//------------------------------// // Zom-Pony Attack, Parts 1 & 2 // Story: Nucor's Counterattack // by Matthew Stone //------------------------------// The horror is only beginning in Fillydelphia, when the royal guards finally arrive to help the city police stop the green skinned zombie ponies. They set up a metal wall made with bronze and silver, assuming it’s the zombies’ weakness compared from what may have been used in the previous vampire attacks. Citizens ran far from the barrier as fast as they can, as instructed by the police officers. The royal guards fought well with their crossbows to have the slow movie zombies back away slowly, but it doesn’t make them stop. The zombies also chant the word “CELESTIA” with their bare teeth. At that time, they began banging on the barrier wall, and climbing over it. The royal guards are losing this battle. Nucor looks over at the horizon of the barrier shield, having his zombies pull him on a boned chariot. He’s wearing skeleton armor that’s colored charcoal grey, and he’s already holding a sharpened bone axe for his fighting weapon. “HAHAHAHA! YOU FOOLS! YOU WILL SOON BECOME ONE OF MINE!” Nucor laughs like a ill menace, “ZOMBIES, BITE AWAY! BITE! FEAST YOURSELVES AND ENJOY!” The zombies push over the royal guards, having them crack their bones as they fall from the wall. As the zombies land, they charge at their first targeted victims that catch their eye. One pony they start with is a teen female pegasi, who tries to run away from them, but gets caught by the leg and pulled back to be theirs. They then bite at her skin, having her scream and moan as she falls weak. Foam then bleeds out her mouth, as her eyes grow pale. It’s the call of turning into the undead pony. As Nucor watches, the zombie ponies also pull a cage on a skeleton wagon. Nucor approaches to see the victim inside. It’s a female zombie pegasi, and her cutie mark is a Nazi symbol with a skull in front. “I’m glad you’re coming with…” Nucor laughs, “Skull will love to see you… his own MOTHER!” The victim in the prison cage just moans, as she nods in understanding. There was a first guard block already set up near the Fillydelphia train station, as more of the royal guards get the citizens on board without having them go in order. They just get all of them, every last one. By then, the guards order the conductor to take the citizens far away on the train. The guards even choose to be left behind, willing to fight as much of these monsters with their own lives. As the call is made, the train leaves, having the similar sound of a ringing bell initiate the battle of the zombies and guards at the barrier. The royal guards reload and constantly shoot their crossbow arrows, aiming the spear weapons at their brains. The arrows pierce through the skulls, having the pink think body pieces fly off out of their flesh property. “KEEP FIRING!” a guard captain yells at the other fighters. One earth pony cop even fights alongside with them, also left behind. He refuses to leave duty from the only city he ever cared about. “GO AWAY!” the cop yells, firing his shotgun at the zombies. The zombies ignore those cries, only coming at full force as they climb up THIS barrier. As they come over, they BITE the guards on the necks, some even bit directly at their hooves, front and back. Nucor then flies in the sky for his power for the first time, as he laughs at the royal guard ponies’ screaming of pain. “Fillydelphia is now my property!” Nucor laughs, “Now… Baltimare is next…” Ian the diamond dog is walking down from Sugarcube Corner wit Pinkie Pie to take a special cake they made together to Canterlot, made for Twilight’s wedding. It is colored white and pink for the frosting, and the flavor they made it is devil’s chocolate. The two of them walk slowly, making sure the cake doesn’t tip over as they reach the train station. “I hope Twilight loves this.” Ian beams. “Flash will make a great groom!” Pinkie said, hopping, “But I should guess Twilight might get into a… teenie weenie love triangle scenario.” “What do you mean?” Ian asks. Pinkie Pie stops hopping, being serious as she looks at Ian carrying the cake. “I overheard her saying things about wanting to be with Tails more the other day.” Pinkie admits, “But the choice of Flash to her almost felt like it was to prepare herself to protect everypony in Equestria. If she followed Sombra’s falsely warning as a prophecy, she might know how to handle the peril based on what’s foretold. She’s just torn apart from her two lovers.” “I’m sure she’ll figure something out.” Ian promises. “Wait, what’s going on over there?” Pinkie gasps, pointing at the pandemonium starting at the train station. She can see all the citizens coming out of the trains real fast in the distance, observing the panic in their eyes. Royal guards and doctors also arrive the moment she and Ian enters the station building. It took them only a few minutes to walk into the station, and both of them weren’t expecting this at all. They can also see doctors and nurses guiding the citizens out of the building, saying that they’ll take them to the nearest hospital to make sure they’re not infected. Pinkie Pie then turns around to see that Celestia and Luna are here, and the two princesses are talking with the royal guards to plan out their strategy for the upcoming attacks. Luna has her eyes glow, as she senses the zombies’ next moves. Pinkie and Ian then walk up to Celestia, surprising her. Ian even sets the cake down and puts it to the side of the wall. “What’s going on?” Pinkie Pie asks. “The best way to put it…” Celestia huffs, “A demonic zombie attack. And it’s heading toward here.” Ian and Pinkie raise their eyes. “Zombies?” Ian sighs, “Impossible.” “I thought so too.” Celestia admits, “But from a dream of vision I had. it might happen. I also know that… Nucor is coming for us. Skull’s father.” “The bad kind?” Ian asks. “So Sombra was telling the truth in a bad way before he got sent to Tatarus?” Pinkie gasps. Celestia nods and then looks at her sister. “How far are those creatures?” she asks. “They’re at least twenty miles away, and they’re going fast towards Ponyville.” Luna tells her, “And they heavily armed.” “Then we have to relocate the citizens in the station. Some will have to be brought back here by my decree.” Celestia said, “We should move them into the Crystal Empire. The crystal heart containing the kingdom’s magic can hold the zombies out.” “But we must defend Canterlot first.” Luna points out, “I suggest we contact Queen Chrysalis to come to our aid, even though she might be reluctant. Shining Armor and Cadence also let me know that they’re sending their troops to defend Ponyville.” “Is there anything we can do to help? Pinkie offers to them. “You can find Rainbow Dash and Fireblaze. They know about planning fighting moves.” Luna recommends, “Discord, Fluttershy, and Skull are already finding the others to get ready.” “Right.” Ian nods. As the princesses continue their planning, Pinkie and Ian run out of the station to find Rainbow and Fireblaze. Rainbow Dash is having flying training with Fireblaze as her instructor in the sky. The dragon pony makes cloud circles for her to fly through, along with making thunder bolts in clouds as her obstacles to pass by. He even has a timer to record how fast she can make her pass through all the twenty circle hoops he made. She went REALLY fast. As she finished, he recorded… “JUST ONE MINUTE!” Fireblaze cheers. “WOOO! I’m awesome!” Rainbow Dash howls in joy. “Now don’t go too far.” Fireblaze joke around. “We should go hang out with Pinkie Pie to celebrate!” Rainbow Dash said, “She’ll make us nice rainbow cupcakes!” “Well, we do need a rest.” Fireblaze nods. As they land onto the ground, it was just by coincidence that Pinkie and Ian run into them near the tree library that Twilight used to own. The two romantic ponies were just flying above it when they were doing their training. “Hey Pinkie.” Rainbow smiles, “You think we can make…” “NO TIME FOR CUPCAKES!” Pinkie wails, “ZOMBIES ARE COMING!” Rainbow and Fireblaze looked confused. “Princess Celestia told us that she’s sensing this town will be invaded.” Ian adds, “She also said something about… NUCOR coming back.” “Nucor…” Fireblaze mumbles in concern. He then gets serious. “I’ll find Garble and his dragon army, then I’ll go to the Griffon Kingdom to inform Storm about this!” Fireblaze plans out. “We need everypony we can get to against the zombie army!” Rainbow declares. The four of them then split up, ready to start their tasks. Discord, Fluttershy, and Skull arrived just in time to drag both Twilight and Spike out of her castle. She struggles in Discord’s grip, wondering what’s going on. “FLUTTERSHY! SKULL! Are you actually approving of Discord surprising me like that?” Twilight demands. “NUCOR IS COMING!” Discord shouts at her. “W…What?” Twilight gasps. “Discord told me and Skull everything.” Fluttershy whimpers at her, “Celestia has had a vision of him invading Ponyville today!” “My father…” Skull begins to shudder. Twilight understood. Just then, Flash walks up dressed in his tuxedo, ready to hang out with Twilight. Yet, he’s in deep surprise to see that Discord, Fluttershy, and Skull are carrying her out of the building. He’s also more surprised to see Tails and TJ acting casual as they arrive toward them. Tails was in much surprise when he sees Flash as well. The groom pony looks concerned, when he sees a box of chocolates made for Twilight, just directly from Tails himself. “That’s…. nice of you to think of Twilight so fondly.” he said to the fox. Tails nods in thanks, as he looks around at the gang when he just arrived. He was going to try and gain Twilight’s affections some more, but now this. Even TJ is confused. “What’s going on?” TJ asks. “Nucor is coming back.” Fluttershy whispers. “Nucor?” Tails asks. “Celestia has told me she’ll prepare a war tent for us to figure out a way to stop him.” Discord adds. “Then we better go meet with her.” Twilight said, as she releases herself from Discord’s protecting grip. As Twilight leads Discord, Fluttershy, Skull, Tails, and TJ towards Celestia’s direction, Flash looks at Tails, following them slowly while wondering. “Tails must love Twilight just as much as I do.” he thinks in his head, “Looks like I have a rival.” Spike walks besides Flash, then burping out a message scroll by shock. He then opens the scroll and reads the message. “It’s from Blade.” Spike tells Flash, “He’s already checking for survivors in Fillydelphia after Nucor and his minions left. He’s also having Coco check with him. Right now they found twenty survivors, none of them are bitten or infected.” “Let’s hope NOPONY gets infected.” Flash sighs. In the war tent set up near the train station, all of the main six ponies are there, along with the foxes, Flash, Spike, Discord, Luna, Celestia, Cadence, Ian, and Skull. The rest such as Leo couldn’t make it, and Ian doesn’t know why. However, he’s more focused on the map like all the other ponies. And there is already a crossed X marked on the attacked city of Fillydelphia. “Baltimare is coming to be the next target for Nucor instead.” Celestia thinks out loud, “Though it doesn’t mean Ponyville is safe. He may call his zombie minions to split up in half of hundreds, ready to attack without us noticing. They might head here in a couple hours or less. My guards are already creating a barrier near the train station too.” “The other thing to plan out is, how to make it out alive.” Luna adds, “In case anything goes wrong.” Spike coughs up another message scroll. Since Fireblaze has gone to the Griffon Kingdom, he promised to send an update of Storm’s strategy. This is what Spike reads out loud. “Fireblaze wrote down that Storm is having his griffon forces already evacuating the citizens to Manehattan and the Crystal Empire. Crystal Forces are evacuating half the citizens from Baltimare to Canterlot too, just so they won’t be involved in the attacks safely. There’s no word from Chrysalis or Fluffle yet, though the griffon armies are setting metal barriers around the Hollow Woods to Vanhoover.” Spike reads. “Let’s hope everything works out okay then.” Discord sighs. It was like nighttime in the sky, as the smoldering smoke covers the light blur hues. Buildings burn as the zombies attack Baltimare in no time at all, having the remaining pony citizens scream and running towards the guarded railway station to make their escape. The royal guards initiate a barrier to be built as usual, as they have the city police force fire at the running undead to distract them, slowing them down by aiming at their kneecaps. “Keep the zombies back!” one of the royal guards instructs to them. “Is there anypony else you’re missing?” the police chief asks one of the royal guards. “Well, Cheese Sandwich was here… throwing a party for the mayor…” the guard answers, thinking. His eyes then widen. “DAMN! He’s still out there!” the royal guard suddenly shouts. “MEN! Get out there and find him!” the chief tells his troops, “If you see anypony else who’s alive, protect them too!” “ON IT!” the officers nod, running into action. The keep shooting at the zombies to make a safe path when increasing their speed. The fire expands behind them as if a stunt show is being performed. Inside the mayor’s home of Baltimare, the bodyguards are shooting their automatic crossbow machines at the zombies over a high barrier wall surrounding the house. To make their luck less easy, the zombies have their minds formulate claws into the bottom of their hooves, as they dog them in the walls to climb upward. The bodyguards keep shooting, but some are jumped upon as the zombies reach the top. Down below, the police force arrive, yet half of them are taken down and feasted upon by the zombies in such unfair movement. In the house, the bodyguards head inside to plan out more ways to defend this zone. Trotting behind them is Cheese Sandwich, dressed in some dead puppet outfit fit for the occasion. He carries a piñata bat for his weapon, in case the zombies come in. Behind him, the citizens are cowering on the stairway steps. There are at least twenty of them, all including the mayor. They look at Cheese, depending on him of what needs to come next. “There are some officers armed to the bone out there.” Cheese Sandwich tells the group, “On my signal, we spring out.” The group is nervous, but they nod, knowing it’s the only way. They definitely don’t want to be trapped for very long. At Cheese’s signal, he makes a Spanish cheer as they follow him out of the house and through the wall gate. Cheese Sandwich than swings his bat around, attacking the zombies while he jumps away from their swinging claws and biting fangs. He nods at the arrived officers who are remaining, and they lead him and his group through the pathway as they keep shooting their pistols towards more undead hellions. As they near the train station, Nucor looks down below on the top of a skyscraper. He laughs at the sight of Cheese Sandwich. “Ah. He must be a friend of Pinkie Pie’s…” Nucor sighs. He then looks up, sending a telepathic message to his zombies. “Oh boys…” he telepathically sends, “Go after the party pony. Infect his ass.” As Cheese keeps running with the gang, he notices more of the zombies triggered to come at him by surprise. He then raises his bat to push and hit them back, cracking their ribs and tearing off their stinky limbs that start to rot. One pony he sees he’s fighting is a female pegasi. The female thrashes towards his chest, as he thrusts back when bunting the bat towards her front legs. Then… The zombie grabs his legs from behind just after she slithers under him. She then bites him, BITES HIM, down hard through the nerves of his neck! “ARRRRRGH!” Cheese Sandwich wails. He punches the pegasi in the jaw right after the bite, refusing to take any more damage then he fears he’ll get. He then looks to see that the police force have already guided the mayor and citizens to the station, where they are safe and ready to leave. However, Cheese is left behind. And there’s no doubt why. He’s going to be undead soon… He looks up again, seeing the griffon army flying into action as they prepare to challenge the zombies to a fight when they land. One looks down from the sky, and sees Cheese Sandwich, shuddering at the pain in his body. The griffon soldier gasps, and whooshes down to help Cheese to his hooves. “We have to get you out of here!” the griffon soldier offers. “No… I’m infected…” Cheese Sandwich, “Though I have a favor to ask. When you see Pinkie Pie, tell her that her friends need to find a hidden bunker near the World’s End Waterfall. It’s just toward the very edge of the world of Equestria.” “How do you know of it?” the griffon asks. “Been there to know it…” Cheese Sandwich answers, “Just tell Pinkie.” “I will tell her…” the griffon sighs, “I’m sorry I can’t help you…” “You are helping!” Cheese assures him, “Now continue your job!” As the griffon flew away, Cheese began to feel cold. His heart became faint… weak…. evil…. EVIL! Cheese is now undead, and he’s under control of Nucor’s power! The leader then approaches in a fading flash, looking at his new slave. The zombie party pony than bows down to his master. “I will obey…” Cheese moans. “Good.” Nucor laughs. As Nucor looks around more, he howls to lead his troop towards the station, ready to claim more victims. The citizens were instructed to hide in a huge tent campus that’s built inside the barrier built around the near entrance to the Canterlot gates. Royal guards guide and list out every pony that came from Fillydelphia and Baltimare inside, as Twilight looks in fear at her fellow ponies and acquaintances in danger. She then turns around to see her friends, ready to fight by her side. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Skull, Blade, Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, Discord, Ian, Leo, Tails, and TJ. The last friends to squirm up to the group while catching deep breaths is William, and he’s holding a sword. “Are you sure we’re prepared for this?” Applejack asks Twilight. “Ponyville will be under attack soon, it’s very clear that this is a call of war.” Twilight says, “What we have to do once the monsters get here is distract them, and lead them to another direction that will divert them from the evacuation camp. I’ve gotten word from Apple City, and Spike got message Braeburn has prepared a trap to stop the zombies.” “How far will Apple City be?” William asks. “Not too far than fifteen miles, just with built new buildings near the trail.” Twilight answers, “When they arrive in that evacuated area, we will give Nucor’s monsters what they deserve!” “RIGHT!” her friends yell out. Discord poofs into Celestia’s war tent to say one last goodbye to her before he enters a sacrificial fight that will protect his friends. He also notices Cadence and Shining Armor are there with them, talking about if there’s a possibility to cure these “zombies” and turn them back to normal. Yet, the four of them are unsure of that is even possible. “There has to be some sort of spell that’s in the infection. If so, it can be broken.” Celestia said. “But the risk we have to take is to bring a zombie HERE.” Luna cautions, “Doctors are going to have to dissect it if they want to find it’s weak point. “Um… are you sure that’s wise?” Discord asks, worried. “We will have tight security to restrain it once it gets here, there’s no need to worry on that part.” Cadence assures him. “Is there something else you wish to say Discord?” Celestia asks. “Well, I’m leaving with my friends for the mission. DO you think… Mokuba wants to join us?” Discord asks. “Mokuba…” Shining Armor realizes, “HE’S NOT HERE!” “He must still be on his date on top of the hill with Diamond Tiara!” Cadence whispers in fear. “Ah, the reformed brat.” Discord sighs, “Don’t worry, I’ll get them both.” “Discord, WAIT! It will be too…” Shining Armor tries to warn. Discord already left though, leaving Shining Armor in fear for him, and his son. “Discord is doing the right thing.” Cadence assures her husband, laying a hoof on his shoulder, “I really want our son to live through this….” Celestia lowers her head, praying that something will come to protect her friends. As Pinkie gathers her weapons, Rainbow Dash critiques which one would suit her to make her look tough. It was in the field close to the barrier, when Pinkie Pie flexes with different crossbows, including her party canon. “I… think the silver crossbow might work best.” Rainbow says to her. “Thanks Rainbow!” Pinkie cheers. Just then, the same griffon solider that saw Cheese Sandwich before approaches to Pinkie from behind. She turns to see him, along with Twilight walking up to see what’s going on. “Pinkie Pie, do you know Cheese Sandwich?” the griffon asks. “And how?” Pinkie answers. “I’m… sorry. Back in Baltimare, the city was attacked, and…. he just got bitten.” the griffon sadly says. Pinkie Pie’s smile lowers into a big frown real sad and depressed, as Twilight and Rainbow gasp. “You don’t mean…” Twilight stammers. “He gave a message though.” the griffon soldier continues, “There’s a bunker at a place called World’s End Waterfall, just near some cliff that’s higher then any mountain in Equestria…. maybe. He instructs you go there, in case anything goes wrong. But there might also be something there to help stop the attacks.” As Ian walks up to hear this too, Pinkie cries loud and wails out tears. The diamond dog hugs her for comfort, as Rainbow Dash shakes her head in disbelief. “Oh no… not Cheese….” Rainbow Dash moans. She then turns to see that Fireblaze has returned, guiding a group of dragon and griffon armies behind him. He’s dressed in gold armor, that’s molded from the hot lava of this earth. “Rainbow Dash…” Fireblaze tries to say. “I know…” Rainbow Dash calms down, wiping her tears, “We won’t lose anypony else again…” It was near the Everfree Forest, more likely at the very base, that Mokuba and Diamond Tiara set up a tiny quilt at the top of a hill. The view overlooks a high set of mountains that haven’t even been attacked yet. Nightfall is coming, and the two of them can already see a sunset sinking through the sky. Tiara loves how this first date is so far, and it’s been a month since Mokuba decided to ask her out. “I love being nice again.” Diamond Tiara admits. “Nice as the sunset maybe?” Mokuba smiles. “You make the best comparisons!” Tiara laughs. Mokuba chuckles too, leaning back on the blanket laid out. He sighs then, thinking of what to ask Diamond Tiara. “Tiara?” Mokuba starts, “Have you ever wondered what turning into an adult might feel like?” “Weird…” Tiara replies, “It’s probably the same for ANYPONY getting old.” “Also having more responsibilities.” Mokuba adds, “THAT will be a bore.” “Tell me.” Tiara agrees, “So, why ask?” “I just have trouble understanding if I have what it takes to be my father’s successor or heir to the Crystal Empire…” Mokuba said, “It’s lame, I know. I’m still so young though.” “Maturity can suck.” Tiara assures him. POOF! Mokuba and Diamond Tiara gasp to see who magically appeared in their view. Discord then hugs them in relief, glad that they’re safe. “OH, such innocent fillies!” Discord sighs in ease, “Did they get you?” “Did WHO get us?” Tiara demands. “There… there have been demonic attacks already at Fillydelphia and Baltimare.” Discord summarizes to them, “Mokuba, your parents are very worried about you. And… NUCOR… he’s returned…” Mokuba widens his eyes, understanding why Discord came to get him and Tiara. And Nucor, he learned about him from long ago. When King Kai, his pony mentor taught him about Nucor… he was known to be an overlord of the undead, a sadist madpony who plans to make a utopia fit for no living pony. “You think I should see Twilight first?” Mokuba finally asks, ready for another adventure. “We’ll go to her now! She’ll let Shining Armor know you’re safe!” Discord assures him. Mokuba nods, and the lord of chaos transports himself, the filly prince, and Tiara back to the safety camp where all their friends are.