Chapter 2: Who Let the Zerg Out?

It had been three weeks since the first Zerg attack, Fluttershy wasn't allowed to go back to her home because of its location. Celestia felt that she wouldn't be safe so close to a Zerg Hive, but through certain arrangements Fluttershy had a house built for her in main Ponyville. Most of her furniture would remain in her old house, but she was able to bring all of her animal friends with her. At the moment all her new home had was her bed, a few chairs, and a table. She liked her new home but missed her old one a bit more, but it was easier to see her friends now, but she missed her old home, but the animals seemed happy about the move, but she still missed her old home. "Am I being selfish?" She asked Angel who shook his head. While he may be stubborn at times he still cared for her. Angel looked out the new window as Rarity approached she held some form of basket and walked with a steady trot. Angel let out a few squeaks to get Fluttershy's attention and pointed to the door just as Rarity knocked. Fluttershy opened the door and smiled at the sight of her friend. "Hello Rarity. Have you come over to visit?" Fluttershy asked, while the white unicorn nodded and stepped inside. Rarity looked around at the nearly empty home, and felt a bit of sadness in her. "Don't you think this place is a bit… Bare?" Rarity asked.

"Yes, but I can't really do anything about it. All my furniture is back in my old house… The Zerg are too close to get near the place… At least that's what the guards said…" Fluttershy replied, she looked over at Angel who was impatiently tapping his foot against the table. He pointed at the basket and looked at Fluttershy. She knew that he was curious as to what was in the basket, but she wasn't going to be rude to her friend because of it. She watched as Rarity placed the basket on a table and began to speak again. "I just wanted to stop by and say hello, not to mention that Applejack asked me to bring these over, she can't come herself… Those apples are being harvested at a quick rate, being used to help feed the soldiers fighting the Zerg." Rarity explained. "They've been fighting for weeks, I wonder how long it will take to get rid of them." Fluttershy muttered. "Darling, don't worry. I'm sure the guards can handle a few silly bugs. They'll be gone in no time!" Rarity said with a smile. Angel stuck his little head into the basket and a happy squeak rang through the home. He pulled out an apple fritter and took a large bite. "Angel, you didn't even have your lunch yet. Please wait." Fluttershy said to the rabbit who glared at her before taking another bite in defiance. "Oh… Ok…" She gave in, while Rarity looked at the rabbit. She rolled her eyes before leaving with a goodbye and heading back towards her own home.

Once Rarity thought she was out of Fluttershy's view her mane began to become a mess, hairs popping out of place, ends splitting, and Rarity knew this was all from the result of stress. Twilight was waiting and immediately questioned Rarity. "How did she take it?" "The Zerg may never leave Equestria… I couldn't come up with the courage to tell her…" Rarity explained to Twilight, which made the purple unicorn frown. Twilight watched as Rarity began to slowly break into tears, her friend had finally cracked from all the stress. Twilight soon felt that she may crack from stress as well.

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The Zerg approached a large cave and heard a soft growling from inside. The Zerglings leading the group growled with anticipation, waiting to get inside and literally tear the source of the growls to shreds. They could not act on their own, their minds often pulsing with low thoughts, mostly the wish to please the Queen, with the occasional thought of feeding. For they exist solely to please and serve the Queen, nothing more, nothing less. The Hydralisks in the back hissed with anticipation, for this was one of the few emotions they could feel. The Roaches drooled with their acidic saliva burning through the stone beneath their feet. They waited… Nothing… Not a single order… So they would continue to wait… Nothing… They felt no boredom nor any impatience, but they would wait for something to happen. Either for an order to be given or to defend themselves from the creatures in the cave. The opposing growls slowly died down, which signaled to the Zerg that they had either lowered their guard or were preparing to strike, meaning they would have to be on high alert.

The Zerg prepared to defend themselves from the unseen threat, when suddenly they all heard something whisper through their minds at the same exact time. "Now." The Zerg let out screeches and roars as they charged forward into the cave, their eyes not having yet adjusted to the darkness making them vulnerable for a short time. Even so the moment of their vulnerability was not used wisely as their eyes adjusted to the darkness and they could see the threats clear as day. The creatures were bipedal and dog like, but they were larger than the Zergling and the Roach, but the Hydralisk had a few inches on them. The Hydralisks fired poisoned spines at the creatures, they were imbedded in the creatures flesh, spreading poison through their bodies, and causing a large amount of pain. The Zerglings swarmed over the animals and began to feast on the flesh. Roaches sprayed their corrosive spit on the animals, causing large amounts of blood shooting out from the wounds created. The Dogs were being overrun by the Zerg and they were forced to retreat, but the Zerg continued to slaughter them, Zerglings would drag them back towards the rest of the group, allowing all to partake in the slaughter. One screamed in pure agony as the Zerglings ate a hole through his chest, eventually leaving nothing but bones and cloth. The Dogs barely managed to get away, only a few survivors escaped, while the wounded and tired were left behind to be killed by the Zerg. While the Zerg themselves felt no joy or happiness from this victory, their Queen did, she was the only one allowed to feel, the only one capable of feeling, the only one that could think. While it's true that the other Zerg are capable of thinking, it is not built for free thoughts such as wondering if what they're doing is right. It is rare for Zerg to have a free thinking mind, it is limited to the Queen herself, the Evolution Master, the Primal, the Infested Man, and Broodmothers. The Zerg, having slaughtered almost all of the Dogs heard another message from their Queen. "Return to the Hive Cluster, our work there is done… for now…" The Zerg did not argue, for they couldn't, without the Queen they are nothing, without the Queen they are simply animals, without the Queen they are doomed.