Chapter 1- Reach Safety
Running is what Shining always did, and that’s what he was trained to do. Run or fight. That was his basic image of survival. He always hated having to leave someone behind, but in this case, nowhere was safe.
“Captain Shining Armor, what do we do!?”
Shining Armor didn’t listen as he rushed pass the confused rookie running aimlessly around the Royal Castle. In Shining’s left hand, he held a gun. On his right hand, he held a purple coated hand.
The sound of screaming pain and gun fire ricocheted across the castle walls. Hungry growls replaced the calm quite halls. Wave of guards after guards after guards pushed passed them, completely ignoring their fellow Captain as he led the mare to safety.
A unicorn guard fired magic out of his horn, but Shining Armor knew that spells won’t work in a situation like this.
“They’re magic proof!” The guard yelled as he took out his rifle.
Shining Armor and the mare turned around in a corner and continued to trample on the blood stained carpet. The hallway was dim, except the light from the large windows that poured moon light like a waterfall.
“W-We’re almost there Twilight,” Shining said breathing heavily, “Just keep up with me, please!”
Twilight felt a cold hand grab her shoulder and she doubled over, releasing her grip from Shining’s hand.
She screamed and shrieked, shoving her hands against the monster that snarled its teeth at her. Shining rushed back, kicking the dead guard back with his heel. The creature stumbled backwards, into the spot light of moon light. Shining Armor recoiled after seeing its features. The pony had a Royal Guard uniform and long white hair. But that was all Shining Armor could see before he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the monsters chest and it stumbled to the right, Shining shot it again, it stumbled to its left. Twilight backed away slowly.
“For Celestia’s sake, die already!”
Shining Armor fired again, this time shooting the monster in its head. It stopped moving, tripping over itself it tumbled down onto the carpeted floor. Blood pooled around the already soaked carpeting.
Shining Armor stared at the unmoving body. He knew who he was, his name was Silver Strife. A trainee under Shining Armors wing, and he ended his life. All of a sudden the gun in his hands seemed to be a lot heavier than what it was. He stared at Twilight who had a stream of tears rolling down her face.
“You… You killed him…” Twilight said shivering.
Without a second to spare, Shining grabbed Twilight’s hand and continued to run.
Still the gun fire didn’t seem to stop. He ran past through countless of halls ways, each one seeming to get worse and worse. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as bullets rained and the pile of bodies continued to grow. Empty cartridges littered the floor, but there seemed to be more motionless bodies then empty bullet casings. Shining looked to his left, he saw a guard shooting at the right side of the hall just briefly stopping to let him pass with Twilight. That second pause was enough for the swarm to engulf him completely. Carrying him down the hallway until he fell over, screaming. Hundreds of disease ridden hands clawed at his flesh. One was tearing open his stomach, another was biting on his leg, and one other taking a chunk off his neck. His screams were muffled, but soon went silent as his heart stopped beating and becoming nothing but a pile of blood and bone, his flesh already almost completely gone.
Shining Armor’s radio buzzed loudly against his ear drums. Millions of voices flooded his mind like stadium of cheering ponies. But instead of cheering, there was only the sound of screaming and shouting.
“We need help on the east wing-“
“The north east wing has been over run! We need back up immediately-“
“You will never get me you- you fuc-“
“My leg, its’ got my leg! Please- Please stop- Oh Celestia please no-“
Shining Armor turned off his radio except for the private line that was connected with the princesses. Celestia, Luna, and Cadence.
Cadence, his wife… Cadence…
Shining Armor’s eyes filled with tears. His heart was full of worry. Was she okay? Was she hurt? Where was she?
A figure jumped to his right but with years of military training the figure was slower than a sloth trying to climb a tree. He jabbed the gun into the figures face, knocking it down with a sick crunch. Blood covered his hands as rotten flesh crushed against the butt of his gun.
Twilight covered her mouth with her hands, feeling as if she would vomit.
Shining Armor shook Twilight’s shoulder, “We can pray later but not right now!”
Twilight stared at Shining Armor as if he was a total stranger.
The figure started to rise again, its throat wheezing and its tongue poking at the newly formed hole in the side of his cheek. It opened its mouth, letting out a spray of blood as it let out an annoyed growl.
Shining took Twilight’s hand and dashed down the hallway. Behind them, a flood of reanimated creatures rushed towards them. Some tumbling and getting trampled, but others hobbled quickly.
A speck of light shimmered from the end of the hall, and the sound of guards yelling echoed towards them. As Shining and Twilight came close to the exit they could see figures waving their hands for them to come forward.
The sounds of guns blazing rang in their ears. Bullets zipped past their heads hitting at the enclosing dead.
“Come on hurry! Get in!”
Shining Armor and Twilight ran past the closing doors. Just when the doors were about to close, three of the monsters managed to tumble inside. One was shot in the head immediately but two leaped for one of the guards that fired at the horde from before. The pony screamed as he flailed his gun in the air, firing random bullets at the ceiling. Some ponies came to help, placing a bullet to each of the reanimated corpse’s heads.
Everyone stopped and stared. Captain Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle still breathing heavily, observed the scene. The door creaked loudly with the hundreds of ponies banging at it, trying to get to the meat inside. All the guards looked around, and everyone stared at each other. One pony ran up to the fallen guard and kneeled down.
The kneeling guard took off his friends’ helmet, and placed it next to him revealing his face. The stallion was crying, not wailing but a stream of tears soaked his coat. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth like the flow of a river. He heaved and heaved, gasping for life. His pupils vibrated violently while his stormy grey eyes reflected the pony that cradled him.
“Don’t worry man, you’ll be okay I promise!”
A guard from behind him stepped up and placed a heavy hand on the kneeling guards shoulder, “Magneta, you bloody know that isn’t true-“
“But we can still try Thunder Height, there will be a cure I just know it. We just need to patch him up and-“
“Magneta there isn’t enough time! You’ve seen those things. Once you’re bit you’re dead. You turn! I’ve seen my mum turn into one of those… One of those…”
Thunder Height shivered under his helmet. He took it off, revealing his dark buzz cut hair. A trickle of sweat dripped from his forehead to his chin. His eyes shimmered against the moon light, trying to hold back tears.
Magneta stayed put, “Things…”
Thunder Height swallowed hard, “Sure… Those wanka’s… She died from a fever after getting bit. A day later she bloody died screaming, ‘Oh Celestia, make the pain end. Please save me from sin!’ She didn’t even recognize me when I was next to her.”
Captain Shining Armor just watched, holding his sister against his chest.
“You’re making him suffer Magneta…” Thunder Height said with a lump in his throat, “Mate, why not end it?”
Magneta stared at his comrade as if he was just another one of those things. “You’re crazy…”
“Please Magneta… Just do it… I’ve seen how my mum die. She- She…” He swallowed, “She didn’t even call out my name… She didn’t even say good-bye…”
Magneta turned back to his fallen friend. His comrade spewed out a small geyser of blood from his mouth. Magneta, still having his helmet on didn’t reveal any expression. But his voice was enough to convince everyone of his decision.
Thunder Height took out his pistol, and handed it to Magneta. He looked at it questionably, but took it after a few moments of silence.
He aimed at the fallen guard. The guard stared deeply into Magneta’s eyes. There wasn’t any yes or no answer in his eyes. Only pain seemed to engulf his entire heart.
Magneta looked around the room for anyone that would be against this decision.
Shining Armor stared at Magneta, “Do what seems best for him… Not what you think is best for yourself…”
Magneta’s grip tightened as he pulled the hammer of his gun back. He aimed it at the fallen guards head. He looked into his eyes. They were already turning milky white, death was upon him.
“I’m sorry…”
Shining Armor hugged Twilight against his chest as Magneta fired. The guard laid unmoving, his limp body still cradled in Magneta’s arms.
Another one of the guards stepped up with rage in his voice, “Why did you do that!? There could’ve been a cure, we could’ve helped him-“
“I had no choice!” Magneta yelled as he placed the dead guard on the ground, “I just did what seemed best for him okay!? Do you want the last minutes of his life, just suffering? Dying from those ‘things’!?”
The protesting guard shrunk back.
“Why not make the last moments of his life quick and painless...”
All eyes turned to the head of the speaker which was Shining Armor.
“Even if it doesn’t seem civil, I think it’s better than getting ripped to shreds.”
Thunder Height looked down, “Damn right… I say it’s true…”
The blocked door rattled and shook. It creaked and groaned under the force of the dead behind it.
Shining Armor released his embrace with Twilight and straightened his back, “We need to get to evac right now. I say the door isn’t going to hold on for much longer.”
“We just need to go up another set of stairs…” Magneta said pointing toward the spiral staircase, “You guys go on ahead… I guess being a Captain still has its perks now don’t it?”
Shining Armor chuckled, “I guess so… But what about you guys?”
The squad of guards raised their guns, “We can handle it… Bet we got enough fire power to mow them down for a few minutes or so.”
Twilight wandered off and looked at the ammunition crate which rested on a table near a mounted Machine Gun. She pondered at the ammunition belts and started to count.
“You sure you’ll be okay? We can still make it out of here-“
Magneta rested a hand on Shining’s shoulder, “I’m sure…”
Shining raised his head to meet the eyes of the other guards, but they all nodded together. Thunder Height just grinned, “We got it. Don’t worry mate, your job is to just take care of ya little sis or also known as the Element of Magic. Hopefully you guys can- What on earth ya think your bloody doen!?”
Thunder Height approached Twilight, grabbing her gently by the hand, “It’s dangerous those bullets. We also got some mines in there, careful.”
He gave Twilight back to Shining and saluted, “It was an honor fighting with you sire.”
Shining returned the salute and without a word and went up the set of stairs to meet the evacuation chariots.
As they went on to the roof there was only two chariots left. One was ready for use while the other was unmanned. Shining felt a pang of guilt erupt from his chest, but still clambered on. The Pegasus’s fired up their wings, and then gently took for the skies.
For a few minutes there was nothing but silence. Shining Armor watched down below as the city of Canterlot burst into flames. Millions of hungry growls floated from the ground to the air which was carried by the wind and felt deathly warm.
“They’re not going to make it…” Twilight said, finally speaking up.
Shining turned to his sister and with a frown, “And why’s that? They got tons of ammo and mines. I’m pretty sure they will-“
Twilight shook her head, “I counted the bullets Shinny… That mounted gun can only fire two hundred bullets per minute. Each belt held two hundred shots and they only had three belts worth.”
Shining Armor was never good at math so he asked, “So what’s the point?”
Twilight’s expression turned dark, “Which means they can only fire about 3 bullets per second… And since those ‘things’ don’t die from getting ripped to shreds they need to get shot in the head.”
Shining Armor still didn’t get the point, “So what you’re saying this-“
“They won’t make it Shinny… They just won’t…”
Shining Armor looked back to stare at the dark castle. The once joy and pride of Canterlot was now nothing but a memory.
A small flash of light erupted from the castle, illuminating a sickly red and orange into the air. Black smoke hovered from above those two colors and Shining Armor turned around.
“See… What’d I tell you,” Twilight said at the verge of tears, “They can’t make it alive…”