Darkness. Darkness surrounded Dominic. He could feel the inky emptiness at his very center, no matter how hard he tried to find the light. Only black nothingness. In the distance, a pair of laughs pierced the silence. One was light whimsical and airy, while the other was a deep baritone. Each passing moment felt like an eternity.

Dominic closed his eyes, when he opened them the world had transformed. He was sitting on the steps outside the couch in his friend’s living room with a raven haired girl sitting next to him. Together they were settling in to watch a movie, as they often did on mondays. They leaned against each other in a completely platonic manner, watching the opening credits to ‘Blazing Saddles’ appear on the screen. The girl, who was almost the same age as Dominic, hummed the theme. Dominic chuckled and looked at her.

“Don’t judge me, I love this song!” The girl said.

“Maria, you love every song.” Dominic replied, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“Nuh uh! I dislike some songs!”

“Name five, not including blood on the dance floor or rap.” Dominic said flatly, looking at his friend for a moment. Maria pursed her lips in thought.

“Damn it!” She finally muttered, Dominic let out a laugh. Though he passed it off as laughing at the movie, watching as the cowboys on the screen began to sing ‘The camp town ladies’. Maria was quiet for a few moments, shifting her weight and leaning her head on Dominic’s shoulder. The young man looked at her with his eyes, not turning his head in the slightest.

“Maria?” Dominic asked, the girl hummed in response. “What are you doing?” He got a reply when she brushed her leg up against his. “M-Maria…” Suddenly the girl burst out laughing, she leaned away from Dominic and pointed at him.

“You should have seen the look on your face!” She said. “You looked like an altar boy!” Dominic picked up a pillow and threw it at her. “Fine! Fine! No priest jokes!” Dominic frowned.

“Let’s just watch the movie.” He muttered, turning his attention back to the movie.

“You need to lighten up, it’s not like the world going to end if you relax for a few hours!” Maria said, leaning over and patting Dominic on the shoulder. The young man nodded.

“Yeah… Right.” He said, then stood up. “I’m gonna grab a drink, want anything?” Maria shook her head, and instead settled in to watch the movie. Dominic walked towards the kitchen and paused, he cast a glance back at the girl on the couch and sighed. Then continued to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of soda, then walked to the window over the sink and stared out at the countryside. “She’s right…” He mumbled. “The world won’t end if I relaxed a bit”

Dominic closed his eyes and let out a pent up breath. The air soured into an acrid mix of chemical smoke and cordite. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in the charred remains of the kitchen. Small fires blazed in some spots, illuminating the night that had settled on the area. He looked down at the floor, noting a small object. He leaned down and brushed some of the ashes off, revealing a charred soda can.

“Dominic.” A voice said behind him. He turned around, recognizing the voice as Maria’s. His eyes widened as he saw a burned young woman, her face was a visage of scars. He took a step back, his hand reaching for his revolver. “Dominic. Why didn’t you save me?” Dominic closed his eyes again.

“DOMINIC!” Maria screamed as Dominic kicked the door to her house in, he didn’t have much time before the infected arrived. His bandana helped block some of the smoke, but he still found it hard to breath.

“MARIA! WHERE ARE YOU!” Dominic shouted, looking around the burning home nervously.

“MY ROOM! HURRY!” Dominic started towards the door to her room, but out of nowhere he was attacked. An infected monster rushed at him, burning and giving off a pungent odor of death. It tried to bite Dominic, but he shoved it into a particularly large ball of fire. It screamed, Dominic didn’t notice though as he walked down a smoke and fire filled hallway. The house above him creaked and groaned. “DOMINIC *cough cough* I CAN’T BREATHE!”

“I’m coming! Don’t worry!” Dominic shouted, before he reached her a flaming bema came down in front of it. “Fuck!” He shouted, he couldn't move it. “Maria! Can you get out of your room! The door’s blocked!”

“No! No…” Maria trailed off. “Dominic. I can’t get out.” Dominic felt his eyes water, the house groaned even louder. “Dominic! I don’t want to die!” He couldn’t let that happen. Biting his lip he moved to the flaming beam and grabbed it. His gloves shielded some of the heat, but it hurt him greatly. He lifted it and threw it aside, biting back the pain. Dominic booted the door open, what he saw made his heart sink. Maria lay on the ground, passed out. He rushed to her side, then picked her up in a firemans carry.

“You’re gonna be okay.” He said, moving back to the door. “I promise! You’ll be okay! You’ll get to a shelter! You’ll meet a nice guy and have a wonderful life and tell all your kids about their Uncle Dom. I WON’T LET YOU DIE!” He trudged through the house, towards the door. Feeling the smoke start to effect him.

“I met a nice guy…” Maria mumbled, Dominic needed to keep her talking. If she was talking she was alive.

“Yeah!?” Dominic said, trying to hide the crack in his voice. “Who?” He was feet away from the door.

“Y-You…” Dominic pushed himself towards the door, praying above all else for Maria to survive. “I… I should have told you sooner, but I’m glad I said it before I…”

“Don’t you talk like that!” Dominic said, a few tears slid down his cheek. Only a few more feet. The house groaned, the heat was nearly unbearable. “Maria! Say something!” There was no reply. He made it. The sun had never felt so good. Dominic staggered out onto the front lawn and set his friend down. She wasn’t moving. He took off his helmet and set it aside, adreniline coursed through his veins. He opened her mouth and pinched her nose shut, then breathed into her. Then the young man began chest compressions. “Come on, Maria! Fight! WAKE UP!” He shouted, counting the compressions before administering another breath. “PLEASE! PLEASE! WAKE UP!” The house behind him collapsed, but he didn’t stop even as flaming debris was scattered around him.

In the distance he could hear the infected, they would be upon him soon. Still he continued the compressions.

“Please! PLEASE! DON’T LEAVE ME!” Tears streamed down his face, she couldn’t be dead. She had to live. He had promised her! “PLEASE! PLEASE! GOD PLEASE! SAVE HER! DON’T LET HER DIE!” The infected were closer than ever, Dominic pulled his revolver from its holster and fired into them. Picking them off. “STAY AWAY FROM HER!” He roared. “I WON’T LET YOU TAKE HER! YOU HEAR ME! YOU WON’T TAKE HER FROM ME!” Dominic looked down at his friend, her eyes opened for a brief moment. Before he could say anything, she mouthed a single word.

“Go…” Dominic looked at her, then the infected. If he didn’t leave, he would die as well. The young man stood up and pulled the hammer back. Then aimed the weapon at his friend’s head. He wouldn’t let them turn her.

“I’m sorry…” He said, pulling the trigger. Dominic stood for a moment, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw the burned visage standing before him. “I’M SORRY!” He shouted at it. “I’M SORRY I COULDN’T SAVE YOU!” It just looked at him silently. “PLEASE!” He said, faling to his knees. “PLEASE FORGIVE ME!” It stood wordlessly, he reached out for its hand, but it backed away. Everything faded away, Dominic looked at his hand. A small pile of ashes sat in his burned palm. “Maria…” He said, hanging his head. “Why?” He looked up into the nothingness that surrounded him. “WHY!? WHY DID YOU TAKE HER FROM ME YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH! WHAT KIND OF GOD ARE YOU! HUH!?!” He rose to his feet. “WHAT SICK FUCK LET’S THIS HAPPEN! HOW IS THIS PART OF YOUR PLAN!” There was only silence. “ANSWER ME DAMN IT! ANSWER ME!” Dominic sat down, the floor of the nothingness was cold.

“I know I didn’t do everything right, but, why?” He took his revolver in his other hand and looked at it, one shot and it would be over. Dominic pulled the hammer back and placed the barrel against his temple. Then closed his eyes. “Why?” Dominic pulled the trigger.

[♦]

Dominic opened his eyes, groaning as pain ripped through his head. He felt his hand clenched around something soft, and looked to see Luna standing there with a box of tissues. He noticed his face was wet with tears. Then the memory of the dream hit him. Luna looked at him, Dominic was speechless but she could see the pain. She nelt down and nuzzled him, Dominic wrapped his arms around the midnight alicorn and cried into her neck.

“Shh… Shh…” Luna said softly. “There is nothing to fear anymore.” Dominic looked past her and saw two alicorns sitting in the far corner of the room. Twilight was staring at him with a numb expression, as if she had seen his dream first hand. Celestia, however, was hanging her head. “You’re safe, now Dominic. I will let NOTHING harm you again.” Luna murmured. Dominic returned to embracing the alicorn, trying to push the memory back into the deepest, darkest recess of his mind. He had never experienced a dream of such strength, never had he awoken with tears streaming down his face, never had he felt heart wrenching despair, or burning pain.

The door to the hospital room opened and a one eyed guard walked in, quietly looking at the young man before moving to Celestia.

“Princess.” He said. “The elites are in place, all we need is the order and we can put an end to this.” Celestia sighed, the protests were out of control. She took a moment to look at her sister and her student.

“Twilight.” The lavender mare looked at her. “Let it be known, that today marks the first issuance of the Alicorn Protocol in one thousand years.” Twilight’s eyes bulged for a moment, and she nodded. “Captain Shield Dasher, as Princess of Equestria I authorize you to implement the Alicorn Protocol, on the condition that lethal force only be applied in extreme circumstances.”

“Yes, your highness.” The guard said solemnly turning and walking out the door. Dominic looked at Celestia and then Luna.

“Alicorn Protocol?” He asked, wiping his eyes and composing himself. Luna sighed and sat back on her haunches.

“You would phrase it as ‘Martial Law’.”

Author's Notes:

Here's another one for you all! I figured you'd be wondering what an unconscious zombie slayer dreams about, so, yeah. Got kinda dark near the end, I know, but that's what happens. Also, I'm sure you noticed that brief little cameo there, don't get used to Shield popping up here. Unless you want him to, in which case, maybe...

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