Canterlot: Royal palace: War room
3:10 Am
A tan colored lab coat wearing pony made his way near the podium. He looked down on it as he moved a a few papers around and cleared his throat.
"Most of you know me but for those who dont i am Doctor Freemane, the late Doctor Birkmanes recent replacement... It is sad at his untimely demise but at least he died for something important" The tan lab coat wearing colt said loudly. He stood silently as eyes stung into his body, unmoving, uncaring, unknown eyes. He felt a trikle of sweat take a trip down the back of his neck as he stood underneath the light in front of him.
"F...Forgive me I'm not one accustomed to positions like this" The doctor said sending a glare to Brinda who just shrugged her shoulders and mouthed out the phrase 'I'm sorry' "anyways without future staking let's attempt to get down to business"
"Now as I'm sure all of us know, we as sentient being are indeed in a time of crises neigh a state of emergency, this epidemic is not prejudice of any of the territories or it's inhabitants... To put it simply we are all it's Dinner" The pony continued as he pulled down a small projector screen. Backing away he clicked a small button on the object causing it to spark to life with a whirring sound behind it. All eyes in the room swarmed to the image it spewed onto the far wall.
"Now in this following clip captured at the event of the first known start of the infection in the equine territory of equestria we can see several disturbing but defining... Importances" the colt said pointing at the clip that began to play. A set of numbers flashed onto the wall. From 3 downwards to 1 and flashed to a scene of several ponies wearing diffrent uniforms. The doctor cleared his throat as he looked into the crowd.
"Before we move on this video was taken from a guard squad sent to investigate a riot that happened on April 1st at the opening baseball game in canterlot stadium," The doctor informed.
"The Squad in the recording is titled as Farrier under the command of Praetor Balk and Knight Captain HardTop. Also in the squad is Knight Major SilverMane,Page Corporeal Bucks ,Tech Sargent DaKs, and Staff Sargent Slenderhorn" The doctor explained as he read off of a personnel roster.
"From here on out let there be silence please" The doctor said as the video started again
Recording 1:13:45
Canterlot Staduim: Under Bleachers
April 1st 6:37Pm
The squad of 6 ponies made their way silently through the under section of the bleachers. They seemed to not be hindered at all as they crawled through the unending sprawl of darkness. The lead gaurd raised a hoof to signify for the rest to halt.
He came to several large puddles of blood splattered and dripped across the entire area. One of the ponies most Likely a praetor or Knight captain came forward and looked over the area.
"DeKs," The praetor called. A white unicorn wearing a small square shaped headset and a bandolier filled with various devices and shaped like an X across his chest came up.
"Yes Sir!" DeKs spouted as he came to attention in front of the praetor. The praetor frowned as the Tech Sargent seemed to show a bit too much enthusiasm.
"DeKs I need you and Slenderhorn to take a sweep on this area and the security room...," The praetor ordered. DeKs nodded in agreement as a white female Pegasus came forward."Find out what you can... Survailence, Evidence, Survivors anything"
"DeKs... Split up you take the security room I'll sweep the area... I'll meet up with you when I'm done" The two Ponies nodded as they split directions. The praetor watched as the two ponies disappear in diffrent directions.
"I hope they know how to hold themselves... Judging by this scene they better" Another Pegasus said wearing standard issue armor except for the red eye patch he wore over his right eye and the red x's across his chest plate.
"Relax HardTop I'm sure they'll be fine" The praetor said looking at the gaurd.
"If you say so... Greenhorns don't usually last to long on the field" HardTop said as he trotted away.
"Well this isn't the normal battle field now is it?" The praetor said as he walked to another pony. "All right Fillies listen up... While DeKs and Slenderhorn are out doing recon, we still need to find out exactly what the hay did this... Corporeal Bucks if you would be so kind as open that little pouch of yours?" The praetor said as a dark grey unicorn wearing a black jumpsuit and glasses came up.
"Understood..." Bucks said as his horn lit up. A whitish-purple aura flowed from the tip of his horn and spiraled into a small circle that opened up. Soon several weapons and Rations floated out and landed on the floor near them.
"Finished...," Bucks informed as he trotted away with a few floating things following behind.
"Alright fillies...Gear up and be sure that you pack enough ammo for anything" The praetor barked as ponies began to secure their weapons and activate their 3xCes's
"Sir, this is DeKs im at tye security room and ive begun the nural links" came a voice through a neardy intercom.
"Good tell me when we are online" The praetor ordered.
"Balks,DeKs,Slenderhorn,Buck,HardTop, and SilverMane... Allright All vitals and ammo counts are online... HardTop give me a look at SilverMane" DeKs asked as the armored colt looked over to the mare. She waved a hoof with a chuckle and trotted away.
"It all looks good Vitals, Ammo counts, Cameras, and audio all are up and running," DeKs informed through the intercom. The praetor looked back at the 3 other ponies and nodded.
"Well fillies it's time to move, DeKs stay in the security room, HardTop, your with me, Buck and SilverMane you to will investigate the field and V.I.P boxes" The praetor ordered.
Canterlot: Royal palace: War room
3:30 Am
The doctor reached a hoof to the projector and pressed down on it freezing the image on screen.
"As you all can see the squad sent in was doing standard tactics with this situation. Infiltrate, Secure, Neutralize, Evac. But," The doctor skipped past the a few scenes to an image to a dark room. "They weren't ready for this"
Recording 3:45:21
Canterlot Staduim: Player Cafeteria
April 1st 8:40Pm
"Clear on the left" SilverMane whispered as she waved the unicorn forward. The two made their way to the entrance of the cafeteria. SilverMane placed herself against the wall next to the door that opened into it. Buck positioned himself opposite of her. He held out a hoof and did the hand maneuver for a stealth entrance. SilverMane nodded as Buck placed a hoof on the handle and pushed his way into the darkened room SilverMane came in close behind. Buck closed the door behind him receiving a loud click when it closed. He tenses for a few seconds and looked at SilverMane. Even in the dark he could see the outline of her angry face he frowned as he tried to open the door, it wouldn't budge from it's place. He looked back at SilverMane who gave an even harder glare. He mouthed sorry to her before she turned her attention away.
She crept away from the door and liked around. She saw that the area was small it was like a small lobby with to open entrances to the left and right that connected to halls. She looked down each and saw that they both had another hall in the center she guessed would lead off to the main dinning room.
She want to the closest hall and looked down it's dark interior. She sighed as Buck came up from behind and joined in her examination.
'What are you looking at?' He mouthed next to her. She turned and looked at him with a frown then continued down the other hall. Buck looked down the hall once more then turned to catch up with the mare.
The slowly moved through the hallway passing rows of doors and pictures galore of many important sports ponies. They came to another hall halfway through the first one which led to an open door. The two ponies looked at each other and started to move to the room. SilverMane checked her AR's on her 3xCes as she followed close behind Buck. The two crept down the hall careful not to make any sound. The two positioned themselves at the entrance and faced each other Buck nodded as SilverMane silently counted to herself. She raised a hoof to the door.
"Kzzt... HEY!!! Anypony there... Wheres my status update over?" A voice broke loudly into the two ponies headsets sending them nearly into the ceiling. SilverMane gave Buck a angry glare as he returned it.
"What do you want DeKs... Over" SilverMane whispered angrily.
"Heh... Sorry I just was wondering if you've found anything" the headset cackled again. SilverMane sighed to herself as she rolled her eyes. Buck tried to hold back a giggle receiving another angry glare.
"No DeKs we haven't found anything and like I said before we'll radio in if we do... Now please stay silent," SilverMane explained.
"Understood DeKs out" The headset cackled once more with a final click indicating that the chat was finished. SilverMane sighed to her self as she raised her hood again against the door. She looked at Buck again as he nodded to her. She counted to three in her head bobbing at each number. Once she hit the third number she liars the door open crouching in with Buck standing behind her. They scanned the room silently weapons ready to fire on anything that wasn't smart enough to stay hidden.
The room was a kitchen with white tilled walls and floors. The area they where in was dark but a light sea blue light could be seen shimmering across the walls. The walls them selves were covered in steel covered ovens. Some where wide open, others closed, all had bloody hoof prints on them. Buck tapped SilverMane's shoulder and pointed at the blood stains. She nodded as she saw them letting him know she was aware of their presence.
SilverMane crept forward into the room passing a counter with a knife on it. Buck made his way opposite of her on the far left. They both moved forward quietly in the dark passing toppled over carts and racks of pots, pans, spices, or various other cooking equipment.
SilverMane waved Buck over to her as she places her self onto a pillar. Buck stood behind her as she pointed a hoof towards an open door. Buck gave her an odd look as to why she wanted him to look at it. She moved his head around so he could see inside of it.
He nodded as he saw inside. The two ponies looked into the hall that led to a smaller room with what looked like a filly sitting in the center of it. The two ponies nodded as they moved to the entrance of the hall way. Buck placed his back against the wall adjacent to the entry way. SilverMane went into the hall past him. She placed herself onto the wall and slide forward. Buck came behind on the opposite wall. They quietly slid to the entrance of the room with a quick nod they mantled into the room. SilverMane scanned for anything that moved she nodded that it was Clear. She then moved to the being that sat squarely in the center of the dark room. Buck moved in behind her she looked at him over her shoulder receiving a nod of agreement from her. She reached a hoof out slowly to the being. She felt her hoof touch it's shoulder. She pulled it back as the body didn't give any acknowledgment. SilverMane looked at Buck and frowned as she moved away. Buck twirled his hoof around in a circle and pointed behind her. She looked at where he was pointing. The pony has turned around and was looking at the ground. It was a filly with a brown coat. SilverMane looked back at buck then at the filly.
"Hey... Are you ok?," SilverMane asked as she started to inch closer to the filly. The filly didn't answer her it just continued to look down at the ground. She moved closer to the filly trying to get a better look at it's face.
"W...Where's your parents?," SilverMane asked as she was getting within reaching distance. Her eyes bounced across the filly as it didn't move or give any indication that it heard her. She was finally standing directly in front of it.
"Hey... C... Come with us we'll keep you safe" she said as she reached a roof out to the filly again. She held her hoof out for awhile at the filly. She turned her head to Buck who was still standing by the entrance with a look of impatience. She said mouth I'm sorry and looked back at the filly. She waited until she heard a small sniffle.
"Hey... It's ok" she said as she came closer. She came nearly face to face with the little filly.
"Hey... I sa-...," SilverMane was interrupted as the filly snapped it's head up and face her. She looked at it's dull face. It's eyes where pitch black with a deep black veiny streaks the seeped from them across it's face.
"Mother... I'm hungry" The filly said.
"Wha-...," SilverMane screamed as the filly lunged at her. She threw her leg up to hold it back. It's mouth latched onto her leg and bit down. She screamed as it's teeth sank into her leg. She waved it trying to slam the filly into the floor smashing it's small body into the tile. Finally it released it's bite as she smashed it once more. The filly laid on the ground as SilverMane slid away from it.
"D... Did you... See that... It bit me the Bucking thing bit me!!!," SilverMane cursed as she looked at her wounded foreleg. The bite was to the bone and the punctures were bleeding red like small water falls.
"I saw... Are you ok?" Buck asked as she used his horn to wrap a piece of gauze around her wound.
"D... Does it look like I'm bucking ok... No I just got bit by a bucking filly I'm just dandy," SilverMane retorted.
"Eh... Sorry I was just asking," Buck said as he finished taping the bandage. "Alright finished... That's the best I can do for now... You'll need stitches"
"Buck... It hurts," SilverMane mumbled to herself as Buck made his way to the body of the filly in the center of the room. He stared at it silently for awhile. It didn't move as he touched it with a hoof. He rolled it over with a hoof and looked at it's face. Even with the deformities he could tell it was still young no older then ten maybe twelve years of age. He sighed to himself as he continued to stare at it.
"Buck... Hurry up... Let's get going before it wakes up... And try's to bit again," SilverMane said as she stood at the entrance way looking at the Unicorn.
"Sure... I-...*Crack*" The unicorn soldier was interrupted by the sound of breaking vents. He readied his weapons as SilverMane did the same. They looked around at the ceiling and walls.
"Whoever you are we are not... Hostile... Repeate... We are frie-...*Crash*," Buck was interrupted as a vent on the far wall broke open and a figure slid out of it. It moved from the darkness closer to him.
"Halt... Tell your name!," Buck ordered as the figure continued Yo move through the shadows towards him. On Buck's right another vent broke open as another figure crawled out towards him.
"I said halt... I want names!!," Buck ordered. The figures continued to move towards him.
"Buuuck... Buck...," SilverMane called out. Buck looked at her as she was backing up to him. Two more figures where crawling through the dark hallway.
"Get back... We will shoot," Buck barked at the incoming figures. The bodies didn't reply nor did they acknowledge the orders. Buck bit his lip as he set one of his AR's to a 90 degree upwards position. He bit down on the firing bar. Sending a three shot burst into the air. Still the figures moved in closer.
"Buck... I don't think they're stopping," SilverMane said her voice starting to show a bit of fear. Buck nodded as he looked around the room more intently. He scanned the walls till his eyes landed a service doorway across the room.
"Service door at 9:00... Move" Buck said pointing to it. SilverMane nodded as she ran past the two closest figures to the door. She put a hoof to the door and slammed it open.
"Buck... It's open!" She said hanging out of the doorway. Buck nodded and tried to move but he felt a weight pull onto his leg. He looked down to see the filly from before hanging loosely onto his leg.
"Buck... Hurry up!," SilverMane called to the unicorn. Buck tried to kick the filly off his leg but it was on tight.
"Get off me!" he said as he brought his hoof down hard. The filly held tight.
"Buck... Behind you!," SilverMane called out. Buck turned to see another figure lunge at him. Buck tried to move away but couldn't because another was right next to him.
"Go... Leave!!," Buck screamed as two others got close. He then reared upwards as he planted his two front hooves into the closest figures face. It impacted with a loud crunch as the figure went down in a splatter of blood. The two behind him latched onto his body and bit down. Buck screamed as he tried to shake them. They held on as the filly bit into his leg. It whipped it head back as it tore a chunk of flesh from his leg. Buck went down to the ground after the bit. He screamed as he kicked with his remaining good legs bit the four figures wouldn't leave. He felt a hoof get close to his head and he looked at it as it came down.
"Buck!!!," SilverMane called from the doorway. She couldn't save him they had already tore him to shreds. She watched as the five figures gnawed on bones and pieces of flesh that once belonged to the unicorn. She felt a whimper slip past her lips as she backed away from the grisly scene. She placed a hoof over her mouth attempting to not vomit herself.
"DeKs... DeKs!!" she called into her headset. She waited for a reply but only got static.
"DEKS!!!" She screamed into the mic. Static still played when a click was heard.
"What?!... Can't I go use the little fillies room in peace?... And what's up with Buck's cam... It looks like it's all red..." The headset cackled.
"Buck... Buck... He's dead..," SilverMane informed still whimpering.
"What wait... How?" the headset questioned.
"They tore into him like... Like... Dogs... They just tore him limb from limb and I just watched...," SilverMane whimpered.
"Now just wait a minuet I'm playing back the footage... Ok ... Got it" the headset cackled then fell to silence.
"Don't think they're stopping.... Service door...zzkt... Door... Go... Zzkt... Pvt..." the headset replayed all the words that the late unicorn had barked before his death. SilverMane tried to hold back tears as she heard the replay of sounds through it.
"What the... What the hay... SilverMane are you ok?," DeKs barked through the headset. SilverMane just gave a silent whimper.
"Knight Major SilverMane do you copy?," DeKs barked through the headset. SilverMane looked up and sighed to herself.
"Ye... Yes I'm here" SilverMane finally replied. She looked down at the door not to far from her then she looked down the other end of the hall and saw darkness.
"Good... Now I know what ever the ... Aw buck it whatever the hell happened I'm there couldn't be helped but you need to tighten up and get out..." The tech Sargent ordered. SilverMane chuckled to herself as she closed her eyes.
"SilverMane listen to me... There's a connecting corridor you can take, it leads to an elevator, you can use that to get here" the Sargent continued as SilverMane just sat silently.
"Once you get here we can attempt to patch you up..." the Sargent finished. He waited for a reply but only got silence.
"SilverMane?" he whispered through the headset. Silence only followed. He sighed as he eased back into his seat. He perked back up as a click could be heard and static followed.
"zzkt...Knight Major SilverMane Identification number 36780129, Farrier squad, 3xCes issue 3756, M.O.S Special operations... zzkt" The headset spat out in a raspy dead voice and as soon as it came it ended with a crackle. DeKs jumped to the screen to try and activate the camera but only got white noise. DeKs pulled a seat up under him and leaned back in it silently. He felt a tear trickle down his check as he looked at the two screens. On his left was covered in red with faint outlines moving back and forth on the other was a screen spewing whit noise. He reached over and shut them both off and leaned back. He clicked his headset and waited till he heard another click.
"Go ahead" the headset replied.
"We got a problem," DeKs said quietly.
Canterlot: Royal palace: War room
4:00 Am
The room silently as they heard the last string of words before the image stilled. Fremane rubbed his forehead as he moved to the front of the screen.
"As you can see... The first two documented victims of this... Epidemic were these two soldiers of farrier squad," Fremane informed. He looked at the dark faces of ponies, Gryphons, and dragons.
"I have a question..." A deep voice said from within the back. Fremane search for whom it belonged. He landed on it's owner and smirked.
"Yes... Um... Balthazarr... What is it?" the doctor said trying not to seem rushed. The gryphon looked hard on the pony as he though about his question.
"Do you know what became of the major? SilverMane was it?" the old gryphon asked. Fremane took his turn to determine his response.
"Aside from the burnt carcass we found of hers... She had not turned at least not yet," Fremane explained. The gryphon nodded in acknowledgment.
"So your saying that she gave up?" the gryphon said raising a brow. The doctor felt a pit developed inside him.
"I don't think she exactly gave up... As per we found her body in a completely different part of the stadium... So she may have just said what she did to not let the others in her squad worry for her" the doctor replied. The gryphon felt a smile appear.
"So she wanted them to think the worst in case it did come?" the gryphon pried. The doctor straightened himself and looked sternly at the gryphon.
"One could say yes that IS what she intended" The doctor said. The gryphon smiled as he leaned back.
"That is all" the gryphon said sitting back in the shadows. The doctor bit his lip as he nodded the turned to the projector and pressed a button.
Recording 5:05:30
Canterlot Staduim: Security Room
April 1st 10:40Pm
"Kzzt...Kzzt....Zzzt Co-...Zzzkt... Do Yo-....Kzzzt.... Sur-...Zzzt...zzzt...Twen-...zzzt...r Thir.... em"
"How long has it been going?," HardTop asked solemnly as he sat in the corner of the small dark grey room.
"For the last hour... Those... Things... have been tearing them up," DeKs replied not taking his eyes off of the set of screens in front of him.
"And we are stuck in here... Doing nothing," HardTop spat slamming a hoof on the ground causing the tech Sargent to bounce a bit.
"Relax HardTop... I'm sure balk had a reason for us to stay here," Slenderhorn chimed in rubbing a hoof on the armored ponies shoulder. HardTop just glared at the mare angrily. She just looked away still rubbing his shoulder.
"Look it's not going to be any easier if we keep snapping at each other," DeKs explained as he wiggled his way back into the conversation. The two others didn't show much appreciation but nodded to the comment.
"I know it's just... So annoying when there's fighting going on and we are stuck here doing... Nothing," HardTop said as he stood from the corner of the room.
"DeKs... Did you check weapons and munitions?" Slenderhorn asked changing the subject.
"Yes... We have about six clips left for the C76, Enough for two clips per pony... However we do still have a hay ton of rubberized rounds" DeKs explained spinning in his chair.
"Some good those will do" HardTop scoffed as he fiddled with paper attached to the wall adjacent to him.
"Anyways,... we about five or so 5g Incendiaries, And about three Clips for the Xm305" Deks Said glaring at the captain. The captain simply turned his face away from the Tech Sargent.
"So we have about 6 lethal Clips for the AR's, 3 For the handguns, and 5 grenades... Great" Slenderhorn repeated. All three of the ponies looked at each other only returning back to reality as the radio crackled back to life.
"Zzt... This is... Staff sergeant.... Zzkt.... Redhoof... Zzft... Any..... Personnel...Zzkt... Meet.... Zzt Evac... Zzkt... Celestias... Orders, we're... Zzkt... Pulling out... Zzkt roasted" The radio cut out immediately as the words stopped with a last dying crackle. The three ponies at and looked each other over silently all thinking the same thing.
"Let's go" Slenderhorn said as the other two ponies were all ready grabbing their gear. DeKs was the first by the door checking for any movement outside it. Slenderhorn moved close to him.
"See anything?" She asked trying to peer outside as well.
"N...no... Nothing yet... But that doesn't mean they won't come around...," DeKs said as HardTop joined the duo.
"So we moving or what?" He asked as he loaded a clip into his AR. DeKs nodded his head as he pushed the door open handgun in tow.
"With our 3xCes's out of commission it's gonna be a hay bale of fun trying to fight," DeKs scoffed as he moved to the farthest wall followed by Slenderhorn.
"Well... We got through the territory wars like without em... We can do it here," HardTop whispered as he stuck close to the wall adjacent to the door.
DeKs nodded as he led switching on the thermal setting for his head set. Slenderhorn stayed close using her horn to check the clip in her AR. DeKs held a hoof up for her to hold the position as he creeped forward around a corner.
A few seconds passed as he quickly came back and pushed her and HardTop away. She gave him a look asking what was wrong. DeKs was about to explain as thumps could be heard from afar. The trio hurriedly moved till they came to a nearby unlocked door.
DeKs watched silently as the other two quickly moved inside being sure to close the door quietly behind them. Slenderhorn used her horn to bring light to the room. The trio looked over the darkened room. It was a small office with two wooden doors one to their left and one directly in front. The rest of the room was relativily normal. It appeared to be the office of a coach or something close to it. Slenderhorn moved to the farthest door with HardTop and DeKs close behind covering the rear. she put a hoof onto the knob feeling a shiver roll down her back she hesitated. She looked back recieving nods from the other two ponies assuring they'Ed have her back if anything got to close. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open immediately jumping backwards to escape the horrid smell that slithered out of the gaping door.
The three ponies stumbling away from the horrid looking and smelling room. DeKs stumbled away nearly falling over as he felt his entirety of his stomach entire itself. Slenderhorn wasn't as easily disturbed but the she was still disgusted at the stench that licked at her snout, starting to feel sick she left the room along with DeKs and stood outside the small office.
HardTop pushed the gruesome sent to the back of his head as he stepped into the large dark room. The foul stench of death and decay slithered its way into his snout as he peered through the door. He lifted a hoof to wall near him finding a protrusion in it, he flipped it up illuminating the room.
He held a hoof to his mouth as he silently scanned the room and all it contents. It was a far larger room then the previous office he was just in and it appeared to be like a lounge area or a recreation room. Aside from the piles of bodies that lie in either corner of the room it had a large Tv on the far wall. Frowning he let his eyes trail the blood splattered walls. He went further into the room stepping over various trails of intestines and other body parts that littered the floor and surrounding area. He stopped as he heard a quiet splat, lifting his hoof he looked for a nearby flat object. He sighed as he rubbed his hoof down a nearby table. He turned away as a flattened eye curled off the bottom of his hoof and landed on the old veneer stand.
He went to a small pile of bodies and inspected them careful to not step on anything else. He immedaitly saw that most of the bodies if not all were disemboweled, dismembered, or literally torn to shreds. HardTop moved to the closest body and placed a hoof on it's flank. He rolled it closer to him for better inspection. The body did as commanded leaving a trail of sickly reddish green liquid in it's wake. The stallion looked it over taking note that the pony appeared to be brown furred, Was a yearling and had no head. He looked closer to see the neck had literally be chewed through.
As he inspected several more bodies a slight groan broke his concentration snapping him back to reality. He stood poised ready for a fight as he began scanning for the origin of the sound. It came from the farthest corner of the room.
HardTop groaned as he saw it was in the highest pile of bodies. A hood was waving around underneath several bodies. He swam through the sea of corpses looking over each face to see which one had life and which was dead. He came to the incline of bodies and started digging through it hearing the groan once more he dug faster pulling torn corpses away and casting tgem aside. His hooves covered in blood of ponies he would never know came to the source of the groan. It was a young colt and he bore the sun guard armor. HardTop stepped back as he pulled the colt out of his imprisonment. The colt landed with a plop on top if several bodies. HardTop stood as he caught his breath and watched the colt as he tried to figure out where he was. He walked closer and placed a hoof on the Gaurdsponies shoulder casing him to look at him and quickly return to the ground silently.
"Hey... Hey... Are you bit?," HardTop asked as he sat closer to the guardspony. The guardspony looked up to the stallion with a face of fear.
HardTop looked at the guardspony with a bit of confusion as the he kept trying to point away.
"What ar-... Ahhh!!!," HardTop roared in pain as he felt a mouth clamp around his neck and continued to dig deep. He looked to see an infected pony bitting Into his neck. The stallion tried to shake the infected off him but the pony kept ahold his neck causing more blood to squirt out.
HardTop looked over and slammed himself into the nearest wall several times. The stallion felt the vibrations of the pony crashing into the wall flash through his own body as the infected began to loose it's grip on the stallion's neck but still held on.
The stallion raised his front half in the air falling backwards and slamming the infected into the ground. The infected squirmed as it released it hold on the stallion's neck with a screech of anger.
HardTop rolled away blood lashing like a red whip out from his wound. The infected scrabbled to his hooves quickly and charged HardTop. The soldier pony braced himself as the two collided. The infected flew backwards as he slammed into the armored ponies shielded body.
HardTop chased after the infected as it flew backwards and landed into a pile of bodies and raised a hoof to bring it down on it's head.
The infected stopped his hoof mid-thrust and knocked it away jumping up with a head butt, knocking the stallion off balance. Falling backwards he went down clanking as he Impacted with the tilled floor.
The infected in turn brought it's hooves down just barely where the stallion's head had landed. HardTop rolled away back onto his hooves and lunged at the infected slamming it into a nearby pile of bodies. The infected squirmed as HardTop landed several heavy hooves to it's face. HardTop heard a crack as he brought another hoof down. He didnt stop he kept hitting till his hoof was plastered in crimson. His hoof sank deep into the infected pony's face he could feel the grey matter ooze around his hoof making sure the infected was dead and wasn't going to comeback.
Canterlot: Royal palace: War room
4:30 Am
The doctor paused the recording once more as he made himself visible again. He sighed as he fast forwarded the clip again to a new scene.
"Now in this next section of the clip we will see how fast these things can evolve or mutate" the doctor said as placed his hoof on the projector. He knelt over to click a few things and leaned away.
"Please do take note of-.." the doctor was interrupted as the double doors to the room flashed open. A small pony wearing a red robe came in.
"Princess Celestia... We have a problem" the robe wearing pony said. The princess raised from her pillow in the corner of the room.
"What may be the issue my child" the princess said as she made her way to be face to face with the little scribe.
"T... The air patrol had sighted a massive group of infected coming here" the pony replied after quick bow.
"How... And did you learn anything else?" Doctor Freemane asked butting in. The princess threw an eye to him and returned her attention to the young scribe pony.
"I'm not sure doctor you will have to ask him when he wakes" The scribe said. The doctor moved closer.
"Wakes?," Freemane asked looking at the scribe worriedly. The scribe brought his eye to the doctor and frowned.
"He was wounded and fell unconscious shortly after he arrived" the scribe said receiving a concerned look from the doctor.
"Take us to him" Princess Celestia ordered causing the doctor and the scribe to double take her words.
"Uh... Pardon me princess but what of the meeting?" the doctor asked. Celestia looked at the doctor and sighed.
"As important as this meeting is doctor if there truly is a mob of those..." the princess stopped momentarily to think out her next words.
"Things... We must be prepared and fortify what we can... Then afterwards we can continue this" the princess explained receiving a nod from the two ponies.
"What is the problem here?" a gruff voice exclaimed near the gryphons. Celestia looked to see one of the gryphons standing. He was much like the others except he had a hammer on his back. He wore a silver helmet that covered the whole of his head except for his beak. He wore a chest plate with a λ on it embroidered with several gems. The princess recalled his name as Alric head of economy for the conglomerate.
"Alric... Seat yourself" another gryphon said. Celestia knew him as Balthazarr.
"It is ok Balthazarr... He simply wishes to know why we have stopped... It appears we have a problem that will soon be arriving..." Celestia informed receiving looks from all the rooms inhabitants.
"What the princess means is that a large force of infected is on it's way here... But we are not sure how far away they are because the patrolpony fell unconscious shortly after he arrived" the doctor explained. Several murmers and grunts could be heard as they brunched through the crowd.
"So what is your plan of action?" Balthazarr asked keenly.
"For starters me and the princess will be going to see the patrolpony in the infirmary... Perhaps get some answers..." the doctor informed looking sheepishly at the princess who gave a stern look. the doctor waved it off and looked back at the gryphon who was now standing in front of them.
"I will join you... I am curious as to learn what the wounded one has to say," Balthazarr implored. Celestia raised a brow at the gryphon who simply stood silently.
"Balthazarr... What do you care for an equine?" Alric asked also joining the conversation. Balthazarr frowned at the other gryphon and sighed.
"Even ponies as they be our people are affect by it as much as they are... An since the pony said to work together I say why not start now?" the old gryphon explained. Receiving nods from the three ponies standing before him.
"And that is why I will accompany you..." a new gravely voice said. "As I'm sure you all know I am Ra' of the dragon born..."
"Most commonly known as the dragon emperor..." Dr. Fremane whispered with a bit of fear as he looked over the robed being in front of him.
"I'm sorry but I must ask how do you have such a different body structure then... Most dragons?," Fremane asked.
"As you know there are many different variations of my people... I myself am capable of using a spell that allows me to change my form on will... Would you prefer me to use my normal size?" The dragon emperor explained.
"Um... No thank I will take your word for it" the doctor said still looking at the tan robed reptile in from of him. He made a quick look over the dragon frowning as he tried to find facial features but only receiving a pair of eye behind a vail.
"P...please do forgive me but I don't think we have much time we must hurry..." the small red robed pony interrupted.
"Right... Let's move" The Dr. Said receiving nods from the group.
Canterlot: Royal palace: Infirmary
5:10 Am
The group of ponies, a gryphon and the dragon emperor tresses through the moonlit hallway passing the large window panes of various images of equine hero's and heroines. Dr. Fremane walked near the front of the pack behind the scribe who lead them to wherever the patrolpony laid. As he walked he though about all the possible outcomes that could happen if they didn't act fast enough to repel the infected mob that grows closer each second.
"Almost there just a few more corners" the scribe said as he turned another corner. Fremane let his eyes jump from the occasional doorway or sign in to keep his mind busy as he walked.
Balthazarr traveled near the end of the group quietly he stared at each of his cohorts analyzing each for whatever things that came to mind. He felt a clawed hand land to his shoulder. Balthazarr tensed as he reached for his blade but was halted by another hand to his elbow.
"Relax gryphon... The fight has yet to come upon us... You need not draw your blade to me..." a voice said. Balthazarr loled to see whom it belonged to but scoffed as he saw it was the Ra' dragon emperor's.
"What do you want dragon?" the gryphon asked spitefully. The dragon chuckled to himself has he moved his hands.
"No derogatory terms like Firebiter from a gryphon?" the dragon asked. It was the gryphons turn to laugh at the dragon.
"I may be a gryphon but... I do not need to taunt my enemy to beat them" Balthazarr replied as he relaxed himself. The dragon nodded to himself as he employed the words in his head.
"So I am still your enemy?" the dragon asked. Balthazarr looked at the little slit inside the dragons vail and looked into the sea blue reptilian eyes and thought for a few seconds.
"If this were another time... Then yes... But as we know this situation permits an uneasy... Alliance," Balthazarr said as he let his eyes trail across the nearby wall. The dragon nodded again as he looked at the gryphon.
"A brain in a gryphon that a day I never thought to see" the dragon said as he and the gryphon still walked down the hall.
"Ay and a dragon with a bit of humor I see" Balthazarr said chuckling to himself. The dragon nodded in agreement. "known to crack a joke I have done"
"One question though... During the wars... Why did you dragon wear that ... Thing on your face?" the gryphon asked curiously receiving a silent look from the dragon.
"I'm sorry if I-..." the gryphon was interrupted by a scaled hand.
"Worry not gryphon... The Shakr'a'al is a symbol of honor for our people legends of old say that if one were to die in battle wearing the Shakr'a'al they would be able to transcend the barriers of the flesh and bone" the dragon explained. The gryphon nodded as he mulled through the words the dragon spoke.
"In my own personal opinion... Tis a bunch of ... Eh non-believable information... I prefer to believe in the physical possibilities not that of supernatural..." the dragon continued. The gryphon continued to nod as he processed the new bit of information.
"Gryphon... Might I ask you a question?" the dragon said looking at the feathered creature next to him.
"I see why not..." the gryphon replied.
"what purpose doe the gauntlet serve?" the dragon asked looking at the golden glove that rested firmly on the gryphons clawed hand. The gryphon raised his hand to look at it. The metal glinted in the bright moonlight as he rotated it.
"It's a... Heirloom of sorts... For many a year... 'twas passed down for many generations all... Were in this very position I am now in the conglomerate... An soon my son... Arkemedies will wear it" the aged gryphon said with a bit of melancholy set in his voice. The dragon walked silently as he processed the words.
"Does it not make you happy... To be of such battle ready blood?" the dragon asked.
"Yes... And no... War just does not make me happy... Be it my age or just that these eyes are tired..." the gryphon explained.
"and what of the Arkemedies?," R'a asked moving closer to the gryphon.
"He... Didn't want to be one of war... I understand him that much...," Balthazarr said. The dragon perked an eyebrow.
"That much?" the dragon asked growing curious to the gryphon.
"Heh... I'm talking to a dragon... Eh... Sorry i mean that... Because to obtain this position... We must master warfare... And since he must be next in line... He must master it... But neither me nor him are interested in war... But if he does not take up his position... Then the conglomerate will fail" the gryphon said solemnly. The dragon nodded.
"I understand..." the dragon said nodding. Balthazarr looked over the tunic'ed dragon in the moonlight.
"Do you?" the gryphon asked. The dragon nodded.
"Yes... I do for I have a daughter who must take up a nation under her... Alone... At least your son will have assistance... But for us we must learn at our birth to lead the empire if we do not, we die and are replaced by what the denizens believe is a more competent ruler" the dragon explained. The gryphon chuckled to himself.
"well now it seems that we are almost the same..." the gryphon said receiving a nod from the dragon.
"Um... W...we're here..." a feeble voice said. The dragon and gryphon looked up to see they had come to a set of double doors with a sign above it aptly titled infirmary.
"Open it" princess Celestia ordered and the scribe did as ordered. The group stood in silence as the doors opened. Dr. Freemane took a step back as he took in what he saw.
"What... What did this?" the scribe cried as he to stepped back from the grisly scene. The first room from hall was the waiting area and receptionist desk. The normally sterile and porcelain colored room was now dark and covered in crimson. Several disemboweled bodies laid across the ground. The doctor rushed in followed by Celestia and the others. Freemane dropped to the nearest body to inspect it. It was a nurse she wasn't physically as bad as the other bodies but she was bleeding a lot. He felt for a pulse and sighed as he found a very light one.
"D...don't... Don't..." the nurse said as she pointed to a barricaded doorway. The doctor looked towards the barricade and turned back to the nurse.
"Don't what?" the doctor screamed but the body had gone limp in his hooves. He sighed as he laid the nurse down.
"scribe!" the doctor called.
"y...yes d...doctor?" the scribe said as he peeked out from behind the princess.
"Was... Was the survivor bitten or had any noticeable signs of the infection?" the doctor asked. The scribe rubbed his chin as he replayed his memories from before.
"Come... To think of it I believe he had a bandage over his right leg... But other then that... I cannot say" the scribe said. The doctor thought for a few seconds.
"Very well... Scribe please escort the princess and our two guest back to the war room I will stay and see what I can do..." the doctor ordered.
"Ye-.." the scribe was interrupted by a hoof on the shoulder.
"That will not be necessary... I will be accompanying the doctor," Celestia said watching the doctor start to frown a bit.
"Princess... It is unwise to put yourself in danger" the doctor pleaded.
"be it so but... I cannot sit by as my... Friends... Fight..." the princess said a bit awkwardly.
"but what if you get infected? Who will rule Equestria?" the doctor asked.
"I will not fall so easily and if I do... You have Luna... Besides it has been awhile since I've been in a good fight..." Celestia said smiled.
"Well... If that's the case I will be joining you" the gryphon butted in receiving a curious stare from the dragon.
"I thought you said you didn't like war?" the dragon asked.
"Ay... I did but... I'm not about to let a pony outfight me" the gryphon said with a laugh. The dragon nodded.
"well... I guess then I have to join in" the dragon said standing next to the doctor who just sighed to himself. The dragon looked down at the pony who was now burying his face into his hood.
"Doctor you seem... Unhappy" the dragon said with a chuckle. The doctor lowered his hoof as he moved to the barricaded doorway.
"S... So what would you have me do... Princess... Doctor?" the scribe said sheepishly.
"Go... Go to the war room tell the gust to return to their rooms and prepare for an emergency evacuation... And get the guards and any other possible military units set on high alert..." the princess ordered. The scribe nodded as he galloped out of the bloody room.
"Ay... Now the fun starts..." the gryphon said as he unsheathed his broad sword. His glove began to glow a bright gold as the emeralds in the knuckles glowed to a bright angry green.
"It appears as it is..." the dragon said as he whipped his tunic behind him. As the tunic settled it revealed a red plated set of armor lined in a gold metal. Over the right chest plate was an engraved symbol of the dragon empire. Under it was the mark of the house of R'a.
"Hmph... Show off... Where's your blade?" the gryphon said looking away.
"Blade?..." the dragon asked smiling. The room went silent as the dragon began to mumble something. Soon a bright light could be seen forming in the dragons neck. It became a bright yellow light as it grew larger. The dragon finally released it into the air in a large fireball scorching the ceiling and leaving a black mark. The fireball dropped from the air as the dragon caught it. He spun it around several time as it began to take a shape. As he finished twirling it around he held it out like a staff. He smiled as he waved it in front of the gryphon.
"Show off...." the gryphon repeated as the dragon chuckled.
"I do not need a blade to get the job done... Besides... Breaking-..." the dragon said as he slammed the staff downwards on the nearest section of counter causing it to go completely through. "is a lot more fun then just cutting"
"You are going to pay for both that and the ceiling right?" princess Celestia butted in. The gryphon chuckled to himself,
"Yes... I'm sure all the beautiful theatrics are pretty and all but could we please get on with this... We have a problem on the horizon and we don't know when it will be on us" the doctor added. Receiving a nod from the princess.
"I agree we must hurry" the princess said as her horn lit up and started to cover several of the items with a bright yellow aura. The items began to move away from in front of the door. The door was finally clear of debris and stood silently. The four looked at it and tried to peer through it's two pitch dark windows.
"Let's go" the doctor said as he sighed to himself. He placed a hoof looking back at the other three receiving nods he took a deep breath and pushed.