828. >You leave her out of this!
  829.  
  830. The others watched, eyes darting back and forth like they were following a ping pong ball.
  831.  
  832. >No, please, let's do this all over again in the middle of an apocalypse! Perfect logic!
  833.  
  834. 'My logic is entirely straightforward, thank you! YOU! EQUAL! ASSHOLE!'
  835.  
  836. [S-SPITFIRE!]
  837.  
  838. "Is... is there a problem?"
  839.  
  840. As one, they turned to her.
  841.  
  842. >'NO!'
  843.  
  844. "...Wonderbolt Spitfire, I think you are being dishonest with me."
  845.  
  846. 'See!? She doesn't even question you on this! You could tell her anything!'
  847.  
  848. >Seriously!? You're pulling that card. Seriously.
  849.  
  850. 'Well excuse me, we can't all be super close with the freaking princess!'
  851.  
  852. >Oh no, don't you even go there!
  853.  
  854. Silently, Fleetfoot pulled out a notepad and pencil.
  855.  
  856. {Please go there...}
  857.  
  858. 'You know what!? FINE! Fine, we put this aside FOR NOW, I'll take up this title you apparently don't think I deserve AGAIN, and then I hand it back at the end and go back to being tormented by a spiteful bitch, the day is saved by your super important and really powerful sister and you get to share all the credit and then you go home and give up this job you clearly don't need so you can go back to ruling your very own kingdom and fuck the pink right off your hot wife all day IN YOUR FUCKING CASTLE MADE OF CRYSTAL!'
  859.  
  860. Shining Armor just mashed his hooves into his face and groaned, ignoring her as she stomped away.
  861.  
  862. >Fine, good, go ahead, not like you want to hear what I-
  863.  
  864. 'ALRIGHT LISTEN UP! Fleetfoot! Get airborne and start looking for survivors. If you find them, put that speed to the test and get them out and to a NON infested area, ASAP! Soarin'! You are backup, something comes at her up there? Take its head off, it'll be fine! Any questions!?'
  865.  
  866. Fleetfoot started to raise her hoof, but a glare forced it right back down.
  867.  
  868. Soarin', however, was not so intimidated.
  869.  
  870. [What about you, captain?]
  871.  
  872. Her hoof jerked over, pointing at the princess.
  873.  
  874. 'I'm going to ensure the safety of our Princess while you all take care of the civilians. If this goes south, we need our leader to be in tact. Any other questions?'
  875.  
  876. [...Don't you think, considering the circumstances, that maybe Fleetfoot should-]
  877.  
  878. 'NO.'
  879.  
  880. [...M'kay. Come on, Fleets, move out!]
  881.  
  882. {...Are you SURE I can't stay instead? With the... super being and the hot stallion with all the really cool shields-}
  883.  
  884. 'NOW!'
  885.  
  886. {MA'AM YES MA'AM! MOBILIZING!}
  887.  
  888. The two gave one final salute and took off, leaving behind two somewhat angry ponies, and one very awkward one.
  889.  
  890. "...Soooo..."
  891.  
  892. >BEHIND YOU!
  893.  
  894. On cue, a zombie was knocked away, cast aside like a domino.
  895.  
  896. "...Okay, I think you two need to talk."
  897.  
  898. 'Sorry, Highness, no time for that. Would be totally inappropriate considering the circumstances.'
  899.  
  900. >Very inappropriate.
  901.  
  902. 'Pleasure to be working with you again, Captain Shining Armor.'
  903.  
  904. >You as well, Captain Spitfire.
  905.  
  906. 'You have my six?'
  907.  
  908. >Got you covered, bring the hurricane.
  909.  
  910. 'Keep up!'
  911.  
  912. >You know I can.
  913.  
  914. In the next instant, the zombies of Canterlot got a taste of their very first tornado that shot giant spheres of power in every direction.
  915.  
  916. It would not be their last.
  917.  
  918. "...Alright then..."
  919.  
  920. Nor would it be the last hurricane that shot out spheres of power and rays of light, either.
  921. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  922.  
  923. I was thinking how funny it would have been if Lucky Strikes had found out about Coco only when Pommel has shown up.
  924. NO
  925. > Lucky Strikes
  926. "Pommel"
  927. 'Coco'
  928. ~~~~
  929. > So let me get this straight...you're the real Pommel?
  930.  
  931. "Yeah..."
  932.  
  933. >...and you're Coco Pommel, his cousin?
  934.  
  935. 'Yes!'
  936.  
  937. >...ah okay. Well, that's a shame. Coco Pommel has been doing such a wonderful job as you that she was promoted to Sargeant. I guess I'll have to demote you and readjust your pay.
  938.  
  939. "Wait what?! You're the one who thought that she was me."
  940.  
  941. > I thought you came out of the closet, or that you were a male to female trans, so you became more feminine. Your performance improved, so I merely gave you the benefit of the doubt and didn't pry.
  942.  
  943. 'Oh please don't readjust his pay because of me.'
  944.  
  945. >Well, I can't just give him a promotion and bits he didn't earn.
  946.  
  947. "I was EATEN! HOW THE FUCK DID YOU MIX THAT UP WITH A SEX CHANGE!?"
  948.  
  949. >I maintain that anyone could make that mistake.
  950.  
  951. "..."
  952.  
  953. >This is why I'm not captain of the guard...
  954. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  955.  
  956. >Rarity
  957. "Vekir"
  958. '???'
  959. [???]
  960. {???}
  961. ~~~~
  962.  
  963. >HOW ARE YOU SO MUCH FASTER THAN ME!?
  964.  
  965. "...Does Vekir need to say it?"
  966.  
  967. >Ah, no... no I suppose you do not.
  968.  
  969. They had been running for what felt like ages, hounded at every turn by the twisted dragon they had once called friend, the snarling thing nipping at their heels the whole way. They were aimless, of course, more concerned with not turning down a hall filled with more infected, and less with a set destination.
  970.  
  971. This proved extremely problematic when, in a brief moment of clarity, Rarity recognized the exact hallway she was currently running down.
  972.  
  973. >Oh no!
  974.  
  975. "...whyfor oh no!? You are saying oh no, and oh no is bad for ponies, ponies do not like on no! WHY OH NO!?"
  976.  
  977. >Because we're about to hit a-
  978.  
  979. Vekir, with her attention turned to the white pony, needed no further clarification. The wall she slammed face first into said everything.
  980.  
  981. "...OH NO!"
  982.  
  983. In desperation, Rarity ignited her horn, and attempted to blast straight through that very wall and hopefully continue running.
  984.  
  985. Said wall did little more than crack a bit before remaining stubbornly in tact.
  986.  
  987. >...USELESS ASS ALICORN POWERS!
  988.  
  989. No where left to run, they both turned to the dragon poised at the end of the hall, his tail flicking back and forth in a feral hunger, his eyes narrowed with clouded need. There was now nothing standing between him, and his prey.
  990.  
  991. And so, Rarity did the only thing she could.
  992.  
  993. >...Spikey-Wikey? Are you... are you still in there?
  994.  
  995. He growled, purposefully stomping towards them at a deliberate pace, claws bared and mouth hanging open to show every single fang.
  996.  
  997. Denying the madness of her actions, Rarity began to walk towards him as well, eyes wide and pleading.
  998.  
  999. >It's me, Rarity... remember? Oh, you must remember me. We've been through so much together.
  1000.  
  1001. The side of his face twitched with... something, but he did not slow his pace.
  1002.  
  1003. >We've been on so many adventures together. Seen so many wonderful things. Had so many amazing experiences, don't you remember? I still remember the first day... the first day we met.
  1004.  
  1005. He slowed, near imperceptibly, but he slowed all the same.
  1006.  
  1007. >You were such an adorable little thing. I could see that look in your eyes, that spark of light when you looked at me.
  1008.  
  1009. A step slower, but he did not yet stop.
  1010.  
  1011. >You felt a lot of things for me... and you still do, I know you still do. You've changed so much since that day, grown for the better... and the worse too. I won't deny you're not the same wide eyed, cute little thing that framed the kiss on your cheek, or would be joyous just to take out my trash... you're not the same Spike.
  1012.  
  1013. She paused, looking right into his hazed, clouded over eyes.
  1014.  
  1015. >But you'll always be my Spikey-Wikey. I don't care how big you get, how scary you look, the bad things you do along with the good. You're special to me, and I know I will forever, in some way, be special to you. And I know now that... that you can be strong. You can be strong just like you always fantasized, just like you always wanted. You can be stronger than you ever dreamed of...
  1016.  
  1017. She reached out, pleadingly to the dragon that even now advanced on her.
  1018.  
  1019. >Fight it off, Spikey-Wikey. Fight it off like I know you can, fight it back. You're so strong, so very strong inside, even if you don't know it. I know, in my heart, you would never hurt me, you would rather rip out your very heart than even consider it. I know this, so much... so I want you to fight it. I want you to fight that thing inside you, just like you fight everything else that threatens us. You want to protect us, Spikey-Wikey, I know you do, so... please... fight it...
  1020.  
  1021. To her amazement, he froze.
  1022.  
  1023. >Fight it.
  1024.  
  1025. He shuddered, shook and twitched beneath her, still growling.
  1026.  
  1027. >Fight it!
  1028.  
  1029. His eyes clenched shut, claws digging into the ground as he crouched low.
  1030.  
  1031. >YOU CAN DO IT-
  1032.  
  1033. And then he leapt at her.
  1034.  
  1035. Time slowed for her, the world itself spinning at one tenth it's speed. She could see every fleck of dust hover through the air, every wisp of the shredded carpet flicker upwards, every rustle in the curtains beyond...
  1036.  
  1037. And the look upon his face as he neared her, that blank, soulless stare behind reaching claws and above glimmering teeth. She got to experience it all, for a single moment.
  1038.  
  1039. In the next, she saw a flash of light, a ringing in her ears, and the rush of air upon her face.
  1040.  
  1041. ....And a touch of fire upon her lips as well.
  1042.  
  1043. The blast that exploded into the dragon's side forced him into the wall clear beyond, indebted deep into it as if he had been chiseled in before breaking clean through and out into the courtyard beyond. From the haze that overtook her vision, Rarity could just barely make out the remains of a... cannon ball?
  1044.  
  1045. 'RARITY!'
  1046.  
  1047. A force crashed into her side as well, though thankfully what struck her was nowhere near as violent.
  1048.  
  1049. 'You're okay! Oh, oh gosh, we were so worried!'
  1050.  
  1051. A large pink mane mashed against her cheek, a yellow horn nearly poking her in the face.
  1052.  
  1053. [RAR!]
  1054.  
  1055. Another pink mane joined her, leaving behind a rather large 'party cannon' to the side as she did so.
  1056.  
  1057. {Was... was that Spike?}
  1058.  
  1059. All three heads turned to the rainbow maned pegasus as she walked up to them, looking through the hole in the wall with sad, horrified eyes.
  1060.  
  1061. In response, Rarity could only choke out a sob, and nod.
  1062.  
  1063. {Ah... ah damn, they got Spike...}
  1064.  
  1065. >I-it's all my fault, if only I had warned him sooner...
  1066.  
  1067. "Indeed! Like this, BEHIND YOU!"
  1068.  
  1069. Pinkie didn't even hesitate, her cannon firing and taking out another one of the things that had snuck up on the group.
  1070.  
  1071. Sternly, Dash brushed something from her cheek, and looked Rarity right in the eyes.
  1072.  
  1073. {You still good to save the world again?}
  1074.  
  1075. There was a long, pregnant pause as the alicorn looked right back, listless, limp.
  1076.  
  1077. >...I am going to TEAR THIS THING APART!
  1078.  
  1079. She did not stay that way for long.
  1080.  
  1081. [Thatt'a girl!]
  1082.  
  1083. 'Oh, maybe we shouldn't be too violent, it is-'
  1084.  
  1085. Gently, Rarity put a hoof to her lips.
  1086.  
  1087. >Shhhhh, oh, shush. Fluttershy? This thing has hurt a great many I very deeply care about, and I wish to vent. Surely, you will grant a lady her dramatic moment?
  1088.  
  1089. Needless to say, Fluttershy stayed shushed.
  1090.  
  1091. "So, are for we going after the Scaled one?"
  1092.  
  1093. A stricken look overtook the four, and as one they looked away from the broken wall.
  1094.  
  1095. >N-no... we should... go after the others.
  1096.  
  1097. [Lots more still to fight.]
  1098.  
  1099. {Yeah... he can wait till he gets fixed.}
  1100.  
  1101. [Because of course he will be.]
  1102.  
  1103. 'Oh, yes, Twilight wouldn't let him stay like this.'
  1104.  
  1105. >Of course not... of course.
  1106.  
  1107. With just a touch of sluggishness to their step, the four headed off. To where? Even they didn't know. Simply away from this spot was enough.
  1108.  
  1109. It was only after several seconds of respectful nodding that the last of their group noticed something.
  1110.  
  1111. "...HEY! WAIT FOR VEKIR!"
  1112. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1113.  
  1114. >Twilight
  1115. "Chrysalis"
  1116. ~~~
  1117.  
  1118. >RRRRAAAGGGHHHHHH!
  1119.  
  1120. The last three times, she had been fast enough to catch the various medical equipment before it had shattered against the wall.
  1121.  
  1122. This time, sadly, two beakers and four vials escaped her grasp, and shattered into nothing. Still, the Queen took it in stride, idly cleaning up the mess and properly disposing of it before placing several fresh new glasses upon the table.
  1123.  
  1124. "If you could please stop that, that would be fantastic. We have limited resources, Twilight, wasting them is very unwise."
  1125.  
  1126. In frustration, the pony slumped down, her back to the table and her hooves messing up her hair.
  1127.  
  1128. >I don't understand it. How can a plant be so complex? How can it disperse in so many ways? It's down to cells, tiny little cells that hop onto your blood cells like little rafts, carried around through every inch of your body... and they can all spread. Every single cell can convert others, can change and shift it. Can make it... different.
  1129.  
  1130. "It is just a plant, you can outsmart it."
  1131.  
  1132. In a rage, she tossed a beaker right at the Queen's face.
  1133.  
  1134. >THERE IS NOTHING TO OUTSMART! It isn't thinking! It isn't planning! It's just doing!
  1135.  
  1136. "So figure out a way to-"
  1137.  
  1138. More magic, more things hurled, more caught.
  1139.  
  1140. >Don't you get it!? They're getting taken over en mass every second we're in here! While we're toiling away, my friends are being taken over! Converted into this THINGS! I can only pray they aren't conscious, because I do not want to even think about what they would be going through if they could still think, if they... if they can see themselves right now...
  1141.  
  1142. Every single piece was placed right back in its proper place, right in order.
  1143.  
  1144. "Your friends are fine."
  1145.  
  1146. The pony glared an angry, hateful glare at the Queen.
  1147.  
  1148. >You mean like Applejack?
  1149.  
  1150. She went silent, contemplative.
  1151.  
  1152. "Applejack... unfortunately left too soon."
  1153.  
  1154. That glare, impossibly, intensified, and grew more spiteful.
  1155.  
  1156. >Y-you... you're playing another game, aren't you?
  1157.  
  1158. "I have no idea what you mean."
  1159.  
  1160. >You're playing with their lives.
  1161.  
  1162. "I am doing no such thing."
  1163.  
  1164. >Even now... even now, in all of this, during all of this! YOU'RE SCHEMING NOW!?
  1165.  
  1166. She stood up, marching right up to the Queen with horn blazed.
  1167.  
  1168. >Of all the times! Of all the times you could pick to pull this, you pick now!?
  1169.  
  1170. The taller creature remained unmoved, even as she marched right up to her.
  1171.  
  1172. >Just tell me, okay? Just tell me what you are doing!
  1173.  
  1174. Pitying, understanding eyes looked down at her.
  1175.  
  1176. "I am helping you."
  1177.  
  1178. Another roar of frustration bellowed out from her lips, and the room began to swirl with magic.
  1179.  
  1180. >I cannot put up with your vagueness right now!
  1181.  
  1182. "TOO BAD!"
  1183.  
  1184. As if a switch had been thrown, the Queen stomped forwards, moving until she and the lavender unicorn nearly touched.
  1185.  
  1186. "Everything I am doing is necessary. More to the point, it is well past the point where you can help, or hurt it."
  1187.  
  1188. She snarled, angling her head up to try to gain more height.
  1189.  
  1190. >So then, why not tell me?
  1191.  
  1192. "Because you don't trust me, and a lot of this hinges on you trusting I know what I am doing."
  1193.  
  1194. The room became so thick, even the zombie within the glass had trouble breathing.
  1195.  
  1196. >And who's fault is that?
  1197.  
  1198. Subtle flickers of anger glimmered within the Queen's mind, but she remained silent as she turned away.
  1199.  
  1200. "Get back to work."
  1201.  
  1202. >Not until you tell me.
  1203.  
  1204. "You need to stop worrying about me and fix this, now."
  1205.  
  1206. >CHRYSALIS!
  1207.  
  1208. Her fang was visible as she jerked her head back, a deep snarl on her face.
  1209.  
  1210. >...Give me something, anything to tell me this is not like that, just one little thing, and I'll trust you. That's all I ask, one thing. If not... get out. I have enough problems, I don't need this too.
  1211.  
  1212. The tense quiet returned, hanging there as the air in the room became almost suffocating, heat intensifying from the horn upon Twilight's head as the seconds ticked, and ticked, and ticked.
  1213.  
  1214. A lot of things bubbled up in Twilight's throat, ready to explode outwards. A million demands that she reveal her secrets, leave, do anything but stand there while the whole world crumbled around them.
  1215.  
  1216. She would have too... if not for the subtle chirping that filled the room.
  1217.  
  1218. >What is that?
  1219.  
  1220. The Queen didn't respond, instead lifting up what looked to be an ordinary piece of paper.
  1221.  
  1222. >What was that!?
  1223.  
  1224. Her eyes danced back and forth, a subtle green tint to them. Still, she would not acknowledge the pony.
  1225.  
  1226. >CHRYSALIS!
  1227.  
  1228. "Hm, he lasted longer than I thought."
  1229.  
  1230. So much rage bubbled up in the alicorn. So much, she only barely processed it when the Queen turned to her at last.
  1231.  
  1232. "It's an indicator I built into my teleport stones."
  1233.  
  1234. >..T-...teleport stones?
  1235.  
  1236. The Queen idly tossed the paper aside, and to Twilight's amazement it vanished.
  1237.  
  1238. "Are you aware of those infusions things?"
  1239.  
  1240. Numbly, she nodded, completely lost.
  1241.  
  1242. "Well, sad to say I'm at least a decade behind them, technology wise. Even with my species history of infusing magic into things. It's rather embarrassing. But more to the point, their far more advanced technology does give me what I need. Well, them and your own very helpful love harnesses."
  1243.  
  1244. >W-what... what?
  1245.  
  1246. "It's a simple charge, designed to store love the same way your suit does. Combined with the infusion's design, I can store my fireflight magic."
  1247.  
  1248. >I don't... when...
  1249.  
  1250. "Only thing is, it requires far more magic than can possibly be stored in a single explosive, even one the size of a pony. As such, the explosive is more... a marker, really. It starts the magic, but it needs a second, far larger source to act as an end point to 'draw' them to, magically. They can do the initial teleport, but going more than an inch would be impossible normally... which is why I could set up a massive magical store at a set 'end point', and... look at me, rambling about nothing, you don't care about that."
  1251.  
  1252. Her voice had gone smooth, conversational.
  1253.  
  1254. "Anyway, that paper is just an indicator for which one is going off. This one? Meant that Spike got himself in more trouble than he was worth."
  1255.  
  1256. >You... you got one on Spike?
  1257.  
  1258. She let out a loud, booming cackle.
  1259.  
  1260. "Of course not! As if he would take a single thing from me. No, I sent Seven, my best agent, to tail him."
  1261.  
  1262. >Oh... oh... so you-
  1263.  
  1264. "Have plans for all of them, yes. And, so long as everyone does their job, it will go swimmingly. Applejack was hit before I even knew it had happened, but I can do anything so long as I've been given the time. And well, the trip here was plenty, do you understand?"
  1265.  
  1266. Numbly, she nodded, eyes wide with shock.
  1267.  
  1268. >So... so Spike's okay?
  1269.  
  1270. She rolled her eyes dramatically, still smirking.
  1271.  
  1272. "Seven is my very best infiltrator... currently active, I mean. Of course Spike is fine, with the orders I gave he likely did not even get a scratch before Seven pulled him out."
  1273.  
  1274. >Oh... and Seven told him? That he's watching him, I mean?
  1275.  
  1276. She hesitated, just a bit.
  1277.  
  1278. "...Well, no, of course not, Spike would never trust me to keep him safe, he'd probably open fire the minute Seven said that!...Not that he would ever hit him, Seven is quite quick. I mean... I didn't tell Seven NOT to tell him, but he inferred it, no doubt."
  1279.  
  1280. She patronizingly patted Twilight on the head, humming to herself as she went back to her screens.
  1281.  
  1282. >Can I see him?
  1283.  
  1284. "Hmm? Afraid not, I couldn't risk anyone discovering my... 'end point'. So, no magical screens to discover in there."
  1285.  
  1286. >Oh...
  1287.  
  1288. "Back to work, Twilight."
  1289.  
  1290. >Right... right...
  1291.  
  1292. It was quiet, almost imperceptible, but nonetheless she heard the pony mutter under her breath.
  1293.  
  1294. >Thanks...
  1295.  
  1296. "No need to thank me. You'll have this all fixed in no time and any plans won't matter at all, right?"
  1297.  
  1298. >Right.
  1299.  
  1300. Worriedly, she picked up another vial.
  1301.  
  1302. >Right...
  1303.  
  1304. And got back to work.
  1305.  
  1306. Behind her, the Queen smirked, ignoring another chime going off.
  1307.  
  1308. "Right indeed..."
  1309. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1310.  
  1311. >Silver Spoon
  1312. "Filthy Rich"
  1313. ~~~
  1314.  
  1315. How long they had been running, she had no idea. Minutes? An hour? More? Impossible to tell.
  1316.  
  1317. Not that it mattered, really. It was very unlikely the zombies cared about time... or rather anything. Anything besides attacking other things, if that counted.
  1318.  
  1319. He was definitely winded by now, old and out of shape legs barely able to carry both her and the weapon hanging limp from his side. He was breathless, delirious...
  1320.  
  1321. "Are we almost there?"
  1322.  
  1323. But he wasn't stupid.
  1324.  
  1325. She had been tugging on his hair every time they neared a bend, leaning to the side during splits in the hallway, even insisted they go through more than one dangerous area as they ran. She knew he knew that she was directing him. Subtly, but directing him all the same.
  1326.  
  1327. >Yeah... we are.
  1328.  
  1329. At the long end of the hall, she at last spotted it. A door that looked like any of the others, to be sure, but one instantly recognized.
  1330.  
  1331. >Fourth door on the left.
  1332.  
  1333. He picked up speed, huffing a bit as he did so, cheeks turning red and sweat beading all over his brow.
  1334.  
  1335. It was almost a relief when they slipped into the door as quietly as they could, and locked it behind them. Promptly, he collapsed, the tiny filly on his back rolling off smoothly as he did so.
  1336.  
  1337. Silently, she looked around the room for any sign they had an unexpected 'visitor', but found none. Just a room. Just a simple, light, easy...
  1338.  
  1339. "This is your room?"
  1340.  
  1341. She shrugged, stepping over scattered items on the ground. Hoof nail polish, magazines, couple of board games...
  1342.  
  1343. >Technically, it's Diamond Tiara's room... or your room, whichever.
  1344.  
  1345. Her mind went back as she approached the pink, fluffy bed. Diamond Tiara had explicitly purchased this room just so they could have a sleepover while she stayed at Canterlot. And oh, what fun they had. Talking all about how strong she was getting, how much respect she gained, how powerful TBDRLIATU was becoming... lot about her, really.
  1346.  
  1347. Not that that was surprising.
  1348.  
  1349. This room had a lot of memories... especially recently. She had been spending a lot of time here recently, not much sleeping, but time spent nonetheless.
  1350.  
  1351. No, she had found another use for this bed in recent times...
  1352.  
  1353. "Silver Spoon, Sweetie, I know you're scared but this is exactly the wrong time to be hiding under the bed."
  1354.  
  1355. She ignored his comments as she reached deeper down, her hooves tapping on a series of floor panels at seemingly random.
  1356.  
  1357. Seemingly, until the floor board opened with a hiss, that was.
  1358.  
  1359. "...Oh... is it under there?"
  1360.  
  1361. She nodded, pulling out a massive case from below.
  1362.  
  1363. >She asked me to watch him while she was in the hospital.
  1364.  
  1365. "It, sweetie. You mean watch it."
  1366.  
  1367. In a move very unlike what he was used to seeing from the filly, she outright glared at him.
  1368.  
  1369. >No, I mean watch HIM. As in Tab... tablb... him. I'm watching him.
  1370.  
  1371. "...Really? You too?"
  1372.  
  1373. >Nobody can say it except for her! Try!
  1374.  
  1375. "Not what I meant."
  1376.  
  1377. She shrugged again, loading the case up onto her back and heading towards the door.
  1378.  
  1379. "You can't be serious."
  1380.  
  1381. His tone had grown flat, almost harsh. Nonetheless, she continued on.
  1382.  
  1383. "Does it even work anymore?"
  1384.  
  1385. >Not yet, but he will, after she gets him back.
  1386.  
  1387. "That thing is going to get you killed."
  1388.  
  1389. >She needs him now more than ever, you know that.
  1390.  
  1391. He struggled internally, already wrinkled face straining further as he tried to force out more reasoning, but none would come.
  1392.  
  1393. "I wish I had stopped her..."
  1394.  
  1395. She flung the door open, never once looking at him.
  1396.  
  1397. >...You couldn't have... nothing can stop her. Nothing.
  1398.  
  1399. He stood up, sluggishly following in the filly's hoofsteps.
  1400.  
  1401. "Yes... I suppose you are right..."
  1402.  
  1403. Nothing more to be said, they once more stepped out into the chaos of the castle.
  1404.  
  1405. But not before he hit the lights, and all of the makeup, the games, the magazines and other such toys were cast in darkness, the happy pink walls no longer visible.
  1406.  
  1407. Quietly, the door was closed, and the room was silent.
  1408. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1409.  
  1410. >Guard
  1411. "Gaurd2"
  1412. '??'
  1413. "'??'"
  1414. [??]
  1415. {??}
  1416. ~~~~
  1417.  
  1418. >...We're gonna die.
  1419.  
  1420. It was a sobering thought, but seeing as they currently were surrounded in a perfect ring of infected, the two guards sitting back to back couldn't really think of anything else.
  1421.  
  1422. "Yep... F-for Equestria?"
  1423.  
  1424. >...I just signed up for the dental.
  1425.  
  1426. "You know that's free, right? In fact, I'm pretty sure there's a mare down south who will hunt you down for the privilege."
  1427.  
  1428. >Huh... really?
  1429.  
  1430. "Yep."
  1431.  
  1432. >Oh... I have made very poor life decisions.
  1433.  
  1434. "Sounding like it."
  1435.  
  1436. >...Have we met before today?
  1437.  
  1438. "You said hi in the hallway one time, I just kind of waved."
  1439.  
  1440. >Neat. At least I'm dying with someone I know.
  1441.  
  1442. "..."
  1443.  
  1444. >Let me have this.
  1445.  
  1446. "Buddy? You can have whatever you want."
  1447.  
  1448. >Yeah... for the dental?
  1449.  
  1450. "You know what? Sure. FOR THE DENT-"
  1451.  
  1452. WHIIIRRRRRRRR*SPUTTERSPUTTER*RRRRRRRCHUG!
  1453.  
  1454. It sounded like a hellish screech of a factory machine gone wild, a demonic mishmash of metal and parts scraping together.
  1455.  
  1456. But when the beautiful sight of the creatures looking back just in time to see something chuck them into the air graced those guards' vision, it might as well have been a chorus of Faust herself.
  1457.  
  1458. The machine that whizzed by, tossing the infected every which way, looked like something straight from a horror picture. It was only pony-like in the vaguest sense of the word. It's body was bloated in random places from where other torsos has been hastily welded on. It's face was only half there, and the half that remained was from two different other heads. One of its legs had apparently been created from breaking and then re-welding another head into the vague shape of a hoof, and even its tail was the remains of a wing made of steel.
  1459.  
  1460. But they would be liars if they said it wasn't working like a charm.
  1461.  
  1462. They would also be liars if they said they weren't shocked to see who was riding it.
  1463.  
  1464. [Ha ha! Flam, I feel this foul things require a demonstration!]
  1465.  
  1466. {Potential clients are everywhere, Flim! We have to put on our best at all times!}
  1467.  
  1468. [From the east to the west!]
  1469.  
  1470. {We never rest!}
  1471.  
  1472. {[THE FLIM FLAM BROTHERS ARE THE BEST! YAHOOO!]}
  1473.  
  1474. So awestruck, the two guards just barely registered a shot whizzing between their ears, and landing with a THUNK on something behind them.
  1475.  
  1476. 'Are you two alright?'
  1477.  
  1478. The white stallion who ran up to them was familiar, to put it lightly... not well liked, but familiar.
  1479.  
  1480. >...Is that the asshole?
  1481.  
  1482. "Oh, you know the asshole?"
  1483.  
  1484. >He got drunk and threw up in my helmet.
  1485.  
  1486. "Ran a speedboat into me."
  1487.  
  1488. >Eeesh, that's just poor water safety.
  1489.  
  1490. "I was in the hallway..."
  1491.  
  1492. >...Unfortunate questions raised.
  1493.  
  1494. To his credit, the stallion in question did have the decency to look genuinely remorseful.
  1495.  
  1496. '"Hey! Come on guys, he just saved your asses! Not the time!"'
  1497.  
  1498. The fellow guard beside him, not so much.
  1499.  
  1500. >...Who?
  1501.  
  1502. "Haymaker. I think they're dating."
  1503.  
  1504. >Awww, that's cute...
  1505.  
  1506. "..."
  1507.  
  1508. >I like romances.
  1509.  
  1510. "Soldier, feel like telling us why A, the traitor is outside of the castle grounds, B, the two OTHER traitors are outside of their cells, and C, why the fuck they are all armed?"
  1511.  
  1512. Haymaker tapped a hoof to his chin, looking thoughtful.
  1513.  
  1514. "'....Zombies, Zombies, aaaaannnnddd... oh, right, Zombies."'
  1515.  
  1516. "...Point."
  1517.  
  1518. 'Would you two like to stick with us?'
  1519.  
  1520. >PFFFT! Hell no-
  1521.  
  1522. *SCREEEE!*
  1523. *BLAM!*
  1524.  
  1525. "..."
  1526. '...'
  1527. "'...'"
  1528.  
  1529. >I mean, that sounds beneficial.
  1530.  
  1531. "'..."'
  1532.  
  1533. 'We aren't dating by the way.'
  1534.  
  1535. >Man, this day just keeps getting worse...
  1536. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1537.  
  1538. >Gryphon Lord/Ignus Af Gryphonia
  1539. "Pommel"
  1540. 'Daw'
  1541. -Gryphon Soldiers-
  1542. ^Cordies^
  1543.  
  1544. The Far Roost, a desolate castle on a desolate hill surrounded by a forest of conifers in an otherwise desolate corner of the Gryphon Kingdoms. The watchfies of the castle shone bright in the night's darkness...
  1545.  
  1546. As did the fires in the courtyard.
  1547.  
  1548. And the fires in the halls.
  1549.  
  1550. And the fires in the throne room, fires kindled by anything and everything the defenders of the fortress could get there claws on. At the very center stood a massive portly gryphon, ripped of his former rainments which had been shed to help feed the torches that held the invaders at bay.
  1551.  
  1552. >More fuel, you dogs! More fuel for the fire! Don't let these beasts inside!
  1553.  
  1554. -We're running out of wood, sire!-
  1555.  
  1556. >Then take the damned tapestries! Soak armor in oil and toss it at the creatures! Don't let them in!
  1557.  
  1558. -But sire, those tapestries belong to the royal family! Won't they be upse-?-
  1559.  
  1560. >That just makes me want to burn 'em more! My pisspot of a brother never visits anyway! DON'T! LET! THESE! MONSTERS! IN!
  1561.  
  1562. -At once, Lord Ignus!-
  1563.  
  1564. >Imbeciles...
  1565.  
  1566. 'Aye, good help's hard to find.'
  1567.  
  1568. The gryphon turns, regarding the blue pegasus with the red bandanna and her compatriot, a unicorn leaden down with seemingly a piece of armor from at least nine different cultures. The massive mashup of feline and avian shrugs his shoulders.
  1569.  
  1570. >True, true. The flames have proved a costly but effective measure, my friends, what made you think of them?
  1571.  
  1572. 'Zombies can't stand fire, we learned that in Cairoat.'
  1573.  
  1574. "Mmph."
  1575.  
  1576. 'Zombies, mummies, same thing!'
  1577.  
  1578. "Mph mmph mph!"
  1579.  
  1580. 'Oh who asked you anyway?'
  1581.  
  1582. "Mmph!"
  1583.  
  1584. 'Oh hush-look out!'
  1585.  
  1586. ^SCREE!^
  1587.  
  1588. The pegasus yanked a torch from a nearby soldier away and hurled it at the red-plastered monstrosity that was trying to worm its way in through a window.
  1589.  
  1590. 'Barricade the damned windows, you amateurs!'
  1591.  
  1592. "Mmph!"
  1593.  
  1594. 'Damn right, at least the peasants in Transylmania knew that much.'
  1595.  
  1596. -Excuse us for not expecting zombies!-
  1597.  
  1598. "Mmph!"
  1599.  
  1600. >We shouldn't ALWAYS expect zombies!
  1601.  
  1602. "Mmph mmph!"
  1603.  
  1604. >...good point.
  1605.  
  1606. ^SCREEEEE!^
  1607.  
  1608. >"'-OH SHUT UP!-'"
  1609.  
  1610. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1611.  
  1612. >???
  1613. ~~~~
  1614.  
  1615. He didn’t like this. No, not at all.
  1616.  
  1617. Thinking too much always seemed to give him a headache but, currently, as he wandered about the darkened, dreary halls of the castle, he couldn’t help but put some brain cells to use in trying to figure out what in the world had happened.
  1618.  
  1619. Was happening.
  1620.  
  1621. Because there was a lot of happenings happening all around him, a lot of faraway shrieks of terror, a lot of heavy thuds like sacks of potatoes hitting the ground, a lot of chaos cracking off in nearly every direction his head turned...
  1622.  
  1623. None of it reached him, though, and not for lack of trying either.
  1624.  
  1625. Every few seconds a pony would come charging towards him, tearing around a corner or else bursting headlong through the nearest door, their body covered in gruesome-looking spores, pulsing clusters of an angry red.
  1626.  
  1627. Two seconds after that, after being spotted and lunged for, he would just stare, mentally counting down from three in his head.
  1628.  
  1629. Every time, like clockwork, right when the snarly pony-thing was within spitting distance, right when it seemed like it might very well sink those diseased hooves into him and continue the twisted cycle… it would get stopped by a very thick, very long, very lethal black tentacle that seemed to grow from the very shadows the moons glistening light created.
  1630.  
  1631. And then that pony would get sent flying, often times right through a wall.
  1632.  
  1633. And he would just stare, still trying to figure out what was happening, why those growly ponies wanted to hug him like they did. He wondered why it was so unnaturally cold tonight. But most importantly…
  1634.  
  1635. He wondered why Moons had left him all alone.
  1636.  
  1637. His ears flattened.
  1638.  
  1639. >This sucks….
  1640.  
  1641. He remembered how terrified his lunar princess had looked just a few hours prior. It was as if some invisible force had been calling out to her, calling out bad things… He remembered her hurriedly touching her horn to his forehead, a brief moment of rare discomfort, and then she was gone, leaping from the window in a single bound and melding with the night, with her domain.
  1642.  
  1643. But not before practically demanding him to stay put. It was an order he broke almost before she could fully vanish as he raced from the room in a futile effort at catching her.
  1644.  
  1645. Now, he wasn’t too stupid to not realize that whatever spell she’d cast on him with her horn, that it was the cause behind those eldritch tentacles that obliterated whatever spore-covered pony came his way.
  1646.  
  1647. He was just having a hard time trying to parse why Moons would bother wasting her magic on him as opposed to just protecting herself.
  1648.  
  1649. Wherever the crux of this horror was, 56 knew she was already there, probably fighting. And if she was fighting, she would need all of her power. Because what if she was overrun by whatever these things were and just that little bit of magic- the little bit she’d given him- what if not having that got her hurt…?
  1650.  
  1651. He cringed visible
  1652.  
  1653. >Darn it, Moons… I’m… I’m not worth it…
  1654.  
  1655. He rounded a corner, not even batting an eye when one of those glowing ponies met him with a piercing, teeth-rattling screech.
  1656.  
  1657. >Wow, your breath stinks smells like unwashed plot…
  1658.  
  1659. As if activated by proximity, the shadow underneath the nearby table gave an ominous quiver and 56 watched as a tentacle shot out like a bolt of lightning, snaring the infected pony around its neck only to whip it right out the closest window.
  1660.  
  1661. The sound nearly deafened him but he continued on down the frigid hall, still at a loss as to when he became something worthy for Moons to risk her own safety for….
  1662. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1663.  
  1664. >???
  1665. ~~~
  1666.  
  1667. She loved her Queen.
  1668.  
  1669. Really, really she did. She was loyal changeling through and through. This may not have been the hive that birthed her, but she would forever be grateful for the chance to become a part of their group.
  1670.  
  1671. Her Queen did not have to take her in. To be frank, it was crazy she did at all. A lone female from another hive... it didn't take a genius to figure out what she was. Not at all.
  1672.  
  1673. She had thought that aspect hidden, a clever ploy of pheromones and looking like a male. But it seems that even with the veil cast aside, her Queen did not care. To be frank, it's likely she knew the whole time, and just did not care. Her Queen was special. To her, and the world, she was special.
  1674.  
  1675. So when she had asked her to fulfill a mission for her, of course acceptance was the only answer. Nothing else but that would suffice.
  1676.  
  1677. However... this might have been a poor choice on her Queen's part.
  1678.  
  1679. >...HOW THE FUCK!?
  1680.  
  1681. She wanted to say more, really.
  1682.  
  1683. But the fact she had somehow stumbled into a giant crowd of the infected, and said infected were all standing upon scattered landmines that had fallen free from the A-team's stash, and said landmines also had bullets scattered atop them, and said bullets were also explosive rounds, and also the door behind her locked kept her from saying too much, and... well, all these stacked together left her with very little to say all the same.
  1684.  
  1685. Fortunately, the zombies filled the silence.
  1686.  
  1687. *SCREEEEEEE!*
  1688.  
  1689. Applejack 13 was not religious, not at all.
  1690.  
  1691. But some part of her felt that somehow, some way, she had managed to piss off every single deity in the multiverse.
  1692.  
  1693. She would have contemplated this more...
  1694.  
  1695. If her mind had not be drowned out by the sound of it.
  1696.  
  1697. That very first...
  1698.  
  1699. Boom.
  1700. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  1701.  
  1702. >32
  1703. *Q*
  1704. "???"
  1705. '???'
  1706. ~~~~
  1707.  
  1708. A part of the somewhat intelligent but sadly mostly ineffectual changeling wondered if he should be more focused on the fact that he has yet again tasted freedom. The wind in his mossy fin, the scent of cool, unfiltered or mold ridden air upon his nose, the wondrous sight of a city before him... and yet, none of that seemed to register.
  1709.  
  1710. >Natural enemies? How on earth do you figure?
  1711.  
  1712. *tink!*
  1713.  
  1714. Not in the face of such riveting conversation.
  1715.  
  1716. >They are no such thing.
  1717.  
  1718. *tink!*
  1719.  
  1720. >She merely looks like a spider, she has little relation to the actual arachnid in question. She is more insect than Spider, even as how she looks.
  1721.  
  1722. *tink!*
  1723.  
  1724. >Racist? Madam, I refute the idea that Reggie is in any way racist. He seems like an open minded sort.
  1725.  
  1726. *tink!*
  1727.  
  1728. >Again, you are focused primarily on looks. Tell me, if I put on cat ears, would I suddenly be natural enemies to hounds?
  1729.  
  1730. *Tink?*
  1731.  
  1732. >What reason does it matter why I'm wearing the blasted ears!?
  1733.  
  1734. *tink!*
  1735.  
  1736. >No, context is not vital it is a comparison!
  1737.  
  1738. *TINK!*
  1739.  
  1740. >Fine. I am wearing the cat ears because the mayor of Ponyville has a kink of some kind, and wishes-
  1741.  
  1742. *TINK!*
  1743.  
  1744. >No, I would not be stealing 29's marefriend! First off, they aren't dating due to the poor fool having the wit of a turnip when it comes to seeing potential mates, and second, if you had not cut me off I would have explained in this scenario 29 is wearing dog ears, and the mayor in question is wearing mouse ones for predator/prey play.
  1745.  
  1746. *...tink?*
  1747.  
  1748. >It is just an example!
  1749.  
  1750. *tink.*
  1751.  
  1752. >It has nothing to do with how long I've been... fine, poor example, instead, I'll go with-
  1753.  
  1754. And then he stopped.
  1755.  
  1756. Or rather, his hoverbike stopped.
  1757.  
  1758. He, and his passenger on the other hand, enjoyed a nice close up of his steering bars.
  1759.  
  1760. >...Ow.
  1761.  
  1762. *tink*
  1763.  
  1764. His hoof pressed down, the engine to the machine revving with power, but not moving an inch. Through it all, he never lifted his head from that painful position.
  1765.  
  1766. >Q? Tell me, is an infected holding me in place?
  1767.  
  1768. *tink*
  1769.  
  1770. >Unfortunate... FOR THEM!
  1771.  
  1772. His head jerked up, a beam of energy firing out from his horn, setting off a tiny explosion on the thing that had so rudely interrupted his flight.
  1773.  
  1774. >I really wish our species was more intelligent on the whole, we so often forget...the... lasers...
  1775.  
  1776. The smoke before him cleared slowly, not so quickly he could not take notice of the fact he was still, even now, unmoving.
  1777.  
  1778. >What in the name of... of...
  1779.  
  1780. *...tink?*
  1781.  
  1782. The tiny golems gesturing went unheeded. His eyes, and mind, could not be pried from their locked position dead ahead, staring blankly at the smoke that even now was painfully slow to disperse.
  1783.  
  1784. The first thing he saw was a hoof. Black, chitinous in form. Initially, he wished to call out to them.
  1785.  
  1786. Then he saw the red spores all along its body. His mind switched gears instantly, already damning his former leader for her ineptitude that no doubt saw his entire hive taken over in the wake of this disaster.
  1787.  
  1788. Then he saw just the edge of her face, the tiniest part, and wondered which poor female now suffered this fate, and how he mourned for another so foolishly lost.
  1789.  
  1790. Then, at last... he thought nothing.
  1791.  
  1792. Nothing could penetrate the thick static within his head, nothing could make it through the internal screaming that rattled his brain, nothing to help him comprehend just what it was he was seeing. Nothing made it through.
  1793.  
  1794. *tink?*
  1795.  
  1796. Not even the tink of Q.
  1797.  
  1798. "You died."
  1799.  
  1800. Her words were strangely quiet. He supposed he should be more focused on the fact she spoke at all, when all others held nothing but shrieks upon their tongues, but it seemed to very small in comparison to the words she spoke to him, the almost confusion she spoke with.
  1801.  
  1802. >...I... I suppose I'm just not very good at dying, it turns out.
  1803.  
  1804. He shakily raised a hoof, as if to touch her, the one he thought lost so very long ago...
  1805.  
  1806. >Seventy Seven said... you drowned... you died...
  1807.  
  1808. She leaned forwards, her infected cheek painfully close to his hoof.
  1809.  
  1810. "He was right."
  1811.  
  1812. A tiny stone shot forwards just as her head jut towards his hoof, battering the limb away just before the spores she shook free from her head could spread over his chitin.
  1813.  
  1814. Snapped from his trance like state, he only barely had enough time to register her frowning, upset face before bailing ship a mere moment before she reached forwards.
  1815.  
  1816. And ripped the hoverbike right in half.
  1817.  
  1818. >Well... you've been working out! Good for you, pays to stay in shape, Eighty Eight!
  1819.  
  1820. He hovered in the air before her as she tossed the useless scraps aside, a manic smile upon his face.
  1821.  
  1822. >You know, I'm starting to think my imprisonment has had a negative effect on my mental state! If I had to wager a guess, you aren't the real Eighty Eight, are you? Merely this... thing using her visage in order to manipulate me. Well... good show! But you see, I am infiltrator class, and we are quite well known for being on the ball with such tactics.
  1823.  
  1824. A bit offended, something hopped up and down on his shoulder.
  1825.  
  1826. >...And I have trained my protogé well! She has surpassed the master, I am so proud!
  1827.  
  1828. *TINK!*
  1829.  
  1830. >That is my story and I am sticking to it.
  1831.  
  1832. The thing hovering before them cocked her head to its side, curious in a way.
  1833.  
  1834. >Well, what next trick will you try unto me? Turning into my mother? Not that I would know who she is, I warn you. There is every chance I will hit on you, just to toss you off guard.
  1835.  
  1836. She continued staring, curious.
  1837.  
  1838. >Or perhaps you'll turn into Seventy Seven? HAH! My suggestion would be that helmeted bitch, at least to give me some-
  1839.  
  1840. "How did you survive the river?"
  1841.  
  1842. He froze, mind going blank with her words.
  1843.  
  1844. >...W-what?
  1845.  
  1846. "The river... how did you survive it?"
  1847.  
  1848. Like a beached fish, his mouth opened and closed rapidly. His eyes were so wide they strained his forehead, barely able to be contained. Not a single thing processed properly in his mind, not a one.
  1849.  
  1850. As if she suddenly lost interest, she turned her head away, listening out into the distance.
  1851.  
  1852. "...It doesn't matter."
  1853.  
  1854. And just like that... she flew off.
  1855.  
  1856. Didn't even glance back, just flew away like she didn't even care, like she had just remembered she left the fridge open, and everything else ceased to matter.
  1857.  
  1858. And he could only hang there, limp, watching her go without the strength to move and follow her, totally unsure what to do, what to think, how to react.
  1859.  
  1860. She couldn't be real.
  1861.  
  1862. She had to be a figment of his mind.
  1863.  
  1864. A trick from the creatures.
  1865.  
  1866. Something... something...
  1867.  
  1868. He had watched her drown.
  1869.  
  1870. He would not lie.
  1871.  
  1872. They could not swim.
  1873.  
  1874. She would have...
  1875.  
  1876. 'You.'
  1877.  
  1878. So perplexed, so unable to think straight, he only barely registered the words, only barely put together that someone called out to him.
  1879.  
  1880. Robotically, his head turned to the source, and the moment his eyes locked with the others, he knew that the whole world may as well have just burst into flames for all that mattered.
  1881.  
  1882. 'Hello... brother.'
  1883.  
  1884. 77 stared at him, shaking like a leaf, clutching his knife... no.. her knife.
  1885.  
  1886. Her knife.
  1887.  
  1888. It was hers.
  1889.  
  1890. That was her.
  1891.  
  1892. That was...
  1893.  
  1894. That was...
  1895.  
  1896. >....GRAAAGGHHHHHH!
  1897.  
  1898. He didn't know why he charged his once-brother, not really. What did he hope to gain? What drove this? How could he care so much when the world yet crumbled?
  1899.  
  1900. For all of this, he had no answer.
  1901.  
  1902. But it didn't matter.
  1903.  
  1904. He needed this.
  1905.  
  1906. And by the million eyes of the hivemind...
  1907.  
  1908. He was going to have it.
  1909. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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