Chapter One: Patient Zero
“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.” –T. S. Eliot
Day One
Infected: 21
Dead: 0
The tale of the next great pandemic begins in Saddle Arabia, where Fancy Pants sits at a café, enjoying a daisy sandwich. This poor colt was completely unaware of the fact that he would soon come face to face with the greatest killer this world had ever seen, that he would spread it to hundreds of others, and that it would soon bring about his own demise.
Fancy Pants had just finished taking the last few bites of his sandwich, when he looked down to his watch. “2:03” it read. Fearing that he may be late to his meeting, he quickly paid for his meal and left a generous tip, before rushing out the door.
After racing up and down the streets, and asking for directions twice, Fancy Pants had finally made it to his destination. It was an old silk processing plant for him and his wife Rarity’s business. It sure had grown since she had left Ponyville almost a decade ago.
As soon as the stallion opened the door, his ears were assaulted with the typical loud noises of any factory; machines slamming together, the hiss of steam, and the occasional chatter amongst workers.
“Hello Mister Fancy Pants,” said a cheerful voice with an Arabian accent.
Fancy Pants looked to his left to see three colts in suits looking at him. He assumed that the maroon pony in the center was the one who had greeted him, since his, clearly faked, smile was larger than the others’.
“Good morning, sir.” He replied.
“To you as well,” replied the pony in the center before he gestured towards a nearby door. “Right this way please.”
After what seemed like endless pages of paperwork, it was finally time for Fancy Pants to tour the factory. He questioned the usual things like wages, work hours, and what not as each section of the plant was shown. But, when he reached the part of the factory responsible for boxing the finished silk, he heard a loud coughing from one of the workers. He was a little concerned but not too worried.
Then, as Fancy Pants was being lead to another part of the factory, this same pony, who was putting a box of silk onto a loading ramp, tripped and fell inches from his hooves. Instantly, he was scolded by the three managers, but Fancy Pants, learning a thing or two about generosity from his wife, helped the pony up. As he did so, he noticed that the colt had bloodshot eyes, looked rather clammy, and seemed extremely pail.
“Could you give this colt some off time? He looks absolutely horrible,” he asked.
The three ponies looked at each other, before the middle one gleefully replied “Of course, sir. Now, please come with us to the next part of the factory.”
Fancy Pants followed the three, but looked back at the ill colt before entering the next room. He just couldn’t shake this odd feeling he had about him.
----------
Day Two
Infected: 184
Dead: 14
As Fancy Pants sat in the airship terminal, awaiting his flight to be called, he couldn’t help but feel as though yesterday’s venture had gone well. However, he soon found his mind drifting back to the sick pony. The stallion dearly hoped that he would never catch an illness that bad, but he simply shrugged it off as overworking.
After a few hours, Fancy Pants found himself growing extremely bored. He was honestly considering reading the travel guide on a nearby table when a young mare sat down next to him. Suddenly one of the luggage cases she was holding slipped off of her hoof. “Shoot!” she exclaimed.
“It’s fine, I’ve got it,” said Fancy Pants as he lifted the carrier over to the cream colored pony.
The mare smiled and gladly took it, completely unaware that this colt had unintentionally given her a second gift. This chance encounter would soon leave her dead and 35 others infected with many of them deceased as well.
“Thanks, it’s nice to know there’s still good ponies in this world.”
Fancy Pants let out a modest chuckle. “Quite right.”
“I’m Sunflower,” said the pony as she outstretched her hoof.
The white unicorn outstretched his own and shook her hoof. “I’m Fancy Pants... Now, please forgive me if I’m wrong, but you’re accent sounds rather Equestrian.”
“Born and raised in Manehatten.”
Fancy Pants raised his brow in surprise. “You’re kidding? My sister in-law lives there.”
The mare smiled and laughed lightly. “Huh, small world.”
The white unicorn nodded. “Indeed it is.”
Suddenly a voice came on over the intercom. “Flight 63 to Canterlot is now boarding. Again flight 63 to Canterlot is now boarding.”
Quickly Fancy Pants looked to his ticket and began picking up his belongings. “That’s my flight.”
“Oh, well it was nice talking to you.”
“You as well.” And with that, Fancy Pants turned and left.
After a moment’s walk, Fancy Pants had made his way to the airship. Though, as he pulled out his ticket, he didn’t notice the change in the floor’s elevation, causing him to trip. As he fell he was quickly caught by the flight attendant.
“Are you okay sir?” she asked in a concerned tone.
Fancy Pants’ face turned a bright crimson as he regained his posture. “Yes, I’m fine. Just tripped,” He then began to trot over to his seat when the mare asked “Ticket?”
Instantly, his face turned an even brighter shade of red. ‘Dear goddesses, how did I forget that?’ he thought as he gave the mare his ticket. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay sir. It happens more than you may think. Have a good flight.”
Fancy pants nodded to her before finding his seat. He was rather thankful that there wasn’t a single foal in sight. ‘Maybe I can actually get some sleep on this flight’ he thought.
As Fancy Pants laid his head down, the flight attendant he had ran into earlier, was currently giving the two pilots a cup of coffee. After she had finished this, she would go on to give out drinks and hot towels to many of the passengers. By the time her first symptoms would arise, this pony would unknowingly infect 124 others, each going to and from different parts of the world. Six days from now she and many of them will be dead.
----------
Day Three
Infected: 1031
Dead: 214
As Fancy Pants opened the door to his apartment, he immediately could smell the overpowering scent of oregano and tomato sauce. Then suddenly, he let out a sneeze for no apparent reason. He sniffled a little before entering with a smile. He was far too preoccupied with thinking of the meal he was bound to enjoy, not to mention seeing his wife.
Just as he was about to announce his presence, Rarity came trotting around the corner. “I was beginning to wonder when you’d ever get home,” she said with a smile.
Fancy Pants smirked before trotting over to her and pressing his lips to hers. “Sorry about that, the meeting took longer than I was expecting, but it was a tremendous success.”
Rarity beamed with joy. “That’s wonderful dear! Now come, I’ve prepared a spectacular dinner and I intend for you to eat every last bite of it.”
“Oh trust me I know. I could almost smell the pasta sauce from the other side of the door.”
----------
Fancy Pants took his seat at the couple’s dining table, directly across from Rarity, and began eating. Upon his first bite he noticed something bizarre; it didn’t taste normal, it tasted strange, almost bland. Wanting to inquire where the odd taste was coming from, Fancy Pants went about asking in as polite a way as possible.
“Did you use a new recipe, darling?” he asked.
The white coated mare raised an eyebrow. “No, it’s the same as usual. Why do you ask?”
“I’m not sure, it just seems different. I just don’t know how.”
At that moment, Rarity noticed something she hadn’t upon Fancy Pants’ arrival; his eyes were slightly bloodshot and his coat just didn’t look right. “Um, Fancy Pants, are you feeling okay?”
The stallion cocked his head. “Whatever do you mean, dear?”
“Oh it’s nothing; you’re probably just tired is all.”
Just as Rarity finished her sentence, Fancy Pants began to cough. At first lightly, but then growing in intensity.
“Here,” she said, holding out a glass of water.
The stallion gladly took it and began to drink. After a few sips he was beginning to feel better. However, Rarity was starting to think her husband wasn’t just bushed. So the mare got up and trotted over to him. Once she laid her hoof upon his forehead, she could immediately tell that he had a fever.
“You feel a little warm honey. Why don’t you go take a nice shower and I’ll put up your plate for later.”
Fancy Pants considered protesting, but decided that a hot shower didn’t sound like such a bad option right now. “Okay dear, but I can assure you I’m fine.”
---------
As Fancy Pants let the warm water wash over him, he could feel the aches and stresses of the day wash away as well as the hot, dense steam cleanse his lungs. However, one spot in his body wouldn’t grant the warm vapors entrance; his throat. No matter how deeply he breathed, or how many times he cleared his throat, he could always feel a slight tickle.
The stallion tried his best to ignore it and go about scrubbing in his shampoo, but it was still there gnawing away at his esophagus. He tried his best not to cough, but the urge was becoming harder and harder to fight.
Finally, the colt gave in. He let out a single light cough, it was like a massive flood gate had suddenly burst open for then came another and then another. Each cough seemed to grow in intensity until the stallion looked down and saw a small droplet of blood upon his hoof. Despite this, the coughs persisted. Suddenly, Fancy Pants coughed so violently that he slipped in the shower. There was a loud crack as his skull made contact with the porcelain rim of his bath tub.
Alerted by the abrupt crash, Rarity came rushing in and shrieked at what she saw. There, her husband lay, covered in soap, water, and a few splotches of blood. Instantly she began sobbing, assuming that he was dead. Then she saw it, he was still breathing.
Rarity bolted into the other room with tears streaming down her face. She frantically began dialing for and ambulance when finally an emergency service operator answered.
“Canterlot emergency services, what is your emergency?”
“M-My husband he fell in the shower. Please send an ambulance,” Rarity cried.
“What is your address mam?”
“I live in the North Canterlot apartments number 127, please hurry!”
As soon as Rarity had stated what she needed to, she darted back into the bathroom and crouched down next to Fancy Pants. Levitating a towel off of the nearby rack, she began to wipe off his face and head. ‘This is all my fault,’ she thought. Closing her eyes, Rarity began to sob even harder, then without warning, she felt Fancy Pants lay his hoof on top of her’s.
“Don’t worry. I’m okay. I think I just got knocked out for a second,” he said with a reassuring smile.
The white mare smiled and pulled him into a tight embrace. “Oh thank the goddesses!”
----------
Day Four
Infected: 3628
Dead: 496
Rarity paced back and forth in the halls of the hospital, desperately awaiting news from any of the doctors. She dearly hoped he would only have a concussion at the most, but she knew at the worst he may have a skull fracture. But none of those were really fatal, right?
Suddenly the doors to the ER swung open to reveal a tall grey furred colt with a grim look upon his face. Rarity raced over to him and upon seeing his expression, instantly assumed something was horribly wrong.
“Is he okay doctor? Please tell me there’s nothing wrong with him,” she cried.
The doctor looked down briefly and then back to Rarity. “I’m so sorry, but despite our best efforts, he didn’t respond and… Passed away.”
“What?!” she screeched. “He just hit his head! That’s it!”
“We know, and his head isn’t what did this. He only had a slight skull fracture and a concussion. It appears that his respiratory system was failing then his internal organs began shutting down. It happened so quick we weren’t able to treat it. Now we’re currently looking into all options, but he did test positive for influenza. So we’re sending samples to the EDC, but we think it could just be seasonal.”
“The flu!? How could the damn flu do this!?” she wailed, tears streaming down her face.
“Mam, I honestly don’t know, sometimes people react to different strains differently. Again we are all very sorry for your loss. However, I’m afraid you must come with me.”
“What!? Why!?” she asked.
“I’m afraid you need to be put into quarantine until we know what actually caused the infection.”
“Fine! Do whatever you want! After all you did such a good job with my husband!”
The doctor took a few steps back. “Mam, I’m sorry, but we need to keep others safe for now. Do you understand?”
Rarity wiped away a few tears and replied, in a lower voice “Yes, I’m sorry. I understand.”
---------
Day Five
Infected: 5013
Dead: 994
A young blue colored colt sat at a computer monitor dearly wishing the test results would finish loading faster. Just then a young tan Pegasus came trotting in. “Any luck?” she asked before taking a seat next to him.
“I wish,” he replied. “We know it’s influenza, but these tests are taking longer than I thought.”
“Huh, that’s odd. Do we know which species?”
The colt placed his hooves over his face and sighed. “No, it could be bird or swine based, but I’m leaning more towards bird.”
The tan pony tilted her head. “Why’s that?”
He shrugged. “Just a hunch, plus it killed pretty fast.”
The mare chuckled briefly. “Hey, don’t go telling everyone there’s bird flu in Equestria. You’ll start a panic.”
“Heh, yeah I guess you’re right.”
Just then, the screen had a new window pop up. Instantly the pair’s eyes shot to it with beaming looks of anticipation. However, once they began reading through the data, their expressions began to change to that of pure horror.
“This can’t be right,” said the mare, her voice full of fear.
The stallion clicked on the screen a few more times, going through each separate set of data. “Oh, it’s right.”
The mare leaned back in her chair as she ran her hooves through her mane. “Then if those hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are correct-“
“Then this virus may have just become readily transmissible.”
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Could this story actually be related to something that happened in real life? Has someone you know die from the flu thingy? I'm just asking because it was so well detailed.
Saw you had a new story and clicked and read it without a second thought...damn, I know for a fact a movie is based on this but I can't spell it and I thought it was a great movie when I saw it, as for the errors in this, other then changing your numbers to letters and changing the error people to ponies and the fact that Rarity's remorse for her husband seemed much to rush, I'm seriously very, very impressed.
You know me, I'm 100% down for anything you write, can't wait to see how the two got together and married, I'm a big fan of this pairing and honestly knowing you, it's going to be a Spilight I seriously hope.
If so then
This is going to get intense, poor ponies dying all over...this is going to get dark very, very soon...you have my full support
I'm guessing this is set in the future, wonder how many years and all this came to be to begin with
This is a very good story, I can't wait for more. I must ask, have you ever read "The Stand" by Stephen King? That is what this story reminds me of.
2641080 Oh it is indeed based on fact in reality, but no, thankfully no one I know has died from the flu. I'm just very vigilant about emerging infectious diseases and possibly considering becoming a virologist.
And thanks for the detailed remark. I wanted that so you could see just how real it is.
2641091 Yes, that story was amazing! A little unrealistic though in therms of death toll, but still great!
2641089
Have you ever seen Rarity?!
It's called Contagion, but I will try to distance myself from that movie as the story progresses.
Rarity's remorse rushed?
No, this story is going to be a SpikeBelle. Sorry.
Oh you have no clue how dark I plan...
Yes, it makes it easier to work with the SpikeBelle. It's set about a decade from now.
Kind of reminds me of the game Plague Inc. Ever played it? It's a free app, and it's addicting!
2641122 I knew it
That's a great movie, I don't mind if it's close to the movie or not
Very fair point, still hoping for a background though and Spike belle? Seriously? BUCK YEAH!!!! That's honestly my second favorite pairing, Gods, I'm excited now
This is going to be fun
I understand, I'm 100% ready for the romance
Really? That's cool
La Curandera - Clutch
outstanding can't wait for more.
i always see people hopeing the end never come, but it will becasue in back of our heads we know that we are just ponters who we think is at the top, if you look every where elsa in the world you see people not borad but doing something and not worrying about noting, but here in the usa we freak out on almost everything and think the end is naer.
Am ready right now, my gear is just laying there waiting for that ball to ring, and wean it ring am out of the city like a bat out of hell.
what i'll like to know if your ready, unlike man weapons the flu can stay for 100s of yr later. mean made weapons you can fix it but flus will be here after wars and everything
2641089 You're thinking of Contagion
I love stories and movies dealing with pandemics, especially Contagion. Heh, I was probably one of the minority who watched that film for the science
I'll be looking forward to more of this.
Oh, and have some mood-setting music:
All this talk about mutation and pandemic genes and such reminds me of the game Pandemic 2, in which you must infect the whole world with a virus which you can mutate at will. Fun game.
2641095 and i did see how real it is. If you want to become a virologist then I say do it!
2641574
Nonsense, punch the flu. Problem solved.
2641574 Very good point my friend. People are in denial about so much, for instance the number of dislikes. I on the other hand, am preparing for any new disease to hit at any moment. Not out of fear though, but out of understanding. I know far too much about influenza viruses not to prepare.
I'm more of a shelter in place kinda guy. My home is my fortress, try to take it. I'll take your ass down from 300 yards away with my 270.
Well, yes and no. Flu pandemics do happen, but they gradually become adapted to our bodies as time goes on. Like H3N2 in the 60's. Nowadays it's rather common. However, that 90 day process of adjusting is hell.
Ya know, I read the description, and near the end where you mention the outbreaks I just can't help but think "well what about AIDS in Africa? Or the black plague that's sorta still traveling around south america?"
lol
Did someone say educate? Im all ears
Are you a doctor ? A nurse? Or just graduated from medical school
This is really fascinating i would like to read more good luck.
2644083
Nope, I've just studied pandemic viruses extensively for the past three years of my life. I'm thinking of becoming a virologist or nuclear/ astro physicist.
And thanks!
2643405 Oh those are nothing compared to what's about to come.
2642875 Thanks man! Either that or a nuclear/ astro physicist.
2641198 Yes, it's unrealistic, but fun.
2644147 wow i can really see a bright future from you.... ahh my eyes it burns
2644155 that's female to you. But thanks! DO what you can to help change the world and I guarantee the the world would be a better place for us.
2644255 Sorry, just a general impression considering the boy to girl ratio in the fandom.
Huh, so my choices are stop a global pandemic or help build the first nuclear powered interstellar spacecraft... That's a tough one...
2644339 Fair enough. I agree that it may be a hard decision... Destroy the world or save the world... I would save it personally.
2644405 That wouldn't destroy it. But I think I'll go with physics. Space is cooler...
2644592 what ever floats you're boat.
2643367 nice to see your ready, i have a 270 as well.
I also want to tell you laern about everything in basic you don't have time in your life to master every skill you need to stay alive, just know the basic on how to find food, water, make colthe and know what to keep form getting board becase boardem is the #1 killer for survile.
I have 3 LED games that only need 1 AAA and i have mothes of fun will most do spuid things and die becasue of it.
2643367 i also like to show it won't be the flu that kills gorment it'll be no more power look at us in the usa and 1st class contrys we become to impmant on electronic tools for too many things right now we are at 7B people in the world all it have to do is kill about 3B, after that there be 4B there be 1B killed by lack of food and fight over it and we are back to the drak age, and our life staly will almost be like the wild west day, no one want to leave home with out a gun or weapon.
2645223
Trust me, I've already got pretty much everything down pat. And you are very right about boredom. However, if I have a large group of people I care about, I think we can all keep each other company. Strength in numbers. Plus I have a violin...
Currently I'm stockpiling N95 respirators, Tyvek and Tychem suits, winter clothing, a few gas masks, batteries, lots of assorted medical supplies, and food.... Even if nothing happens, I've got one hell of a Halloween costume.
2645275 That's exactly what a pandemic could do. Now I don't know you, but I've been studying the several avian influenza viruses that pose a great threat and I know the ins and outs of almost all of them. Especially H5N1. It has a 60% mortality rate and could easily spark a pandemic if it were ever to meet up with a human flu. Same with any avian flu. So it's only a matter of time until this happens. Now, I've done estimates on infection rates and kill rates and I've found that some of these viruses could kill almost 2.8 billion. And given how much in denial people are, it may even be more.
Also, H5N1 is three mutations away from going pandemic.
H7N9 is 2 or less mutations away from going pandemic and has recently been shown to be resistant to antivirals and even be airborne in a few cases. My money is on that bird flu... Soon.
2645519 good to know, am just your everyday guy hopeing to get a job and do something.
i can't wait for more up dates.
btw buy 1800s guns that use black poder and map out lead mines and lead refines, so you never run out of bulltes becasue you can make your onae.
but ya i can't wait for more updates
2645809
Thanks!
But No, I don't plan on that. I'll likely just get the most common guns so I can find ammo easily. If there's one thing I know about rednecks it's that they have a lot of guns, but no n95 respirators...
Soon man, soon.
2644152
I haven't read the story though, nor was I refferencing it... so I have no clue what you're talkin about
2646121 there talking about how to survive in a pandemic
2647219
Nevermind...
2646818 You're very right right about that. However, I do get my information from multiple sources. So, I don't just follow the WHO like they're god. And again, you are right about the flu being more deadly than these diseases. However, the seasonal flu has a 0.1% mortality rate. The Spanish flu of 1918, which was worse than the black death, only had a 2% mortality rate, but left between 50-100 million dead. Now we are current facing H5N1 with a 60% mortality rate and H7N9 with a 25% mortality rate. The result from either of those going pandemic would be catastrophic, if not nearly apocalyptic. So, I think that having a mindset of "we have bigger problems" would possibly result in the greatest loss of human life in history.
You also said the seasonal flu is more dangerous than any of their super influenza. Well this is true, for now. However both of these viruses are incredibly close to attaining the ability to spread from person-to-person. And this isn't some hunch from the WHO, this has been tested in multiple international laboratories and there results were the same. H5N1 is only 7-3 mutations away from going airborne and many of the adaptations needed to go airborne have already been acquired in nature. Now we haven't tested H7N9, but we predict that if it's similar to H5N1, it only has 2 mutations to go. Already we've seen limited transmission between people. Thankfully, the warmer temperatures have slowed the outbreak drastically. But when fall returns, so may H7N9.
Now I'm not trying to make you panic, I'm just giving you the true information that I have acquired over three years of research. Whatever you chose to do with it, is entirely your choice. I only want to help.
This is great :D
2649362 Thanks!
When will new chapters be posted? I need more!
2651224 Tomorrow or the day after. I'm almost done, just gotta edit.
I have a question... actually, two.
I myself am very, very interested in diseases, but as I am only 13, I don't know too much about them. How is a bioweapon created? And how fast does a virus mutate on average?
Only saw a few typos. I hope you do not mind me pointing them out XD
the colt had bloodshot eyes, looked rather clammy, and seemed extremely pail.
Pale
And then the mams you had had. Ma'am.
Looking like an excellent story. I cannot wait to continue reading.
I'm seeing a lot of similarities to the movie Contagion, which was a great movie. You had my curiosity, now you have my attention.
Anyone else reading this during the coronavirus outbreak?