Chapter 4: It Begins

Twilight awoke from a pile of books in her library. she might have gotten 3 hours of sleep during the night but she wasn't sure. Her studying didn't produce much information. there was no record of any ponies ever facing a disease like this, and there were no spells. So shaking off her exhaustion, Twilight got some things together and made her way to Zecora's house.

Making her way through the Ever Free forest, Twilight approached the shack and knocked on the door, she was greeted by the Zebra, who smiled and invited her in.

---

At a prison in Manehatten

The guards paced before the cells that held a few of the infected ponies that had clearly gone insane. At first they thought they could put them in a cell together...but that was clearly not going to work when they approached them the next morning to find one pony, covered in blood, feasting on the entrails of the other two ponies.

"I'm not insane!" One of the ponies reached through the bars of her cell. "Let me go! I just need a doctor!"

"you need more than a doctor, ma'am." One of the guards walked near her, when he got too close she tried to grab him. Instead, he reached through and shoved her backward

She laughed, "you won't get the best of me, soon I'll be free. and when I am, I'm going to skin you alive and pop those gorgeous eyeballs into my mouth like gumdrops. would you like that? Would you like me to rip that tongue of your's out and pick my teeth with your bones?"

The guard turned and walked down the hall, he was about to go crazy himself by being near these sick ponies.

One of the other ponies hissed at him, the guard turned and looked at him. This Stallion was twice as big as he and his eyes were beginning to bleed. This was the worst case in all of Manehatten. He snarled, drool dripping off of his mouth, which revealed his teeth in a horrific smile.

This one couldn't even talk normal, the disease seemed to be rotting his brain, as well as the rest of his body. he was literally beginning to stink up the area. The Officials of the big city were afraid they might have to put him down. Though murder as a punishment was looked down upon by all ponies....this one might have not even been a pony any longer, he was more like a monster.

The guard had to turn away, his stomach was beginning to get a queasy feeling.

"you alright, George?" One of the other guards called to him.

"Yeah, Cliff, I'm fine...I just need some sleep."

"Let me cover you, go rest, bud."

George nodded and made his way to his bunk down the corridor. As he laid down in his bed, the sick feeling got worse, his eyes soon began to water and he got a putrid taste in his mouth.

---

"Well, Zecora didn't have any information. We are just going to have to go to Canterlot and look in the Equestrian library there." Twilight told the girls.

"I'm up for the trip!" Rarity said. "I've been needing to go there and get some more fabrics."

"Rarity, this is official business, the whole world could be at stake." Twilight scolded her.

Rarity sighed. "I guess you're right."

"What are we waiting for?! Let's go!" Rainbow Dash was all fired up.

Twilight nodded, "Alright everypony, go home, get your stuff together, and meet me back here in exactly two hourse. We're going to see the princess."

---

Canterlot

"Welcome to Canterlot Pharmacy, how may I help you today?"

"I need medicine."

"What kind of medicine?....gosh, you don't look so good."

"I feel sick...need *cough* medicine."

"I need to know what you have, we got plenty of medicine."

"The disease...it's the disease..."

"What disease?"

"*Hack* I...I..."

"Do I need to call an ambulance?"

"Help...please..."

"Hey, what are you...stop it!...I'm gonna call the police!...no! NO!! what are you doing to me?! help me! Somepony! HELPP!!!"

---

"We're almost to the castle!" Pinkie hopped up and down in the basket of the hot air balloon. "I'm so excited! Do you think they'll have food? OO! I hope they have cupcakes!"

"I don't know. but I DO know they have books, lots of them." Twilight told her.

Finally, they were landing in the castle courtyard They made their way to the front gates and the guards recognized Twilight.

"Miss Twilight Sparkle." One of them spoke. "You are here to see the princess, correct?"

"Yes sir." she said.

"Please follow me, all of you." He said. He turned and open the doors and walked down the hall. They kept walking until they came to the throne room, where Celestia was sitting at the top of some rather large steps.

All of the ponies bowed to her as she stepped down to greet them.

"My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. Have you made any progress in your studies." She questioned.

Twilight felt like a failure. "Not yet, princess. I was wondering if I may look in your libraries to see if I can find any information there."

She smiled "Of course, you and your friends are welcome anywhere around the castle."

As Celestia gave them directions to the main library, one of her servants stepped into the room.

She noticed him. "Why hello, Kable. Is there something you need?"

Kable said nothing, just walked forward.

Celestia knew something was wrong. "Kable?"

It happened so fast. Kable jumped into the air, lunging at the princess. the guards took immediate action, shoving both him and the princess out of the way. One of them battled the wild pony, while the other ushered Celestia and company down the hall and into another room, closing the door behind them.

"Oh...dear Kable." Celestia whispered.

"Are you ok, Princess?" The guard asked.

"Yes, but I am worried about Frolin out there fighting Kable. If he gets him infected...they're both goners." She spoke.

It was upsetting to hear her sound so broken. Twilight looked at her friends, who were coward together. even brave Rainbow Dash was covered Fluttershy, cowering in her own fear.

"I am so sorry for all of you having to witness that." Celestia said, turning to them. "I had no idea the disease was already spreading so fast out here. I had heard of one incident, but...I didn't think it was this bad."

Twilight looked around, realizing this was one of the libraries. "Princess, what if there is a cure in here?"

Celestia looked around. "Maybe. we will have to look.

All of the ponies began searching the shelves for anything that might help them figure out this disease.

---

"Kable! By the order of the law, I command you to stop! You are under arrest."

"Oh Frolin. You are hilarious."

Kable pulled back his top lip, revealing his teeth, and sank them into his opponents flesh. Frolin screamed, trying to pry the pony off of his leg. When he pushed him off, Kable took a hunk of meat with him. Frolin tried to ignore the gaping wound. He grabbed a sword from the wall and held it steadily in his mouth. Kable once again came rushing toward him and Frolin let him dive right onto the blade. Kable had fallen all the was to the handle of the sword. Frolin dropped it and looked at his once-friend. He was still breathing, his eyes wide open. His stomach contents pouring from his wound. The new stench filled the air, such bile was the certain scent of death.

Frolin took the hilt of the blade and pulled it right out. blood gushed out to meet him. Kable groaned, his life leaving him in one breath.

It was a gruesome sight, Frolin looked at his leg, he knew he needed a hospital...but there was fear that it might be too late. As blood still leaked out, the area around the wound was beginning to turn a slow shade of black.