My Little Apocalypse

by FlutteryPie

The Sneeze

Pinkie Pie held her breath, holding it until her cheeks darkened to a deep shade of crimson. Her eyes watered as she stared down at her hooves. Her hooves... her hooves. They were lost somewhere in the pitch black. She shivered, wondering if perhaps they had been cut off back on the cobblestone. Although it was impossible for them to be simply cut off, Pinkie Pie was not known for her intelligence. Her fear grew until it took over her whole body. To truly find out if they were there, she hit her hooves against the ground, sending up choking clouds of dust and dirt. Horror filled her lungs as she sucked in the substance. They tickled her throat and she quickly threw her front hooves to her mouth. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she listened to the sound of hooves slowly hitting the ground above and the soft groans. One sneeze. One sneeze and it was all over. Her lungs felt as though they would explode, the pain almost unbearable.

A small hole was her only protection. It wasn't much, but it was well hidden from the dead. She shut her eyes tightly and tried to think about something else, anything else but the tickle in her throat and the pain in her chest.

Twilight Sparkle stood on her back hooves, swinging her long sword wildly around her. It sliced through the rotten bodies of the ponies. As each was injured, they fell back in shock. She was careful not to strike the necks of each creature, knowing that it would instantly kill them. She knew not to kill them unless truly necessary for they didn't know what they were doing. Underneath the gray skin was a helpless pony who couldn't control their movements or thoughts. A sharp sting scraped against her back and she fell forward in pain, biting down on her bottom lip. Something had hit her and if she didn't act fast it would all be over.

Twilight flipped onto her back, ignoring the pain as small rocks dug into her wound. She saw an undead pony standing over her, drool falling from it's mouth. Suddenly the pony blew up into a thousand bits of dust, coating her front. As the dust fell, Applejack became visible. Her eyes showed pain and worry, "Twilight, you okay?" Her soft voice asked.
It took a moment for the unicorn to respond but she nodded slowly. Applejack pulled at the string wrapped around her hoof furiously, throwing the sword down onto the cobblestone. It made a soft clang as it hit the ground. She quickly helped her friend up, who cried in pain.

Applejack gasped at the sight of the large scratches, "Uh... Well... Hmm... Alright, then, let's get ya back to Rarity and Fluttershy."

Twilight croaked, "What about the antidote?"

"Not a problem, Sugar-cube. Pinkie Pie and Ah will keep searchin' for it."

There were silence as they looked at each other, only now noticing that Pinkie Pie had not been with them. "Do you know where she is?" Twilight questioned in a soft squeak, dreading Applejack's response.

"No... do you?"

Twilight shook her head slowly and they started to search the scene carefully, their eyes darting from run down shop to run down shop. Applejack blinked before saying strongly, "No time. Ah'll come back for her, but you and that scratch really need some lookin' at."
It took a moment for the pony to agree, but Twilight finally sighed and trudged alongside her friend. They headed back to the alley, ears perked up as they listened for that sweet laugh. That sweet laugh that had been annoying once or twice... but now they would kill to hear it again.

"Fluttershy, please stop worrying and let me put the cucumbers on your eyes..."
Rarity said with a sigh, digging through the bowl filled with cucumbers. Fluttershy looked outside the tent, waiting anxiously for the others to return. She peeked back at Rarity, "Not worry? B-But shouldn't they be back by now? They should... shouldn't they? What if they're in trouble? What if they're in pain? Rarity, we have to go look for them!"

"Darling, they're fine. I have no doubt in my mind that they're coming back right now. Perhaps they even have the antidote with them. Now you sit back and let me put these cucumbers on your eyes. It will help you relax."

"Well... OK... you're probably right. Right?"
"Right."
Fluttershy peeked one last time out of the tent. She sighed and ate a cucumber, looking into the light of the lantern. It flickered and fought against the shadows. She sighed once again before closing her eyes and saying softly, "OK." Rarity smiled and grabbed a few cucumbers, placing them on Fluttershy's eyelids. She then did the same to herself before lying back. Tears stung her eyes and flowed down from behind her cucumbers. With Fluttershy's eyes closed, she didn't have to be strong anymore.

Pinkie Pie shivered. The zombies still didn't pass. It seemed as though they could sense she was nearby. The torture was unbearable. The suffering would have to eventually end. After all, nobody was coming for her. Nobody cared for Pinkie Pie. She sniffed as these thoughts flooded her mind.

Nobody cared for Pinkie Pie.
Nobody cared for Pinkie Pie.
Nobody cared for Pinkie Pie.

And then she sneezed.