Chapter Nine

-One Month Later-

Knight Squad gathered at the base of Umbra Equitis, each one wearing their brand new uniforms. While they were used to wearing Royal Guard armor, their new attire had been a lighter change of pace, being mostly tailored cloth. Each wore a long, emerald green, great coat with black trousers, matching black leather guards over their chest, shoulders (their left being red), forearms, and knees. They even wore emerald peak caps with black bills, only Strong Arm's being crested with gold and had sergeant stripes on his sleeves… An onyx skull and cross pined to the stallion's left breast.

Each Trooper, as Marius called them, had a lasgun slung on their shoulder, a las-pistol at their right hip and a saber on their left. All those present were ready for battle, Blueblood having a nervous look about him but ready none the less.

Marius eyed the picture that had been taken a month ago, smiling at it with Nurse Redheart smiling down at the same picture. After a few seconds, he placed it back into his great cloak and signaled for the mare to wheel him over to the squad, wishing to inspect his men. A single thought crossing the pilot's mind. "Now, these are troopers I would take into battle." His gaze ell on to Blueblood, the former prince snapping to attention. "Blueblood?"

"Y-Yes, sir!" He replied, nervousness racking the stallion's tone.

"We are not going to have any trouble from you, are we?" Marius asked, eyeing the former prince's every move.

"Negative, sir! I will pull my weight, sir!"

"Good." With a nod, Nurse Redheart rolled him in front of the entire squad, allowing Marius to glance up at the unicorn teams finishing up Umbra Equitis' reloading. He waited a few more moments, before addressing his squad. "I will not sugar coat it, and will get straight o the point. Our mission is simple, we are heading to the Ponyville Hospital and recovering any intact medical supplies. We do not know how any hostiles are in the area, and this is our first real world situation up against the undead. Which means, we have a secondary objective." The troopers all looked at him, each mentally taking notes. "To gather what information we can on the infected. This does not mean for you to put yourselves at risk. If the situation becomes far too dangerous, then either take the infected out or pull back. Any questions?"

One of the troopers raised his hand up, receiving an acknowledging nod from Marius. "All due respect, sir, but what is Nurse Readheart doing here?"

"A good question." He stated, smirking a bit. "Nurse Redheart has valuable operation information about where it is we are going, and knows the entire building's layout. She shall be tagging along with us, and giving needed directions about where to go."

Strong Arm raised his hand, earning another nod from Maris. "What if we come across survivors, sir?"
Marius' smirk grew wider, as he leaned into the wheelchair. "I have heard that many refugees and locals started to refer to us as the 'Saviors of Equestria'. Now, what kind of saviors would abandon those they are charged to save and protect?" He asked, their answers evident by the defiant looks written about them. "I didn't think so. We deploy in thirty, dismissed!"

"Sir!" The troopers stood at attention, saluting their commanding officer, before falling out. Marius let out a sigh, as Strong Arm strode over to them. "Everything alright, sir? You seem concerned."

"We are entering hostile territory, into extreme confined spacing, with equipment you all only had a month's worth of time to train on. To top it all off, we are also escorting a civilian with no military train-?"

"I have training." Nurse Redheart suddenly blurted out, earning shocked expression from the two. "Four-year veteran combat medic."

"I have been in the Royal Guard for at least six years, and never have I seen your name come up, Nurse Redheart." Strong Arm noted, confused by her response.

"Nurse Redheart gave an innocent smile. "Corporal Tender Redheart, Equestrian Special Response Force, Forty-seventh Advance Operation Corps, Tenth Division, Twenty-third Battalion, Bravo Company, First Platoon, Third Squad, Fire Team Alpha."

"Y-Y-You're former E.S.R.F!?" Strong Arm stuttered, shocked at hearing such exact unit designation. "And part of the unit assigned to the Badlands, no less!"
"Joined when I was eighteen, then became a Nurse shortly after my contract was up, and I had been honorably discharged." The moment she mentioned contract, Marius picked up the tell-tale hint of rehearsed lie. The honorable discharge was true, but the longing in her tone is evident, she missed doing such work but wasn't able to rejoin for some reason.

"Well, Corporal, glad you have you aboard. Your skills may be-?"
Marius cleared his throat, catching their attention. "Not to interrupt, but one of us has absolutely no idea what she just explained."

"Oh, apologies, sir." Strong Arm started, readjusting his collar out of embarrassment. "The E.S.R.F were a branch of Equestrin Military, assigned to handle only the worst of operational sectors. The Tenth Division, of the Advance Operation Corps, had been specifically assigned to just beyond the Badland Boards, stretching across the way into Equestria. As for the Badlands? I rather enter the Everfree Forest, filled with the undead and monsters to boot, than enter that wasteland hellhole."

"I see." His gaze went up to the mare, behind him. "You just keep surprising me, Nurse Redheart… Shall we?"

"Oh, right!" Nurse Redheart turned the wheelchair around, the three heading towards the Imperial Knight. "So, where will I be, on the way o Ponyville?"

"In the cockpit, with me." Marius answered, the mare blushing at the memory of how confined the area was. "It is safer for you there. Before you comment about training, you do not have training with the weapons Knight Squad are using. Not to mention, less risk that one of those undead bastards gets a lucky bite on you." She didn't reply, too focused on where she will probably be in the cockpit…"

-Ponyville Hospital-

The area was surrounded by undead, all pacing around the abandoned Treatment Camp. They were a mix of unfortunate patients and personnel that refused to leave their charges. For a while now, they aimlessly walked around the area in which they dwelled, before being bitten. All searching for the living and devour whom they found, unable to leave the quarantined area.

Heavy stomp caused them all to stop, the impact causing some of the undead to fall over. An undead orderly turned to where it came from, seeing a towering figure, with glowing red eyes, just outside the barricade. Before it could alert the others, a red beam shot out from the towering figure's back, and caused a giant hole to burn through the undead orderly's skull!

"Open fire!" Strong Arm called out, every trooper strapped to Umbra Equitis' back carrying out his order. The area lit up with lasgun beams, finding their marks. Even the Imperial Knight's Heavy Stubbord turned about and fired into the Treatment Camp. The troopers were not taking any chances, firing in controlled pairs to make sure their marks were hit, while the Heavy Stubbord just needed to pass by to decimate its victims. "Ceasefire! Ceasefire! Conserve ammo!"

All fire stopped, as the Treatment Camp began to clear up from the dust of their onslaught. Each scope scanning for any undead that may had been missed. Luckily, it seemed clear from their vantage point.

"Area clear, for now, sir. We can proceed with our mission." Strong Arm relayed, the troopers still scanning their sectors of fire.

"Acknowledged, advancing now." The Imperial Knight stepped over the camp's barricade, instead of crushing it. Once he stepped in front of the hospital, and turned around, Umbra Equitis entered a vigilant pose. "Sentinel Mode activated. Knight Squad, begin operation!"

Grappling hooks shot out from Umbra Equitis' back, troopers repelling down with their cables and began to secure the area. They had predetermined areas around the Imperial Knight's feet, making sure nothing had become a blind spot to the war machine. Though, a pair of pegasi slung their lasguns, helping Nurse Redheart and Marius out, then flew to the ground.

"We are all set, sir. How are going to do this?" Strong Arm asked, who was already at the wheelchair bound pilot's side.

"Nurse Redheart, four troopers, and myself; will enter and clear the hospital. The rest will stay here, with Umbra, and keep this area cleared of infected." Marius instructed, Strong Arm giving a salute before he started positioning certain troopers at firing points. "Umbra?"
"Yes, Lord Marius?" The Imperial Knight Acknowledged, his armored head scanning the area.

"Give them long range cover. If your scanners pick up any infected this way, light them up with the Emperor's Fury."

"Acknowledged, Lord Marius. Weapons are now primed." Umbra Equitis took more of a battle stance, Avenger Gatling Cannon and Heavy Stubbord scanning the ground, while the Stormspear began scanning the air. "None shall escape my sight."

Marius gave a nod, drawing his las-pistol and looking up at the group with him. "Let's move!" They returned the nod, Nurse Redheart pushing the wheelchair, the fourtroopers flanking them.

Once they entered the building, Marius motioned for his troopers to check the upper levels, quietly. They nodded, and moved towards the staircase, bounding up with one covering each flight… he pilot barely noticing Blueblood being one of the four. This caused him to smirk, before motioning to their right.

Nurse Redheart gave a nod, pushing him towards the right corridor, the two keeping their eyes sharp. While the mare rolled him, slowly, Marius carefully scanned each open door with his las-pistol, even checking for unlocked closed ones. Neither wanted to take any chances, especially when the Treatment Camp out front was swarming with the undead. The hospital needed to be cleared, before they started retrieving supplies, such things would slow them down in a hurried escape.

"Any idea where he supplies will be?" Marius whispered, scanning the area around them.

"Each floor has different types of supplies, but they are all near the nurse's station." She replied, trying to stay alert, taking each step slowly.

"Find those, and we-?" He sopped himself, motioning for Nurse Redheart to freeze. The pilot knew he heard something clank against the tiled floor, and it wasn't them or the other troopers. Marius held the las-pistol steady, eyes scanning everything in front of them.

A few seconds later, a metal cylindrical tool bounced in front of them, stopping right in the hallway's center. The caused Marius to aim his las-pistol where it came from… Just as an undead doctor walked into the hallway, his coat covered in dried up blood, the flesh on his jaw and throat nearly torn all the way off. His hoarse moans echoed around them, the undead doctor's glazed eyes searching all around them.

Nurse Readheart placed a hand over her mouth, noticing the tan coat and dark brown mane. "T-That's Dr. Urgent Care… He stayed behind, not wanting to leave his patients." She whispered into Marius' ear, eyes scanning the undead doctor's form, somewhat confused. "B-But, he is a unicorn. Where is his horn?"

"By the looks of it, one of his 'patients' broke it off." Marius motioned to the top of his head… Where a cracked stub just barely jutted out from the doctor's brown hair. "Poor bastard must have been treating an infected, checking for a heartbeat, when they got him."

The mare felt sick, her knees rather weak, from the sight. "P-Please, Marius, Dr. Urgent Care was a great pony. No patient wasn't worth his time, seeing to them all." Nurse Redheart looking down at the knight, who was examining the undead in front of him. "He doesn't deserve this."

"He doesn't, I agree." He sighed, still staring at the oblivious undead. "But, there is still way the good doctor can help the living." Marius words confused her, remaining quiet as the knight reached down, grabbing another tool next to his wheelchair. Carefully, he took the tool and tossed it towards the wall near them.

When the metal tool clanked against the concrete wall and tiled floor, the undead doctor turned his attention away from the empty hallway and to the noise. Slowly, Dr. Urgent Care staggered towards the tool, and started to pat his decaying hands against the floor and wall. It was like the undead doctor is searching for what caused the noise.

"I wonder…" Marius thought, quietly drawing his saber from its heath. Gently, he nudged it against Dr. Urgent Care's shoulder, Nurse Redheart tensing about the undead doctor may leap at them because of this. But, he didn't and kept searching for where the tool hit, giving Marius his answer. "Doctor Urgent Care." The undead doctor turned, hearing the muttered name, and reached towards its source to-!
FZZZT!

Blood and brain matter splattered all over the window, as Dr. Urgent Care fell back and slumped against the wall. "Well done, Doctor. With your help? Hundreds may have just been saved. You earned this peace, your torment at an end… The Emperor will welcome such a kind soul to his side." Marius place the saber back into its sheath, pointing his smoking las-pistol forward. "Let's keep clearing the area, Redheart."

The mare gave a slight nod, pushing the wheelchair again. Her gaze went down to the slain Dr. Urgent Care, frowning. "It's been a pleasure working for you, these past few years, Doctor." For a split second, from how she saw him, Nurse Redheart could swear that Dr. Urgent Care was crying and… Smiling?

-Ponyville Hospital, Third Level-

Blueblood pulled his las-gun's trigger, downing another undead patient. This made his fifth confirmed kill, ever since breaching the make shift barricade at the staircase. His breathing heavy, such a thing being terrifying to the former prince, and Blueblood had far more clearing to do.

An I.V. stand was slowly knocked over, Blueblood whipping around and fired two shots! Effectively killing an undead security guard. "They just keep coming! Were they infected, before putting up that barricade!?" The other trooper asked, firing his own lasgun, killing two undead nurses in the process. "Or, were only a few, and these poor bastards trapped up here with them?"

"I don't know, Dawn Fire." Blueblood answered, the two unicorns standing back to back while they fought. "All I do know, is that I rather not end up like them!" He fired more shots at the approaching undead, noticing a legless doctor crawling towards them. Quickly, he drew the power saber from his hip, activating its energy field, and sliced through their head. "Though, something is bothering me."

Dawn Fire butt-stocked an undead patient to the ground, finishing them off with a shot to the head. "What's that, Blueblood? Still don't like getting your hands dirty?" He jokd, scanning for more undead.

"Not funny." Blueblood deadpanned, hands shaking while h also scanned for ore, as well. "Didn't you notice that a piece of the barricade had been moved, the area not even covered in dust?"
Both of Dawn Fire's ears perked up, realizing what the former prince was suggesting. "You don't think there is… A survivor, do you?"

"That's exactly what I am thinking." He replied, still searching for undead.

"Where do you think they could be?" Dawn Fire asked, looking back at Blueblood.

"Well, from what I learned about animals, it's a noble's thing, predators go where the prey are." Blueblood scanned which way most of the undead came from. "Judging by the amount of undead, I'd say they are in your direction."

Dawn Fire smirked, seeing such a change from Blueblood. 'Well then, what are we waiting for, Recruit? Let's move!"

"Right behind you!" The former prince replied, as both rushed down the hallway.

They moved swiftly, but remained cautious by bounding from safe spot to safe spot. While the two wanted to see if their hunch had been correct, and save the survivors, it was not worth risking their lives. Soon, they found six undead patients, running their bloody hands against a wooden janitor's closet. Those undead were after something, their constant hits cracking the door.

Blueblood took a steady kneeling position, pressing the lasgun's butt-stock into the crook of his shoulder. The weapon's sights lined up with one of the undead, carefully taking aim and steadying his breathing. Dawn Fire, on the other hand, did the same but with a standing position. The two were almost ready to-?

The moment one of the hands cracked through the wooden door, a young voice screamed. "Celestia help us!"
Blueblood suddenly snapped, something within him igniting after he heard that voice call out for help. That was a foal's voice, there were foals hiding in that room! "Hey! Over here, you rotting bastards!" His voice drew their attention, before the two troopers open fired on to them!

Something primal woke within Blueblood, especially seeing three of the undead still trying to get into the janitor's closet. He dropped the lasgun, drawing his saber and charged the undead. Dawn Fire, surprised by his teammate's sudden act, tried to cover him with las-fire. "Blueblood! What are you doing! Stay back, don't get close to them!"

His words were blanked out, only a single voice enter Blueblood's mind. Marius' taunting voice making his eyes narrow.

"You look so frail."

"No." His mind whispered.

"Hide behind a crowd."

"No…"

"You make me sick."

"No…" He stepped closer, readying to swing his blade at the first undead.

"Coward!"

"I am not!" With those words, the energy field sparked around his saber, just as Blueblood swung it.

The blade sliced clean through the undead patient's neck, before Blueblood used the blade to cut their hands off of those trying to get through the door. One tried to grab the former prince from behind, but he mashed the saber's hilt into their skull and kicked it back! The saber flashed with each swing, like it is responding to his fury and determination to protect the foals inside.

Dawn Fire kept up his shots, trying to keep them off Blueblood, but the former prince kept moving around too much. "Damn kid is going to get himself killed!" The unicorn thought, before downing the last undead patient. "There! Get those foals out, I'll cover you!" With that, Dawn Fire turned around, and began to cover their escape, the skirmish had already drawn more undead.

"On it!" Blueblood rushed over to the door, shoving bodies out of his way. "Move away from the door!"

"O-Ok!" The voice acknowledged, followed by sounds of movement, which Blueblood immediately took as them getting clear and used his saber on the door's hinges right after.

The former prince pried the broken door open, sending it back and leaned in. "Are you alright? Are any of you hurt?" Then, all time stopped for Blueblood, when he saw those inside.

Within the janitor closet, sat both a unicorn filly and colt, barely older than six. They both had royal blue coats and burgundy hair, the filly's own just barely reaching past her shoulders. The two looked like twins, except she had magenta eyes and the colt had emerald. Both were wearing tattered clothing, signifying that they had been surviving since this whole thing started.

But, what froze Blueblood, had been that the filly was holding her twin brother… Said colt having a bite mark on his collar bone. "P-Please, mister! Help! It's my brother, he's hurt!"

"Oh sweet Aunt Celestia, what am I going to do?" The former prince thought.