Screams erupted as the pegasi team approached the farm. There were only three left. They were being chased by a herd of flyers. Twilight rushed to the entrance. "Ponies, get your weapons! We need to help them!" She called.
Ponies rushed and gathered their guns. Unicorns took the front line and fired magic blasts at the flyers. Flyers were knocked out of the air. One of the pegasi were blasted out of the air by a crossfire shot, and the other got ganged up on by a couple of flyers.
The remaining pegasus, Cloudchaser, was bit by a flyer at the last second, and she rolled into the farm barricade with the zombie hanging onto her leg. She screamed in pain, and three hoofguns fired at the zombie, killing it quickly.
Twilight rushed to Cloudchaser's side. She was screaming in pain, but Twilight grabbed her and shook her to attention.
"What's the message?! Please, tell us!" She pleaded the pegasus.
Cloudchaser nodded, tried to fight tears, and clenched her teeth as she calmed herself. "I-It's Canterlot..." She whispered.
"What about Canterlot?!" Twilight asked.
"It's s-safe...Canterlot is Zom F-free..." Cloudchaser passed out, and Applejack and Big Mac gathered her up. They galloped away to Nurse Redheart's tent so they could tend to her injuries.
Canterlot... Twilight thought. Canterlot is safe!
Intro
Twilight took her post on top floor of the barn. "Attention Ponyville!" She called. "I have an announcement to make!" The ponies dropped what they were doing and gathered up to hear the news.
"Earlier, the pegasi patrol that was sent to find other survivors delivered a message. They lost all but three on the trip their and back, and two were lost near the farm. Cloudchaser is in medical care as we speak. A moment of silence for these brave heroes."
The crowd of ponies bowed their heads in respect as the names of the lost pegasi were etched on the side of the barn.
"The pegasi did not die without success. A message has been delivered. We have hope. We know where we can find a safe haven." Ponies gasped in shock and whispers rose among the crowd. "News is that Canterlot is zombie free, and much more safer than the farm."
Things went out of control. Ponies erupted into arguments left and right. "Attention!" Twilight called. "Hey! Everypony just shut up!" The arguments quieted down.
A pony stepped up. "Why would we leave? What if it's not true?" He called.
"I believe that if the pegasi team saw it for themselves, they are right. Plus, Canterlot was far from the center of the outbreak and they have had more time to prepare, and it is hard to get there, defending it would be easy." She explained.
Applejack stepped up. "What about the injured? What about the children, and the elderly? That won't be able to walk for so long, Twilight!" She said.
Twilight sighed. "I'm unsure of what we are supposed to do for now, but in due time, I decision will be made." She ducked her head. Ponies departed, and Applejack stared at Twilight for the longest time, until she went off to overlook work.
"It's hard to convince people, isn't it?" Twilight was startled by the sudden appearance of Secret. "Did I scare you again?" He asked with a smirk.
Twilight rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what you're thinking." He said, taking a seat beside her.
Twilight sighed. "If you insist." She said, raising her head. "I believe we would be much safer in Canterlot, obviously. The problem is getting there. We've had too many injuries lately. Children and elders can't go on with too much physical fitness, either."
"Seems like a pickle." Secret said, handing her an apple.
Twilight took the apple and smiled. "Thanks." She said. "What do you think?"
"I think that a decision should be made in due time." He said. "You're in charge, you know what's best."
Twilight glared at the stallion's failure to give good advice, but he already went over to Pinkamena and gave her an apple. The only way they could feed her is to add blood as a topping. Secret was fine with the blood donations, so long as it's for a good cause. He carefully took off the cloth that covered her mouth and stepped back as she ate the apple. She ate it like an animal, she had no sense of manners anymore. She was hungry for blood, and this is the only way she could get it.
After the mare had finished, Secret held her muzzle shut as he pulled the cloth back over her mouth. She tried to bite and struggle, but she was in no position to get an advantage. Secret soon had the mad mare in her original place, and he looked at Twilight. "I know you got the heart." He added before disappearing down the ramp. Twilight sighed.
We can't stay here forever. She thought.
Applejack handed Granny Smith a slice of apple pie. "Ya need to eat, Granny." Applejack told the old pony. She could tell that Granny has been getting too old. Granny Smith would barely get out of her rocking chair anymore. She spoke very little to none, and her words were getting harder to comprehend. Applejack knew her time was coming, but she didn't want to think about it.
"C'mon Granny." She urged. "Ya need to eat."
"Ah ain't got no appetite." The old mare spat.
"Ya gotta!" Applejack told her.
"Listen kiddo." Granny Smith began. "You and Ah both know Ah ain't got much longer to live. Ah tell ya, Ah'm not gonna be wastin' food that another starving child gonna need."
Applejack was shocked, and tears clouded her eyes. "But Granny..." She began.
"No buts, kid." She snapped. "What you need to do, is let me go in peace."
"What do ya mean?" Applejack asked.
"Ah heard what Twilight said. Ah think y'all should head out to Canterlot. Take everything. This farm's but an old treasure." Granny looked outside the window. "Ah'd like to be the last mare to stand guard, if ya may."
Applejack tried to say something, but she wasn't able to make out the words. She sighed. "Alright, Granny." Applejack mumbled. She took the shotgun off the wall and handed it to Granny Smith.
"Do me a favor, Applejack." Granny said. "Protect ya family. It's all ya got."
Applejack nodded. "Ah will." She turned and trotted out sadly.
"Granny said so. We better do it." Applejack said, sitting next to Twilight on top of the barn. "And we even got a couple carts. We could use 'em to carry supplies and the injured. Maybe even fit some fillies."
"Could you convince the others?" Twilight asked.
"It'll be too easy." Applejack said.
"I trust you, AJ." Twilight said.
Secret came up behind Applejack. "I hear a solution, if my ears do not trick me." He said with a smile.
Twilight nodded. "We're going to Canterlot." She said. "We better rally everybody, we're leaving tomorrow."
"Already on it." Secret said, heading down the ramp. Very soon, Spitfire and Soarin' went flying around the farm, gathering everypony and setting things in motion. Secret went back up the ramp.
"Ah'm gonna help." Applejack said, rushing out to help the others.
Twilight looked at Secret. "Thanks." She said, smiling.
"Anything to help." Secret said, gathering the rifle. As she watched, Twilight couldn't help to wonder who that stallion really was.
"Everypony ready?" Rainbow Dash asked, landing near Twilight. Twilight nodded.
"Let's get a moving, everypony!" Applejack called, causing an uproar of cheers as the ponies began to parade out of Sweet Apple Acres.
At that moment, the survivors' odyssey has begun.