It was a few moments later when Lucid emerged from the room. The three ponies turned to face him, wanting to know the fate of their timid friend. From across the room he waved to Rainbow, who approached him hesitantly. He handed her a small slip of paper and folded his arms, his eyes looking at her patiently from behind the mask.
Uncertainty coursed through her as she opened the note and read it quickly. “You want me to stay here while you, Twilight and Trixie go somewhere? Alright, I guess.” It wasn’t actually alright with her. Quite the opposite, actually. But she figured that the man had earned her trust, not to mention he could be quite threatening when he wanted to be. She moved to go into the room behind him but was stopped. When she looked to him he pointed to Spike with one of his appendages. Nodding, Rainbow lifted him from his bed and brought him into the room as well, Lucid closed it behind her.
“Alright.” Trixie’s voice sounded strained. “So where are we going?” The man reached into his coat and pulled out a roll of paper, which he unrolled in front of the unicorns. Though it was crudely drawn it was clear that the building upon the paper was a large structure. After staring at the lines for a short period of time, Twilight recognized it as Carousel Boutique. Not waiting for her to speak up, the man exited the building, standing outside as the ponies followed him out.
Carefully, the trio began to make their way through the streets and Twilight took the time to wonder how he had known it was the home of one of her friends. Perhaps he had heard Rarity talking about her? But why would she have done that? The zombies didn’t seem to have anything to say unless they were planning on making it haunt you for eternity. Everyone’s light is unique, the dark that consumes them has to be unique as well. Wait. had the voice in her head just provided helpful advice? Now Twilight was wondering if she was going truly insane.
Of course, her question was answered when they got within sight of the Boutique. And they noticed that it had gone some major renovation since the disease had started spreading. Gems were shooting out of the base, some struggling zombies still hanging from them but unable to remove it from their bodies. It looked like a veritable fort. Well, bar the dislodged door that hung askew on it’s hinges.
Lucid continued approaching, the zombies turning to look at him as his feet trampled the grass. They began to hiss at him and the trio hurried into the building before their calls could be heard. Once inside Lucid barracaded what was left of the door with furniture and proceeded upstairs. Judging from his actions it became apparent to both unicorns that he wished to turn this into a new headquarters.
And it made sense, strategically. Not only was the entrance easier to defend, but the roof would provide an excellent lookout location. Of course, first they had to clear it out. Lucid’s steps were hauntingly silent now, a stark contrast from the steps outside. The hoofs of his companions however, clicked across the floor loudly.
On the second floor they came to a hallway with a series of doors splitting off into separate rooms. Lucid signalled to the unicorns to split up and, reluctantly, they did. Lucid moved down to the end of the hall and started searching while the two ponies started searching starting from where they were.
It was odd, to Twilight, how the building was so well maintained. Rarity was always obsessive about cleanliness in her house but to think that the order carried over to post apocalyptia was a shocking thought. Despite the care that had been put into the rooms, a layer of dust lay over everything. It was haunting really. Twilight had seen bloody, loud, and scary rooms before. But clean and silent rooms, they put the unicorn’s mind on edge like no gore could.
So, when a scream pierced the air, you can’t blame her for freaking out to the extent she did. Fearing for Trixie, she quickly recovered and ran into the hall. Only to meet Trixie there.
Together they glanced toward the room that Lucid had entered and ran to it. When they entered it they saw a petrified filly with a pink and purple mane looking in abject horror at Lucid, who held a heavy blanket in his hand. When the motion at the door caught her attention she looked there and her eyes widened even more.
“T-T-Twilight? They got you to?” Tears would have started pouring out if it wasn’t for the fact that she was freshly out of them.
“No Sweetie. I’m not one of them. Lucid,” She clearly indicated the being in front of her. “Saved me. And Trixie to.” Ignoring the man, Sweetie Belle ran towards the unicorn and hugged her tightly about the legs.
“I’m so happy.” She cried. “I was so alone. Rarity gave me that blanket and told me while I was under it the monsters couldn’t get me. So whenever I hear someone come in I get under it and hide. I haven’t seen Rarity in a while though, and I was running out of food.”
“It’s all right Sweetie, you’re okay now.”
“A-and then,” She continued. “Apple Bloom and Scootaloo came yesterday and said they were gonna eat me. Why did they say that? Why did they become monsters too? It's -” She sniffed loudly. "It's not fair!"
Before Twilight could answer, the thick blanket went over her head, having been thrown by Lucid. Everything went quiet. Absolutely Everything, creaky floorboards, all of it. Lifting it with her magic she looked toward Lucid and was about to ask him about it when a familiar voice shattered the air, causing Twilight’s fur to stand on end.
“Sweetie? Oh Sweetie Darling? I know I said you should stay under the blanket but I was wrong. This is no sickness at all. It’s a cure dear. A wonderful, beautiful cure.”
Lucid slammed the door shut with the ponies inside and ushered them into the corner, where he placed the blanket over all of them, the sheet expanding to hide all of them.
And then... they waited.