What seemed like a normal day at first glance was actually the start of something horrifying...
Twilight had gone out to a picnic with her friends, and spotted something off about a few of the ponies. A few weeks later, the first death. Was it just bad luck, or the start of something terrible? Read along as Twilight finds out....
Contains ponies dying! If you don't want to read about that, turn away now. Cover Art by me. This is the rewritten version of an older story of mine, which was extremely unrealistic. Please comment what you thought of it.
Twilight slammed the book shut, eyelids sagging with fatigue. She looked over at the clock on her wall; three A.M. Princess Celestia had lent Twilight a book on thermonuclear physics; it really was fascinating, and had kept Twilight up all night. Spike was fast asleep upstairs and snoring. Twilight levitated the book onto a high up shelf and slid it into an open space. Her candle's flame was dying, leaving the room illuminated with a dark, cozy blood orange color. Blowing it out, Twilight waited a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before retiring to her own bed. She didn't want to cast an illumination spell for fear of waking up Spike, and because her magic wasn't very coordinated in her sleepy state of mind.
Once able to spot the staircase in front of her, Twilight trudged up and slid under the covers of her bed, careful not to disturb her number one assistant. Spike was snoozing peacefully on his cot, halfway under the covers. Twilight let her head fall to the comfy pillow, eyes shut, with a happy grin plastered on her face. Life was good.
"Twilight! Twilight, wake up!" Twilight slowly opened her eyes, trying to blink the sleep out of them. Spike stood at the foot of the bed, shaking Twilight's right hind leg. "Applejack and Pinkie Pie are here. Weren't you goin' on a picnic, or something?"
"What time is it?" Twilight groaned, using her magic to return her mane to it's usual style. Spike had run off to talk to the two mares at the front door of the library. Glancing at her alarm clock, Twilight let out a gasp. It was four in the afternoon; she had slept eleven full hours! Leaping out of bed and regaining her balance, Twilight hastily tossed a picnic blanket into her saddlebag, levitated it onto her back, and trotted down the stairs to meet her friends. Applejack looked happy to see her; Pinkie looked happy just to be happy. They both smiled warmly as Twilight entered the ground floor of the tree building.
"Twilight! Had a mite too much sleep, I heard! How ya' been?" Applejack greeted her enthusiastically, extending an orange hoof.
"Oh, Applejack, it hasn't been that long since we last saw each other. Just about a month. How was your trip out to Manehattan?" Twilight responded, shaking Applejack's extended hoof. Ugh. Did she spit on it?
"Jus' happy ta' be with all y'all again. Had a wonderful time visitin' my good aunt an' uncle, but all those ponies up there're jus' a bunch ah' rotten apples. Don' much appreciate the ones who're all stuck up an' the likes. How're the others? Haven't had the pleasure o' gettin' reunited with them yet!"
"They've been doing fine. Rarity landed an article in some fashion magazine, she's attracted quite the amount of customers, from all over Equestria. I've heard that she even has some big fashion show coming up, with a big shot from Fillydelphia. Fluttershy rescued a bunch of baby bunnies from a shelter. Rainbow Dash finally got back from Wonderbolt Training; apparently she's going out to a flight program in six months."
"That's great tah' hear, Twi! The other's are probably waiting for us out in the Ponyville park, so we better get a move on if we don' wanna leave 'em waiting!"
Twilight nodded in agreement, and went to say good bye to Spike, who was twiddling his thumbs while sitting on a chair against the wall. After exchanging farewells, Twilight turned to regroup with her friends and depart. She stopped halfway at the door, when Spike went into a moderate coughing fit, that lasted about forty-five seconds.
"Oh, Spike. Did you get yourself sick again?" Twilight sighed softly and notified the others that she was going to give Spike a dose of cough syrup.
"Okee Dokee Lokee!" Pinkie acknowledged, while Applejack nodded in understanding. Twilight trotted over to her medicine cabinet and used magic to levitate a brown plastic bottle labeled 'Anti Cold and Flu! Fights symptoms for 24 hours!', poured a little bit of the bitter, viscous fluid into the plastic over-cap, and told Spike to open his mouth. He obliged, surprisingly without argument (he hated the foul stuff), and allowed Twilight to dump the medicine into his mouth. However, immediately after, he burst into another coughing fit, although this one was a bit more violent. The forced respiratory explosions caused him to send the mouthful of cough syrup flying in a projectile spit. It splattered all over the floor. Twilight sighed in concern, and when Spike was finally done coughing, she gave him another cap full. He forced it down his throat, resulting in gagging, but soon recovered. Twilight put away the medicine and cleaned up the mess, then departed out the front door.
The trio united with Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy at the gate to the park. All were very pleased to be back with Applejack, and Applejack was equally excited. After a few minutes of exchanging greetings, all six ponies headed into the park. They stopped in a flat clearing, relishing how soft the grass was. Twilight levitated out the picnic blanket and laid it down, smoothing out the red and white checkered cloth. Pinkie Pie placed a cake and a tray of cupcakes onto a corner of the blanket. Applejack had brought apple treats; apple pie, apple fritters, apple turnovers, and candy apples. Fluttershy had carrots and a large, leafy salad, and Rainbow Dash brought a bit of hay. Rarity didn't bring any food; she sat adjusting her mane and fussing over an eyeliner streak. She did, however, bring tea. The six ponies dove in, enjoying a nice meal and conversing with each other. Twilight sipped from her cup and set it down.
Somewhere to Twilight's right, somepony coughed. Twilight turned her head to look and saw Big Macintosh, pulling an apple cart into town. He appeared as if he wasn't feeling well. Maybe the flu is going around. Flu season's just around the corner, maybe these are just early cases. Twilight decided upon that to give her mind a rest, but for some reason, she had this feeling in her gut that it wasn't the common flu.
Don't be irrational, Twilight. Shaking her head, she took another sip from the tea and enjoyed the rest of the meal. After the food was done, Rainbow Dash went to do her Pegasus duties. Rarity apparently had a client in less than an hour, and Applejack had to get back into her work at the farm. Fluttershy needed to feed her animals, and Pinkie departed to help at Sugarcube Corner. Twilight was now alone. She decided to just go back to the library and check up on Spike's condition. Packing up the blanket and picking up assorted bits of trash, Twilight turned towards the gate.
Two other ponies tried to move out of the park. One of them burst into a coughing fit, flinging spittle and the germ all over the other pony.
"Hey! Watch where you're coughing!" the healthy pony blurted out, enraged. "Don'cha know how to cover your mouth?"
"Sorry... came without... warning.... some weird sickness..." the sick pony had to pause frequently as he went into more aggressive coughing fits. This time he covered his mouth. Twilight waited until the others were gone, so as not to catch whatever was going around. She rushed home, seeing only one more coughing pony. Opening the door, she saw Spike asleep on the ground, a half empty bottle of cough medicine laying next to him. He coughed occasionally. Twilight closed the door, levitated Spike up to his bed upstairs, and cleaned up the newest mess of sticky cough syrup. Her suspicions were correct; either the influenza had developed drug resistances randomly, or this was brand new. However, it wasn't really hurting anyone, so Twilight went with the idea that it would blow off soon.
Spike woke up a few hours later. He stumbled down the oak staircase and greeted Twilight as she was working on writing something. He walked up to Twilight and peeked over her shoulder, and found that it was a letter.
Dear Princess Celestia, Greetings, Princess. I humbly apologize for the recent lack of friendship reports that you have been receiving. As of about one month ago, most of my friends had become extremely busy, and we've had a lack of insightful adventures. I'm writing you right now because my assistant, Spike, has come down with a terrible cough, that normal medicine doesn't seem to have an effect on. I've also seen several other ponies in town feeling the same illness. After sending this letter, I will take Spike to the hospital for an examination. I believe that it is contagious, but coughing appears to be the only symptom as of now. I'll report any new findings on it soon.
Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle
"Twilight, I don't want to got to the hospital," Spike complained. Twilight shook her head.
"Spike we have to find out what's wrong with you, so we can get a more effective treatment," Twilight stated.
"But Twilight-"
"No means no, Spike. Send this to Princess Celestia for me, please."
Spike sighed, took the letter, and with a gust of green fire, it was gone.
"We'll take a look at him. Why don't you go have a seat in the waiting room?" Nurse Redheart suggested, leading Spike towards a waiting doctor.
"Thanks, Nurse. I'm just hoping it isn't anything dangerous, seeing as he's still just a baby," Twilight responded. Spike frowned but said nothing.
"I'm sure there's no need for worry," reassured the doctor standing by the door. "We'll examine him and let you know if it's anything more than a Cold or the flu."
"Thank you, doctor." Twilight took a seat. Almost an hour later, a new doctor came.
"We'll have our test results by tomorrow. Why don't you take him home. We think all he needs is some rest," he informed Twilight. She nodded and he returned to his duties. A moment later, Spike came out, followed by Nurse Redheart. Spike had a small bandage on his left arm, with a small red dot in the center.
The two went home. "What'd they do for you?" Twilight inquired.
"They gave me some cough syrup and then took some of my blood. They also wanted a urine sample, and they checked my temperature and looked at my throat," he responded.
"Alright. I'll make some soup and then you get some rest."
The next morning, Twilight slid out of bed. Spike was sound asleep, snoring softly. Twilight snuck down the stairs, careful not to disturb her assistant. The bright morning sun shone in the east, barely rising above the horizon. Twilight styled her mane and opened the door to the library, stepping out. It was still somewhat chilly out. Twilight enjoyed the thin morning air. However, she had a task ahead of her. Trotting down the street, she headed in the direction of the Ponyville Medical Center. On the way, she observed something odd. There were a few ponies wearing an air filter, the kind doctors usually wear. Each of them wore a white coat, with a logo stitched on. It was a red bio-hazard symbol with a black background, and under the symbol were the letters 'ECDC'. The Equestrian Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? What were they doing here? When she took a step towards them, a big, burly stallion stepped in her path. He wore riot armor with a tab carrying the word 'Security'.
"Sorry, ma'am, but we can't allow you over there," he said in a rough voice, slightly muffled by the mask covering his mouth.
"What's going on?" Twilight felt a small amount of panic welling up inside her.
"The ECDC received a report about a new bacterial pathogen running rampant in Ponyville. Through a small test, we've found that it's airborne and highly contagious. It's been showing up in Canterlot and Fillydelphia, and now here. Manehattan is also reporting isolated cases here and there. Princess Celestia fears a pandemic. Incubation period is about a week or two, though some show symptoms in just a few days. Fillydelphia says that they're now sneezing and small rashes are forming on the skin. Mayor Mare reported a few hundred cases in Ponyville. It's spreading almost faster than the Common Cold. We're just here to do some research, and due to risk of infection, I can't let you near. Although mostly harmless, new symptoms seem to be turning up quite rapidly, and we don't wanna tempt fate."
Twilight's blood ran cold. A pandemic? She turned from the guard without saying anything more and rushed to the hospital. It was extremely crowded! Overnight, what looked like dozens of ailing ponies went to the hospital. There were ponies laying on the floor, leaning on walls, waiting outside. All the waiting room chairs were full. Some seats had two ponies sharing it. Twilight heard lots of coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and impatient complaints. The nurses and doctors had their hooves full, and they were racing back and forth, taking about thirty seconds to speak with sick ponies.
Suddenly, a magically enhanced voice rang out the words, "everypony, go home. We cannot keep up with all this. You're spreading the germ. Stay only if you have young or elderly that are sick. Everypony else, come back later!" Twilight turned and ran out the door. Infection rates had skyrocketed seemingly overnight! Sheer panic took over her mind. Spike, she had to get to Spike. He was a baby dragon, he was in danger. The security guard had mentioned it to be a bacteria. Twilight would take Spike to a pharmacy and get him some antibiotics. He would be okay.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Twilight coughed. It was a small cough, and she hardly even acknowledged it. More pressing matters were on her mind. She told herself it was probably nothing, that it was in her head, that it would just pass over. But there was this feeling in her gut, something that left a thought in the back of her mind, that this was just the beginning.
Spike sneezed loudly. He was seated besides a nearly-empty box of tissues and a trash can full of mucus-covered tissues. His nose was red and chapped from constant rubbing. Twilight's condition was slightly better, due to her matured immune system, but she too was suffering. Within a week, about eighty percent of Equestria was sick. Infectious disease teams were sent to Ponyville, Canterlot, and Manehattan. The ECDC was conducting research around the clock. Whatever was going around, it had become a pandemic, with the infectivity of the Common Cold. Infections have been traced to contaminated water sources, air transmission, and contact with infected body fluids. Due to the intense coughing, the bug was all over the place.
Wiping her nose with a tissue, Twilight noticed a thin red streak in the snot. It resembled blood... probably because her nostrils had been split open from frequent rubbing. Nonetheless, it worried the sporadic young mare. Very few ponies were still healthy, and those that were wore an air filter everywhere they went. Several ponies had died from the pathogen, though they were all either extremely young or very old.
The ECDC named the bacteria 'Serium'. It's been in every newspaper. Now, in almost every public building, there's a notice stating hygiene requirements, Pandemic protocol, and even how to spot an infected individual. Obviously, not much is known about Serium, although it is believed that the reason it spread so fast was a really long incubation period, so that most ponies would be infected before they even knew it. It's believed symptoms are coming from mutations from a recently damaged DNA strand, making the incubation period much shorter.
Twilight wiped her nose again, then stood and said, "alright Spike, it's time for your pills." Spike groaned. The Telithromycin that was prescribed to him didn't even work, but Twilight still forced him to take the pills. Opening his mouth, he took the medicine in his hand. Right before he put them in his mouth, a letter came. Twilight opened it immediately, and as she read, her features went more and more grim.
Dear Twilight Sparkle, I regret to inform you of a rather tragic incident we had in Canterlot last week. At roughly eight o'clock P.M., a young mare checked in to the hospital. She was a very healthy pony, young, with a strong immune system, but she was suffering rather badly. Her eyes were pink and purple spots had appeared on her skin; both are signs of internal hemorrhaging. She coughed every few seconds, usually resulting in her expelling blood from her mouth, and she was so weak, she could hardly move. Not even three hours later, doctors found sores on her skin that oozed blood and pus. Over the course of the night, the sores grew in size alarmingly fast, and she began bleeding profusely. She expired the following morning. All the doctors and nurses who attempted to treat her are showing signs of infection, despite the many safety precautions they had. Twilight, they were infected through a P20 mask and hazard clothing! I know you share my fears for Equestria. Whatever's going around, it isn't good. I need you out here as soon as possible to start the cure developments. Equestria needs you. Sincerely, Your mentor and Princess, Celestia P.S. You may bring along your friends. They may be needed.
Spike leaned forward, trying to read the letter. Twilight instantly moved it away and rolled it back up. "Spike, you can't see this. We're gonna go on a little vacation to Canterlot tomorrow. I've got a new job up there."
"What is it?" Spike asked curiously.
"I have to help make a new medicine, one that will actually help."
The train station was empty, save for about a dozen ponies loitering. This was most likely because railroad travel had been mostly stopped due to fears over Serium. Twilight had the only train that day. Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spike stood at her side, ready for the journey ahead. Their luggage consisted primarily of hoof sanitizer, Grade 3 antibiotics, and N95 masks. All six ponies wore a mask. Spike, who was already sick, didn't need one.
The train finally pulled up. A pony with a dark gray coat stepped forward from the opening doors. He wore a white lab coat and an N100 mask, as well as heavy duty sterilized rubber horseshoes. He stopped walking and looked over the group of ponies. Finally he extended a hoof.
"Pleasure to meet you all! I am Dr. Syringe, the colt in charge of the cure effort! I will be guiding and organizing your progress for... however long this cure takes. You are Dr. Twilight Sparkle, I presume? Pleasure to finally meet you! I've definitely heard some great things about you! Oh, but there'll be time for that on the train. Now, I don't believe I've had the honor to get acquainted with your friends." The doctor greeted each of the mane six with a hearty hoofshake. Spike let out a rattling cough and then wheezed. The doctor looked at him, noticing him for the first time; Spike looked a pale gray, and his eyes were looking a little pink. Twilight felt a pang of worry as she recalled what Celestia had said in her letter.
"Oh... we, uh, cannot allow him on the train," Dr. Syringe said reluctantly. "I really wish we could take the risk, but chance of contamination is too high; I'm sure you're already familiar with just how contagious this pathogen is, and I'd hate for him to be responsible for..."
Twilight knew the doctor was right, and looked down at the ground. The others appeared a bit uneasy. Spike didn't even know what was just said; he had fainted.
"I suppose you're right, but... where else can he go?" Twilight stammered, tearing up a little.
"I can arrange for him to be taken to the hospital. As he is a baby, he will be treated almost immediately, and I'm sure he'll be in good hooves until this whole mess is sorted out."
A mess. He had referred to the pandemic, that causes massive internal bleeding and has already killed several ponies, as just a 'mess'. Twilight choked back her anger and gave an abrupt nod, then turned to board the train. Dr. Syringe levitated Spike up and slowly started moving towards the hospital, while the others followed Twilight onto the train. The conductor came out of the engine room and stared at the group blankly.
"Where's the doc'?" he asked, in a voice that sounded gravelly.
"He made a short trip to the hospital. Said he won't be long," Rainbow Dash stated, laying down on the comfortable seat. The engineer gave a curt nod and turned back to the engine room, closing the door behind him. It made a loud screeching noise as it flew shut, and several of the ponies flinched.
"Well, now we wait," said Applejack. Nopony replied, and they all began waiting patiently for Dr. Syringe to return. Twilight coughed a few times, and Rainbow Dash shot her a quick look; Twilight couldn't see her facial expression behind the gas mask, but she could guess that it was a look of concern.
Finally, after almost fifteen minutes, Dr. Syringe boarded the train. The doors slid closed and he found his seat.
"Sorry for taking so long," he apologized. "The hospital here is even busier than the one in Canterlot!"
There was a metallic screech and the train engine came to life. The sound of the engine rumbling filled the air, and the train began moving forwards, slowly picking up speed. The race for the cure had begun.
