//------------------------------// // Fighting Back // Story: Pony Zombie Apocalypse // by Icewind505 //------------------------------// Twilight galloped over to Sweet Apple Acres as Spike was getting the supplies to Canterlot ready. She saw Applejack and Big Mac working in the fields, it being apple bucking season and all. Applejack waved her hoof at Twilight as she saw her coming. Twilight abruptly stopped next to Applejack and started to tell her about the crisis in Canterlot when Applejack suddenly stuck a hoof in her mouth. "Now Twilight, Ah know that yer usually right sugarcube but this just sounds like you're spoutin' a lot of hewy." Twilight jumped back offended. "Applejack, no matter how ridiculous it sounds it's true!" Applejack cocked an eyebrow at Twilight. It seemed like the summer heat had finally gotten to her head. Applejack shook her head and refused to believe it. No matter what she said it couldn't be true. "Twilight Ah don't believe one word that yer sayin'. An' I'll only believe ya if Princess Luna herself drops out of the sky." As if on cue Princess Luna's chariot landed in the field. Applejack just stood there with her mouth open, not believing what just happened. She continually opened and closed her mouth, trying to think of an explanation to the extremely convenient coincidence. She shook her head, maybe it wasn't Luna, it might just be a chariot that looked like hers. It didn't mean she was in it. Applejack cautiously worked her way around the trees toward the chariot, she slowly stalked her way towards it and when Princess Luna jumped out of it she dove behind a bush. Applejack watched as Luna flew towards Twilight and strike up a conversation. First a look of shock was plastered on the unicorn's face, then horror masked her features, and it all ended up in flames as horror changed to sorrow. Applejack worked her way around the trees again and seated herself next to Twilight. Luna smiled at her and started over from the beginning. Little did they know that one of the guards had been nipped at the heel by an "undead" pegasus and was now thrashing around as he was overwhelmed by the disease. ---- Spike dashed around the library trying to find all the things on the list Twilight had given him. He desperately wanted to leave now but knew that it was probably better to follow Twilight's judgment. He stopped dead in his tracks when he heard a knock at the door. Spike grabbed a rake and decided to pound anything that looked remotely like a zombie. When he opened the door a giant blow of confetti smothered his face, so he did the reasonable thing and hit anything in front of him with the rake. When he removed the confetti from his face he winced as he saw that he had hit Pinkie and she now lay unconcious on the doorstep. He quickly dragged her in and dumped a cold bucket of water on her face. Being Pinkie, she woke up screaming some random bit of obvious nonsense. "My full name is Pinkamena Pie! Oh, hey Spike!" Spike absent-mindedly waved a hand and continued searching through the library. Pinkie just stared at him asking occasional questions which Spike answered with short prim answers. Soon Spike ended up explaining the whole story from his time in Canterlot to now. Pinkie looked absolutely horrified and agreed to get Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie dashed out of the tree leaving Spike to his own thoughts. But the only thought that was ringing in Spike's head now was one of dread.What will happen to Equestria? ---- Pinkie bounced in her usual happy-go-lucky way as she headed to Rarity's boutique. When she arrived at the door Rarity flung it open on Pinkie's face. Pinkie shook her head and bounced back up. She quickly explained to Rarity what Spike had told her, but Rarity appeared to not be listening, instead she was peeking out the shutters, her eyes darting back and forth with apprehension. Pinkie touched Rarity's shoulder with a gentle hoof but this was enough to make her dart underneath the couch. "Okay, Rarity, what's going on? You're not usually this jumpy, I'm the one that's jumpy." Pinky glared at Rarity for a few minutes while waiting for an answer. Rarity glanced around the room looking for a way to escape but could not find one. She eventually gave up and sighed. "Pinkie if you really must know, it is because of what you told me just now." Pinkie thought about this for a moment. How could Rarity know about this already? She didn't even tell her until now and Spike couldn't have visited her even if he wanted to. "Darling, you look so confused, let me enlighten you. I don't have time for a detailed explanation but I can give you one simple answer. Nothing much happens around Canterlot that I'm not aware of. I'm hiding in here because I fear that one of those undead ponies might ruin my gorgeous mane. Can you imagine!?" Rarity looked so distraught that Pinkie Pie almost felt bad enough not to drag her out of her home and into the library. Almost. ---- Applejack shook her head, she knew that the fate of Equestria rested on her shoulders along with her friends but she couldn't bear to leave her family behind. Sweet little Applebloom wouldn't make it very far, and Big Mac, hardy as he was, couldn't survive any longer than a week. Not to mention Granny Smith. Twilight gave a pleading gaze but nothing could change AJ's mind. At least until she heard a disgruntled whinny coming from the field where Big Macintosh was. "Big Mac!" Applejack galloped away to her brother but it was still too late. Luna's guards had succumbed to the influence of the disease and had just bitten Big Macintosh. Applejack flew into a rage and charged right at the two pegasi. She headbutted one hard, to her disgust the stallion split right in two. Entrails flew everywhere and blood splattered across her stetson. The other guard tried to bite her but Applejack bucked him in the head. The guard's head flew right off his neck and went sailing through the air, it landed in a tree and the body collapsed. Applejack's heart sank when she saw Big Macintosh, his leg was splayed out to his side with two large bite marks right in the thigh. Applejack cursed under her breath and felt a sudden swirl of anger, frustration, sorrow and guilt build up in her. And with that, the flames of determination flared up as she swore to get every last undead pony back to the grave. At least until she heard a strange rustle from behind.