//------------------------------// // All together now // Story: MLP:IPC // by NavyBr0wnie //------------------------------// Unknown location 4:05 Am "W...What?" Sweetiebelle asked bursted to the brim with confusion. "I said my name is oddball who are you?" the black clothed figure replied. Sweetie tried to comprehend what had happened between now and the last bit of consciousness. "Wh...Where you the one who made that... That bright flash?" Sweetie asked as she probed her brain for an explanation. "Oh... That? Naw... It was all you... Well... With a bit of help from kilowatt... On the fact...Of your missing horn." the figure said as he used a hoof to point to the place where and intact horn used to be. Sweetie brought a hoof up to touch it but winced when the pain set in. "Oh... Be careful... It's still tender up there..." The figure said.  "ODDBALL!!" another voice called from a place sweetie could not see. "What?!," oddball yelled back. Turning around. "Is the filly still unconscious?" the voice called. "Uh... No," oddball replied. "Well... Bring her in here... But do be careful" the voice ordered. "Uh... Ok" oddball yelled back. The black figure looked back down at the filly. He raised a hoof as h pulled off the cowl that covered his face. Underneath the cowl was a red hided pony. His mane had alternating streaks of redand yellow. He had a chisled chin and wore a smile. "Ok... Let's see how we can get you out of there...," oddball said as he looked over the filly. "W...Who was that?," Sweetie asked looking up at the red pony who stood over her. "Who?... Oh him... Thats Dr. Kilowatt... He is our medic" oddball said waving his hoof in the air. Sweetiebelle chuckled to herself as she watched the red pony do his antics. "Ok... Now we should get to the good doctor before he gets mad..." oddball said as he carefully put his hooves under the filly. She winced as he picked her up but relaxed as she sunk into his forelegs.  "Hey... How can you walk like that?," Sweetie asked looking up to the red pony.  "Well... Y'a see a very smart scientist made a discovery on how we ponies can do what we do... So from there he made all sorts of things to help us get better in life... Even making things to help walk like this" oddball explained as he rounded a greenish grey corridor. Sweetie watched as he carried her through the hall. She occasionally passed pictures of important ponies, various battle scenes, or some scene of tranquility. "Almost there... Around the next corner... Ok?," Oddball said as he walked around another corner. He passed several doors. One was open and sweetie peered through as she saw a dark grey pony with a purple mane yelling a smaller whitish pony. "What is wrong with them?," Sweetie asked as she pointed a hood back at them. "Oh them?... Their names are Question and Answer... They are just yelling at each other... Though it's mostly answer who does all the yelling... I swear they bicker like gay lovers...," Oddball explained. "Huh?," Sweetie asked as she tried to define what he had just said. "Oh... Oh don't worry about it... And looky here... Dr. K's office..." Oddball said as he came upto a steel plated door way with the name Kilowatt inscribed on a gold plate. Oddball raised a hoof as high as he could trying not to shift the filly unicorn as best he could. He knocked on the steel door. The sound reverberated through the door and the surrounding walls. "Yes... Come in..." a voice said from behind the door. Oddball pushed the door open almost blinding Sweetiebelle. "Ah... Yes oddball and... Our little filly..." the doctor said as he turned to face the duo. "Dr. K... She is awake though still hurting... At least what I can tell" Oddball said as the doctor came closer. "I'm guess the medication wore off... Well then... We'll just have to get some more don't we?" the doctor said as he looked down at sweetie. "Hello... Now then can you tell us your name?" the doctor asked as he adjusted his glasses. "M...My name is S...Sweetiebelle..." the white unicorn said as she looked away from the spectacled pony. "Interesting..." the blackened white maned doctor said as he turned away. Canterlot: Royal palace: Infirmary 5:30 Am The doctor was met with a darkened hallway. He looked into the pitch-black hallway with a bit of fear rising into his stomach. He saw several of the lights hanging from the ceiling occasionally sparking as they swung and dragged across the tiled floor. He strained his eyes to see that at the end of the hall had a small light source coming from the left. He looked back at the group behind him as they came closer. He sighed as he took a step into the hall receiving an eerie echo when his hoof touched the tiled floor. He inhaled deeply catching the scent of freshly spilt blood and sterilization agents. He moved forward cautiously through the darkened hallway weaving between or over various items like gurneys or push carts. He glanced behind to see the group following close behind him staying in step. He glanced every so often to either side of the hall to watch for anything that could come out of the seemingly empty rooms.  Celestia followed behind the doctor careful not to drag her horn across the ceiling. She frowned at the low ceiling but sighed as she knew that it wasn't exactly made for alicorns to walk through. In fact she knew that much of the castles recent additions weren't made for anything bigger then the doctor. She lowered her head with  a sigh and continued forward inching away from a swinging light. She watched as the doctor raised a hoof and stop just before a corner to another hallway. She nodded and waited as the doctor inched his way around. A few seconds later he waved a hoof for them to follow. The princess obliged and moved forward stepping over a toppled over gurney. She came around the corner meeting a bright light and another gore filled scene. The room was a patient bed area. Along either side of the room were little cutout rooms. Many were covered by simple sheets for easy access in case of emergency. Several of these cutout rooms were drenched in blood and even a few had mutilated bodies. The doctor moved to examine one. The princess watched as the doctor looked intently over the body. He raised a hoof and rubbed his forehead as he examined the body and turned with a frown to the group. Celestia felt her stomach churn as she thought what could have done this. "Ay... Getting soft in your age?" Balthazarr said as he came close to the princess. She looked him over and frowned. "No... It's just you don't always get a chance to see the inside of someponies heart everyday... Literally" the princess said as she walked away scoffing at the gryphon.  "Heh... Sure," Balthazarr said with a chuckle. The gryphon began to idly walked around silently glancing at the various cutout rooms scanning the ceilings and walls. He frowned seeing that even the ceiling was not safe against the crimson onslaught from before.  He continued to idly walk around snapping his head back as he remembered the oddity of how the blood splatter was above him. The gryphon looked back at the ceiling seeing that a little stream had formed on it and lead elsewhere. He stopped and looked back at the group weighing his options finally he followed the odd red stream.  He was met with another dark hallway with a light that was flashing on and off barely giving life every so often. He slid his blade from its sheath as he crept through the hall inching one pawed foot out in front of the other. His armor clinked every so often making him cringe in the silence.  'If i had known i'd be crawling through a dark hallway with death at every corner... I would have dressed appropriately' he thought as he slowed his breath and listened for anything that didn't appreciate his company.  He came to the corner of the dimly lit hallway and waited a few seconds. Finally chancing a peek he looked over and saw nothing waiting. He swung back counting in his head he moved out down the adjoining hallway he felt relieved that it wasn't as dark as the last one.  He moved quickly down this one not stopping except to pass toppled push carts or beds. He continued moving hopping around another toppled gurney. he came to a brightly lit hallway he smirked as this was actually clean. He continued his way through the white hallway quietly snapping to his powerful sense off smell in place of his eyes as the lights flashed out sending the area into complete darkness.  He spun around sword raised to the ready for anything that may come. He spun back around to make sure nothing was trying to sneak up on him. After a few seconds of silence he exhaled as he continued forward coming to a tee in the hallway. He looked down either hall, seeing as both were equally dark he took the one to his right walking down the hall he spotted a long dark window start near his left. He crawled  cautiously past it watching the darkened room for any movement.  He inched closer to look into the room and sighed as nothing seemed to be visible and turned away. He jumped in shock as a loud thud was heard behind him turned to see that a pony wearing a lab coat was banging on the window. "Help... Help me please... Th..they...they are everywhere... Wait... What's... Oh... Celestia they are in here... Please help me!!" the pony pleaded as he banged on the window more frantically. Balthazarr ran to the window. And saw a red flashing light beeping in the back ground. He began to bang on the window as well trying to break through. He went faster as a small dark shadow was seen in the flashing red light. "Hurry... Please!!!" the longways looking back at the small figure as it grew closer.  "It's coming!!" the pony screamed as Bal began to slam the butt if his sword into the window. "It won't break!!" the gryphon barked as the the pony turned his back. The pony frantically looked to either side of him and jumped to the nearest object and threw it in between him and the figure. The pony then backed up as close as he could to the window and looked at the gryphon with tears in his eyes. "Don't go to the nur-..." the pony was silences as a fleshy spike pierced the back of his head and was embedded into the glass window. Balthazarr jumped backwards as the impact finally registered. The gryphon cursed himself and turned away running away from the cracked window and down the nearest hall. He turned right going down another dark hallway depleting what had happened a few moments before cursing himself for not being able to break through the glass. Then he thought about what the colt had said before he died. "Don't go to the nurs-..."  he said aloud finally slowing down to a stop. He stood silently to think of what the pony had said just before it had died. 'Was he talking about nurse's lounge?' the gryphon thought momentarily deep in thought he looked up to see where he was. He was in another dark hallway same as the last except that there were two long glass windows at either side and both were covered with a sheet. He turned to find a way back to the group. He froze as he heard another sound. Not one like the thumping on glass but   of crying. He turned as he tried to locate were the sound was coming from. He inhaled to himself trying clear the air of any other sous then the one he wanted. He inched forward passing a creaked doorway to his right he faced it and put a clawed hand out to push it open. The door creeped open to a large dark room. The gryphon could pick out the smell of urine and even more sterilization agents. He inched forward cringing as the emergency lights flashed to life. The room was now awake with bright red and yellow flashing lights. The gryphon saw the room was a nursery he walked past several empty baby beds. He looked away hopping they had not been succumbed to the hell he now faced. He sighed as he knew that it was only wishful thinking. He continued forward passing another bed this one splattered with blood. He looked forward trying to listen for the sound again. The gryphon heard the sound as he got closer to another room blocked by a door. He reached out and grabbed the knob pulling the door to him. He came to another room with several more beds but these had plastic coverings over them. He moved forward looking away as he saw that many of the beds had sleeping yearlings within them. He turned trying to think of what to do in this situation. If he left they could die if he doesn't find help they and him still die. Then he felt a pit build up in his stomach as he heard a loud angry hiss behind him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder and saw a shadow hunched through the doorway. He turned to face the figure who raises it's head and looked at the large gryphon. Balthazarr looked over the figure to see that it was a nurse pony who was drooling from her mouth. "You shall not pass..." the gryphon whispered as he raised leveled sword to the insane pony standing a few feet from him. The nurse growled as she sunk down low then sprung into a lunge at the guarding gryphon. Balthazarr swiftly raised his sword in the air piercing the nurse through it's neck splattering blood around from the entry and exit holes. Balthazarr felt the warm liquid splatter across the unarmored parts of his body keeping his mouth tightly closed as not to have any contaminated blood seep inside. The gryphon swung his sword downward the pony slipped of its body falling limp as the gryphon kicked it away sliding back through the door.  Several more shadows rose from between the beds and began to hiss at the gryphon. Balthazarr inhaled as he readied his blade once more. The first shadow charged at him growling as it included the space between them. The armored gryphon dug his blade into it's chest causing the thing screech and squirm wildly in pain.  Bal silently pushed the blade deeper into it's body. The impaled pony continued to angrily flail at the gryphon, till he kicked it off his blade causing it to fall backwards onto the floor with a plop silencing it temporarily. The gryphon quickly marched up to it  and implanted the sword directly into the pony's faces end it and receiving a spurt of blood across his chest plate. Bal stood as he ripped his blade from the tiled floor pulling out bits of brain matter and tile on it's accent.  The gryphon panned his vision to see two other figures lurking right outside the doorway staring at the gryphon. It seemed as if they we're watching him waiting for him to screw up. Silently both the gryphon and the entities stared at each other waiting for the right time. The gryphon grunted finally charging for the closest thing and slamming into it with a loud clang knocking it away into several beds. Balthazarr panned his peripherals as the second figure quickly came up behind him. The gryphon shuffled his feet as he spun around swinging his sword around decapitating the ponies head. Blood sprayed from the hole in it's neck as it's head slammed against a nearby wall. Bal exhaled as he watched the body try to move on it's own, eventually dropping to the ground splurging blood across the floor and in a few other directions. Bal flicked his blade sending blood away from it. The gryphon turned away back into the room and looked over nursery beds. He sighed with relief as they hadn't been harmed.  He turned away back to the door and closed it. He took his sword and etched a giant X into it's face so he could remember what door it was. He exhaled as he turned away to return to the group soon freezing as he heard the sound of breaking glass. He turned to see that a figure shadowed by the darkness had broken through the window in the room.  Bal readied his blade again as he looked at the figure. The gryphon tried to psych himself up to fight but felt off about the silent figure. He gave the figure a look over, it didn't wildly attack him nor did it attempt to do anything against him ,instead it silently stood. "What say you?" the gryphon barked hoping for an answer, receiving no response from the shadowed pony.  Bal waited a few more seconds then barked again."What say you?!" The pony stood silently staring at the gryphon who returned the action with just as much intensity. The figure finally let out an ear piercing screech. The gryphon felt his head want to explode as it broke several of the glass windows and cracked several of the floor tiles. The gryphon dropped to his knees his sword clanging to his side as the screech continued on. Suddenly water sprinklers flashed to life drenching the place in water. The screeching finally ceased and Bal sighed with relief as he tried to clear his hazed vision. He saw the figure start to enclose on him. The gryphon searched for his sword his eyes still blinded by the haze. He felt his clawed hand grasp onto it and pulled it towards him. He then used it to help steady his body as he stood. The gryphon felt his equilibrium was destroyed as he tried to balance himself. He wobbled as he tried to stand on his feet, dropping to his knees as his body defied his wishes. He could see the figure was close only a few beds separated the two.  The gryphon could see better then before but not as well as he wanted. Balthazarr raised himself once more his blade imposter into the ground as a makeshift pillar. He calmed himself as he concentrated his mind willing his body to become like a rock. He rooted his legs into the ground feeling the stability of it. He opened his eyes seeing the figure was closer.  The figure opened it's mouth and rearing it's head back to release another ear shattering screech. Balthazarr stood as his glove began to glow green. He raised his hand and concentrated as the figure released it's attack. Bal raised his arm quickly as a green orb surrounded him. Tge sound waved smashed into the orb sending waves across it's surface and into other directions. Bal watched as the figure closed it's mouth to stop the attack. The pony reared itself as it began another attack. "Oh no you don't..." Bal whispered as he charged his glove once more. He counted in his head as he waited for it to release the deafening screech. The figure snapped it's mouth open and Bal retorted with a green bolt from his glove slamming into the pony's mouth. The pony released the screech at it's full force but no sound came out instead it built up pressure causing the figures head to explode sending chunks of grey matter across the room. quickly Bal turned away shielding himself from the gore. "Never really liked loudmouths...," Bal whispered as he scanned the room for more enemies. "Balthazarr!" a voice called causing the gryphon to jump at it's origin. "Ay it's me... What do Y'a want?" Balthazarr said as he sheathed his sword. Celestia and the doctor walked up to the gryphon eying the debris from the battle before. "I see you... Met the welcoming committee?" Celestia asked with a chuckle.  "Well you could say that... Anyways I found survivors..." the gryphon said as he turned away moving towards the doorway. The doctor and Celestia followed close behind. Balthazarr opened the door and looked inside and turned away frowning.  The gryphon moved away silently the doctor and princess looked at each other with confused looks as to what was going on. The doctor sighed as he opened the door and moved inside. The princess waited outside till the doctor came out also carrying a frown on his face. "I wouldn't go in there..." the doctor said solemnly as he inched away. The princess took a nervous step back as she thought about the reactions she saw of the previous two and chanced a peek. The doctor silent followed behind the gryphon down a narrow corridor slowing as the gryphon came to a stop. The doctor watched as the gryphon leaned on a wall and slowly slid down. "How did it happen?" the doctor asked as sincerely as possible. The gryphon sat silently for a few moments not looking up or making any movements making the doctor feel uncomfortable in the eery silence. "I guess it was the damn screecher..." the gryphon finally replied sinking lower to the ground. The doctor silently looked at the large gryphon that sat in front of him. The gryphon shifted slightly making the doctor move back a bit. "What do you mean screecher?" "Oh... I don't know... Just something I named it... Aptly titled if you ask me," Balthazarr said looking up at the doctor. The doctor looked at the gryphon noticing a sad glint in the creatures red iris'd eye.  "What did it do?" the doctor asked moving closer and sitting next to the gryphon. Balthazarr chuckled to himself and looked at the pony in the eye. "Are you dim? It's in the name it screeches... Really loudly..." the gryphon said sarcastically. The doctor just sighed as he rolled his eyes. "So that's why-..." the doctor was interrupted. "Apparently... It wasn't a sound proof room" the gryphon said looking back down at the floor. The doctor put a hoof around his shoulder and nodded. "You did what you could... You tried" the pony said removing his hoof and looking away. "I cou-..." the gryphon was interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. The two hopped up quickly and ran down the hall to see what was happening. They turned left then followed straight ending in a right finding the origin of the sound. "Princess are you ok?," Doctor Freemane cried as he landed into the nursery. He jumped back as he saw the princess and dragon emperor wrapped into a set of large tentacles. It looked as if a giant octopus had them wrapped up. "What in the name Ozamarr is that?!?" Balthazarr batched as he to finally saw the thing. He watched as Celestia and R'a tried to break free from the mass of mutated flesh. He unsheathed his sword looking at the doctor who stood dumbfounded at what was in front of him. "How in Celestias name are we going to... Beat that?" the doctor asked still gawking at the thing. The gryphon ran past picking up the pony in an arm. Just barely missing an incoming tentacle. The mass of tentacles waved around violently smashing things. One tentacle slammed into the floor creating a massive ravine in the room. The doctor looked at the destruction in a wide eyes haze. "Doctor!" Balthazarr calle out trying to snap the pony out of his trance. He growled as he smacked the pony across the head. "This be no time for gawking... Now tell me do you know what this beast be?" the gryphon barked. "I... I... I.." was all the doctor could say before he received another clawed hand across the face. "Stop ya stuttering... Do you or do you not know what this be?" the gryphon said again. The doctor stood seeing the change in the gryphons behavior a few moments before he was acting like he was on his last leg but now he's like he's in a war. "Doctor don't make me hit you again" the gryphon threatened. "I... I'm sorry it just... Whatever first off... Ow that hurt and second yes while I am what could be an expert my research hasn't covered this... This... Thing extensively" the doctor said pacing back and forth. Balthazarr growled as he smashed a nearby piller. "What do you know?" the gryphon barked. "It's... Weak against fire" the doctor replied sheepishly. "Fire?... Huh..." the gryphon said as he ran off down another hallway. "Where... What about... A'h... Buuuck" the pony said as he paced around. Sighing he picked up a nearby Iv. Rack and held it like a bat in his mouth. He inched into the nursery where the mass of tentacles still held it's deathly grip on the dragon and pony princess. He raised his head shakily. "Pumph theh primphses dowvn!" the doctor said in a muffled voice. He stood staring at the tentacles that didn't do anything but aimlessly flail around in the air.  "Ahy saihd pumph theh primphses dowvn!" the doctor said as he charged at the nearest tentacle and driving the metal Iv rack into it's flesh. Blood splurged out of the puncture hole like a cut in a water hose. The doctor jumped back as a tentacle moved and smashed the area he was just in knocking a part of the ground onto the next floor below. the doctor galloped around picking up another Iv rack he carried it around hopping over a tentacle the tried to sweep under him. The doctor stabbed the metal object deep into the next nearest tentacle receiving a loud screech of anger from the thing. Blood began to pool around the ground making the floor slippery. The doctor did his best to keep his balance but slipped smashing his face into the tiled floor. The doctor 's face stung with pain as he tried to crawl back to his hooves. He sighed as he saw his lab coat was covered in dark blood. Another tentacle tried to smash down on him. The doctor jump away almost getting hit by a flying chunk of floor. Another tentacle smashed into a nearby wall causing half of it and part of the ceiling to cave in .The doctor galloped away as chucks of concrete, tile, and rebar fell down on behind him.  The doctor dodged a chunk of ceiling the came crashing down piercing two floors below him. The doctor galloped away from the tentacles. He chanced a look back to see the princess but only saw the tip of her horn and the dragons tale. He sighed as he galloped towards the nearest door he frantically tugged trying to open it. The door finally gave way and the doctor almost screamed as Hesse the gryphon behind it next to a rack of oxygen tanks. "Get behind me" the gryphon said as he crushed the pressure valve of one of the tanks with his gloved hand. The rack of tanks flew towards the tentacle mass Balthazarr raised his arm and aimed at the metal rack and charged his glove as a greenish red light encircled it moving like an atom with energy whisking around into a shape of a small ball. The gryphon focused his strengh as the ball grew larger coming to the size of a rock he screamed as the ball became to huge soon it was sucking in rocks and thing around the area. The doctor watched as some wall paper got sucked into it. It was like a bright green black hole being created the tentacles still angrily beat on the doorframe then Balthazarr released it sending the ball into the tanks. The gryphon curled around the pony slamming the door shut behind him. A loud boom was heard denting the door with a massive crater from the opposite side. The two silently waited till they felt it was safe to move. "Wha... What was that?" the doctor asked checking to see if he was all in one piece. "Ay... That... That my friend is what you could call a spell of sorts... members of my house are especially adept at it's casting our only problem is it takes much time to cast... And if done improperly... One can die from it" the gryphon said as he slid down a nearby wall. "I'm gonna check on the princess" the doctor said putting a hoof on the door. "Ay... You do that... I need to rest" the gryphon said quietly. The doctor pushed open the door to the charred and broken room he was just in. A hole in the ceiling allowed some moonlight to shine in illuminating the areas that weren't lit up by the numerous fires that sat around the room. "Princess?" the doctor called as he hopped over a fried tentacle. He heard the sound movement over by his left and anxiously jumped to it as best he could. A tentacle rose up in front of. "Aw... Come-..." the doctor was interrupted as the tentacle started to glow yellow and finally explode covering the pony in blood and bit of flesh. "That's... For trying to eat me!" a regal voice barked from behind the doctor. "Princess! Your ok" the doctor exclaimed happily. The princess just smiled as R'a came around from behind her. "Well see this here beaten it we've done" the dragon said nodding "Trashed my robe though be" "Doctor... Where is Balthazarr?" princess Celestia asked causing the doctor to frantically look around. "I... I he was behind me... Perhaps he's in the room... Come with me" the doctor said as the trio made their way to the dented doorway. The doctor Placed a hoof on it pushing it open. He sighed as he saw the gryphon lying in the corner of the room. "Hey... Baltahzarr..." thedoctor called. The gryphon didn't move or respond to the pony's call. "Hey Bal..." the doctor tried again. He looked at the princess who held a frown on her face. The doctor nodded as he went to the gryphons body and placed a hoof near his neck and sighed silently with a bit of relief. "He's alive... Asleep... But, alive he needs the rest" the doctor said turning towards the princess. "What is it we will be doing now" R'a chimed in. "I vote for staying and finding that patrol pony, the one we came here for" a gravely voice said. The doctor turned to see Balthazarr awake and trying to stand. "Who there your not fit to stand... At least- not yet" the doctor said pushing the gryphon back down. Balthazarr growled as the pony held him down but merely grunted as his body refused to unco-operate with the pony. "Princess I say its to dangerous we can send in the court guards or the Special Ops assault ponies... We must get the gryphon to an infirmary and prepare to evacuate the castle" the pony said. "oy... This gryphon has a name and what's the point of preparing an evac. if we don't even know how close it is or if it's even going to come near here" the gryphon barked grunting as his side started to cramp. Freemane came close and applied a bit of pressure to ease the gryphons pain. "R'a what do you say?," Celestia said looking back at the dragon. "I say?... Hmmm... I say take the obvious choice... Most often it's beneficial" the dragon said walking away. "Well... That wasn't... Really helpful... Now was it?" Freemane said scratching his head a bit. "Ay... But enough of this what say you princess?" the gryphon barked again. Princess Celestia stood silently mulling over her options having a vicious mental battle over staying and finding the patrol pony or leaving and getting the gryphon medical attention. "I've come to a decision... We will get Balthazarr medical attention then I will return and search for the patrol pony... Freemane you can assist with the evacuation and R'a can coordinate the defenses. "WHAT?!?... princess you can be serious returning here by yourself is not very safe and... What if you get bit... There's no way of knowing weather or not you can get infected" the doctor pleaded. Celestia sighed as she moved closer to Balthazarr. "It's a risk I may not have a choice in making... Now we need to move this bird," Celestia said with a chuckle receiving a silent glare from Balthazarr. "I'm not just a bird" the gryphon barked as Celestia's horn began to light up with a bright yellow aura. The aura grew from her horn wrapping around the gryphon like a sparkly yellow blanket. The gryphon started to float into the air and landed on Celestias back. "Well I can't really say that was lifting... But it was weird" the gryphon said trying to settle in.  "hold tight..., "Celestia said as she started to leave the room. Bal held as tight as possible trying not to choke the princess. The came into the nursery meeting the doctor and dragon emperor. "Princess... I informed the dragon of our plan... He was a bit... Accepting of it" Freemane said sheepishly. Celestia nodded and turned to the doorway out of the nursery. "We should start moving" Celestia said as she came closer to the broken doorway.  "Yes... It'd be best to make haste" R'a included. The group quickly moved out of the room trying to move as fast as possible. They took the first right then hung left coming to a littered hallway. Freemane led occasionally pushing junk away that was blocking progression.  They turned down another hallway. This one was pitch black except for a flashing red light at the end. Celestia lit her horn illuminating the area. The hallway was filled with toppled blood covered gurney's and tool stands.  The doctor and dragon moved up and pushed as much as they could out of the way. Once the majority of junk was cleared the doctor continued to lead the group through going down another dark hallway this was clear but the walls were drenched in dried crusty blood. The group continued to run through the halls taking another right they pasted a few open doors. Celestia could see figures from inside the shadows of the open rooms. "Be careful we may have some escorts joining us," Celestia said with a chuckle as she rounded another corner.  "Perhaps- It would be best to... Hurry up" the dragon said looking back to see a shuffling group of figures begin to grow larger behind them. The group rounded another corner. A figure lunged out from a nearby wall. Celestia slid away from the attacker barely getting out of it's reach. Freemane still leafing the pack rounded a right coming to a set of double doors. He tensed his body as he slammed into them. The doors burst open almost falling off their hinges. The doctor continued galloping forward as the hallway began to fill with the light from Celestia's horn. "Almost there!" the doctor called back. He turned his head to see how far away the group was and sighed as he saw they were nowhere near him. Slowing down he turned back to meet up with the group. He heard a crash of glass from behind him. He turned to see three figures come from the shadows. He walked backwards as the figures began to enclose the distance on him. Then the figure in the center began chargers him abnormally fast. "A doctor is only as good as the patients he operates on" The figure cried as it flew past the doctor. "They hay?!" the doctor screamed as the figure zipped past him again. "27 percent of doctors only have a masters degree!" the figure said continuing it's rant as it slammed into the doctor sending him crashing into a nearby wall. The figure was in front of him now about to slam it's hooves deep into his side. The doctor curled up as tight as possible and waited for the impact but instead smelly the stench of burnt flesh. "Doctor I believe it's time to start running again" the princess said standing over the doctor. The doctor nodded as he quickly scrambled to his hooves. He went back to leading the group through another set of double doors. The came to a wide room with receptionist desk all around. The doctor looked around for another doorway. He smiled as he found one and quickly ran to it slamming it open. He came to another darkened hallway with a flashing light the hung lazily from the occasionally sparking as it drug across the ground. The doctor swiftly went around it followed by Celestia. He turned another corner almost falling into a crater in the hall. He looked down it to see that it went downward for about two more floors.  "We need to turn back it's a de-..." the doctor was interupted as an infected pony leaped out of the hole in the floor. Celestia reflexively jumped over the doctor intercepting the infected pony. Balthazarr flew off landing on the tiled floor with a loud thud cracking several of the tiles in his impact. Celestia landed on top of the infected pony using her weight she held it down as it snapped at her. One of it's hooves got free am smashed into the side of her face as it slid off it left a dark brownish red spot. It brought another this time hitting her jaw and causing a thin red stream of blood to drip from her lip. It screeched as it noticed the stream of crimson. Celestia continued to try and hold it down. She used her horn to create a bind around it's legs. She concentrated as a new aura began to wrap around it flailing legs straightening them out  and holding them firmly together. She began to relax as the ponies squirms began to slow to a stop. "Princess we need to kill it" the doctor said coming close to the princess. "Doctor... It... He may be flesh hungry or blood thirsty but... I cannot simply kill him... It's not my place to kill another pony" the princess said solemnly. The doctor nodded silently and turned away. "So what are going to do with-... Him" the doctor said looking back at the princess. Celestia sat quietly mulling over what she would do. "I say we t-... Arggh" the princess was interrupted as the infected dug it's teeth into her neck. Silver blood began to pour from her neck as the infected gripped hard with it's teeth. The infected let go as it tired to go for another bite but was stopped as R'a slammed his staff into it's mouth. The infected continued to try and bite through the metal bar. The dragon chuckled at it's feeble attempts but sighed as it twisted the bar. A loud crack came from the infected pony's neck silently falling over. The dragon inhaled slowly and looked over at the wounded princess. "Princes Celestia... You... Your bit" the doctor said trying to inspect the bite area. He frantically tried to keep pressure on the princess's neck to stop it from bleeding even more. Silver liquid kept seeping through his hooves.  "Princess hold on... Somepony please get me some gauze, a towel, something ,anything to stop the bleeding" the doctor yelled out. R'a took the edge of his robe and tore off a long strip and handed it the doctor who also tore it in half. Taking one half he folded it into a little square and placed it on the wound. He then took the other half and tightened it around her neck. He tied it as best he could tugging on it to test it's strength.  "It's not deep... But, we need to leave... Now if she's gonna live" the doctor said standing up. He looked around at the dragon and gryphon. "She's bit now..." the gryphon said silently as he used his sword to stabilize himself. "I know... But she's a godess... We don't know how her body would react to it..." the doctor said as he tried to hoist the now unconscious Celestia onto his back. "And what if she isn't?" the gryphon said picking up the princess carrying her. "Well... I don't know" the doctor replied as he tried to lead the group away from dead end. "Fausticorn help us if she turns"