This one's smarter than the others...but not quite smart enough. He may have seen through my projectiles. But he didn't see the other use of them. Shadow dashed to her saddlebags and flicked out her lighter. The flapping having speed-dryed her wings, she sets them on fire. "Now lets try this again." Shadow prepared to once again engage with their attacker, but as she did so, she noticed a group of large strange ponies. "Okay change of plans." She said, grabbing Starlight and her saddlebags, hugging them to herself as hard as she can. "We're getting out of here." Shadow raced towards the manhole, as she flew the fire on her wings spread outwards, making her wings look about three times their size. She hugged Starlight and her possessions closer. A couple of the large strange ponies that had been advancing on them were now thoroughly engulfed in the flames, attempting to still chase after the pair instead of dousing themselves. "Hold on, Starlight, this could be close." Shadow and Starlight shot out of the manhole, the fire from her wings becoming an inferno where they had exited the sewers. Shadow felt a wrenching pain from her right wing as they launched out of the manhole. Suddenly the pair found themself careering onto the third floor of a building, Shadow no longer able to control her flight path. Shadow used her body to take the full force of the crash through the window, but could only think one word as her vision went black. "safe."
*He followed them out of the sewer just before everything started burning.He saw them crash into the building*T-there...yyou...aare...*He crawled up the building and saw them lying in the middle of the floor*Hmm?D-dead?*Thinking they were no longer a threat.He ran off*
Minutes pass before the brown colt wakes from unconciousness. He looks around, noticing a room befitting a very studious pony. A throbbing in his head and a pile of debris around their bodies led him to assume they crashed into it. A black wing and foreleg around his body also led him to think that he was protected against most of the damage. "Ohhh, my head. Thanks for the rescue, but...What did you do, you crazy filly?..." No response. He began to worry as she did not move or speak when got up to brush himself off. "Shadow?...Cyan?..." Still nothing. She remained motionless, and her right wing was bent in a way under her to show that she was injured. His eyes widened in fear of what could have happened to her. "Don't worry, I'm gonna get you to safety!" He used his magic to carefully lift her onto his back and he limped slightly down the stairs. He stopped as he heard something outside. A shriek in the distance, followed by a colt speaking to somepony. "...In any case, we should make ourselves scarce." Help. Survivors. Maybe a doctor. He moved down the stairs with a renewed energy and sense of hope. "Help! Is anypony there?! I'm uninfected, and my friend needs medical attention! Please!"
Quill glanced backward and saw the two ponies, the one who called for medical attention was carrying another who apparently needed it. He waved them over. ”I’m not a doctor per se, but I have some familiarity with First Aid. Maybe I can help.” As he examined the filly Pegasus, he kept stealing glances at her coltfriend. He didn’t look infected, but he appeared to have been tangling with his fare share of Strange Ponies. After a few moments, he turned and withdrew a small bottle of pills from his saddlebags and offered one to the colt. ”Take this. Just in case. Even if you‘re not infected with Grey Goo, it’ll hold off any other infections until we can get your wounds cleaned.” With that, he took a pill of his own and popped it into his mouth, swallowing it in the same breath. After swallowing, he shivered slightly. He’d gotten good at taking antibiotics without taking a drink with it. He then turned to his own filly companion. Are you by any chance a doctor?”
'Sailor looked at the doctor pony, ''We'll need at least a day and a half to get there, and if we aren't stopped by those strange ponies.'' He looked around. ''It's been pretty... quiet. What about you tell me a little about you, while we walk?''
"What in the heavens did you give the poor thing?" Heartburn shrieked as she ran up to the filly. "Oh, dear! I...I don't have anything other than drugs with me! I'm not used to performing away from a hospital. Until we can get to a working hospital, all I can do is help for pain. Tell me, how much does it hurt and do you need anything to ease the pain?"
He looked at the pill in his hoof before looking back at the filly he'd been carrying. "How many of those pills do you have? Because if it's alright with you, I'd like Shadow to take the one I have when she wakes up. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her, and I wanna make sure she's safe." Star looked to the filly talking about drugs. "As for talking to her, she's a bit knocked out right now. But I'd guess she's hurt rather badly. I still have a bit of magic and some First-Aid kits up my sleeve if you can't operate on her right now."
*He noticed the voices.But assumed there was too many far him to fight alone.But he did crawl up the building a watch them from a hole in the ceiling.*
Quill sighed again. "It's a simple antibiotic. It's not a cure, mind, but it does slow down the...infection." *cough* He rattled the bottle of pills and replied, "There's enough in here for all of you to take at least one. I wouldn't recommend it unless there's actually something wrong with you, though. If you have antibiotics in your system when you get an actual bacterial infection, the bacteria becomes stronger. The same with Grey Goo. Those who took antibiotics immediately after the outbreak started turned into Strange Ponies in only a matter of hours." He narrowed his eyes. "I'm not going to waste my pills on the stupid or reckless." That being said, he offered the bottle to anyone who wanted it.
The brown colt put his friend's pill in his bag before turning down his own. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm good for now. I'm sure I could carry--" He stopped as he felt around in his bag. "Wait...My machete's gone!" He frantically searched around for it, passing over his spellbook, his canteen, his medical kits, and finally his map. Suddenly, he remembered. "Just great. I left it down in that tunnel with those Strangelings. No way I'm goin' back for it, then..." He sighed, knowing that his magic was almost completely gone and he was an easy target for another group of strange ponies, should any more come by.
L-looking for..thisssss?*He said holding the machete,then he lost his grip and dropped it through the hole*
Star jumped a bit as his machete fell in the doorway behind him, sticking straight up in the ground. "What the...?" He turned around and looked up. Anger and fear. These were the only words his face could express for this creature. He and Shadow had escaped death twice and still it managed to find them when they least expected it. He backed away from the hole in the ceiling behind the others, not even caring for the machete any more. He was too tired to fight, and they both knew it. "No...No, it's not possible! We killed you! I watched you burn! Shadow made sure you all died!"
Im..sssssstilll..heeere......*He said to the terrified group*Nowww...*The creature stood up*RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!*He called in the horde*You...cannn nneveer...essscape...usssssss.....
"WHAT!" Dark yelled at the Master Protector of Manehatten: Silver Wing, "You can't level the city once the ship leaves! There will still be civi's in there!" "Sorry Dark, you may be the Protector of the Capital region and technically be my superior, but this is my city, and I've already spoken with the mayor about it. By the time the ship leaves, a megaspell will be on its way to end the infection in fire." "NO! I can't let you do that! When we joined the guard, we promised to protect the citizens of Equestria at all costs!" Dark shot back. "Yes ALL citizens of Equestria, we can't risk this disease spreading to the rest of Equestria. I will at most postpone it by a day, but no more." Silver Wing replied. "This isn't the end of this Wing, you have made an enemy that you do not need." Dark said, "When I become Commander, and we both know that I will, you will regret this decision from a cell in the Canterlot prison Silver Wing!" and with that Dark stormed out of the room, determined to at least warn those still inside Manehatten of what was coming. (I kinda figure this is what would happen)
A group of hoofs hit a large puddle. The team had run away from the horde, but the large number of about 20 strange ponies behind them were about 25 yards away and slowly gaining. The only one who seemed to be keeping up was the one who had called the horde, now about 10 yards away, due to his advanced coordination and ability to move around obstacles. Leading the uninfected was 'Sailor, followed by Quill and and a crying Heartburn. Behind them ran Starlight and Gaze, who teamed up to carry the still-unconcious Shadow. The 2 troops Dark had sent were directly to either side of the back 3 ponies, firing at any and all strange ponies within shooting range.
"Yes?" asked the pony at the intercom. "Get out of the way!" Dark ordered. "I'm sorry, I can't let you do that ma'm!" She said. "By order of the Royal Guard, you are relinquished control of the intercom unit until further notice!" Dark said stiffly. The mare sighed, one does not simply argue with a master protector with guards at her side. After the mare left the room, Dark quickly turned on the PA system, "Attention citizens still inside of Manehatten, I am Master Protector of the Capital Region Dark Light. I am here to warn you that if you haven't made it to the ship by the time it leaves, then you shall die. There is a megaspell set to fire and level Manehatten after the ship leaves." the PA suddenly cut off, as Silver Wing ordered it cut. Then another voice could be heard, "Do not fear citizens, that was merely a strange attempt to get you to hurry to the ship before space is filled up! Anyways, carry on!" rang the voice of Silver Wing. Dark snarled, "Mark my words Silver Wing, you shall pay for this!"
Dark got onto the ship, "Citizens, in order to maximize space for others, we shall request that all items considered non-essential or have any not valid reason to stay, must be left behind, thank you for your compliance." Dark said into the microphone. One problem delayed, time to deal with another, Dark thought as she left the ship, getting several of her guards that had made it and made her way to Silver Wing's command office. "What is the meaning of this?!" Silver Wing demanded as Dark and her guards burst in. "Protector Silver Wing, you are under military arrest for contempt of civilian lives." Dark said confidently. "Ha! You don't have the authority to arrest me!" Silver Wing retorted. "Yes, I do. Manehatten is officially under Capital control until the current crisis is resolved, as according to the Actions Manual, Chapter 5, Section 3, Paragraph 5; If an event is declared a nation disaster that threatens the nation as a whole, the Master Protector shall be placed in command of the area until said crisis is cleared. Now, guards, arrest this traitor." Dark's guards grabbed Silver Wing. "You can't do this, I order you to stop!" Wing screamed at the guard's. "Sorry Silver, they will only respond to my orders, trained them personally." Dark said to Silver Wing with a smirk. Her guards dragged out Silver Wing and went to throw her in the ship's brig, "No, I am a military tribune by all rights, and I have seen enough evidence for immediate indictment." Dark said to them, "Let her fight it out, in the city." Silver Wing's eyes grew wide as she took what Dark said. Soon, Silver Wing was inside the quaritine zone, "May the captain go down with the ship." Dark said with a smirk, then went to establish her temporary command.
Shadow faded in and out of consciousness, Cyanside kept on crying to her about the strange ponies attacking. But that didn't make any sense, they were safe from them. She trusted that Starlight would have been able to find somewhere safe for them to hide. The sounds of fighting broke through to her for a moment, and among them a twisted voice. The sound of that one strange pony that had tormented them ever since they had left Stormhoof's house. Why was it so attached to her? There were so many other ponies it could have gone after, so why had it specifically targetted her? There was something different about it, it could talk, and it could understand them. Maybe that pony could be saved, somehow. Suddenly a number of pieces clicked together in Shadows mind. A single thought formed that was far too impossible, yet in a strange way made sense. Could that strange pony have been Stormhoof? Before she could continue those thoughts her mind drifted back, to someplace in between the world and the darkness of her own mind. The sounds of battle still raging around her.
Dark's troops had used their ammunition wisely, successfully cutting the strange ponies' numbers down to size. This did not stop the threat that now landed in front of them. Within seconds, the uninfected were surrounded on all sides by an octagon of 7 monsters and the leader, each one facing a different uninfected individual with the strangeling facing Starlight and the now-stirring Shadow on his back. Each survivor pulled out their weapon of choice, ranging from scimitars to spell books to shurikens to pistols to bone saws. "Alright, everypony..." Star began. "One on one. Everypony gets a strange pony to fight. Let's do this..." He smirked, knowing he would survive his fight by any means necessary, no matter how exhausted he became. He had to make sure Shadow and Cyan were okay at all costs, and he wasn't going to be stopped by some stalker strange pony. Not now. Not ever.
