//------------------------------// // Romero of the Dead // Story: X in Equestria // by RoseluckyCinor //------------------------------// “We’ve got to keep going, girls and Romero,” Twilight beckoned. Around the small group, Equestria burned. No one knew how it started or even where. All they knew was that it had. Royal guards flew through the air intermittently hoping to rescue survivors. They had yet to help Twilight or her friends and Romero. The moans of the undead had yet to cease. Fluttershy flopped to the ground panting. “Twilight, I can’t!” she cried. Applejack and Rainbow Dash lifted her up. “Why are we going to the mall anyway?” Zecora cut in, “We go to the mall, it was not our call.” Romero nodded, “It was my call, Fluttershy. I know the safest places in the event of Zombie attacks. You have to trust me.” “Typical Romero,” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Girls, and Romero, the Ponyville mall is only over the hill. Let’s go!” The gang ran onwards. Twilight’s horn glowed sickly as she let loose a few volleys of her potent magic. As the gang crested the hill they laid eyes on the Ponyville mall, a testament to the capitalist nature of Equestria. The gang took time to trot into the mall, it’s foregrounds devoid of the undead which seemed everywhere. “How are we going to get in?” Applejack asked. “There’s a delivery door I’ve got a key to!” Pinkie explained. She pulled a key from her fluffy mane. “See?” “Lead the way, Pinkie,” Romero said. He pulled a small notebook from his pocket and began to write quickly. Pinkie lead the group down a dimly lit corridor. At the end lay a door. Her key slid in quickly and unlocked it. The mall interior was silent and devoid of the undead. Its stores still brightly lit from generators and magic batteries. Hooves and a pair of shoes echoed on the marble floors. “This is perfect, just like I imagined it would be!” Romero said with a laugh. He turned to Zecora. “Why don’t you go off alone for just a bit?” She shrugged, “Why would I go alone? Ice cream cone.” “Yeah, Romero, why would she go alone? What are you up to?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I, uh, nothing.” “Ah reckon Ah don’t even know why y’all even with us. Why y’all bring this guy, Twi?” Applejack asked. “Well, I was reading in the library when this guy barges in! And he’s screaming about zombies and stuff. Long story short, I went to get you all and then we came here.” Pinkie stuck a hoof in the air. “Twilight!? Question!!” Twilight sighed, “yes Pinkie?” “Where’s Spike?” Twilight scuffed her hoof on the ground. “Oops.” “You know,” noticed Scootaloo, “These things are kind of like Isaac’s monsters.” Twilight shh’d her, “we don’t talk about him anymore.” “Too late,” Isaac Clark said as he stepped from the shadows. “I knew you’d want me back. I brought my rifle and stuff.” Romero lunged at the armor clad engineer. “This is my story!” he yelled. Isaac disappeared as Romero delivered one of his famous punches to his gut. Romero stood back up, assured of his literary dominance. “Guys?” Fluttershy squeaked, “where’s Zecora and Scootaloo?” Everypony gasped. “AJ and RD, you two look down to the food court. She did say something about ice cream cones. Fluttershy and I will take upstairs. Romero, you …” Romero patted her mane. “Girls relax, just look for Scootaloo. It’s too late for Zecora.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Rainbow Dash. She got low to the ground, ready for a pouncing. “Scootaloo’s a kid. They are always safe to the end. Haven’t you seen a horror movie?” “No,” they all replied. “Well, obviously Zecora was going to die first.” “Die? For Pete’s sake!” Rainbow cursed. “Why would y’all say that?” asked Applejack. Romero shrugged, “Isn’t it obvious?” The group shook their heads collectively. “Oh well, I’ll let you figure that one out on your own. Now the way I see it is that you, you, and you have to make a heroic sacrifice before we can hope to be free.” He pointed at Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. “Why do they have to make a sacrifice?” “Because I know my stuff about horror!” “Classic Romero,” Pinkie giggled. “But we’ve got to make it big… there we go!” Romero got onto his feet and jumped up and down. “DELICIOUs POOOOOniiiiiiiieS HERE!” A howl pierced the air as the cursed undead appeared as if from nowhere. Shambling down the hallways of the mall they started to converge on the ponies and Romero. He knelt down to Rarity, AJ, and Fluttershy. “Sorry, girls,” his voice cracked, “but it has to be this way.” A single tear ran down his face as he handed the three ponies an unloaded pistol. Romero and the rest ran towards the elevators. Applejack pointed the gun at the zombies and pulled the trigger to no avail. “It’s unloaded,” Rarity stated. “I’m starting to not like these human folk all that much,” AJ groaned. Twilight, Romero, and Rainbow Dash arrived panting onto the roof. They had successfully looked the dead beneath them. “What do we do now, Romero?” Twilight asked. He shrugged, “I don’t know, I’ve never made a good ending.” “What?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Even Daring Do has good endings. Not that I’d know of course.” TO BE CONTINUED IN JOHN DOE’S X IN EQUESTRIA OF THE DEAD.