//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: My Little Wendigo: Mutilation is Fun 
// by Gothic_Novel 
//------------------------------//

	Our beloved band of survivors crept through the ruins of Ponyville as quietly as they could manage, desperately trying to avoid confrontation with the horrible mockeries of their neighbors. A yell of surprise had come from Gothic's direction not long after they parted ways, but they knew it was too dangerous to try and save him. The number one rule in this world was to keep an eye out for your own. If someone decided to leave, they were no longer your responsibility. And so they traveled on, a little guilty, a little nervous, but otherwise no worse off than they had been. As they passed the brightly colored buildings that once housed their closest friends, the only thing that unnerved them more than the possibility of attack was the eerie silence. There was no sound at all, as if a glass dome had been placed around them to block out the ambiance of the world.

Their hearts lifted as they passed the last of the buildings. It saddened them to be leaving Ponyville, but at least they were away from the nightmares lurking in the heart of the town. They were so enthralled, in fact, that until Dinky spoke up, nopony had even noticed their dilemma. "...Where are we going?" The older ponies were stumped. Had they really been so caught up in leaving the village that they hadn't come up with a plan of where to go? The Everfree Forest would be just as dangerous as staying in Ponyville. All of the neighboring settlements were likely in a similar state of chaos. That left... Big Macintosh lifted his head slightly. Yes, this was the right road. "...Sweet Apple Acres," he drawled. "We can stay there a while, I reckon." And so it was decided, as nopony had any better ideas. They set off immediately along the long road to the Apple family homestead. it would take a little while to reach their destination, and it was about to rain, so they set off at a brisk pace. Unfortunately, it was not quick enough. Within minutes of their departure, the clouds, untended by a weather patrol that no longer existed, let loose with sheets of warm summer rain. They didn't mind. It had been days since they'd last bathed, after all.

Half an hour and twenty repetitions of "Are we there yet?" from the elder of the Hooves mares later, our brave group of comrades set foot -er, hoof- on the rich soil of Sweet Apple Acres. "Oh, it's perfect," Fluttershy exclaimed, smiling to herself. "We should be okay here for a while. ...R-right?" Big Macintosh nodded. "Eeyup." Now that he was back on his own turf, he felt far more confident than he had only moments prior. As long as he had his home and his friends, he wouldn't let any one of those monsters get too close. But at the same time, a cold jerk wrenched through his stomach. When he'd last left Sweet Apple Acres, his sister Applebloom had become one of the very things he had been fighting for the past week. And Applejack had- A loud blast startled the companions, and they dove for cover as a nearby tree was shattered. An angry voice cracked through the heavy air. "Oh no! Yer not comin' anywhere near Sweet Apple Acres, you freaks! Go back ta Hell where you belong!"  Big Macintosh's eyes widened and the piece of hay he constantly chewed fell from his mouth. "...Applejack?" he yelled back uncertainly.

Applejack squinted, blinded by the rain and her own hate. "Who's there? Show yourself!" She nearly fainted when her older brother and one of her best friends slowly came out of hiding.

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A light blue hoof touched down in the town square in the center of Ponyville. The place was a giant eyesore, as far as the unicorn it was connected to was concerned. Captain Stormy Skies of the lunar royal guard stepped up next to her. "Are you certain you're prepared for this, ma'am?" he asked hesitantly.

"Hmph!" The unicorn scoffed. "Do not underestimate the great and powerful Trixie!"