“Hurry up Chris, or do you want to end up like food?” Knight said impatiently.
“J-just give me a moment... These legs ain’t what they used to be. Besides, I’d be much faster if my wings were workin’!”
As the little gang departed from their campsite, they headed off to Ponyville.
They all slowly stepped into the forest, weapons by their side, carefully watching their surroundings.
“Something’s lurking in here....” Chris said to Knight.
“Yeah...I know.” Knight said in a bored tone. “Mostly just regular inhabitants. Manticores, Hydras, Timberwolves, that sort of thing. A few infected here and there, but not enough that we should be worried. Well, unless they’re Featherbrains.”
“Unless they’re what?” Chris asked.
“Featherbrains, the nicknames used for infected pegasi. We...subjects, came up with it. Sounds a lot better than ‘weapon type 97’, don’t ya think?”
“What’s so special about them?”
“For one, unlike infected unicorns, or Horny Ones, sweet Chrysalis, who came up with that name anyway.” Hollow muttered. “Sorry, anyway, unlike Horny Ones, who can’t use their magic, which causes the build-up and eventual magical overload you saw that one from Fillydelphia undergo, Featherbrains can sometimes still use their passive pegasi magic, meaning they can still fly.”
“Well, ain’t that wonderful? How are we supposed to take them down?” Chris asked Hollow.
“Simple. Same as any other infected. Destroy the brain, and the body ceases to function. That or you sever their spinal cord, which just paralyzes them.” She explained.
“I meant, how are we gonna take ‘em down if they keep flying around ya? If I could fly, I could probably do something, but other than that, we’re probably gonna need ranged weapons” Chris said.
From the air, loud shouts could be heard. A Featherbrain has spotted the three adventurers, and divebombed into them.
“You’re about to find out...” Hollow said to Chris. “Just stay back and watch Knight work.”
Chris was about to object, but his jaw dropped as Knight grew wings again, this time without touching him, and took to the air, slamming straight into the Featherbrain and forcing them both to crash to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured the two combatants from view. Chris and Hollow could hear the sounds of them fighting, the low moans of the Featherbrain, and the grunts of Knight as they fought. Eventually, a sound similar to a stun grenade was heard, and a sudden slicing sound. Then silence.
“Woah, woah, is he alright? We gotta help him!” Chris shouted to Hollow.
“No, we don’t.” She replied simply, pointing to the dust cloud where a figure was emerging. It was the Featherbrain, but something was different. Chris almost vomited when he realised what had happened.
“Oh man, that stinks like a Zebra fart! What the hell did you do?” Chris asked with a disgusted look on his face.
Knight walked out of the cloud, with his wings gone and his horn back on his head, glowing silver, with a similar aura wrapped around the two blades which hovered beside him. “I won, that’s what. Now he’s a Featherheadless.”
Somewhere in the back of the forests, shuffling and growls could be heard, moving towards the three.
“Oh, great. Hoofers. We gotta run!” Chris said, packing up the supplies, “It would seem that your little fight was the center of attention, we gotta get out of this forest, to the highway!”
“Are you insane, there’s even more of them there. Why do you think Hollow and I came here in the first place?!” Knight said. “It’s a death-sentence, even if we fly. Our best bet is to lose them in the trees.”
“Listen up! We’re gonna go out to that Highway! I’m not gonna die in this forest like a victim of an ambush by an undead who doesn’t appear to own a brain? I don’t care what you think! At least out there we’ll be able to see them!” Chris yelled at Knight.
“And in here there are more shadows, meaning Shadow-Walking is easier...” Knight replied calmly. “And I just told you, the highway is a death-sentence no matter what we do. It’s completely overrun.”
“Then where will we find medicine? Where will we find food? We’re starving as it is!”
“Zecora.” Knight stated.
“Who?!” Chris looked at Knight.
“She’s a zebra, lives in the Everfree forest. She makes natural medicines, and her hut is near Ponyville. It should only take us an hour at most to get there if Hollow or I carry you.”
“I don’t need carrying...” Shuffles and groans were becoming much louder, “What do you think Knight, fight or flight?” Chris asked.
“With the number on their way here, I pick flight. No sense going up against twenty at once unless we can separate them into groups of no more than three, and they have a tendency of sticking together.”
“Alright then! Vamanos! Err... Hollow, you coming?” Chris asked.
“...Uh, yeah...sorry.” She replied, pocketing the soul gem she had been staring at.
The group started running, the forest was dense, and hoofers were gonna have a hard time getting through the brush.
“Knight, on your left!” Chris pointed at the featherbrain, just about to take a bite at Knight. He simply sidestepped it and drove one of his blades through its eye socket.
“Thanks, I guess.” He said with a small smile.
As the group kept running, it was eventually going to happen. A small branch was found on the way, and Chris tripped over it.
“Ah, guys! Help!” Chris yelled at Hollow and Knight, who seemed far away from him. Knight looked back at him, and said something to Hollow, who nodded and kept going. Knight doubled back and picked Chris up off the ground, pushing him forward.
“Keep going, we’re almost there. And no matter what you see, or hear, do not look back.”
Having no choice, Chris followed Knight’s orders and continued running. In the background, loud grunts and screams could be heard, but he was told not to look back, so he didn’t.
After five minutes of running, the group seemed to have shaken of the hoofers, and had some time to rest.
“What happened?! Where’s Hollow?!” Chris asked Knight.
“Sent her...on ahead...to warn Zecora...we were coming.” Knight panted. “Dammit...six years of being...a lab-rat...really leaves you...out of shape.”
“Why’d you tell me not to look back?” Chris asked Knight.
“Because it’s when you look back while running that you fall, and it’s when you fall that you die. By keeping your eyes forward, you noticed potential hazards before it was too late to avoid them. And if you had seen how many there were, you would have not only frozen, you’d have pissed yourself, and shat yourself, and I am not gonna be carrying you if you do.” He said with a chuckle.
“Hey, I was Major-General in the Lunar War! I would not have shat myself!... Only pissed myself....” Chris said with a grin.
“You sound like my step-father.” Knight said, his grin suddenly disappearing.
“Who was your step-father? I’m not intending to pry, but, you never did finish the facility story...” Chris said.
“He was a Celestial Assassin, as was my step-mother. You ever heard of them?” Knight asked.
“Yeah, they were a special division in the Lunar War, brought in as reinforcements from Celestia.. They were sent out to kill Discord’s High Value Targets, such as Generals.”
“That’s only the recent history. The Celestial Assassins go back to the origins of the Princesses Rule. They used to be two separate groups, the Solar Assassins, who answered only to Princess Celestia, and the Lunar Assassins, who answered to Luna. After a few centuries of ruling, they decided they didn’t need two separate groups and merged them into one, the Celestial Assassins. Their job was simple, to protect the citizens of Equestria from any threat to their safety, even if the princesses themselves became a threat. That was their oath. They taught me and my step-sister the same way that they learned, though the blades I have, even I don’t know why I have them.” He explained, pointing to the two swords, which were now magically restrained to his sides.
“That’s what your mark is, right? Those two swords?”
“Yeah. I had it when they found me in those woods, along with this.” He summoned a small bracelet with his name on one side and an engraving of the moon on the other. “That’s the only clue I have as to who I am. I want to go to Canterlot to find out if the Princesses can help.”
“Help find out who you are, or help stop the infection?” Chris asked Knight, while keeping his poker face.
“Find out who I am. The ponies who made this thing, they made it to be incurable. I don’t know if there is a way to do so, but it’s unlikely.”
Chris’ stomach growled uncontrollably, he was hungry, and unless Knight wanted him to pass out, he needed some food.
“Hey, what’s left in the backpack?” Chris asked.
“I’ve got a couple of daisy sandwiches.” Knight replied, hoofing two of them over to him.
“Thanks.” Saying that, Chris just dug his face into the sandwich, eating like he hadn’t eaten in months, “Hey, these are good.... Just one question.... Is there jelly in them...?”
“There is. Why?” Knight asked curiously.
“I-I’m allergic to jelly....” Chris’ face had swollen up.
“Shit! We have to get to Zecora’s now, before your throat closes up!” Knight yelled, forcing Chris onto his back, being careful to make sure he wasn’t accidentally impaled on the blades, and galloping in the direction he believed Zecora’s hut to be in. “Chris, you ok? Chris....CHRIS?!”
Chris blacked out. Several moments later, he could barely open his eyes, only to overhear some strange talking, what looked like Knight, and some Zebra. To Chris, this was all like a dream.
“...help him?”
“Allergies?....”
“....this should help...”
“...hope so...”
Chris’ head was spinning like a wheel. He was slowly coming to, the pictures in his eyes becoming clearer.
“K-knight? I-is that you?” Chris slowly asked.
“Yeah, it’s me. And Hollow. And Zecora.” He replied, stepping aside to reveal a familiar changeling and a zebra standing behind him.
“H-hi, my name’s Chris....” Chris noticed that the pain in his wing had went away, and was free to move his wings, “Did... Did you fix up my wings?”
“Ah yes, a wing breaking had occurred. I found medicine for you, so you wouldn’t stay moored.”
Chris leaned over to Knight: “Is she supposed to speak like this?”
“Just go with it Chris. It’s traditional.” He replied. “Anyway, you owe Zecora big-time. She made allergy medication with what she scrounged up. Good thing too, or you wouldn’t be here right now.”
“Indeed. Allergy has made itself into your system, making you spin out of control, like a piston!” Zecora replied with a big smile.
“Umm, sure... Err... Anyways... We need to get to Ponyville! Are there any safe paths?” Chris asked.
Right that moment, someone knocked on the window. It was a hoofer.
“Again these ponies come on my doors shut, I had better peace, when I was still in my hut!”
It seemed like Zecora didn’t know that these ponies, were not ponies at all, but they were infected.
“Is she serious?” Chris asked Knight.
“We...kinda didn’t tell her yet.” Knight admitted. “We were a little preoccupied with saving your life.”
“Perhaps you should tell her now, unless you want that Hoofer to break her window! I don’t like Zebra zombies, they’re even more agressive than normal ones!” Chris told Knight, “Perhaps we should bring her along to Ponyville? She could be useful for our little group...”
“That’s the plan anyway...and don’t be racist! Just because she’s a zebra does not mean she’d be more aggressive if she were a zompony!”
“Kinda does... You see, when I was back in Fillydelphia, I saw a few zebra zombies... They weren’t like regular ones, instead they grew huge muscles, and were just tearing apart anyone who stood in their way.” Chris said, pointing to the Hoofer who was still knocking on Zecora’s window.
“Away, away you foul beast! I already told you, I am all out of yeast!” She then picked up a broom and tried to scare the Hoofer away, but it seemed to aggravate him even more. Knight didn’t hesitate, grabbing his dark blue blade and shoving it through the window, and the Hoofer’s skull, right in one of its eyes.
“Hooray for eye-gouging eh, Knight?” Chris said jokingly.
“I guess.” He replied. “Zecora, you ok?”
“I am puzzled, why you killed this colt, for he would have run away, like a bolt!” Zecora said.
“No. He wouldn’t. He was infected, Zecora, with a virus that, for lack of a better explanation, turns the victims into mindless, flesh-eating monsters.” Knight explained with a frown.
“If it is truly what you say, I must begin working on a cure right away!”
“As unlikely as it is that a cure can be found, if anypony can do it, it’s you, right Zecora?”
“You should pack up whatever you can, we’re leaving for Ponyville... That is, if you want to come with us...?” Chris said.
“Ponyville is what you seek? I have planned to go there next week!”
“You did? Was there anything suspicious out there?” Chris asked Zecora. Zecora shook her head, everything seemed normal in Ponyville, as there were not many travellers coming in and out.
“Well then, looks like we may have a chance to save some ponies, huh Hollow?” Knight said, turning to face the changeling, who was once again staring at the soul gem intently.
“She’s really into that thing huh?” Chris asked Knight.
“Yeah, a little too into it, I think.” Knight said worriedly.
“Well, since we’re safe here for a while, you could finish the facility story.....” Chris said.
“Yeah...sure. Where did I leave off?” Knight asked, turning his attention back to Chris.
“What they would do to you after the tests.” Chris replied.
“Oh...” Knight shook his head a little. “Ok. After each test, they’d take the two they’d experimented on, and they’d force the two into a deathmatch with each other. They didn’t allow us to leave our opponents at unconsciousness. Either one dies, or the other.”
“Sweet Luna.... Who was in charge of that facility?” Chris asked.
“I don’t know his name, but I know he was an alicorn.” Knight whispered.
Knocks could be heard on the hut. Hoofers were closing in. Knocking on the back of the hut, and on the sides.
“I think we should go guys! Zecora, grab what you can, we’re leaving!”
Zecora quickly packed a few herbs, some food and a couple of alchemy sets.
“Knight, let’s go out there and kill ‘em!” Chris looked at Knight.
“On it.” He muttered, his demeanour once again that of a cold-blooded killer. He drew his blades and threw one out the window, impaling one of the Hoofers through its throat, and severing it spinal cord.
Chris quickly pulled out his knife and rushed through the door, slicing up a few zomponies as he went, his blade making clean cuts through their heads. Brains flew all over the place, and in no time, the Hoofers have been cleared out.
“Alright, everypony out of the hut! Zecora, lead to Ponyville!” Chris said.
Several moments later, they were on a small hill just north of Ponyville. Fluttershy’s hut and Twilight’s library could be seen from here.
“What do you think we’ll find there?” Chris asked Knight.
“Hopefully we’ll find the others safe and sound.”
“You think AJ and Mac are okay?” Chris gently stroked his medallion.
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t have a scratch on ‘em. But why didn’t you ask about Applebloom?”
“Yeah... Thing is, I don’t know who Applebloom is! Since you mentioned her, I just pretended to know, ‘cuz it would be rude not to...”
Knight stopped and stared at Chris in disbelief. “...You don’t know her?”
“N-no...” Chris replied.
Knight walked up to him, and raised a hoof as if he was going to strike him. “How can you not know your daughter? Applebloom is AJ and Mac’s little sister.” He said angrily, his hoof unmoving.
“H-how old is she?” Chris asked nervously.
“She’s around 7.” Knight replied.
“Heh... Makes sense... I left my wife when I went to the Lunar war nine years ago...I didn’t
want to return to that kind of life... So, I stayed in Fillydelphia...” Chris stated.
“So you abandoned your family? When they needed you most, you abandoned them?” Knight was on the verge of yelling.
“I was a different pony back then! I drank heavily, and it was all because of that cursed soul gem!” Chris yelled.
“The soul gem?” Knight asked, turning instinctively to Hollow, who was staring at it again.
“The souls of the dead.... They wouldn’t stop! Wouldn’t let me dream, or sleep! Haunted me every day! I could barely eat! I’m just glad I got rid of it. Doesn’t seem to affect her though....”
“Doesn’t seem to affect her? Have you not noticed she’s been staring at it non-stop?!”
“Doesn’t seem to affect her... Like it did me.... She didn’t abandon us! She still sleeps! She eats! I don’t see nothing on her. Must be because she’s a changeling...”
“I see.” Knight lowered his hoof again. “This time, don’t you dare leave them behind. They already lost their mother, they don’t need to lose their father again.”
“I’ve left that life behind me, Knight....”
“Don’t you dare say that!” Knight screamed. “You are not abandoning them this time. This time, you’re going to be a stallion, you’re going to be there for them. Or so help me, I will end you myself.”
“Alright... But just tell me one thing...” His face turned to an angry expression as he looked at Knight, “What do they mean to you, for you to react that strongly?”
“They’re my friends. Everypony else avoided me, thought I was a weirdo. Except for AJ, Mac, Applebloom, and her friends, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash. Besides my step-family and Zecora, they were the first ponies who actually gave a damn about me.”
“I don’t know if this means anything... But hell, I give a damn about you. You saved my life many a times. I feel like I’m not doing enough for you...”
“I didn’t save you for any particular reason you know. It was just the right thing to do. As far as I’m concerned, you look after your family, and we’re even.”
“Deal...” Chris smiled at Knight, “Besides, I left all my cider at home” He gave Knight a little chuckle.
They slowly moved towards Ponyville, and strangely, they encountered no trouble. Finally arriving at Ponyville, Chris’ eyes glittered at the thought that he will meet his daughter again.
But things were not so peachy in Ponyville. Hoofers have already invaded the place, and the local ponies running frantic.
“Knight, uhh.. We should split up!” Chris said, “Try to save the town!”
“On it!” Knight smirked, charging into the fray, hacking and slashing infected ponies to bits and trying to avoid being bitten himself.
Chris took the eastern side of town, clearing the market. There were only a few hoofers there, and they weren’t much of a problem.
“That does it. We gotta get to the library!” Chris told Knight.
They all galloped to the Library, while Knight busted through the door he could see Twilight Sparkle, hiding in a corner.
As the ponies entered the library Twilight almost passed out, because they alerted the enemy that was in there. Spike.
“The hell, is that a...a dragon?” Knight asked confusedly, raising his blades slowly.
“Aaah! Help meee!! He’s gonna eaaat meee!!” Twilight shouted. Spike turned towards her and leapt, claws outstretched and his gaping maw ready to tear her to shreds, only to find himself restrained as Knight held him face-down on the ground with magical chains.
“I can’t do it...even if he is infected, I can’t kill a kid...” He muttered.
Just as Chris was about to ram his knife into Spike’s skull he was interrupted by Twilight.
“NO! DON’T!” She cried. “Please...he’s...he’s family...please don’t...”
“Then what do you propose I do? He’s infected, we can’t throw him out there, or he might spread the infection!”
“Then let’s trust Zecora to find a cure. If she can, then we can save him. We can save others too.” Knight said calmly, still restraining Spike, though it was getting harder with each passing moment.
Chris let out a sigh. He trusted Knight, and if he said that Zecora could do it, then he believed him. “Fine.. Keep him restrained...I don’t want him biting my neck when i’m turned around...”
“Alright...Ms...um, what’s your name?” Knight asked Twilight.
“My name’s Twilight... Twilight Sparkle..” Twilight said with a sheepish smile, and looked at Spike, her eye tearing up a little.
“Do not worry Twilight Sparkle, about your dragon, because I will fix up a whole flagon of the curing brew!”
“Thanks Zecora...” Twilight then realised about her friends, “Oh. My. Celestia... We gotta go save the others!”
“Yeah, we do. Who’s the closest?” Chris asked.
“That would be Pinkie Pie.. Down at Sugarcube Corner, near the market.” Twilight responded.
“Then let’s go. Can’t let anything happen to Ponyville’s Premier Party Planner, can we?”
The group galloped towards Sugarcube Corner, busting in through the door, only to find Pinkie Pie, sitting at the table with infected Mr. and Ms. Cake, sharing a meal.
“What the....?” Chris asked Knight.
“It’s Pinkie Pie. Don’t question it.” Knight said, walking towards the table calmly. “Pinkie? That you?”
“Oh yeah! Me and the Cakes were just having a tea party here! Ain’t that right Mr. Cake, you handsome devil?” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically.
“Ookaaay. Zecora, how long do you think it’ll take to figure out a cure?”
“She does not appear to be sick, therefore there is no point in being so ‘ick’.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about.” Knight said, pointing a hoof at Mr. and Mrs. Cake, who were looking up from their meal with lifeless eyes.
“If the Cakes you wish to cure, I’m going to need more time, to form the lure. Dragon’s tongue, is what I need, we should search for it or the Cakes will bleed.”
“Okay there Pinkie... Time to go now... We gotta search for...” Chris leaned over to Twilight who whispered something in his ear, “Fluttershy! That’s right, we gotta look for your pal Fluttershy!”
“Okie Dokie Lokie! Just let me tie these handsome devils on a leash, and we’ll be good!” Pinkie Pie took a chain and tied it around the Cakes’ necks, who for now, seemed docile.
“Oh just one more thing!” Pinkie Pie brought out a giant cake from her room, it was very heavy. She pushed a button, the cake reformed into a weapon tray.
“There’s my Party Katana! Who’s sharp? Who’s sharp? You are! That’s right you are!”
“Oooookay, moving on...Twi, could you lead us to Fluttershy’s?” Chris asked.
“Y-y-yes. It’s quite close.” She said, shaking a little. “Come on.”
She led them through the ruined streets of Ponyville towards the cottage, avoiding the infected ponies as best she could, though they still ran into one or two. Knowing Zecora had a possible cure made it harder for them, but Knight, Chris, and Hollow put their personal feelings aside for the sake of the group, and ended the lives of those few they encountered as quickly as they could.
“We’re here...” Chris said, pointing at the cottage. The cottage seemed peaceful, no screams could be heard, no pleas for help... But then again, it was Fluttershy.
“Knight, take point, Hollow, on me. We’re going through the back” Chris said.
Knight simply nodded and crept towards the cottage, raising his blades above his head in preparation to attack if the need arose. He opened the door slowly and crept inside, still unsure of what he would find, given the silence. Walking through the seemingly empty cottage towards the stairs, he saw something. A corpse. albeit one that was too small to be a pony. A hoof placed itself on its shoulder, and Knight whirled around to see it was only Chris.
“Is that.... A bunny?” Chris looked with curiosity, “Don’t go near it, might still be alive...Knight... Poke it with something...”
Knight lowered his blade towards the corpse and gave it a nudge. It didn’t move. He pushed it just enough to leave a shallow cut. Still nothing.
“Alright. It’s either dead, or it’s an ambusher.” Knight whispered.
“I don’t wanna take any chances... Should we... Decapitate it?” Chris asked
“No don’t!” A quiet voice came from the upstairs of the cottage.
Chris and the group turned to see Fluttershy, standing at the top of the stairs with a look of sheer terror on her face.
“Fluttershy...” Knight whispered.
Fluttershy immediately hid in her cabinet and yelled out: “NOPONY’S HOME!”
Knight jumped over the rabbit’s body onto the stairs and walked towards the cabinet. “Shy, it’s Knight...you remember, right?”
“K-Knight...? Y-yeah, I remember....” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Shy, we’re here because we need your help. Chris, get Zecora.”
A few seconds passed and Chris came back with Zecora.
“Fluttershy my dear, there is no need to hide, we’re here to help, but only if you abide.”
“Shy, Zecora might be able to make a cure for this thing.” Knight said. “But she needs a dragon tongue...”
“I-I have some in m-my shed... I’ll come out... I-if Pinkie puts away that katana....” Fluttershy said.
Pinkie just nodded happily and stashed the katana in her mane.
“A-alright... F-follow me...” Fluttershy led them to a shed at the back of her cottage.
“J-just let me turn on the lights..” With a single flicker of her hoof the lights came on. It was unbelievable! Fluttershy had massive chainsaws, guns and gatling guns in her shed! And at the very end of the heavy machinery, was a tiny little flower.
“Oh, feel free to help yourself to the weapons...” Fluttershy smiled sheepishly, while Twilight could only look in horror.
“That’s..... Quite an arsenal...” Chris said.
“Shy...why do you have so many of these things?” Knight asked with wide eyes as he looked over the various items.
“Oh, I keep these items in case of angry bear emergencies... ‘The Stare’ doesn’t appear to work anymore, so these will do...”
“Why don’t we just grab the flower...? And maybe high-tail outta here?” Chris asked.
“Agreed.” Knight said. “You sure it’ll work though, Zecora?”
Zecora simply nodded, as she was too busy studying her book of ancient diseases to respond.
“Why don’t we.... Head over to Rarity’s?” Twilight almost fainted at the sight of all that heavy machinery.
“Alright, why don’t we get over to there, so Twi doesn’t faint?” Chris said.
“Alright then.” Knight nodded as he walked out of the shed with Hollow, who had a faraway look in her eyes. The rest of the group followed soon after, with Pinkie and the Cakes bringing up the rear.
As the group arrived to the Carousel Boutique, there were several screams inside.
“Rarity!” Twilight screamed.
“Come on Knight, let’s go in!” Chris said.
Knight was way ahead of Chris, already bucking the door off its hinges and casting an illumination spell, allowing the group to see what was going on inside.Inside was Rarity, Sweetie Belle who hid in the corner and a infected stallion, chewing on the dresses.
“Uh, you uncouth barbarian! Stop chewing this priceless piece of fashion, right now!”
“Rarity, get back! He’s gonna eat you!” Sweetie Belle shouted
“Well, it would be better for him to eat ME than the dresses!” Rarity replied.
“NOT GONNA HAPPEN RARITY!” Knight yelled, throwing both blades at the stallion, the first impaling him in the chest and the other going between his eyes. “Ok, seriously, I seem to be throwing these things more than I am just using them the normal way.”
“Rarity come on, we gotta get out of here!” Chris shouted.
“Can I atleast pack some dresses?” Rarity winced.
“NO” They all shouted in unison.
“Oh fine! Take me and my sister away then!”
“Seriously Rarity, you haven’t changed a bit.” Knight said with a chuckle. “Not in six years.”
“Six years? Oh my! You’re that Knight fellow! Oh my, you’re handsome!”
Knight blushed and turned away. “Uh...thanks?”
“Enough flirting you two! We gotta get to...” Chris leaned over to Twilight who again, whispered something in his ear, “ Rainbow Dash! Yeah, we gotta get Rainbow!”
“I think she already found us.” Knight said, pointing to the sky where a polychromatic blur was speeding towards us. “Let’s just hope she’s not a Featherbrain, huh?”
Rainbow Dash flew at an amazing speed, right towards the Carousel Boutique, landing just in front of the group. ”Guys, guys! Hurry, something’s going on at Sweet Apple Acres!”
“Shit! AJ!” Knight yelled, taking off and leaving everypony else behind.
“Ah, Knight, wait up you stubborn fool!” Chris flew up right behind him “Hollow, get them to Sweet Apple Acres safely!”
Chris and Knight both landed at Sweet Apple Acres where AJ and Mac were fighting off a buffed Zebra pony.
“Ha, told you they exist!” Chris said to Knight.
“Not the time.” Knight growled, charging the zompony and ramming it away from the siblings, before being slammed off it violently and crashing through several trees which collapsed on top of him. The infected zebra started towards the debris where Knight lay unconscious and raised its hooves to crush him.
“Hey asswipe! Get off ‘em!” Chris raged.
Chris flew at an amazing speed, pulling out his knife in the very second, landing on the back of the enormous Zebra. As Chris slashed his knife into his skull, a lightning bolt flew from the sky, electrocuting the zebra.
“That took care of it...” Chris’ knife was glowing red, probably hot from the lightning bolt that hit it... How’d that happen anyways? Chris helped Knight up.
“You okay buddy?” Chris asked.
“...don’t wanna go to school...”
Chris gave him a firm slap across the face, “Wake up! It’s not schooltime!”
“The buck! What happene-OW!” Knight groaned and clutched his chest in pain. “Bastard broke some of my ribs.”
“You know what happened? Irony. Hehe... Get up you lazy-flank.”
“Who you callin’ lazy...” Knight muttered as he stood up shakily. “Go look after your kids...I’ll be fine.”
Chris quickly flew off, and landed in front of Applejack and Big Mac.
“Thank ya mister! If y’all hadn’t came in we’d be half-way to dead by now!”
“Eeeyup!”
“So, who are you mister?”
As soon as he turned to the side, Applejack noticed his cutie mark. A knife, slicing through an apple.
“You... Dad?”
“Yeah...” Chris replied.
“Why.... Why show up now?! Out of all the times to show up, you show up now?! Where were you when Applebloom was born?! Where were you during Applebucking season?! Where were you when MOM DIED?!”
“I-I’m sorry, I just...” Chris was cut off by Knight, who came in.
“He was saving my life, that’s what, AJ.”
Chris looked at Knight with a look that just said: What?
“I got in trouble a few years ago, as you could probably tell when I went missing. Your dad is the reason I’m still alive. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Is that true, dad? What he’s saying?” Applejack asked.
Chris looked to Knight, who nodded slowly.
“Y-yeah, it’s true... I’m sorry I wasn’t there those times... I’m a different pony now...I’ll....” Chris got lost in his words, but soon before that, Applejack hugged him as hard as she could.
“It’s okay.. AJ... Daddy’s home...”