Twisted Fate

"It was my fault... it was all my fault!"

The zebra's eyes were once a deep violet that stole the horse's breath away, now — they'd shifted to an ominous red glow that peered from the darkness. Pony remembered as they'd closed when his lips met hers — a kiss. One last time... The infection hadn't completely taken over, not yet, but almost. Zizzy was still here with him. He could feel it. Pony savored it, the warmth — her love, all of it. This would be the last time he held her close, to feel her breath on his. A sob crept up from his chest — it loomed there, begging to pass his lips. The horse's heart ached, slamming into his ribs, only breaking slowly. How could he ever forgive himself for this? Pony loved her, yet he had to let her go. He needed to set her free. He'd been too late to save his only love, Zizzy. These thoughts they raced — forming a violent storm within his mind. It was hard to choke down the guilt, voices in his head screaming out, telling him he should be the one infected, not her. If only he hadn't joined with Willow — never helped the TSP do their dirty work. If only he'd been stronger, maybe... Just maybe she would still be here? He didn't want this. Why must it be Zizzy? How come it wasn't him? What caused this infection to happen in the first place? Where did any of this begin? Questions that were too late to be answered.

There was no holding back any longer. Tears fell streaming down his face. Snow fell around them, winter's winds whirled, kissing the heat of his skin penetrating beneath the thick layers of clothing he wore. Zizzy's body shivered in his arms. Even with their thick fur, they were no match against the chilling wind. The horse tried to run away with Zizzy, break her out of the facility in hopes she'd be strong enough to fight against the infection before it took control. He'd only made it so far before Zizzy told him to stop. It was no use. She had given up. There was no strength left in the zebra to keep fighting back, and she begged him to leave her behind. It was something he couldn't bring himself to do.

All of this snowfall reminded him of their time together. The night they'd spent together in the cabin, the way her smile brightened his day. He fell deeply for her; it didn't take long. Zizzy reeled him in, wrapped him up. She had given him something — someone to believe in after he'd lost his parents because of his empty-headed actions. These thoughts beat into him, sending Pony over the edge — he felt so lost in these memories, recalling their first kiss, how he felt himself leap from his body. Nothing had changed. Even as he stood, gripping her in his arms, he felt as he did the first day they grew closer. The times they'd shared on their journey looking for other survivors, collecting supplies, chasing after the radio signal. How when they were alone and would spend the night out, he would wake to her watching him. They would talk into late hours of the night about what they were going to do once this was all over, whispering faintly so none of the infected could hear. The way her fingers danced along the scars on his arm, touching them tenderly, thoughtfully. She'd been the one to take care of him after the injuries he got when fleeing the outpost. The secret meetings late at night back at the safe place when the others were asleep, the looks they would cast to one another — and how he felt and longed to be beside her when they would part, even if it was only for a few days.

Pony wished he'd never joined up with Willow. He yearned for things to go back to the way they once were when they were kids. The simple days where he looked ridiculous and felt embarrassed getting his first pair of glasses, she'd been the one to boost his confidence. Helped him to accept his new frames with pride and ignore the bullying he'd endured. Zizzy didn't deserve this... Not after all she had been through. Her sisters needed her... He needed her... But she had changed and Pony knew he was to blame for her downfall. Pulling her into his mess with the TSP and putting everyone in the safe place in danger. Now Zizzy had caught the infection, stuck in an endless descent into madness. Even after all he'd done wrong, she still loved him. Snapping back to reality, tears were still streaming down his face. They hadn't stopped.