//------------------------------//
// The Road To Canterlot 
// Story: Regression 
// by chief maximus 
//------------------------------//




Apple Bloom




Eros and Argos sat beside each other as the hungry filly ate the apples and even a few bits of jerky. She looked like she'd skipped a few meals, but all-in-all no worse for it. Once she'd slowed down her chewing, Eros asked her the question that had been on his mind since the journey began.

"What happened here?"

Apple Bloom stopped chewing, wiping the crumbs from her lips. "I dunno." 

That wasn't exactly the answer either of the griffons were looking for. "Where did everyone go?" Eros persisted. 

"Ta Canterlot, I suspect. One day the newspapers started tellin' folks about ponies that lived near the woods actin' funny. They'd just stand around and eat grass all day. At first, folks thought it was just some weird fad or somethin', but then it started ta spread. Before ya know it, everybody knows somepony that's been eatin' grass. Then they stop talkin', their coats get all dull, their feathers fall off, their horns go away..." her voice quieted as she stared into the flame of the lamp between them. "One day I woke up, and my brother Macintosh told me ta get in the storm cellar, and not ta come out till he came and got me. I couldn't tell ya how long I was in there. I ate all the food, I even tried ta save some for my family, but I couldn't. When I had no other option, I went outside. Everything looked fine. The house and barn were still there, apples were still in a few trees, but nopony was around." 

She sniffed, and through the darkness, Eros spotted the twinkling of tears beginning to form in the dim lamplight. "After that, I just wandered around lookin' for somepony, but the whole town was empty. I went back to the farm, and I found Mac, and my sister, but... they weren't themselves. They wouldn't talk, they ran away from me when I tried ta go near them. Somethin' was wrong, but I didn't know what."

A stunned silence entered the darkened library. 

"I-I'm sorry Apple Bloom..." Eros squeaked. 

"I heard some ponies went to Canterlot. That's where I would've gone, but I can't go by myself. The road there is too dangerous." She wiped the tears from her eyes before they had a chance to fall. "And I don't know if I can leave my family behind."

"We're on our way to Canterlot," Argos said. We can take you there, if you like."

Apple Bloom considered it. She had seen the royal announcements plastered all over town when she emerged from the cellar. Was it possible that the princesses had been able to protect some ponies from whatever was happening?

"I... I guess I would like that. But, d'ya mind if I go back to the farm first? I want ta see if my family's still there."

Argos nodded. "Canterlot isn't far, we can stop there and still make good time."

After a bit more chatting, the three of them bedded down for the night. Once Argos was asleep, Eros whispered to Apple Bloom. 

"So, if you don't mind my asking, what was this place like before?" He heard her bedroll shuffle as she shifted towards him. 

"It was great. There was always somepony around to talk to or play with, plenty of food ta eat and fun games to play. Heck, lookin' back on it now, school wasn't so bad compared ta this."

"There were streamers and stuff still in the center of town. What was that about?" 

Apple Bloom thought for a moment. "Oh, I bet it was for the summer sun celebration. That's a really fun time. The princesses come down and everybody dances and plays games until nighttime!" her enthusiasm caused Argos to stir in his bed. The children looked at him tensely, before realizing he wasn't awake.

"That does sound fun. We don't really have too many festivals in the Iron Mountains."

"That's too bad. You should tell them ta throw more."

Eros smiled, though he doubted she could see it in the dark. 

"Ya know, Eros, you're the first griffon I've ever met."

"Really?" Eros rolled over, proping his head on his talon. "I wish I could say you were the first pony I ever met, but Dad does business with them a lot."

"Well, I guess technically Gilda would've been the first griffon I'd ever met, but I didn't really meet her. I heard she was a jerk anyway."

"Yeah, not all griffons are as nice as me and my Dad."

Another pause came between them before Eros spoke again. 

"Apple Bloom, I'm sorry about what happened to your family."

Though he spoke, the silence persisted. For a moment, Eros feared he'd said the wrong thing, and that his new friend would hate him. 

"Thanks, Eros. I'm glad you and your Dad found me." 

He smiled again. "Me too. Goodnight, Apple Bloom."

"G'night, Eros."





The ride down to the farm was quiet. It was a short trip, but for Apple Bloom, it felt like the longest she'd ever taken. They stopped outside the farmhouse and Apple Bloom hopped out of the cart, steeling herself against what could lie waiting for her. 

"You want me to go with you?" Eros asked, a talon on his sword. 

"No, I'll be alright," she replied, walking towards the barn where her father had told her she could find a pony wearing a yoke. They could see the barn from the cart, and watched quietly as she made her way towards the doors. 

"Macintosh?" she called into the darkness of the barn. "Applejack?"

The same copper stallion as before appeared from inside the barn. He looked her over, snorting defensively. 

"Do you remember me, big brother?" The stallion tossed his head from one side to the other, as if in response. She took a step towards him, but he pawed the ground as he did when Argos approached. Eros went to get off the cart but his father gripped his arm tightly. "Stay here. If he charges, I can get her much faster than you can," he whispered. Eros hated to admit it, but his father was right. He'd only been flying for a few years. 

Mac's defensive posture stopped Apple Bloom in her tracks. "Mac, I'm goin' ta Canterlot. I hear the princesses are still there with other ponies." Her words had no effect, as the stallion continued to snort and whinny threateningly. "Maybe they'll find a cure and change ya back..." she mumbled weakly. "I'm sure they will." Apple Bloom fell to her haunches and bowed her head. The tears she'd managed so well the night before dripped onto the dry dirt in front of the barn. 

By now, the mares Macintosh had been protecting stepped lightly out of the barn to see the commotion. Mac retreated into the barn, content that the thing that had trespassed onto his territory was no threat. The other mares kept their distance, but one with a golden coat and straw colored mane approached the crying filly. 

Apple Bloom felt a shadow cast over her and looked up. "A-applejack?" she asked quietly. There would be no reply. The mare bent down and gave Apple Bloom a lick across her damp cheeks. "I'm leavin', Applejack," she whispered. "I'm goin' ta Canterlot. The princesses are there... they'll find a way ta fix this." 

Applejack nuzzled her sister, though whether she knew her or not was debatable. A final lick across her cheeks brought Applejack back into the barn with the other mares. Apple Bloom wanted nothing more than to be with her family. She looked at the grass in the orchards. That's what started all this. Ponies eating grass. Once they started, it wasn't long before they ended up like her family had. Maybe that was what she should do. Maybe the answer to all these problems wasn't to cure her family, but to become like them. She reached for the grassy patch beside her, but before she could take a bite, talons gripped her beneath her forelegs and carried her into the sky.

She looked above her. Argos was taking her back to the wagon. As she saw the world stretched out beneath her, she felt hope renew itself in her heart. Maybe there was something wonderful waiting for them in Canterlot. Maybe the princesses were on the verge of a breakthrough cure for what had happened to her hometown. Argos landed on the cart, sitting her on the passenger bench while his son rode in the back atop the gems. 

"Everything okay, Apple Bloom?" Eros asked, a bit concerned over his father's sudden action. 

"Yeah. Everything's fine. Let's go to Canterlot."




Spike




"Are you sure that's what you saw?" 

"Positive! It had to be a light, there's nothing else it could have been," Spike replied confidently. 

The princess ran a hoof through her mane. Sending ponies beyond the wall was always a tall order. They had to wrap their heads completely so as not to be corrupted by the blades, and it would be up to Spike to guide them. They could still see, and still breathe, but their senses were dulled to the danger that awaited them. The prospect of a pony surviving outside the perimeter wall, where the grass was abundant was too juicy a research opportunity to pass up. After all, if a pony had lived in the wild for this long, they could be the key to defeating the grazers. 

She sighed. "Okay. Gather whatever ponies volunteer and take them to search for the survivor."

Spike bowed, turning on his heel and heading out into the courtyard, when the princesses words stopped him. "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise me you'll be careful." 

"I promise." 

Spike stepped out into the early morning light, the courtyard he entered now completely devoid of plant life. Everything was paved over, stone and cement ensuring no plants could grow anywhere near where the normal ponies were living. In his bag, he retrieved a horn, releasing a shrill blast into the stillness of the early morning. Within a few minutes, the able bodied stallions and mares gathered around him. 

"The princess needs volunteers for a mission out past the walls," Spike announced. A murmur went through the crowd at the thought. "There's a survivor in Ponyville, one that's been in the wild for weeks. I don't have to tell you all what finding a pony immune to the blades would mean for Twilight's research. Anyone want to go with me?"

Spike scanned the gathered crowd of about fifteen ponies. Only four hooves went up. "Meet me in the armory."





In order to reach the armory, Spike had to cross through the stables. That was the nice term for them. Unlike other places designed to contain, this place was not for criminals. In fact, the stables currently housed the two reigning princesses of Equestria. The most unnerving thing about the stables were the creatures living in them. 

Spike opened the door, a twisting mechanical knob only usable via magic or dexterous claws. At the sound of the hinges, the creatures in the stables looked up. He walked down the isle in between the stalls lining the walls. Some of the stables were still empty, but the occupants here tugged at Spike's heart. One, in particular. Five stalls down from the door on the right side, a white pony with a fading purple mane snorted to herself, indignant at being awakened from her nap. 

These visits both brought Spike hope, and sorrow. He stopped outside the stable as the white unicorn mare approached him. Her horn had been shrinking. Now, it was no larger than a filly's. Spike reached into his messenger bag, producing a small white square. He'd found them in an old coffee shop. Sometimes he'd give them to a few of the foals, but mostly he saved them for her. 

She looked the same as the image he held in his mind, with the exception of her mane, which had streaks of white in it to match her coat. Spike extended a gentle claw. Rarity stepped forward, rubbing into his hand. He scratched her head softly as he held out the sugarcube in his palm. She licked the cube, having gotten used to Spike's treats by now. He hated what had happened to her. It wasn't fair! She didn't deserve this. None of the ponies did. 

Her eyes flicked up at him as he continued to scratch. She trusted him. He'd like to think so, anyway. He recalled asking Twilight what had happened to her. He asked if she was going to be like this forever. When all of this started, she was sure they'd figure out a way to turn everyone back to their normal selves. That was over a month ago. As the days wore on, more and more ponies became grazers, and panic spread. Before long, it seemed like all other cities and towns had gone dark. Only Canterlot remained, and of that, many had already succumbed. When Twilight decided to close off the inner keep, there were around seventy five ponies holed up, guards and servants counted. As of this day, there were now only thirty.

"We're going to find a pony that's been alive out in the wild," he whispered. "They might hold the key to finding a cure for all this." Rarity snorted lightly, as if in reply. "We'll fix this. I know we will." An indignant grunt and whinny came from the stall beside Rarity's, drawing Spike's attention. 

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you two," He smiled, walking to the next stall. An alicorn with once graceful and majestic wings nuzzled Spike's open hand as he reached out to rub her ears. Princess Luna's coat had grown darker, more of a black now than midnight blue like she had been. Her horn was now about the length of a normal unicorn, as was her sisters beside her. Spike gave both she and Celestia sugar cubes, making sure they got a head scratching for just as long as Rarity had. He didn't want to start any problems between the three of them. 

It was a wistful thought at best. Truth be told, neither he nor Twilight could know for sure whether the pony these 'grazers' used to be was still inside them, or lost forever. Maybe the thought of the ponies down here feeling jealousy, impatience and selfishness helped Spike believe that they were still the beings they were, just hidden away or put to sleep by whatever was causing the Equestrians to act like this.

"You know the Princesses get jealous if you spend too much time with Rarity," A voice from behind him echoed. Spike turned his head and stepped away from the royal stables. Twilight's hoofsteps softened as she came near. "It's not good for you to dwell on this, Spike."

"I'm not dwelling on it," he replied defensively. "I'm just down here to keep her company." Spike sidled back over to Rarity, giving her another sugarcube while the princesses busily licked their lips in search of more sugar. "Besides, this is the way to the armory."

"This isn't the only way there," Twilight reminded him, stepping up next to the princesses stables.

"So, what happens if we find this pony and it's exactly what we hope it is?" Spike asked. 

"I don't want to get your hopes up, but if that pony isn't a grazer by the time they get here, then we may have a shot a figuring this thing out."  

"What about your other projects?" 

Twilight sighed heavily. "They aren't coming along like I'd hoped. Without a sample, I can't discover what's causing all of this. I still don't know if it's some kind of visual trigger, or a fungus, or a spore... I have more questions than answers right now." 

Spike stepped back from Rarity's stable and faced Twilight. "I'm gonna try to get us some answers," he told her confidently.

Twilight smiled. "Just be careful."





Eros




Argos had shifted the contents of his cart to allow Eros and Apple Bloom to sit in the back and talk. The drivers bench could only hold two, and squeezing one of them in up front was uncomfortable. For a moment, as they rode along the street to Canterlot, Argos smiled. The conversation behind him was peppered with laughs and giggles, something he felt sure the filly they'd found hadn't done in quite some time. The cobblestones they traveled down had weeds growing from in between them, the weeks of disrepair showing in every bump and pothole they ran across. 

"Then we made a float which we booby-trapped to get revenge on her for bein' so mean ta us!" Apple Bloom explained, Eros listening intently as she continued. 

"So did she fall for it?" he asked. 

Apple Bloom smiled sheepishly. "Well, we kinda saved her before it went off." 

Eros laughed. "You went through all that trouble to get your revenge, and then you ended up saving her?" he asked in disbelief. 

"She's still my cousin, no matter how much of a jerk she was!" she shot back. The lighthearted tone shifted as Apple Bloom's smile faded. Concern flashed across Eros' face as he leaned forward a few inches. 

"You alright?" 

"I'm fine, it's just..." Apple Bloom considered opening up to him. Though she had only met him less than a day ago, he was the first sentient creature she'd seen in weeks. "Nothing. I'm just worried about my family."

"Maybe some of them ended up where we're going," Eros said hopefully, trying to bring back the smile she'd had moments before.  

Apple Bloom nodded, though it seemed like she was simply going through the motions. Eros could see it on her face. She was tired of the world she'd woken up to. Even though he was a foot away from her at most, he'd never felt more distance between someone. There was no way he could hope to try and relate to what had happened to this filly. All he could do was offer his condolences, which meant nothing out here in this forsaken kingdom.

Eros looked ahead, letting the silence take hold. He hadn't really thought about the future until now. What happens when they reach Canterlot? Are he and his father simply going to sell what they can and leave? Leave this filly and whoever else might still be alive to their fate? Heroes never left the innocent to suffer. Heroes helped in any way they could! 

But Eros was just a young griffon. What could he do against some mysterious plague? What if he started eating grass and wandering around the wilderness next? What if he and his father were already infected and they just didn't know it?

"What are th' Iron Mountains like?" 

Eros turned his head in surprise. The somber expression Apple Bloom had worn only seconds before had morphed into neutrality. "Oh, uhm... well, it's kinda like this place. Only not as colorful. And not as many festivals. And it's cloudy a lot up there," he explained. 

"So what is it that griffons eat?" Apple Bloom asked, trying to keep the conversation off of her depressing surroundings as long as possible. 

"Mostly meat, though we can eat vegetables and stuff—"

"Not that Eros ever does," his father chimed in from the drivers seat. 

"Dad!" he moaned, a bit of blush coming over his cheeks, making Apple Bloom giggle. 

"Anyway, we eat all kinds of stuff," he finished, moving a talon to rest on the hilt of his sword. "I didn't know ponies could eat meat, though." 

Apple Bloom smiled weakly. "When you're hungry enough, you'll eat anything."

"Well, as long as you don't mind the same thing for every meal, you won't go hungry with us," Eros replied. 

Before Apple Bloom could thank him, the cart stopped abruptly. The two in the back slid forward against the front of the cart. Eros raised his head and was about to chastise his father when he saw what waited ahead of them. Four creatures, clothed completely in ragged, dark colored clothes that covered their every inch. They had the shape of ponies, but there were no eyes, ears, mouths or nose exposed to the outside. A taller creature in a brown hooded cloak that appeared to be made from burlap lead them. He lifted a talon and pointed toward the cart. The other creatures advanced on his command. 

Argos fumbled with the chest behind the drivers seat until Bessie was within easy reach. He turned to his son and Apple Bloom. "Get down and stay quiet."