//------------------------------//
// Chapter One 
// Story: Infected 
// by SaphiraHitakai 
//------------------------------//

Chapter one.

Talking: "..."

Thinking: '...'

Disclaimer: I do not own MLP that right goes to Hasbro, and Lauren Faust. The Fan-fiction idea is mine though.

A year had passed after Twilight Sparkle became a princess, yet now she was examining a whole new threat, worst than Nightmare moon, Discord, and the Queen on the changelings Chrysalis combined. A blood-thirsty virus has infected ponies of Equestria, turning them into mechanic killing machines, all under the new rule of Red Shadow, a vicious earth pony who's a complete maniac. The purple alicorn studied the virus, yet she ruffled her feathers annoyed. 'How could somepony create such an evil thing?' She thought scratching her violet colored mane with a light purple, and light pink stripe, with her purple hoof. Twilight moved back for a moment sighing, yet she recalled a future message, warning her of a bloody war to come.

"Twilight, are you ok?" Spike the dragon asked, yet he still looked the same as always, being a purple baby dragon with green ears, spikes and underbelly.
The princess nodded. "I dunno Spike, this new threat could destroy our beloved Equestria, so we have to do our best to stop this virus from taking anymore victims, just like it took Pinkie Pie." She stated sadly remembering how painful it was for her friend to go through such phases of the virus.
"Yeah, I wish there was some way to cure her, and the others." Spike stated since the virus had infected a group of ponies as well as plants and animals, like Fluttershy's bunny.
Artic Storm came beside her, the young mare's white fur gently nuzzled Twilight's hoof. "Are you ok teacher?" She asked staring at Twilight's violet colored eyes with her own ruby red eyes.
"No, because without Pinkie Pie, we cannot use our elements of harmony." The princess replied sadly.
Artic Storm looked at Twilight's notes on the virus. "Teacher, just only a month ago my vision had came, and I warned you of this. Yet not even the princesses Celestia and Luna together and undo this virus, how can we do it?" The unicorn mare asked, rubbing her icy blue mane with her hoof.
"We'll find away Artic, besides we got the magic of friendship on our side." Twilight stated as Spike read the notes, which he never had the chance to.
Dropping them he stepped back horrified, letting out a small cry. "Th-this is what happens to a pony?!" He gulped as Twilight brought him close to comfort the dragon.
"I didn't want you to see those Spike, but yes, its true." The princess sighed, yet Artic Storm scooped up the notes.

In Twilight's writing, which was labeled 'The Phases of the Virus' told Artic Storm how the virus affects others. The first stage a piece of a metal fragment is seen on a leg, arm, or body, if removed the virus is delayed for a short time, but rips off some skin when removed. The second phase, more metal fragments are seen, yet the infected starts to bleed out of their eyes, but also skin is ripping off the hooves of the victim. The third phase makes the pony look like a cyborg with a huge blood pool surrounding them, yet causes the victim to go into a frenzy of pain, kicking and screaming as their skin was being ripped off more. The fourth and final stage turns the victim into a mecha robot, causing red eyes to glow, and the only thing on their mind was to 'kill' anything and everything. Artic Storm gulped, but read the ways you can get infected. 'If the blood gets into your system somehow you can get infected, if you drink infected water, if you eat infected foods, if you're bitten by an infected, wow this list is long!' The white mare grew pale seeing it.

Back in ponyville, the ponies hid in their homes, but that didn't stop the heat-seeking robots, yet a mare with a red and orange mane came into view, as she laughed happily. "That's right, go and make me more loyal followers!" She grinned placing a knife like claw blade on her black hoof.
"Pegasi, carry as many as you can to the mountains!" A cyan mare known as Rainbow dash ordered, since Twilight had made her the leader of the Pegasi group platoon.
"Right!" Several pegasi yelled grabbing many earth and unicorns as they can, yet the mecha Pinkie Pie laughed.
"What an awesome party this is! I love hearing the screams, hehehe." She laughed, yet her voice was robotic like. "Hiya Dashie." She grinned flying using the newly formed rockets on her back.
Rainbow dash narrowed her eyes at the pink robot. "Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry, but it seems I have to fight you now." She stated but with one powerful mecha punch, Pinkie Pie sent Rainbow Dash flying into some houses, right near Red Shadow who laughed clapping her hooves.
"Leave her to me sweetie, and go after those cowards!" She ordered as Rainbow dash slowly got up.
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie Pie cooed charging after the others.
The cyan pegasus growled, but her hoof had been injured, as crimsom red blood stained the brown dirt floor. "You won't win, we will never surrender to you!" She shouted, but saw that her wing had also been injured. 'Damn it, I won't be able to dodge very good.' She thought, but soon more crimson red blood stained the ground.
"Pathetic pest." Red Shadow growled kicking the so called protector away, yet a small cry was heard from the older yellow pegasus.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted since her cheek had some of Fluttershy's blood on it. "That's it, you're going to pay dearly for that!" She snapped sticking a piece of broken glass right into Red Shadow's left eye causing the pony to stagger back in pain.
Red Shadow growled ripping it out, as blood ran down her cheek. "I'll enjoy killing you!" She snapped but was stopped by another pegasus in silver armor.

"Get going, now!" They stated since it was none other than Lone Wolf, Rainbow's best fighter. "I'll hold this one off."
The cyan pegasus hated to run, but she fled grabbing her injured friend. "Don't die, or become like Pinkie." She stated shooting off. Lone wolf only smirked and attacked smacking Red Shadow in the face with her silver hoof.
The black mare growled at the pale blue, purple maned taller mare. "I have no time for you." She growled retreating in a puff of smoke, by her loyal mecha follower.
"Damn." Lone wolf growled but left to find her friends.
Back at the groups Secret Base, Twilight appeared in front of them, with Spike and Artic Storm in tow. "Status report." She asked as Applejack came forward.
"Twi, we lost eight ponies, but managed to save Ponyville's folk." The orange mare stated, adjusting her brown cowpony hat.
Rarity was busy designing cool battle armor with the black smith, Ase Wolf. The white mare drew designs while the bulkier pale blue mare pounded the metal together.
Sacred Fire also known as 'Seika' was busy working on some bio-mecha since during the fight she knew ponies would be losing limbs and such, working her silver hooves to the bone.
"Twilight! Bad news!" Rainbow dash called coming in. Instantly Twilight's eyes widen seeing Fluttershy on the cyan mare's back.
"Fluttershy." Applejack stated but Finder, a red blind mare came over.
She smiled a bit examining the wound. "It's not life threating, but it did leave a chip of steel in the spine." She stated as Rainbow dash gulped. "Take her to the operating room, me and Shadow Blitz will have to carefully remove the piece, or it could paralyze Fluttershy."

Twilight nodded, yet now all Rainbow Dash could do is wait, pacing around the door, not carring for her sprained wing, and injured hoof. 'Red Shadow, you will pay for this.' Rainbow thought as the operation began.