-Applejack-
I was sitting in my bed, leaning against my head board. I hugged my pillow as I tried to calm myself down. The pillow I hugged, smelled of Dashal a little bit and her smell right now managed to keep me calm. I began wondering what my life would have been like if my parents were still around. What must it have been like to know them now while they were still alive.
Something bothered me though. It was like I had met them somewhere not too long ago. I recounted the time I was with that one priest guy at the plant. All I remember was sinking into the water, then my mind going blank. I couldn't remember and it was driving me insane. I know I met someone while I was there, but I couldn't help but forget.
A soft series of knocks came from the door, "Applejack?" Apple Green came into the room.
"Didn't I tell you to get the hell outta here?" I barked.
"Listen, we just gotta talk," he pushed past the door.
"There is nothing you can say that will make me change my mind," I got out of my bed and stood up. He was a couple inches shorter than me and it showed, "Now get of my house and out of my city," I growled as I got in his face.
"Why won't you seriously allow me to talk to you?" he backed off a little, "I know your life may not have been as loving and kind-!"
"As Your Life!" I shouted, "My life was hell! Every turn and corner I have experienced fucking Hellish loss!"
"But in order to lose, one must gain. The more you hurt after a loss means that you have also gained a lot," I kept quiet and just sat back down on my bed, "Thank you," I just scowled at him, "All I want to say is that I want to be an Apple. I don't care what our pasts were like. All that matters is how we move forward from here."
"Fine," I stood back up and headed toward the door. As I passed Apple Green I patted his shoulder, "Meet me at the back doors at the break of dawn. Don't be late."
-Twilight-
It was sad seeing them go. All the people who have lived here in Ponyville walked down the street away from me, "Okay sister," I turned my head to look at Princess Luna and Princess Celestia hugging each other, "I will send word to you when we get there."
They parted ways and Celestia looked on as though she was trying to hold back her tears. This was very much an emotional roller coaster for all of us. My brother Shining Armor walked up to me with Princess Cadence. His best friend Flash Sentry was laughing at something Shining said. Cadence tried figuring out what was so funny, but it didn't really work for her. She was obviously more confused now than from before. I smiled as they walked up to me. I really tried getting my mind like Aj's. Like for example, the death of Big Mac. How she is still standing after he passed away, especially since she was there when he drew his last breaths, how could she still be standing after that? I will always wonder the psychology behind a mind like hers.
Aj has a brilliant fractured mind that is beyond compare but with all of the crazy, she still seems strong. I don't know if I would have still stood if my brother had died. If he were to die, I think that I would just curl up into a ball and beg for death. But through all of this though, I know Aj would pull through for me if that were to happen.
Rarity, Dashal, Flutters, Pinkie, and I have all lost our parents and we have Aj to thank for pulling us through. Sure she didn't say what we wanted us to hear, but she told us what we wanted to hear all the same; and that's what brought us through. We all owe her so much.
After about an hour, the town was empty. All who remained were: myself, Flutters, Rarity, Pinkie, Shining Armour and Cadence, Luna, Celestia, Flash Sentry, and a few other people for guards. Applejack wants us to stay so we could try and find a cure. Combining her mind with mine and Flutters, we should be able to find a cure.
I walked down the emptied streets of Ponyville. I wonder what Aj has planned next on the agenda.
As though the universe knew that I wanted to talk to her, Aj came crashing down from the sky. She cratered the ground and disappeared underneath the fractured pieces of earth. I looked behind me as a large zombie with an over-sized axe in both hands, "Ha-ah!" I looked back at the blonde now pulling herself out of the ground, "Where do these guys keep coming from?" she pulled herself out finally and dirt covered her body. Blood dripped from her nose as cuts shown through tears through her uniform.
"Aj, are you okay?" I asked her.
"Does it look like I'm okay?" she grunted as she popped her knuckles and her neck.
"You have to protect these people," I told her.
"That's gonna be hard because there are three of these things around. The other two are on their way," she walked toward the now charging zombie. She turned her body as she jumped; she swung her foot around and a blade of fire blasted out of her foot. The fire knocked the zombie back a few steps. Aj landed back on her feet as the beast regained its composure.
From out of nowhere, an axe was thrown her way. She dodged it only by a few inches when she threw herself left. The axe blade lodged itself into the ground as I saw two more hulking zombies walking up.
Something then tapped my foot and I snapped my eyes down to see Aj's helmet. It had itself propped up on spider leg like appendages as it looked up at me. I picked it up and put the helmet on, 'Madam Twilight,' it was the voice of Dashal, 'Those beasts have a genetic code like Aj's.'
"What does that mean?" I asked her.
'It means that whatever these things are, are a direct result of combining Aj's DNA with the Zombie virus. Her DNA gives them super strength and the ability to heal rapidly.'
"Do you know who could've done this?"
'All I know is that Princess Celestia gave the go ahead to experiment on the project. But these three monsters are stronger than the last one she has faced. These beasts were specifically designed for attacking Equestrian enemies; but since this whole zombie thing went down, they have escaped.'
"What does that mean for Aj?"
'It means that these beasts are like any animal on earth. When the same species is within their territory and they feel as though it is being threatened, they will fight to the death in order to protect it.'
"But Aj isn't of the same species."
'Ah, that is where you are wrong Madam Twilight. Those beasts are half of Aj and because of that, they see her as the same species. It is not on an intellectual level, but an instinctual level. But this proves devastating for Aj since there are three of them. There's only a small chance that this will be in favor of Aj.'
"What can I do to help her?" I began becoming frantic.
'There is nothing for you to do Madam Twilight except to make sure that there aren't any innocent lives around during their fighting. Including yourself. Their battle will be catastrophic to anyone and anything in their paths.'
"AAAAAAAARGH!" I saw Aj being grabbed by two of the beasts. They had one arm wrapped around her arms and their other hands were wrapped around their ankles.
"I have to save her!" the helmet pulled my head back when I began moving toward her, "Get Off Of Me!" I shouted as I tried pulling the helmet off. The third zombie drove a fist into Aj's chest and Aj was pushed into the ground, "THEY'RE KILLING HER!" I shouted, "I HAVE TO HELP HER!"
'That is not your concern right now."
"LIKE HELL IT IS! SHE IS MY FRIEND AND SHE-!" I was interrupted by another blow made the zombie. It drove a foot into Aj's chest and I heard the roar of pain coming from Aj. I used magic to blow up the helmet so I could aid Aj.
A zombie picked Aj up and another kicked her in the gut. That gut wrenching kick sent Aj soaring backwards. I got in the way of Aj's destined landing spot so I could catch her. She hit me with so much force that we both toppled to the ground. I sat up and held Aj's head in my lap, "You have to run," she breathed painfully as blood gushed out of her mouth, "Take the people to Manehatten," she struggled to get up.
When she did, I did too, "I'm not going to leave you," I said as the zombies smirked evilly as they slowly made their way over to us.
That's when Kate and Grum ran up behind us and began their assault on the three zombies. Their efforts were duly noted, but to of no avail. The three zombies literally ripped them apart and Aj let out a deafening roar. She may have the strength of gods and the heart of a warrior, but she is still human all the same. I couldn't stand to see her losing like this.
Her six and a half foot frame was dwarfed in comparison with the zombies. She faltered and I caught her, "You don't have to do this alone," I told her.
"Yes I do. I don't want anyone else getting hurt. I'll keep them busy just long enough for you and the others to escape unscathed. So you should go," she began walking forward, "Now!"
She lifted a fist to throw a punch, but the middle zombie kicked her dead square in the chest and she was shot backwards. She stayed motionless for few seconds before she began coughing up blood, "AAAAAAJJJJJAAAAAY!" I bellowed at her as I cried.
"I have to lead them away," she got to her hands and knees, "They won't stop unless I destroy them. I gotta lead them away Twilight," she looked at me before jumping up. She landed behind the zombies and faltered back down to a knee. The zombies turned to follow her. Aj jumped again, but this time she jumped higher and further before crashing back down. It was like she was trying to fly, but her injuries prohibited her from doing such.
With one final roar of undefeat, she launched herself into the air and disappeared over the houses. The zombies grabbed their weapons and ran after her.
That was the last time anyone saw Aj for weeks. I made sure the people got to Manehatten safely before heading back to Ponyville. The way back was slow because all I thought of was Aj and the sacrifice she had laid before us all. She was willing to get herself killed if that meant others lived. She was the embodiment of Utilitarianism and it was amazing. I don't know how anyone could be that courageous or that brave to do such a thing.
I got back to Ponyville and met up with the girls. We were all so depressed as we stood in the kitchen, the apparent meeting place for all of us, "What is it like being that selfless? That abnegated?" I asked them, "How could all she be was a cold-hearted assassin when she was more like a warrior of and for the people?"
"She was a friend to all of us," Rarity answered, "She tried protecting all of us before we all tried to escape. We were so worried about leaving that we didn't even consider the fact that she was trying to protect ourselves. We thought that we were doing our part in this war against the zombies by trying to protect our families. When in all actuality she was the one protect our families on our behalf."
"I assume that because she lost her parents," Flutters started, "She tried so hard to make sure that other people's families weren't about to get ripped apart. She was the first out of all of us to lose her parents and the first one to lose the love of their lives. She had lost so much and we didn't appreciate that fact that she didn't want us to lose what she has lost. But because of our stubbornness, we lost our families out of all of this."
"I wonder where she is now," Pinkie fiddled with a rubix cube that she's solved like seven times already in the last half hour, "Because if she still is alive, I want to find her just to say thank you. I remember the time she taught me a few moves of combat training. Although her teaching methods were a little on the aggressive side, she meant well. And that's why I didn't really listen to her at first when she told me that she wanted everyone to stay within the city. She was so mean and aggressive that I didn't see the fact that she was only trying to protect all of us."
"Hey girls," Celestia and Luna came walking in, "How's everyone doing? Sorry, wrong question."
"No, it is all okay," I brushed the hair out of my face and tucked it behind my ear, "Where's Luna?" I asked.
"She said she had found a lead somewhere about Aj and she just up and left. I haven't seen her the last couple of days. Has anyone heard anything from Aj?" we all shook our heads sadly, "Aj is a hero. Much like the Apple Ascendants before her. Hiri Apple; Apple Smith; Sweetie Apple; and now Applejack. Four generations of heros and every single time one fell, Equestria grew darker."
"Ugh!" we heard from the front door. It sounded like a zombie had entered into the house. Low and long groans and slow, dragging paces across the floor. Then we heard a familiar voice groan a favoured word, "Fuuuuuck!"
Aj came around the corner into the kitchen. Her hair was matted with blood and her face had a thin layer of the dried red liquid. Her clothes hung to her muscular body by mere threads. I saw bruises blotching her entire body as she limped in. The way her arm swayed limp at her side meant that she was suffering from a broken bone. Also, I didn't have to be a doctor to see that a few of her ribs were either bruised or broken because of the almost black patches of skin over them.
"Aj!" we all exclaimed in unison.
"Don't touch me," we froze in place, "I am in too much pain for someone to touch me."
"What should we do then?"
"You can start by trying to heal me. You can use magic or whatever you have to do," she grunted to her knees.
"Well, I now a few healing spells that can help," I said.
"Since I have more magical abilities, I can heal any of your broken bones if you wish."
"Oh no," Aj waved, "My bones somehow healed on the way back over here. It's just the bruises that feel like my bones are still broken."
"Uh, I know some healing remedies that can help with that," Flutters stepped forward as she ruffled through her small purse. She pulled out a small grey cube, "Here Aj," she handed it to Aj, "This will help relieve you. I created it; it tastes horrible, but it will certainly do the trick nonetheless," Aj immediately popped it into her mouth and tried not to vomit as she swallowed, "Yeah, sorry Aj, but it will help you."
Aj gagged and coughed violently as Flutters pulled out a small bottle of juice, "Here, this will get rid of the horrible aftertaste."
"It's not tasting that bad anymore," Aj waved her off.
"Three… Two… One," Flutters counted down and that's when Aj's face went pale like all the oxygen left her body. Flutters handed Aj the bottle and Aj snatched it from her hand. Aj rushed to open the bottle and swallow it. When she down the entire bottle, she sighed in relief, "Are you better?" Flutters dropped to her knees in front of her as Aj nodded. Flutters had a tiny flashlight at hand as she used her other hand to grab Aj's chin, "Open your mouth."
Aj did as Flutters clicked the flashlight on down Aj's throat. Flutters then turned Aj's head and used the flashlight's back end to stick it into her ear. A two inch screen folded out from the head of the flashlight. We all saw the inside of Aj's ear, "Eew," Flutters stated, "You gotta clean out your ears," Flutters stood back up, "Everything seems fine with Aj. All she needs is rest right now."
"I thought you only studied animals."
"That's where you thought wrong Aj. I also study humans and now it has come in handy. Especially when the other person with extensive knowledge on the human body has now officially been deemed as a patient of mine."
"I am nobody's patient," Aj slowly stood up and I helped her stay on her feet.
"You can't even stand on your own two feet without someone helping you. Besides, being my patient isn't up for discussion. Now let's go upstairs young lady so we can get you all cleaned up and into bed."
"Okay," Aj slung her arm around Flutters' shoulders and limped with her out of the room.
"Wow," I stretched and yawned, "Aj always has impeccable timing."
"Do you think that we should ask her how she survived?" Celestia asked.
"I think we shouldn't push it too soon. I think she'll tell us when she is ready," Cadence smiled.