//------------------------------// // Left Behind // Story: Whispering Zero, City of the Dead // by Aetaes Wolf //------------------------------// "You know what I'm going to do once I'm older?" "Mm?" "I'll join the guards in Canterlot! I'll protect all of Equestria!" The young grey pegasus filly looks to the magenta unicorn filly with light blue legs and muzzle beside her as she chuckles, perking a brow. "What? Why is that funny!?" The unicorn slowly stops chuckling, running a hoof through her long midnight blue mane with lighter streaks of blue in it. She walks over to the pegasus, ruffling her long pure white mane. "That's quite a dream, Whispering! Sure you're up for it?" The pegasus huffs. "I am so..." She looks to the unicorn, light blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "What about you, Spell? What do you plan to do?" The unicorn thinks for a moment, her aqua green eyes looking up to the sky. "I don't know, little sis. Perhaps I'll become a scientist? Or a researcher?" She smiles, looking to the young pegasus. "But no matter what, I'll always stick by you." "Promise?" "......I promise." Sunlight filters into the room, Whisper awakens to the familiar comfort of Zero sleeping soundly next to her. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she blinks in the morning light, perking her ears to listen. Quiet... Peaceful. Wish it could stay like this forever... Whisper is snapped out of her thoughts as Zero stirs beside her, blinking his eyes open in the morning light. Whisper smiles. "Good morning Zero." Zero nods in response, getting out of bed. Whisper gets up, walking to the window and looking down. The snow had stopped, leaving the ruined city in a white blanket. Infected roam in small packs below. Even in the cold they can still move. I thought they would turn into frozen ice-zombies... That would be useful... And less dangerous. Sighing Whisper closes her eyes, allowing her mind to wander. It seems so long ago since it started... I can barely remember what life was like before the zombie infestation.... She snaps out of her thoughts as Zero tugs on the blue hoodie she's wearing. She looks to Zero. "Yes, Zero?" Zero motions to the door. "R-roof..." Whisper blinks, giving a nods. "Alright, I suppose it wouldn't hurt since the snow's stopped." Whisper quickly grabs her sword, attaching it to her waist, grabbing her satchel and slinging it around her shoulder. Zero walks, opening the door and leading the way upstairs, Whisper following closely behind him. Zero navigates the stairs, careful to silently go around any zombies who might be in their way, not allowing them to take notice of Whisper. Once reaching the door to the roof, Zero opens it, carefully walking forward, looking around for any other zombies who may have stumbled onto the rooftop. Once making sure the area is clear, he motions for Whisper to come. Carefully stepping outside, Whisper shields her eyes from the harsh light of the sun until they adjust, walking to the edge of the building. She could see across the city, to the edge where the dome kept them inside. Zero walks up beside Whisper, Whisper nods to the city's edge. "My sister was the one who put up the dome, to keep the infection from spreading to the rest of the world." She sighs, her ears flattening slightly. "We don't even know how this began... How it happened. Everything was normal, perfect. Next thing we knew, all hell had broken loose, and we were running for our lives from zombies... A dream turned into a never-ending nightmare." Zero nuzzles her comfortingly, Whisper rests her head against his shoulder. "We can't undo what was done, what had happened. But we can wish that this is nothing more then a dream, that we'll wake up soon... Only to realize that this is still reality." She chuckles lightly. "It's nice to know not every zombie wants to kill me, though." Zero smiles. "Whisper... Friend." The sound of a gunshot makes the two jolt. Zero growls as Whisper look down to the ground. A pony runs through the street below, a mob of zombies behind them. Something is thrown to the mob, shattering on the ground. Whisper recognizes what was thrown as a Molotov as the zombies around where it shattered catch fire. The pony who threw it dashes into the building, Whisper catches a blue and purple blur as it runs, her eyes widening. Spellspark! Zero nudges Whisper. "I-inside... S... Safer..." Whisper looks to Zero. "No, not for you. You stay here." Zero blinks, tilting his head slightly in confusion. Whisper sighs. "The gunshot was caused by a pony who is still alive, and they just ran into the building. They'll kill you if they see you, Zero, it's not safe for you to go back inside." She walks to the door. "Stay here... I'll make it safe for you to return inside." She walks inside, closing the door behind her, she swiftly makes her way down the stairs to the room she had been kept in, hiding herself in the closet as she listens to the sounds of fighting from the lower levels as it gets closer. Gunshots sound just outside the room, making Whisper flinch each time one goes off. Whisper jumps as a zombie is flung through the door, hitting the wall and slumping to the ground. Spellspark walks inside, magic holding her gun in the air, she slowly walks to the dead zombie, gun aimed at its head. Whisper's eyes widen as she watches her sister, a look of pure hatred and malice reflecting in her aqua green eyes. Slowly, she creeps out of her hiding spot. "S-Spell..?" Spellspark immediately whips around, her gun aimed at Whisper. Whisper's ears flatten completely as she takes a few steps back. "S-Spell! I-it's me! Whisper!" Spellspark blinks, lowering the gun as she looks to Whisper. "W-Whisper?" Her eyes widen, dropping her gun completely, she rushes over to her sister and embraces her. "Whisper! Where have you been!? Are you alright!? You're not hurt-" Whisper laughs, gently pushing Spellspark off of her. "I'm fine, I'm fine! See? No injuries!" Concern laces Spellspark's eyes. "Why didn't you come home!?" Whisper spreads out her wing. "I sprained my wing. I couldn't fly home, and I didn't know where you were so I couldn't come find you. It'll still be a while before I can fly properly again... But I'm fine, honest!" Spellspark stares at her sister for a moment before hugging her tightly. "I thought I lost you..." She releases Whisper, walking over to her gun and picking it up. "We're going home." Whisper blinks. "N-now?" Spellspark nods. Whisper takes a step forward "C-can't we stay? For a little longer, a-at least to rest, o-or-" "NOW WHISPER!" Whisper flinches at her sister's tone. Spellspark sighs. "I just... Want to get you home... I don't want you in any more danger." Whisper slowly nods. Spellspark leads the way down through the building, Whisper trailing behind her. The two walk down the street. Whisper stops a few feet away from the building, looking up to the rooftop. Zero watches her for a few moments, before walking back out of her sight.