//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: My little Zombie: Brains are Magic(continued) // by Micarder //------------------------------// The world of darkness began to tear away. It was a large room that had no end points, only dark grey clouds. In the centre, there was a scrawny looking colt, who was standing completely still. He was wearing a shirt around his head, a leather jacket, and denim pants. Applebloom tried to speak, but no sound came out. The colt opened his mouth, and he began talking. "I grew up in a world where smiles meant something, and friendship was our sign of peace. In those times, my dad told me that over and over and over. I was so normal for everyone. I never enjoyed it though. Dad just told me that it's been like this for a very long time, sorta like we took it as a living. I didn't want it like this, but he kneeled down one day. He said, 'There will be a day when it will all go away, and we are all that's left to remember it.' "That day came, and all I thought of were dad's words. I wanted to go outside to find my friends, I needed to know if they were okay. He told me he wanted to stay. I didn't want to until he said, 'If you're killed, then it will just be me with memories of us and mom.' I stayed. I always heard the phrase, 'some ponies just want to watch the world burn,' and I wondered if my friends were wanting that, or if ponies actually wanted that dream, as it was a reality then. "It had already been a couple weeks. We still held up In Ponyville, but we moved into an old art gallery. My dad worked his old blacksmithing skills, and we put up defences. It was pretty standard like wooden planks on windows but my dad made barb wire and filled in gaps that were in the window. I remembered he told me, 'best not tell anypony I know how to make this stuff.' I knew about this from history, but he told me, 'one of these days, I won't be able to tell you these stories." "We survived for nothing, but we lived by a code. The code was that we must keep finding something to fight for. It definitely helped, when one day, we strolled out, and a huge herd moved in somehow. We boarded up the windows, but my dad got bit, and we had nopony to blame but ourselves, or, that's what I first thought. I heard a voice, but it was muffled by some sort of static. "Sorry I have already lost all my tears. He wanted to stay as 'useable' as possible. He said he was going to head out and scavenge for medicine. He actually went into the next room to get a weapon, so he can sneak out and... kill himself. I caught him in the midst of the act, but before he could answer, a small 'stick' pierced him. He dropped, dead, to the floor. I saw two little colts who had used their last arrow, on my dad. I knew who they were, and I took the knife my dad had carried on him. They admitted to shooting him, because he was armed. I told them I wanted them to be a pulp on the floor. They tried to run, but I was faster. I thought I had too much fun.. but then you talked me out of it, and our bonding began. I'll tell you I will miss those wings. The static-like voice faded out again. "The colts? Snips and Snails, I think. It doesn't matter anymore, cause' they're dead, and I took their bow. It helps a lot, and stuff like this bow is rare. I'll let you know what I thought of my dad. He tried to be a coward, when I could've ended it for him... If only he lets me help out more... maybe then, he would be here, giving me his bullshit stories." The colt finished his long speech, with an upset expression to end it, as it happened again. Applebloom saw another survivors vision. It felt so real. No, they all felt real. It was different, though. The last one was in the eyes of Pinkie. This vision was as if she wasn't even there. It was shorter too. It was just the survivor's thoughts. The potion was only supposed to show visions of how the infection began. It didn't make any sense. Applebloom regained consciousness. She was laying on a mobile camping cot. She was tucked in like a foal with a soft blanket. The room was square, and the color brown. All the walls, including the ceiling and the floor, were brown. No window, only a modified door, covered in metal platings, and a window that was shattered, and replaced with some sort of expertly compressed metal to act as bars at the other end of the room. "Applebloom!" A familiar voice called out. In the corner of Applebloom's eyes, was her companion. She leaped off her chair, and was racing across the room. Her excitement showed, as she hugged Applebloom, in fear she was never going to see her again. The weirdest thing was that the filly looked cleaner, and smelled way more refreshing than when Applebloom last saw her. "You began to scare me when you didn't wake up!" The filly exclaimed worriedly. "Wake up... from what?" Applebloom asked. A sharp pain pierced Applebloom's head as she leaned up from her bed. Applebloom moved her front right hoof to her head. She rubbed her bandages, with cloth on the left side of her head. "Where are we?" asked Applebloom. "My guess is that we're in what's left of the museum." replied the filly. The museum was a small building, located near the enterance of Ponyville's market district. It mainly held bits and pieces that foretold the discovery of Ponyville. The thing is, that many of the objects had once belonged to Applebloom's family. Applebloom looked across the room, to notice the metal door again. Applebloom knew that it was not a good sign. "Hello?" Applebloom called out. "Need something?" Asked a voice. Applebloom looked at the filly, who nodded at the blanket on the cot. Applebloom turned back to the door and said, "Do you think we may talk for a second?" A head came into view from behind the metal bars. Applebloom's heart sank when she realized it was the colt from her vision, the same clothing, as well with a set of brown eyes. "Hey!" the colt yelled. "What do you want!?" "Where are we?" Applebloom asked him. "The flower shop in Ponyville," answered the young pony. "The flower shop doesn't have doors like these!" Applebloom yelled. "Its makeshift. Look, if you're just going to ask questions, then I'm not answering. I have a headache. I don't mean to be rude, but I'd rather talk when my partner gets back." He moved from the door, and the floorboard began to maken an annoying creaking noise. "Ah, shit! Being in a house with a mad colt is just what I need!" "Mad colt?" The filly pondered. "I had another vision. It was him killing other colts. We need to get out-" "If he's insane, why would he give me a blanket for you?" she asked. "I don't know, but I think its a warning for him. We need to get out of here!" Applebloom looked around the room and saw the bars on the door. "The bars." Applebloom whispered. "Okay." the filly agreed. Applebloom stood by the door. The filly wrapped her magic around it and pulled back. a loud creak rang out from the bars. Applebloom grabbed hold of the bar with her mouth, and, with all her force, yanked off one of the bars. She dropped the bar on the floor, her teeth aching from the force of biting down onto the hard metal. She squeezed her head through the open space. Applebloom looked down and saw a wooden bar clamped down on the door. However, in the corner of her eye, she saw the colt standing there. He had his back legs raised, and ready to buck Applebloom. She tried to reach for the bar, but missed. She retracted her head, to hear a loud bang coming from the door. "You think you can be a little shit while I'm on guard? Kid, I got a whole lot more survival skills then you, or any your friends combined!" The colt yelled. "You can't keep us in here! THIS IS BULLSHIT!" Applebloom yelled. "I'll tell you what's bullshit!" he yelled, opening the door. "Getting my hooves dirty while I kick your dumbass friend!" The colt charged in and swung a hoof at Applebloom, who dashed back and tried headbutting him, missing the colt, who had jumped back. A magical aura enveloped the colt's far left hoof. The colt bucked Applebloom in the mouth. She was dazed, in a state of great pain. Applebloom could hear a cry from her friend. Applebloom turned to see the colt kicking the filly. Applebloom dashed forward and kicked the colt in the ribs. "GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Applebloom screamed at the colt. The colt quickly regained his balance and kicked Applebloom hard in the chest with his back leg. Applebloom couldn't breath, and lost her balance. Before she could recover, another blow in the head hit her. Applebloom regained her balance and spun, pretending like she was still dazed. The colt charged in for another assault, but was kicked in the head. His shirt fell from his head, and Applebloom saw his face. His head was still large, but he was even more muscular than last time. His brown mane that had straight cut bangs were now shaggy and uneven. He had freckles, and patches of brown fur, one noteably on the tip of his snout, that came back half way than his usual pure cream colored coat. He looks similar top Little Pip but not as big spots and a sinister feel about him. The biggest eye catcher was a large scar running down the left side of his face, "Featherweight?" Applebloom called out. Featherweight didn't say a word, and used Applebloom's shocked moment to strike her in the head. She hit the floor hard, sporting a bloody nose, looking up at Featherweight. "I just seem to be getting into the habit of fighting old friends," said Featherweight. He aimed a kick at Applebloom, who closed her eyes, and waited for the finishing blow. She waited a few seconds, then opened her eyes. Featherweight's hoof was dangling out in front of her face. Featherweight was motionless. Applebloom stood up, and ran over to the filly. "Sugarcube! Are you okay?" Applebloom asked. The filly was also frozen, who was knocked to the floor, with streaks of blood running down her grey coat. Her face was wet with tears. Applebloom shook the unmoving body, but to no avail. Applebloom's heart sank as she couldn't move either one of the two ponies. Applebloom considered the possibility of this as another vision. The door that lead out of the room was still wide open. Applebloom walked out and immediately felt uneasy. The room she walked into was a massive corridor, which seemed to span until infinity. The walls and ceilings were no different. The floor was sticky, which Applebloom was sure was blood. Standing in the middle, was a black mass of goo. It moved as Applebloom looked at it. It began to morph and shape until it bore the shape of a mare with jet black skin, and pure white eyes that shined like lights. "Hello?" Applebloom called out. "Yes?" The creature replied, in an oddly familiar voice. "Do I know you?" Applebloom intrigued. "You might, if you try." It said, as a yellow mane and tail with a red ribbon near the tip formed. "I can be very confusing." It said in a western accent," But it's really with other ponies, Those who only wish to find others they once lost." It's mane melted and faded away, replaced by a dark, curly blue mane and tail. "It's all in who you wish to seek." It said in a royal, high class accent. "I only wish to see those who want to find something." The creature shrunk to a filly size body. It's mane and tail wilted a curly pink and violet. "It's friends like you that are what I seek to help." Applebloom's heart sank as she realized whose voices these were. "I know of a good friend who desperately could use your help. She is very hungry." A massive figure fell from the sky, resembling a figure that of a mare. It was three times as big as Applebloom, and had a dark presence around it. It's fur was pure white with a mane and tail of a rainbow-like pattern that constantly moved. It's eyes were haunting with milky white pupils and iris. "Looks familiar, does it not?" The mass paused, expecting for Applebloom to answer. "It's okay to be shy in front of a princess, but we'll fix that." It's eyes, mouth, and nostrils melt away with its face. It's mane and tail rotted off, and to black tentacles burst out of it's back. "Ooooooh, the final touches. The mass grew a knife-like appendage, and slit it across where the old mouth was and made a vertical slit down it's chest, which oozed black slime. It's chest cut blinked, and turned into an eye with a silver iris. White lines swept across the pupil, which poked out slightly. A tongue was soon hanging from the eye. The cut on its head remained to be a black cut. "Hope this doesn't change our relationship!" The mass yelled. The creature stretched, and it's eyes saw Applebloom, which the creature laughed at, at an unusual rate. RUN RUN RUN, WHO COULD THAT BE? JUST THE FRIENDS YOU LEFT TO DIE!!!!!!