The subject was being very difficult at the current time. Not that they were complacent in the first place, but this one more so than the others. She was letting out the commonplace moan that all the subjects did, at this point it was almost being drowned out by Twilight on autopilot. She thrashed weakly at her constraints, her arms and legs only strong enough to pull at the metal clamps that held her to the table. Her head was also immobilized with metal, her lifeless eyes attempting and failing to follow Twilight as she walked around the table, carefully examining every scratch, every cut, bruise, laceration and, most importantly, any bite marks that dotted her body.

That was the difficult part about the preliminary examination; determining if the wounds were pre or post mortem. Twilight had learned that, through autopsies of past subjects, that the only "active" organ left after the patient expired was the brain, and even then, it was operating on a modified basis. The heart, lungs, intestines, liver, all the other organs vital for human life simply didn't function and, in some cases, decomposed inside the body. There was a slight advantage to this; the subject couldn't bleed and it was slightly easier to determine when wounds were suffered by looking at the amount of blood both within the subject and around said wound.

Most of the wounds on this particular subject seemed to be inflicted post mortem. Whither this was better than pre mortem or not, was anyone's guess. Twilight noted all the locations of wounds on the subject; bite mark (Pre Mortem) located on right thigh, fingers show several scratches (Post Mortem), deep laceration from left shoulder blade to lower right back (Post Mortem), cuts and scratches covering torso and greater leg area (Undetermined). Skin is slightly pale, body has lost quite a fair amount of blood. Surprisingly, no hair seems to be ripped off of scalp. Perhaps this person was able to escape their attacker after suffering bite wound.

The startled grunt of a guard tore Twilight from her notes. The subject had snapped at him when he got too close it seemed. "Guard, did she bite you?" Twilight asked, tired from her long night spent doing this.

"N-no, Princess Sparkle. She startled me, is all." The guard said.

"Do not lie, did she bite or scratch you, even barely?" Twilight asked, an irritated tone giving her words and unintended edge.

The guard seemed slightly surprised. "No, I'm fine. I didn't expect her to move."

Twilight gave the guard a curious look before returning to her notes. "I would like you to spend the next five hours under close inspection, just to be sure." Twilight said, not bothering to look up from her notes.

"But, Princess, she-"

"Are you going to argue with one of your Princesses?" Twilight asked, the edge to her words razor-sharp.

The guard was once again surprised before standing to attention, "No, ma'am!"

"Good. If he shows any sign of infection, bring him back here." Twilight said, back to her notes.

"Yes ma'am!" The guard went off to the barracks; five hours was a long time to not do anything.

Twilight sighed as she turned back to the table piled with papers and notebooks, all their words and knowledge still wasn't enough to answer the question that she so burned to answer: What is this? She sank slightly into her swivel chair and covered her face with her hands and sighed. She was doing that a lot lately.

"Don't you think a brake would be good, Princess?" Came a soft voice behind her.

Twilight turned around, curious as to who was trying to speak against her vital research yet again. His face was familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. "Remove your helmet, guard." Twilight said, a tired tone to her words.

He complied, once his helmet was off his ocean blue hair neatly combed back to reveal a rather young face. It still wasn't clicking yet, but Twilight remembered him. "Permission to speak freely, Princess." He said.

"Granted, mister...?" Twilight gestured with her hand.

"Flash Sentry. Working yourself ragged is no way for you to act right now. These are unique circumstances, but you sh-"

"I remember you. You kept pestering me until I had you transferred, which reminds me, how are you back in here?" Twilight asked, cutting his complaint short.

"I requested transfer back." Flash said.

"And who in their right mind did-"

"Your brother, ma'am." Flash said.

"Shining? Of course he did..." Twilight said with a sigh. "Fine. Place the subject back into containment. And for the love of Celestia, don't get infected." Twilight said in defeat.

Flash gave her a quick salute before replacing his helmet and moving to the table, unlocking the four wheels on the floor, and wheeling the table, subject and all, to what had been named "The Cage".

All the while, she moaned and struggled, wanting nothing more than the prey that eluded her for so long.

*  *  *

When the first outbreak occurred, Twilight, along with the other Elements of Harmony, had been swiftly called to Canterlot Castle. While Celestia had tried her best to play down the effects and rumors of the strange infection, she knew that it was a matter of time before a state of emergency must be declared. After a few hours of heated debate, Celestia did as all rulers do; made the hard choice no one else could. While it had been agreed on that the Royal Guard must do something about the infection, people couldn't agree on how they should.

The first choice made was to turn the Reserves loose on areas beyond saving and let them do everything in their power to stop the infection from spreading. Including the elimination of infected individuals. Property had been deemed "expendable" and survivors a secondary objective. Through the brute force and impressive numbers of the Royal Guard, normalcy would be returned at any cost. Celestia did not agree with this idea, but she knew that it was a viable option.

The second idea was to use the Royal Guard not to actively hunt and destroy those infected, but to ensure that the infection was contained until help could arrive from one of the many countries nearby. The Guard would secure the national boarder and completely shut down all transit that happened crossing the border. While not as violent as the search and destroy tactic, they had just as much freedom in engagement and just as many resources to do so. It was with this choice that Celestia decided to use her Guard.

After giving the order, Celestia addressed the nation to state that everyone should prepare for the worse from the infection and to move to the local "safe zone" as quickly, and safely as possible. And with that, she turned to the Elements.

With the situation quickly spiraling out of control, Celestia knew that there was no one location that the Elements could be sent to reverse the tide. Instead, she gave each of the six free reign to go where they wanted to in order to do their best to help people through the hard times soon to come.

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both choose to head to Clousdale to assist their hometown.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie decided to stay in Ponyville for similar reasons.

Rarity went to Manehatten, where it was rumored to not be so bad.

Twilight choose to research the infected to find the cure.

And off they went.

* * *

Twilight had grown rather adept at sinking into chairs. Really, it was somewhat of an art form, when you think about it. Finding the right speed at which to let your body fall, adjusting the landing oh-so-slightly for maximum comfort and, in the case of wheeled chairs, controlling the slide distance without the use of one's feet. That last part was the tricky one for Twilight. And here she was thinking absurd thoughts that prevented her from doing her work. Sighing was another thing she had become good at, as she did now.

This virus, it was so perfect it was infuriatingly efficient. She simply couldn't find any way around it. Even the smallest dose that could enter the bloodstream became fatal. Seeing as to how the most common, and practical, solution to fighting a virus was to give a small amount so the immune system could learn to combat it, that was thrown out the window. While Twilight had a host of other theoretical options to choose from, they would take very long to get working and longer to perfect. By the time they could be put into action, it may be too late.

The most frustrating part was how much she knew about it. Through all the studying she had done, all the separate subjects, test, theories, numbers, data, none of it held a way to counter it! None of it was useful to that end! Could Twilight tell how long someone was infected? Yes. Could she tell if someone contracted it? In a glance. Could she explain the very structure of the virus itself? In her sleep, if she got any. Did any of it reveal a weak point, loophole, or otherwise any imperfection that could be exploited? No, no, and no.

She looked over the cluttered desk for what felt like the millionth time. Stakes of paper with countless words of writing, five or so notebooks that were filled from cover to cover- that reminds her, she needs more soon -, a mug half-full of what is sure to be cold coffee by now. It almost seemed comical how it looked. Too bad there was nothing funny about it. Twilight couldn't remember the last time she laughed. That's bad, right? When you can't remember the last time you laughed? Twilight felt that it was. But between research and the crazy world outside, there just wasn't anything to laugh about. I wish Pinkie were here...

She missed her friends with a terrible agony. All of their faces, bright and shining, loving and caring, their invaluable support in any time of hardship any of them faced... life was so different without them. So far, there had been no word from the other Elements and their assignments. While she knew she should assume the worst, she could never bring herself to imagine that her friends might have... that something may have happened to them. If something, heaven forbid, did happen... Twilight wouldn't know what to do. Her friends had become such a huge part of her life that she couldn't fathom a life without them.

"Princess Sparkle?" The same soft voice that interrupted her the first time.

Twilight swung the chair around, sleep making her eyelids heavy but her stubborn nature keeping them open. "Yes, Flash Sentry, what is it?" A mighty yawn cut anything else off from being said.

"The subject made it safely to containment with no one being injured." His tone and face said there was more than that he wanted to say.

"Good. The last thing we need is another infected guard." Twilight said, with another yawn following.

Flash made a move to speak, his mouth opening, but closed it again, deciding against speaking.

Twilight shut her eyes, "Permission to speak freely."

"Do you know what time it is?"

Twilight opened her eyes, caught off-guard at the question. "No, I don't..." Any irritation in her voice left.

"It's currently one forty." Flash said.

"That's not so-"

"A.M." Flash finished.

That again caught Twilight by surprise. "Oh." Looking out one of the windows nearby, the sky was dark with thousands of tiny bright dots decorating the sky. A glance at the clock confirmed that it was 1:43 in the morning. "When did that happen?" Twilight asked. Wow, I'm so tired, I'm attempting bad humor. I need sleep.

"Well, you know how time works." Flash said with a small smile.

Even with how stressed her work was making her, that got a chuckle out of Twilight. "You have no idea..." She said, her mind recalling that hectic week when she time traveled.

"So, about the time..." Flash said, the slight humor in his voice gone.

Twilight's final chuckle died when he said this. Opening her mouth to argue that she should continue her research, her eyes met his and while they held a sternness, they also had the soft look of someone who cared. It had been a while since she saw that look. She let out a defeated sigh. "Fine. I'll go to bed."

Flash smiled. "Thank you ma'am."

"If you're awake right now, then shouldn't you also get to bed?" Twilight countered, followed by a large yawn. Her eyelids felt very heavy right now.

"Touche, ma'am." Flash said.

Twilight rose, steadied herself on the back of he chair from falling over, then began her slow trudge to her chambers. "Right. Off to bed then. Goodnight Flash Sentry." Twilight mumbled.

"Goodnight ma'am." Flash said, saluted, then made his way for the barrekes.

Twilight hadn't gone to her chambers in the castle in so long- at least, it felt like a long time -that she had to think for a moment before she knew what direction to head and what turns to take. At the foot of the stairs that carried her up to her chambers, she looked at with despair. Wishing she had wings, she began the slow climb up the tower. Despite her best efforts, the thought of her friends came to her mind again, their happy, smiling faces frozen in her mind's eye. With her work, she never took too much time to miss them, hoping to find the cure and get them back home to Ponyville where she thought they all belonged.

The thought of Ponyville drudged up more memories of her old life. The sun shinning brightly in the cloudless sky, the birds singing and the sounds of children playing. The quiet chatter of friends as the walked to streets and the happy silence of lovers as they strolled by hand in hand, lost to the world around them. Winnoa's happy barks as she played with Tank on the pet play dates. The sweet, welcoming smells coming from Sugercube Corner as Pinkie cooked up the treats that everyone so loved. That seemed like so long ago. By the time she reached her door, she only just noticed she had started crying silent tears.

She wiped away the tears and stopped thinking about what was and tried to focus on what she was going to make the world when she was done. She would get life going back the way it was, let all the memories come back to life. It was a nice thought, but it was crushed under the weight of reality and how far-fetched that idea sounded. Sometimes being the level-headed, logical one was a curse as much as it was a gift.

Done changing into her nightgown, she fell onto her bed, asleep before her head even hit the pillow.

* * *

Sunlight had been creeping up Twilight's face slowly for the past hour or so. Inch by inch it made its way up her peaceful features, illuminating the small smile and pale skin she wore along with her lavender hair with its two streaks of purple and light pink. After it had made the journey to Twilight's eyes, they shut tighter for a moment before blinking several times in a vain attempt to banish the light from them. Failing that, Twilight held up a hand to keep the light from blinding her and slowly getting up into a sitting position, yawning and stretching. I feel rested, Twilight thought to herself, gazing out one of the massive windows in her chambers atop one of Canterlot Castle's towers. It feels irresponsible, Twilight thought with a grimace as she got off her bed and made her way for the bathroom.

Stripping her nightgown from her body, Twilight turned on the water for the shower, wanting to take this time to at least get clean before resuming her work. While waiting for the water to warm, her reflection caught her gaze. Turning to look fully at herself in the bathroom's vanity mirror, she almost didn't recognize the woman that stared back. Her reflection showed a woman with dark bags under her eyes, eyes only now recovering from being bloodshot, hollow cheeks beginning to define themselves, and a look that was a mix of shock and hopelessness. The woman in the mirror looked terrible, not like the Twilight Sparkle Twilight remembered.

I know I hadn't been sleeping much, but... that's not me, Twilight thought slowly to herself. It wouldn't surprise her if she found grey hairs growing in her hair. She looked away in a mix of emotions she couldn't quite explain. All she knew is that she didn't want to see that woman anymore.

Testing the water with her hand, it felt soothingly warm and Twilight eagerly entered, sighing contently as the water rhythmicly hit her body and fell down it, relaxing any aches, pains, and cramps her endless hours of work had given her. She closed her eyes and let her mind go blank, only noticing the warm water running down her body, refreshing her in more senses then she could count. She turned around and let the water run down her back, allowing her to grab shampoo and work it through her hair, several knots making her grunt in pain more than once. Geeze, my hair's a mess... Twilight thought, rinsing the shampoo out. After washing her body and then conditioning her hair, she turned off the water and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry herself off with.

After putting on a bathrobe, Twilight walked to the massive dresser/vanity mirror that rested in her bedroom and sat on the stool in front of it. She grabbed a brush and set to getting her hair more or less knot-free so that putting it up wouldn't be as much of a hassle. She had the unfortunate experience of getting grabbed by the hair and dragged to snapping, rotted jaws. Thanks to the quick thinking and quicker actions of a nearby guard, the subject's hand was severed and then the subject was terminated right then and there. Every time Twilight felt something brush her back, she could feel the phantom tug of the subject and still imagine the severed hand still firmly grip her hair in an awkward handful.

Putting that memory on a mental shelf she didn't intend on visiting soon, Twilight did her hundredth stroke of her brush, as she normally did, and placed the brush down to get a hair tie to turn her cascading hair into a manageable ponytail. While fiddling with her hair, a guard opened her door, with a familiar soft voice, "Princess, Princess Celestia requests an audience with you."

Twilight turned to look at Flash Sentry will pausing in her hair handiwork, "Did she say what for?"

Flash shook his head, "No ma'am. But she made it clear she wanted to see you as soon as you were awake."

Twilight turned back to her mirror to finish putting her hair up when a thought occurred to her, "As soon as I was awake? She waited for me to wake up? If it's so urgent, why would she wait?"

Flash looked like he wanted to say something, but seemed to not want to for some reason out of his control. "She... she knows how hard you've been working, and wanted to make sure you had a level, rested, head for what she needs to discuss with you," Twilight could tell that what he said wasn't the whole truth, but also not a lie.

Twilight met his gaze with her own and kept her eyes on his with as much authority she could put in them. Her gaze said If there's anything else you should say, now's the time, in a way that words never could. After a few moments, Flash was the first to look away. Twilight let out a small sigh before heading for her closet. "Wait outside for me to get dressed. Once I am, we will walk to where the Princess is waiting for me."

Flash saluted, "Yes, ma'am!"

Twilight giggled slightly, "There's no need for that."

Flash seemed slightly flustered, but dropped his salute, "Very well, Princess. I'll be outside."

Once his back was turned, Twilight grew a flustered look of her own. What was that about? She thought to herself. I don't exactly love my duties and perks of being a princess, but I don't have the guards dismiss their normal actions... so why did I do that for him? Twilight didn't have an answer for that. Twilight didn't like her new authority that came with being a princess, but she used it because she needed to appear strong and in control in her country's time of need. But wielding it was a doubled-edged sword for her. While it got her point across and established her role as a Princess in solid rock, it wasn't who she was. She wasn't one to give orders and be pampered; she was one for action when action was needed.

But in times like these, everyone need to change... for better or worse.

Sometimes both.

* * *

Finished dressing into a flowing purple dress suitable for presenting to the Princess, Twilight exited her room to find Flash waiting as he said he would. Upon seeing Twilight, Flash's eyes went from top to bottom of Twilight, "Wow, Princess... you look beautiful."

Twilight blushed and gave a sheepish smile, "It's just a simple dress. Nothing extravagant."

Flash gave her a gentile smile, "My statement still stands."

Twilight smiled back, "Well, thank you," It was nice to smile again.

"Anytime, Princess."

Twilight cleared her throat, "Anyway, where am I meeting Celestia at?"

Flash's smile disappeared and he regained his look of being a dutiful guard, "Celestia is waiting for you in the gardens in the castle's inner courtyard, ma'am."

"The gardens? I wonder why we're meeting there?" Twilight pondered. Nowadays hardly seemed like an appropriate time to stop and smell the flowers. Not with all the chaos that people were being subjected to.

"Celestia said that she thought the fresh air would do you some good. She also commented on what a lovely day it is outside," Flash said, though he hardly seemed able to believe his own words.

" 'A lovely day'?" Twilight asked in angered disbelief, "I would hardly use a phrase like 'a lovely day' to describe any day we've had recently! It's chaos outside! People are dieing, homes are being destroyed, everything is going to Tartarus outside!" Twilight said angrily, almost yelling.

"Princess, I agree with you wholeheartedly, but we have our jobs to do. Without a working government with level-headed people at the wheel ready to take on the big challenges and make the tough calls, everything would get a whole lot harder than it already is," Flash explained, though the caution in his voice was evident.

"Our government is doing a poor job of that. I've heard reports from the 'safe zone' down in the city. There's a crime lord down there for Celestia's sake! He's still running his operation down there as well, extorting people, stealing from people, killing people! Why hasn't the Guard arrested him and his goons yet?!" Twilight demanded, her voice echoing in the deathly-silent halls.

"Because if we all just stormed him, there would be a panic! A firefight would be more than likely and there is a huge chance of not only innocent deaths, but a fire or even a full-blown riot! We are barely keeping it peaceful as it is in the safe zone, if we just went in and started shooting, people would panic and we would have much bigger problems," Flash said.

They walked quietly for some time, Twilight processing what Flash told her and Flash mentality kicking himself for yelling at her.

After a time that felt like an hour, Flash was the first to break the silence, "I'm sorry for yelling at you, ma'am. It's not in my place to do so, or tell you what you should and shouldn't do."

Twilight sighed before speaking, "I'm sorry, too. With all that's going on, I haven't been myself lately. I shouldn't have yelled at you, you've done nothing wrong."

"Thank you Princess. You are most kind," Flash said, bowing slightly. "We have arrived."

Twilight looked at the door that entered into the courtyard. "Wait here, Flash. I feel like I'll need someone to talk to once this conversation is over. Also, what station are you posted at?" Twilight asked.

"Castle patrol during the day and guarding The Ca- I mean, containment at night," Flash said.

"Hmm. I'm changing your post to laboratory guard for your entire shift," Twilight ordered.

Flash bowed slightly, "As you wish, Princess."

Twilight sighed slightly, "Let's see what Celestia needs to talk about..." She muttered to herself.