"More and more ponies are running into the bath salt craze. Those who were hospitalized from previous bite attacks, have started to bite as well. The Princess is claiming that this is a fad that will soon pass and that she is doing whatever she can to prevent future attacks." Twilight read as she viewed the first page of her newspaper.

"I can't believe it. Why are ponies still sniffing bath salts? Especially those who were previously bit by somepony on them?" Twilight asked herself. "This doesn't make sense. Is it really a fad?" She couldn't help but think back to her zombie survival book. A pony can be turned into a zombie by a transfer of fluids, usually caused by being bitten by a zombie. she thought.

She shook the thought from her head. "Come on, Twilight! You know for a scientific fact that zombies don't exist!" she exclaimed aloud. She looked back at the newspaper. "Still, it's fascinating to see the similarities..." she said.

"Twilight!" Spike called up to her. "Have you seen my zombie survival guide?"

"Which one?" she asked as she closed the paper.

"Everything You Need to Know About a Zombie Apocalypse." he replied.

"Uhh, nope!" Twilight said as she slid the book into her drawer. She had forgotten to put it back after she had studied it the night before. "You know I don't read those books."

"Well where could it be?"

"Check your room." she said. She slid the newspaper into her drawer as well and walked downstairs. She found the library to be a complete mess as Spike began running around flinging them left and right. "Spike!" she yelled. He stopped his book tossing and looked at her. "It looks like a tornado came through here. Why are you making such a mess?"

"Because I can't find my book. It has to be here somewhere." he replied.

"Well you didn't have to throw them everywhere. Why didn't you just look through the rows like any normal pony would have?" Twilight asked as she picked up a few of the books and put them on their shelves.

"Because I'm a dragon, not a pony."

She rolled her eyes at his smart allelic remark. "Just clean this mess up. I have to run by Rarity's to see how my costume is coming along." she said as she grabbed her pack. "I want this place to be spotless by the time I get back."

Spike groaned. "Fine."

Twilight walked out of the library and headed for the Carousal Boutique. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping. It was a really peaceful day. She passed by Sugar Cube Corner and was shocked to see how dark and creepy it was compared to the rest of Ponyville.

"Hi, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed from the entrance of the bakery. "Aren't you excited for this party?!"

"I sure am. I'm sure it'll be just as fun as last year." Twilight replied.

"It'll be even better than last year! So, whatcha doin'" Pinkie asked.

"Heading over to Rarity's to see how my costume is coming along. I see that you are really hitting on he Nightmare Night theme." she said as she examined the Nightmare Moon statue by the front door.

"Super duper ooper!" Pinkie said. "Oh, and Rarity isn't at the Boutique. I saw her and Applejack head over to Sweet Apple Acres about an hour ago. Oh, I think my muffins are burning. I'll catch ya' later!" she said as she bounced back to her kitchen.

Twilight was about to ask her a question, but was too late. Pinkie had already closed the door. "Well, off to Sweet Apple Acres then."

She was passing the news press when a pony shouted, "Breaking News! Pony gang in Appleoosa bites five ponies!"

"Whoa there, Feather Weight. What you got there?" Twilight asked.

"It's the new paper. We got some big news from Appleoosa and our director wanted to get it out before any others could. Want a copy, Ms. Sparkle?" he said.

"Sure, I'll take one." she said. "How's working for the press doing for you?" she asked.

"Great! They let me take photos for the paper yesterday! I got a bunch of great shots." he boasted.

"Well I can't wait to see them. I'm sure they'll be amazing." she took the paper and continued to Sweet Apple Acres as Feather Weight went back to selling papers.

She opened the paper and began reading. "An up and coming gang in Appleoosa had been experimenting with new bath salts. They had travelled to Manehattan and smuggled the bath salts into Appleoosa. Eyewitnesses claim that they were running around snarling and began biting ponies. The victims have been hospitalized and are currently in intensive care." Twilight read aloud. She closed the paper. Its going to Appleoosa? That was such a nice town. I didn't even know gangs existed there. she thought. Something doesn't feel right...

She continued to Sweet Apple Acres as she pondered about the Appleoosa incident. They were starting to become more common, but they were always in large cities and were never close to Ponyville. Twilight began to worry about what may happen should the fad somehow make its way to Ponyville. She decided to write a letter to the princess tonight about it, even if the Princess had been... Unreliable as of late.

She arrived at the barn and knocked on the red door. After a few minutes of her patiently waitijg, Granny Smith opened the door. Her eyes were red as she rubbed them. "Oh, uh, how do ya' do Twilight?" she said, stepping outside the barn.

"I'm doing well. Is everything alright? You look like you've been..." Twilight didn't finish as she heard some sobbing from behind the door.

Granny Smith looked at the ground. "Twilight, listen here sweetheart. Applejack just heard some news. I'll let her tell ya', but she may not be in the most talkative of moods." she said and opened the door for Twilight. She walked in not knowing what to expect. What news could have made such a strong hearted pony like Applejack to not want to talk with her friends? She followed the sound of the crying and walked to the far corner of the barn. There sat Applejack and Rarity on piles of hay.

Rarity, no matter how much she loved cleanliness, she was willing to put that aside for friends. Especially Applejack. She sat there as Applejack leaned on her, crying. Rarity rubbed a hoof over her weeping friend's back, whispering to her. "Everything will be alright. I'm here for you. So are the others. You don't have to go through this alone, deary." Twilight overheard.

"Ah know. But it's jus' so hard..." Applejack cried.

Twilight walked over to them. "Um, girls? Is everything alright?" she asked, her voice trembling. Whatever it was, it was tearing Applejack apart.

They both looked to her. Applejack's eyes were swollen red from her tears. "Twilight? What're ya' doing here?" she asked wiping her eyes.

"I went to Rarity's to check on something, but Pinkie said she saw you two walk back here. Applejack, what's going on? What happened?" Twilight asked, walking next to her friends.

"Twilight, now isn't the best time-" Rarity started but was stopped by Applejack.

"Naw, it's a'right, Rarity. Sit down, Twi. It's goin' to be hard to say this." she said. Twilight took a seat on a hay stack next to Rarity. "About a week ago, Big Mac was goin' up to Manehattan to get some fertilizer fer the farm here. Applebloom wanted to see what went on when we got our supplies. She hoped to get a cutie mark in supply gatherin'." she said with a light chuckle.

"When she arrived, she met up with her cousin, Babs. She wrote to us everyday and we got her letter the next. She was amazed with the city and what was there. It was much bigger than what she was used to. Babs showed her aroun' while Big Mac got the fertilizer." Applejack started to tear up again.

"On the last day they were supposed to be there, Big Mac, Applebloom, and Babs were jumped by a few crazed ponies. They bit Big Mac and Applebloom. Big Mac was able to fight 'em off until the authorities arrived, but..." she stopped. She began to cry again into Rarity's mane.

Rarity held her tight. "It's okay. Shh." she said quietly.

Applejack let out a sniffle. "Babs wrote to us. Big Mac and Applebloom were in the hospital from the bite wounds. They weren't no normal bites. Babs said they looked like something had taken a chunk from their sides." Applejack explained. "Big Mac died a few hours in the hospital. He took the majority of the attack and had lost a lot of blood. The doctors couldn't help him much. But he had told them to look after Applebloom first, even though he knew his wounds were worse. Me and the family went up a few days ago to see her. But, when we arrived..." she stopped again. She couldn't control her sobs anymore.

"Shh, Applejack. We're here for you, darling." Rarity said, trying to soothe her bawling friend. Twilight was shocked. She walked over to Applejack and held her hoof. She didnt say anything though. She didn't know what to say. She had never seen Applejack like this, and she finally knew what could make her like this.

"When we arrived, Applebloom was in a kind if frenzy. She was kicking and screaming and thrashing around. Me and Granny tried to help her, but when Granny touched her, Applebloom bit her hoof. Next thing I know..." she stopped and took a deep breath. "Applebloom died after that. The doctors confirmed it after we treated Granny's hoof. I saw my lil' sister die in front of my eyes." she said as she let her tears out.

Twilight rubbed her hoof as Rarity held her closer. "I'm so sorry, Applejack." she said. She didn't know what it was like to lose someone you loved. If I ever lost Spike in that way, I'd be devastated, Twilight thought to herself. She had a question for Applejack though. Why did she let Applebloom go after hearing about the ponies biting others in Manehattan? It didn't seem like something Applejack would do, but she didn't ask. It wasn't a good idea to ask that while she was mourning.

"Applejack, is there anything I can do?" Twilight asked. She hated seeing her friends like this and wanted nothing more than to help her right now.

"Naw, Twilight. I sure do appreciate it though." Applejack said. "There really isn't much here for ya' to do. But, her funeral is going to be held on the first of November. You'll come, woncha Twi?" she asked.

"Of course, Applejack. I'm here for you." Twilight said.

"And I as well." Rarity said as she ran a hoof through Applejacks blonde mane.

"Thanks ya'll." Applejack said. "If you girls don't mind, I want to see how Granny's doin'. I don' know how her ol' heart is takin' it. Ya'll can head on home. I think I can handle myself right now."

"Sure, Applejack. We'll be at the Boutique if you need us. Please, darling, come by if you need us." Rarity said, giving her close friend a squeeze.

"Don't worry. Ah'll be fine. I just need to be with ma' family for awhile." Applejack said.

"We understand." Twilight said. "We'll let you go." Rarity gave Applejack one last hug and left with Twilight through the barn doors. They walked in silence through Ponyville for a number of minutes. Rarity was more distressed over this than Twilight was. Of course, Twilight knew why Rarity was like this. She had Sweetie Belle. She was probably thinking about if Sweetie Belle had been in Applebloom's situation.

"How's Sweetie Belle?" Twilight said, breaking the silence.

"She's doing well. She's out with Scootaloo crusading for their cutie marks. She doesn't know about Applebloom yet, neither of them do." Rarity said. "I don't know how to tell them that their friend won't be coming to their little meetings anymore..."

"It's going to be hard on them both. I'm sure we can get Rainbow Dash here for Scootaloo. Does she know?" Twilight asked. For all she knew, the only ones who had heard about Applebloom and Big Mac were Rarity and herself.

"Yes, she does. She was the first one back to welcome Applejack back. I would have been their first, but I got held up back at the shop. I was trying to finish your costume on time. Rainbow Dash is in Cloudsdale though, trying to make sure that the sky is clear for Nightmare Night. Only reason she is is because Applejack asked her to so she and I could talk." Rarity said.

"Why would she ask to talk to you alone?" Twilight asked. Rainbow was very loyal to her friends, and it takes a lot for her to leave them when they are distressed.

Rarity hesitated a little before answering. "I don't know. I think she meant to tell us all one by one. You know, in hopes that it got easier over time."

"I guess." Twilight said, unsure. She had read about psychology and ways ponies would try to forget things, but it didn't seem like Applejack to retell something. They walked up to the Boutique and heard two little fillies shouting inside.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Sailboat Fishers!" they shouted.

"Looks like they're back." Rarity said grimly. "Um, Twilight? Do you mind if I told Sweetie Belle by myself? She's my sister and, well, I can't imagine losing her. It would destroy me. I'd like to just hold her by myself."

"And Scootaloo? What about her?" Twilight asked.

"I'll have her find Rainbow Dash. While she's clearing the sky, I'm sure Scootaloo will find some way to get the attention of her idol." Rarity said.

"Are you sure you want to do this alone, Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"Yes. I'm certain of it." she replied.

"Alright. Well, good luck. If you need me, I'll be at the library." Twilight said. Rarity walked into the Boutique as Twilight turned for the library. Something was concerning her greatly. The biting had stayed mainly in Manehattan. Those who had been bitten started biting others. She couldn't understand why, but she had a theory. She walked into her library, which Spike had cleaned relentlessly. She saw him sleeping on the stairs with a broom and chuckled.

She picked up the sleeping purple dragon and brought him to his room. She tucked him in and gave him a light kiss on his forehead. "Sleep tight, Spike." she said, and walked out of the room. She went to her room and sat at her desk. She opened the drawer and pulled out the files of the attacks and the zombie survival guide. "I don't believe zombies exist, but there might be an explanation when I put the similarities together." she said to herself.

She flipped through the bite attacks searching for attacks happening outside of Manehattan. There was one in Baltimare a few days ago, one that left the victim bleeding out from the bite. She placed it in a separate stack and continued looking. There was another in Las Pegasus, Coltifornia, and even Trottingham. She was surprised that she had missed the ones happening outside of Equestrian borders. Then again, she was only looking for bites in the Manehattan area. She placed the ones in Trottingham in a separate pile from the others.

As she read further, she found tiny sections about other locations that bites have happened. One was in the Saddle Arabia where a man had a minor bite wound before the attacker came back to sanity and helped him nurse his hoof from the bite. Another in Hoofington D.E. where a security guard to the Congressional building was bit by what seemed a crazed pony on heroin. Again, she placed the Hoofington D.E. incident in it's separate pile.

For about an hour, she had established three piles, all categorized by what bites were caused by what. Bites caused by other drugs were in the left pile, bites where the ponies regained their sanity were placed in the middle, while the ones where the bites were severe and the ponies being in the hospital under intensive care, were on the far right. The right pile was by far the largest. It was as if whatever was causing them to bite had taken over their brains completely, while others still had some sense of what was happening.

She compared the incidents to the way a zombie acts. "Stage one: Victim starts to feel dizzy and has muscle spasms. Stage two: The victim starts to moan and has black outs, but eventually returns to normal. Stage three: Victim starts to bite more frequently and more violently. Stage four: The victim loses all form of itself and loses itself to the infection." Twilight read.

But is there a way to cure it before they turn completely? Twilight thought as she continued to read. She came across a section labeled "Cure" and began reading. "There is no cure for a zombie outbreak. If you or one of your friends or family are bitten, the best thing you can do is to say your goodbyes, and kill them before they kill you." That was all it said. The next chapter was labeled, "How to Protect Yourself." There was nothing more in the chapter that would help her.

She shook her head again. "It's okay Twilight. Remember, zombies don't exist. They can't exist." she said shakily. She closed the book and placed it in the drawer. Zombies can't be possible. If zombies did exist and were biting the citizens of Equestria or another country, the Princess would have told me. Right? she thought to herself. She was the Princess' most trustworthy student anyways, so why wouldn't she tell her? Together the Princess and Twilight could find a way to stop the attacks. Right?

Twilight got out from her desk and walked to the balcony. It was midafternoon and everypony was going on with their lives as if nothing was wrong in the world. The bites were just the latest gossip, with nopony here needing to worry about it. But there was an attack in Appleoosa. What's not to say that a pony who went to Manehattan is coming back to Ponyville? she thought. There was a scream coming from Town Hall. She quickly looked over and saw a mare with a child next to her, biting her foreleg. "Oh no." Twilight said, and ran out from the library.

She ran for Town Hall to see that the child had started to cry and wipe his mouth. Twilight was able to see the mare who had been bitten. Bon Bon gripped her left foreleg in pain as Pip began to cry as he realized what he did. Bon Bon was his foal sitter and they were very close. What could have made him do that to someone he cherished so much? Twilight thought. She couldn't help but think back to the stages. Stage two: Victim begins to moan and has black outs, but eventually returns to normal.

"There has to be a more valid explanation for this." she said under her breath. The nurses were taking care of Bon Bon as Pip laid down next to her, sniffling. She walked up to them, wanting to know about what had happened.

They didn't say much, only that Pip suddenly began to bite her. There was one thing that caught Twilight's ears, however. "He went to Manehattan to visit some of his relatives from Trottingham a few days ago. After he returned home, his parents said that he would just start walking around and moaning for no reason whatsoever, and then not remember it." Bon Bon said. "HIs parents don't want to look for a doctor because they think it's just a phase for him to get attention, but I don't think this is for attention." she said as she looked to him.

"I see. Well, make sure you clean that and keep it free of infection." Twilight said. "And I would look for a doctor right away." Twilight whispered so only Bon Bon heard. She nodded her head and Twilight walked back to the library. She had to get a letter to the princess as soon as she could. The bites weren't just a fad that stayed out of her home, but now it had spread to Ponyville and was effecting her friends. She wasn't going to stand for it.

She walked in and locked the door. "Spike!" she called out. "Spike!"

The purple dragon walked out of his room carrying his blanket and rubbing his eyes. "What is it, Twilight? I was in the middle of getting some rest." he said, groggily.

"I need you to send a letter to the Princess." she said as she took a quill and a piece of paper off from her table. "Dear Princess Celestia. I understand that you told me that I didn't have anything to worry about with the bath salts and the bitings that have been occurring around Equestria. I have since been conducting research on the instances to get a better view of what is going on. However, a pony in Ponyville was just bitten by a child who showed the exact same signs as previous bite attackers. I understand that you don't want me to be concerned about these incidents, but it has now reached my home and put my friends at risk. I seek your quick response and direction as to how I should handle this situation. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." She finished the letter and gave it to Spike. He blew a quick breath of magical fire and sent it on it's way to the Princess.

"Are you sure you should be worrying the Princess about a bite here in Ponyville? I mean, she does have better things to do than to worry about a single bite attack." Spike said as he wiped his eyes.

"It's not just about the one bite attack in Ponyville, Spike. I've been researching these incidents that have been happening across Equestria and have seen some patterns. It's not just bath salts anymore." Twilight said.

"Well what else could it be?" Spike asked.

She didn't want to believe it, but it looked as if the nano virus that escaped from that lab explosion could be the cause of it. "It's possible that-" she was cut off as Spike burped out a letter. "You know, no matter how long you've been with me, I always find that a tad bit gross." Twilight said as she took the letter.

"Yeah well, it's a tiny bit uncomfortable every time she sends one back. Like I'm swallowing backwards." Spike said as he rubbed his stomach, which gave a low growl. "What did the Princess say?"

Twilight had re-read the letter about six times. She couldn't believe that the Princess would even say it. "She said that I'm right and that she would contact me soon about the issue." she lied.

"Well that's good. I guess that means she wants your help." Spike said as he headed for the kitchen.

"I guess so..." Twilight said quietly as she walked to her room. She sat on her bed and looked at the letter one last time.

Don't meddle in this, Twilight.

Celestia.

Twilight felt as if her heart was being ripped out from her chest. Her mentor, who had trusted her with Nightmare Moon and Discord, who trusted her to save an entire empire from a dark, evil creature, had told her to stay out of something that was smaller than all the other challenges she had faced. Why would she say that? Why doesn't she want my help? Twilight thought to herself. She felt rejected by her mentor who had always been someone that she could count on. Is there something more to this than what I'm seeing? she thought.

She let Spike have the rest of the day off. He went to find Rainbow so they could do another re-enactment from his zombie book. Twilight laid on the bed, crying quietly to herself for the rest of the day and into the night.