Draco and Umbreus continued along the river in the afternoon sun, which was slowly sinking in the sky. Draco noticed that he hadn't been hungry for almost a day or two, and he wondered why. Maybe it was that large gem meal I had the night when all this shit happened. They continued down the river, and Umbreus spoke up. "So… I noticed you're bitten… when were you planning to tell me that?" Umbreus asked, a bit more than irritated and angry.
Draco turned to him. "I wasn't planning on telling you, because it doesn't matter."
"What do you mean it doesn't matter? It doesn't matter that you become one of them and kill all of us!?" Umbreus responded harshly.
"No… not that. It doesn't matter because I already am one of them."
Umbreus registered confusion, and cocked an eyebrow. "You mean… you're under control of yourself like you said the others were earlier?"
Draco nodded solemnly. Umbreus turned back forward. "Well, I've known you for a long time, Draco, and I know you wouldn't put any of us in danger. But how come you didn't say anything earlier?" Umbreus asked.
"This plague's driving every pony crazy, that's why. Eric fucking sawed Big Mac in half and killed Rarity. I don't know what they ended up doing to him, but that's what this situation is doing to us," Draco explained.
"Percy's kid… he killed them… with a saw!?" Umbreus asked in disbelief.
"Yeah… he did it. I have the chainsaw that did it right here," Draco said, lifting up the bloodstained chainsaw with his right hand. Umbreus slowly shook his head at the sight of it.
"FUBAR… that's what it is," Umbreus replied.
"FUBAR?" Draco asked in confusion.
"Fucked up beyond all reason… a term Cloud and I came up with in the Arcanes. Sometimes we'd deal with some seriously messed up shit… just nothing like this." Umbreus now checked something on his waist, and he continued walking.
Draco wondered what he checked. "Hey… what was that on your waist?" Draco asked.
"Hmm? Oh, you mean this," Umbreus responded as he showed Draco a sheathed blade. "It's a blade I carry along with the katana. Since I'm second-in-command of the Arcanes, I know things that others shouldn't know. So if I get captured, I would use this to disembowel myself," Umbreus explained.
"What!? Why would you do that?" Draco asked in horror.
"Like I said, I know things others shouldn't know, specifically the Changelings. I die without them ever knowing. Cloud thinks it's too extreme, but I've been confident that it would never happen. Sometimes, though, I use it along with the katana to have two blades at once. Being in the military has its pros and cons, you know," Umbreus said with enthusiasm.
Draco nodded solemnly, and they continued along the trail. Umbreus stopped him with his hoof, and pointed towards the shed near Fluttershy's cottage. "Hold up… that place… something about it rubs me the wrong way."
"That's Fluttershy's shed. That's where the infected are locked up," Draco explained. Umbreus nodded, and continued along until they reached Fluttershy's cottage. "OK… let's see how they're all doing since I left," Draco commented.
He opened the door to the cottage, and both of them entered. They saw the masked CDC workers, but no one else around. The scientists saw the two as well, and both sides pulled out their weapons; Draco with his Boomstick and Umbreus with his katana, and the CDC workers with their shotguns. "Where are they at!? What did you do to them!?" Draco yelled out in fury, aiming the Boomstick at them. Umbreus remained calm, but still held his katana at the ready.
"Put the weapon down or you die!" one of them announced, not at all pleasantly. Another of the masked workers, this one wounded on the shoulder, came from the hall, and turned to the two who entered.
"Lower your weapons… he's fine," he announced. He removed the mask, and Draco saw it was Doc. As he said this, they lowered their weapons.
"Thanks, Doc," Draco responded.
"Doc? What in the hell? It's been years!" Umbreus said goodheartedly.
"Umbreus? Shouldn't you be in Caelum with the Arcanes?" Doc responded.
"Why do they always say that? No, I was relocated here. As a matter of fact, we came down here to bring you back with us," Umbreus said.
"Bring back where?" Doc said.
"The Hoofer Dam. If we can get you all there, and bring some supplies, then we'll be set," Umbreus answered.
"Well, I'd love to head there, but we have problems of our own to deal with first. We have the ponies in the rooms, and I don't think we can move all of them safely to the dam. Plus, with Eric in hoof cuffs, we're more vulnerable than before. I was surprised when I saw Percy's son locked up… then I heard what happened," Doc explained, turning a bit away.
"Well, we need to get out of here before dark; otherwise we're in big trouble," Umbreus said.
"OK… let me get them all ready." Doc left to the rooms, and gathered the remaining uninfected ponies, including Eric, who was now wrapped in a straitjacket. He remained calm and collected, and greeted Draco.
"Welcome back, dragon… I've been waiting for you to return… now the shed is complete again," he said eerily. Draco winced a bit at hearing this. Alan rushed to Draco, happy to see him standing, even if he was dead. He embraced Draco, and Draco returned it.
"Draco… don't ever leave again… please," Alan pleaded, tears running down his eyes.
"I won't… I can't leave you behind, kid," Draco responded sincerely.
Rainbow Dash was also happy to see the safe return of Draco, and he embraced her as well. She then punched him in the arm, and seemed a bit upset and irritated. "Never storm off like that again, you got that!?" she asked seriously.
"I don't plan to anymore… I'm sorry about that," Draco responded.
Umbreus turned to Doc. "What about the infected in the shed? Can we somehow bring them along too?" Umbreus said.
"I don't know… Fluttershy's been feeding them for a while… if they don't go hungry, we could," Doc responded.
"Good… any supplies you need to bring, get them now. We won't be coming back here, so make sure to get anything important. We'll have the foals and supplies in the center of the convoy. Rainbow Dash, Derpy, and Draco, you monitor from above. Doc, you and your crew surround the foals. I'll lead the pack to the dam, and the infected will take the back. Any questions?" Umbreus asked. No one responded.
"Good… then let's get ready to leave now."
…
After the survivors packed their provisions and supplies, they entered the shed. They fed all the infected ponies that remained, and did not release them until they were completely satisfied. Umbreus then formed a long, chain length to hold the infected down if they should revert back to beasts. He tied the chain around each of the infected, and tied the end of the chain to the supply cart.
Rainbow Dash carried her Flameshot out, and flew up with Derpy and Draco. Doc, Colgate, and Bonbon carried their shotguns and encircled the cart. Alan, Dinky, Scootaloo, and Eric gathered at the center. Umbreus drew out his katana, and stood in front of the convoy. After all of them made sure to bring whatever they needed, Umbreus began the charge, and led the group along the river towards the dam.
…
After some time of traveling, the infected ponies behind the cart started to rear up, and the survivors turned their attention towards them. They noticed they did not growl or moan, but remained tense. "What's the matter?" Doc asked.
"Something… something's coming, y'all," Applejack said. She reared up yet again, along with the other Control Freaks. "I… I can hear them… AHH!" she yelled out as she tensed up and bucked even more wildly now. The other Control Freaks joined her, neighing crazily and rearing up frantically. "Hurry! They're coming this way! AHH!" she yelled again as she clenched her head.
All of the survivor ponies surrounding the convoy readied their weapons, and moved at a much faster pace. "Come on! We got to get a move on! We're only about a mile away from the dam now!" Umbreus announced. They quickly followed him, and he continued along the path hurriedly.
They all stopped when they heard a large crash behind them. They all turned behind them, and saw a large horde of Shamblers, Runners, and Predators, all led by a single, charred unicorn without a jaw. Though they outnumbered the survivors, they made no move yet. The unicorn Shambler stepped forward, and stood tall as the survivors aimed their weapons at him, ready to fire. He showed no fear… no emotion, and he spoke with trouble. "We know you have the dragon… conscious ones… give him to us… and you shall leave alive…" Wesker said raspily.
All of the ponies turned to Draco, and turned back to Wesker. "No… you aren't getting him…" Rainbow Dash piped up. Draco turned up to her in surprise.
"No… stay out of this, Rainbow." He then stepped towards Wesker. "You want me, then? I'm right here…" he said boldly. Doc was the next to intervene.
"Draco… don't do it," Doc said cautiously and quietly. Draco turned to him, and lowered his voice.
"Doc… when I say so… take every pony, Fluttershy, and the two infected foals, and leave as quickly as you can. Got it?" Draco whispered. Doc gave him a look of surprise, but rather than disagree, he nodded. Draco turned to Applejack, and his eyes flashed red for a moment. Applejack acknowledged this by flashing her eyes red as well, and he nodded.
Acting quickly, Draco pulled out his shotgun, aimed it at the chain that held Applejack, and fired. The chain immediately broke off of Applejack, and she rushed towards Draco. As she did, Wesker used his magic to signal the Runners to charge the group. Draco revved up the chainsaw and tossed the Boomstick to Applejack. She caught it in her teeth, then held it in one hoof, and turned to the other survivors. "Go now! Head to the dam! Me and Draco here will hold 'em off…" she advised the others quickly. Draco was busy sawing some of the charging Runners into piles of blood-soaked giblets.
Without hesitation, every pony but Applebloom bounded down the trail. "Didn't you hear me Applebloom? Go to the dam!" Applejack ordered.
"No way sis! I can't let you fight all of them…" Applebloom argued.
"I told you to go… now! I ain't gonna lose you again, Applebloom…" Applejack said sadly. She turned and fired on a Runner that got too close, and turned back to Applebloom. "Well… what're waiting for!?" Applejack asked harshly. Applebloom looked sadly upon her sister, and nodded. She then bounded down the trail, following the rest of the group.
Applejack and Draco now stood together, fighting off the Runners with their respective weapons. "Applejack… for whatever it's worth… I think you're pretty fucking cool…" Draco said. Applejack grinned widely, and fired more shells into the oncoming horde.
"Yeah… you were the better dragon in my opinion…" she replied. They saw the Predators now rain down on them, diving straight towards them. Applejack loaded more shells into the Boomstick, and fired at the Predators above.
Wesker took advantage of the distraction, and used his magic to teleport directly behind the two Control Freaks. He then readied his horn to pierce Draco, and stabbed him in the back. "AHH! YOU SNEAKY MOTHERFUCKER!" Draco yelled out in pain, reaching for his back quickly.
Wesker quickly pulled his horn back, and Draco spun around quickly. He thrust his chainsaw into Wesker, but nothing happened. Draco pulled out the chainsaw, and the Wesker he saw dissolve before his eyes in a puff of smoke. "What the fuck?" he said in confusion. Wesker then appeared behind Draco yet again, and again thrust his horn into Draco's backside. "AHH! COME OUT AND FIGHT LIKE A STALLION!" Draco challenged, reaching to his back again. He slashed again at Wesker, but again it was only a decoy. How does he do that!?
Applejack finished with the Predators, and turned her attention to Draco, who was being too distracted with a single unicorn to notice the Runners that approached him closely. "Draco! Watch out!" she yelled out to him, pointing behind him to the oncoming horde. He turned quickly, and raised his chainsaw towards them, but they reacted quickly. One of them used their teeth to grab the blade by the sides, where the motorized chains span around harmlessly in their maw. The other Runners grasped onto Draco's arm, and began to bite into it. Even though he was a Control Freak, they seemed to enjoy the satisfaction of their hunger. Draco tried pulling back, but they continued chewing his arm. "DAMN! THEY WON'T BUDGE!"
He had about four Runners grabbing his arm, and he acted quickly. He pulled out his combat knife with his left hand, turned to his assaulted right arm, and began severing his right arm off at the shoulder. He yelled in pain as he did, and green blood sprayed constantly from the gash he created. He was halfway through, when the Runners finished the job by pulling his right arm free of its socket, muscle and tendons tearing from it. As they did, they converged on it, their hunger blinding them from their original target. Draco watched in horror as they did, and was breathing irregularly. He snapped out of it though, and he quickly turned to Applejack. "Let's get out of here now!" he yelled to her.
She saw the desperate action Draco pulled, and she stood shocked, almost horrified at first. She then nodded, and they both sprinted away from the horde, Draco bleeding out as they did.
Wesker turned to them, and smiled wickedly as they fled. Yes… run now, dragon. Flee… for I now have a suitable trophy for myself… he thought to himself, heading towards the Runners that surrounded his severed arm and chainsaw. He reached in, and pulled out a bony arm, picked clean of flesh and blood. He raised it high into the air, and roared loudly. Every Runner turned to him, and he stood tall in front of them. He used his magic to send them a message. All of you! Calm yourselves! We will get these last few ponies, if it's the last thing we do! They have left us the perfect tool of destruction… their blade of oblivion! We will use it… to destroy their stronghold… and then… carve our dinner with it! But for now… we shall dine in Ponyville.
They all roared and neighed in response, using it as a disturbing cheer. Wesker then took the skeleton arm with him, and he led the large horde back to Ponyville to regroup and refuel for another onslaught.