//------------------------------//
// Flanks be rotting 
// Story: Left4Herd 
// by prettyprinsses5 
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An Average Day

It's a calm summer evening. Nothing is unusual. It's the same old town with the same old faces we see every day. In-fact, it's strangely quiet. Twilight Sparkle was sitting down reading a book in the library, at peace like every other day. When suddenly Rainbow Dash bursts through the door "Twilight, we need your help. Hurry." Before Twilight could even say a word Rainbow Dash was gone "Hmm, I wonder whats going on." Twilight stepped outside, to see chaos, initially she thought Discord returned, to shower every-pony with unhappiness, but it wasn't like that, buildings weren't flipped upside down, and clouds weren't candy floss spewing chocolate everywhere. This was different, and not the good kind either. 

"Where's Rainbow Dash?" Twilight questioned. Out of no where something or some pony crashed into Twilight "Well that answered my question." Twilight said as she looked down to find Rainbow Dash sprawled out rubbing her head "Ouch. Whats going on Twilight? You're the egghead you must know." She murmured "I was going to ask you the same thing. And for the record I'm not an  'egghead'   I just like reading." she said in a stern manner.  In the corner of Twilight's eye she could see a bright pink pony laughing uncontrollably "Trust Pinkie to laugh at a time like this." As Rainbow dash lifted her self off of Twilight, she dusted her self off and walked up to Pinkie. "Pinkie, what's so funny aren't you worried?" Twilight queried. "Look at them  they are so funny. Great costumes guys." she said while waving her arms about frantically in the air, she turned to Twilight and Rainbow Dash and looked puzzled "Hey, why aren't you in fancy dress?" Behind Pinkie was a herd of  mindless ponies covered in blood, their eyes were pure white. Twilight and Rainbow Dash huddled together while Pinkie just laughed "I don't think that's a costume.RUN!" She shouted as she pulled Pinkie along with her. 

Whilst the three mares were trying to escape the grasp of what seemed of been a zombie pony, they were trapped by a dead end. "Oh great what are going to do now?" blurted Rainbow Dash. Twilight started to think, her eyes light up. she closed her eyes and her horn started to glow. Within a second they were outside Sweet Apple Acres, "Right we need to find Applejack." Rainbow Dash said. They all split up to find Applejack, but they ran into some trouble "Oh hey Big Mac." Grinned Pinkie, he stood there aimlessly with no emotion, eyes pure white and blood over his flank. Pinkie with out a fuss just hopped around him and continued to find Applejack. As Pinkie Pie was skipping around the infected fields, Rainbow Dash took to the air, a birds eye view or in this case a Pegasus' eye view, what she didn't know, is that not only Earth ponies or Unicorns were infected. The smell of rotting flesh came from behind.She put her hoof over her nose her eyes filled with fright in a split second she kicked the infected creature away with her hind hooves. "Twilight! Pinkie! have you found Applejack?" Just as Rainbow Dash shouted that from the skies, Twilight paced around the barn to find Applejack using her rope skills, to herd up the un dead ponies. "Applejack!" Twilight shouted as she ran towards her dear friend. Applejack turned her head with a smile on her face "why howdy there Twilight, Glad you're safe an' sound." 

"Just wait i need to call the others." Twilight smiled slightly, Twilight stepped back into the environment  she used to know. Now all she could see was chaos, "Rainbow! Pinkie! I found her!" She shouted. A few moments after, Pinkie Pie skipped into the barn "Where's Rainbow dash Pinkie?" Twilight Questioned, Pinkie shrugged, a shrill scream for 'help' filled the room, they all rushed out to see that  it was Rainbow Dash she was in the middle of a circle of zombie ponies. "'Don't stand there and gawk at me. HELP!" She screamed. Applejack got out her ropes, she hurled  them and grabbed the un dead ponies, "Gotcha." she muttered. Rainbow Dash flew as fast as she could to get to a safe landing, when she did she hid behind Twilight "Thanks Applejack." Applejack smiled and cocked her head to the left "Ah it's ok sugar-cube." 

With Applejack's rope skills, the zombies were cleared off of the  Sweet Apple Acres land. The four ponies stood around, Applejack knew what was going on for she is a fan of a horror flick now and then "It's a zombie apocalypse, it started off as one of those common colds as we ponies get, but it grew rapidly and started progressing quickly than doctors could find a cure." Pinkies ears started twitching "Zombies!" she screamed she ran around the group like a headless chicken. Applejack  put her hoof out and stopped Pinkie, "We gotta find the rest, if we don't then it would be too late to help them, My brother is infected to and Granny smith has wondered off, she most probably has the infection by now." Twilight put her hoof over her mouth in shock, "Right let's find Rarity and Fluttershy, me and pinkie will go to Rarity's you go find Fluttershy, she most probably is hiding, poor thing."  The four ponies split up into pairs to find the lost two mares.

On Pinkie's and Twilight's hunt to find Rarity they heard  her shouting from inside "Get back, Get back. Leave that alone. My gems!" Pinkie busted the door open to find Rarity on top of her wardrobe shouting and screaming at the zombified ponies, who were destroying the beautiful patterns. "Will somepony help me!" Rarity shouted and turned to find Twilight and Pinkie staring at the mess that had been created "Oh finally somepony heard me, would you be a lamb and HELP ME!" She screamed. Twilight once again used her horn to teleport Rarity to where they were standing "We have to go now. We haven't got time." she said as she attempted to drag Rarity out of her home "But my gems, my fashion, the dirt oh my gosh the dirt. Who do you think I am Applejack." she belted out. Twilight stamped her hoof in pure anger "Rarity, stop being so selfish we don't have the time. Can't you think of any pony but your self!" She bellowed. Tears started to well up in Rarity's eyes "But...but...oh fine come on where are we going?" She stuttered. Before Twilight could answer Pinkie Interrupted "To find Fluttershy, it's a zombie apocalypse." Rarity's eyes grew with fear "Zom ..Zombies!" she wailed. 

Do they find Fluttershy in time? Or is it too late? Find out in chapter 2