“Fluttershys’ human counter part, could you please wait a moment.” Celestia spoke up before the group could leave. “Could I have you stay behind and help out. I have Shining Armor and an army behind him here. He and Cadance have been here preparing for war. You know about these things better then we do, could you stay and help?”
Human Fluttershy looked between Celestia and her friends and then nodded. “If it’s alright with Twilight, then yes, I’ll stay and help.” She looked to Twilight for her approval and received a nod. “Go and save us all Twilight, I’ll help out here.” The two gave each other a hug and then went their separate ways in a hurry.
“Glad to have you here, now what can you tell us about these things?” Celestia asked as she walked over to the balcony overlooking her army.
“There are only a few things to know actually. One, don’t let them kill you. Two cut their limbs off; ignore the head, for most of them anyway.” Fluttershy looked into the distance and watched as a giant horde of Necromorphs made their way to the castle some of which looked like very normal ponies. “I’ve heard a lot about these things and how they work from Azaliah’s father, long story. There are some with yellow sacks, hit the sack, kill the creature. One little tip, don’t kill them close to you or they will blow you to bits. If they do get close, cut off the sack without hitting it.” Celestia relayed the info down to Shining Armor as Fluttershy spoke. She continued to explain everything to Celestia about what she knew of the Necromorphs.
“Thank you Fluttershy, I appreciate it. Why don’t you oversee the war and help us out from up here, I must go join them.” Celestia started to leave but was stopped.
“Ok and call me Flutter ok.” Celestia nodded and sped off toward her army. “Good luck.”
Twilight and the others made their way down into the prison below the castle hoping that they could avoid the Necromorphs. Twilight knew of a way out through the prison, two ways actually but one was almost impossible to live through without the ability to fly or teleport. So earth ponies were basically screwed.
There was no chance that the train would be available and a chariot was the same way. Celestia must have everypony in Canterlot either hidden someplace safe or ready to fight. Once they were in the prison, they looked on in horror. Cell doors had been ripped off their hinges, bars broken, and blood covered the entire area. Bodies lie around on the ground in pieces. “This place is sick.” Rarity covered her nose.
“Why don’t you girls put your helmets on?” Twilight said looking around the blood covered prison. “Do you think anypony is still alive?”
“Oh please, look around, they’re all dead.” Azaliah rolled her eyes annoyed with the question.
“Why don’t you shut it.” Rainbow said as she tried to get her helmet on but couldn’t. “How do we get the helmet back on Rare?” The helmet on the suit stretched up and out over her head. “Never mind, got it. I’m not sure how but whatever.”
“You are all going to die and I’ll probably die to because of you.” Azaliah groaned and looked around.
Twilight wanted to say something but figured that there was no point in it and Azaliah wasn’t worth it. “Let’s just keep going before we run into something.” The six continued forward through the prison until they heard something. They backed up against each other protecting themselves and their teammates from getting snuck up on. The torches around the prison blew out making it too dark to see. Azaliah and Twilight turned on their flashlights while Rarity used her horn for light.
“Yeah, that’s great for you but what about those that can’t use magic huh?” Rainbow asked only being able to see slightly better thanks to Rarity.
“Sorry girls.” Twilight used her magic and hit both Rainbow Dash and Applejack. That magic blast created a glow around them that shone brightest in front of them. “Better?” The two gave Twilight their approval and continued to watch the room. It was now foggy on top of being dark. “Where did the fog come from?”
“The fog was minimal due to the pagasi but my guess is that they are now in this war for survival and are unable to keep it so.” Rainbow continued to look around the area.
Each of them began to hear things such as children laughing, ponies they knew were dead talking, and some of them saw things. Shadows moved along the walls and the ground, dead ponies made an appearance and then left.
The wind blew in through the tunnel near the water fall, it whistled and voices were heard laughing, talking, or even speaking quietly. Lightning flashed outside making more shadows on the walls and floor. Each of them had thoughts running through their heads.
Twilight thought about Spike, her family and Flash. Rainbow could only think of her friends and Scootaloo. Rarity could only think of her little sister and her parents. The only on of them not thinking about their loved ones was Azaliah. Her only thought was to take care of the marker until it happened.
Azaliah saw her great great grandfather, he spoke to her. “You must find the Marker, send them home.”
The others if they had felt comfortable, would have looked at Azaliah wondering what was wrong with her despite knowing. “You’re not real, leave me alone.”
“Azaliah, you must do it, send them home and free yourselves.” Azaliah grabbed her head telling the illusion to leave her.
“I don’t even understand you, what do you mean?” Azaliah growled.
“You must return and send them back, you must return.” Isaac said moving toward his great great granddaughter. “Help them Azaliah, help them and send them back. Return to your world Azaliah, return.”
Azaliah now had unseen tears running down her cheeks. Her body shook as she stood there. She had never felt anything like this before. She couldn’t believe it but she felt that she had too. Her great great grandfather had told her what to do, she had to do as he said. He knew more about these things than anyone, he had to be right about this. “I have to return home, I have to go.”
Twilight turned to Azaliah in shock. “Are you nuts, you know what will happen. We need you, if you leave we may not live through this. Your father told you to help us.”
“No, no, my great great grandfather told me what to do.” Their voices raised as the water to the left became more vicious as it flowed. The metal grate covering the river broke from its secured position and down over the waterfall. “I know what I have to do, I have to go back. It’s the only way.” Twilight grabbed onto Azaliah for a second before she pulled away and backed up. “I know what I have to do.” Azaliah backed up some more and fell into the river. It pulled her down and away, she could hear her name being called by others.
Twilight was ahead and managed to grab onto Azaliah. “I got you, don’t let go.”
Azaliah’s helmet lowered to reveal Azaliah with tears in her eyes. “I can’t hold on.” Twilight wanted to argue and just as the others bent down to help, she lost her grip on Twilights hoof and fell.
The five stood there shocked but for only a second as Necromorphs ran toward them. “To the lift.” The five followed Twilight into the nearby lift and got in. It began to move down when a leaper jumped in and tackled Twilight to the ground.
“Twilight!” Rainbow screamed as she kicked the thing off her and the others began stomping on the cornered Necromorph until it died. Twilight stood up and began to lower the lift.
“So now what?” AJ asked.
“We keep going.” Nothing else was said as the lift moved