the decaying apple files

a mlp virus/infection au! ⚠️ tw for blood, gore and body horror! ⚠️

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Important Information!!

This is all entirely fictional. It is an infection au, inspired by the countless ones on tiktok. All scenarios are fictitious, all potential blood, death, and gore is fake.

Everything is hand-drawn, so parts may take longer to release. Working a way to make that better.

If you happen to have any questions about this au, feel free to ask away! (Note, questions will only be answered after the story is completed, you can still ask them, though.)

Do I mind if fanart is made of this AU? Not in the slightest! If you want to make fanart, go right ahead! (tag me please if you do, i'd love to see it!) I'm actually working on references for all the characters to release to the public!

Do I mind if content in general is created about this series? Not at all, as long as proper credit is given. <3

Content Warnings!!

This series has mention of character death, sewer slide (y'know what i mean), and drawn blood, gore, and body horror. If any of that makes you uncomfortable, you may wanna skip out on this series.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

[⚠️ tw: sewerslide mention/implied ⚠️]

Part Twenty-Two

Sweetiebelle ran, unable to look back as she came to the stop at the edge of a cliff. She was panting heavily, tears pouring down her face.

She just lost everyone close to her. The infected were right. They should have given up hope. There was no way they could win. Sweetie just wanted to see her friends again. She wanted to see her sister. Fluttershy got to see her friends at least.

Sweetie took a step back, one of her back hooves slipping slightly off the side of the cliff.

...This could work. She wouldn't give those monsters the satisfaction of killing her. She'd let them starve.

With a deep breath, she backed up fully, air whipping past her body as she fell. Her eyes closed, images of her best friends and her sister flashing in her mind. She smiled to herself. She'd see them soon.

The infected ponies have won.

But without a food source of magic, they would be forced to starve, just like Sweetiebelle thought. So in the end... Sweetie had found a way to defeat them.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Twenty-One

Sweetiebelle trotted on foot around the destroyed Ponyville, Fluttershy following above in the sky as a lookout.

"Hello? Someone? Anyone? Any survivors?" Called out Sweetie.

"Don't be so loud!" Fluttershy chastised. "You'll draw unwanted attention!"

Sweetie didn't listen. She NEEDED someone else to be alive. A friend. A family member. ANYONE. "Hello?!" She called out louder.

The sound of rocks falling from some rubble of a building was heard in response. Sweetiebelle trotted towards it. That mane color looked familiar...

"S...Scootaloo...?" She whispered out, her voice breaking. The infected pegasus's head shot up... And was immediately followed by the head of Applebloom. Like they were connected.

The infected, amalgamation pony stood shakily, then roared, it's eyes set on the final unicorn they previously weren't able to find.

"SWEETIE! GET BACK!" Fluttershy suddenly shouted, shocking Sweetiebelle. The pegasus dragged the unicorn back, shielding her with her wings.

The amalgamation of the other Cutie Mark Crusaders didn't seem to like that, and immediately swiped its claws at the exposed back of the pegasus.

"Go, go please. I'll keep it distracted so you can get away. I'll tell your sister... I-I did my best to keep you safe." Fluttershy choked out, coughing up a bit of blood as the infected amalgamation continued attacking her to get to the tiny unicorn she was protecting.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Twenty

"Adapting? Adapting how?" Sweetie questioned, eyebrows furrowing. They were adapting? That was gonna put a stop to them trying to find a cure, because they'd have to restart their research... She grunted in frustration, a small wave of helplessness flowing through her.

"They got smarter. Planning ambushes. They took out everyone in Equestria that we know of." Fluttershy shook her head.

"So? You don't know everyone is dead! We should try to find survivors. To be sure we aren't alone!" Sweetiebelle stood up, looking at Fluttershy, who had an unamused expression.

"That's a death wish." The yellow pegasus shook her head once more.

"Please, Fluttershy. One round around Ponyville. SOMEONE has to be alive." Sweetie pleaded, making Fluttershy sigh.

"Fine. Get ready, we're leaving now."

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Nineteen

It had been three months now since the outbreak began. Fluttershy and Sweetiebelle lived in Flutter's cottage, turning it into a rather fortified and safe home. The cure seemed almost complete, to Sweetiebelle's standards.

Fluttershy had been gathering research on the infected ponies. Their behavior. Hunting tactics. One side of the living room floor was covered in paper, Fluttershy's research notes. The pegasus was currently sifting through them, growling in frustration.

"There has to be a way to, dare I say, kill these things, right?" Fluttershy finally sighed, startling Sweetiebelle.

"Kill them? But they're our friends, don't we want to try and cure them?" The unicorn asked in shock.

"Sweetie... You didn't see what I did out there today. They're adapting. We have to find a way to end them before they end us."

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Eighteen

The pegasus and unicorn escaped Twilight's home, flying above Ponyville. The streets were stained with blood, littered with the corpses of friends.

"What if we're the only ones left...?" Fluttershy whispered in a hopeless voice. "Should we just... Join them? Escape? Go somewhere else?"

Her words were met with silence. Poor Sweetiebelle had tears in her eyes, finally breaking down as the situation hit her. Her sister was dead. Her friends became monsters. The little pony wailed, causing Fluttershy to panic more and attempt to comfort her.

"I-I'm sure we can find somewhere new to live... A-And be safe! Y'know?" She forced a smile.

Sweetiebelle whimpered. "B-But- what if nowhere is safe? What if we're destined to die?"

Fluttershy scowled, giving the tiny pony a little swat on the head with her hoof. "Don't you think that way! We'll figure something out. We'll perfect that cure. Or die trying."

Fluttershy's tone surprised Sweetie. Enough to make the tears stop. "Your cottage should be safe, right?"

"...We can fortify it. You can help with your magic." Fluttershy nodded.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Seventeen

Hooves could be heard coming down the stairs. "Oh Sweetiebelle!~" Applebloom purred, hopping up and down. "C'mon, come play with us!" The first ever corrupted pony said cheerfully, trying to sniff out the unicorn.

Sweetie forced herself to stay silent. Rainbow's expression darkened, and she stepped out of hiding.

"Play with this." The pegasus growled, before kicking her back hooves hard against the little pony's face, earning a disgusting crack sound as Applebloom appeared to collapse on the floor in a broken heap.

Rainbow snorted confidently, puffing out her chest. "Hah! That's right! Take THAT, you scary little brat!" She huffed, turning her back to the broken little pony and looking at where Fluttershy and Sweetiebelle were hiding.

A horrible mistake.

Her jaw broken, Applebloom stood up, her empty eye sockets directly facing Rainbow Dash. Rainbow wasn't paying attention.

Applebloom crawled underneath Dash, using her splintered hooves to dig into the mare's soft underbelly, splitting it right open. Fluttershy screamed in horror as Rainbow cried out in pain, flailing wildly.

Applebloom was stubborn, just like her sister, and since her jaw was broken, relied on using her little claws to rip into the pegasus.

Dash held out for a while. But the blood loss became too much, her legs buckling as she collapsed on the floor. "RUN." Was all she said to Fluttershy and Sweetiebelle, who did just that.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Sixteen

Fluttershy and Sweetiebelle ran down to where Rainbow Dash was. The pegasus had been fiddling with a radio that had been in her cell. She kicked it a bit, the device finally sparking to life. The three ponies gathered around it, listening to what it had to say.

"Several reports of 'infected' ponies have been issued all over Equestria. Princess Celestia has been reported dead... I'm afraid we have no choice but to succumb. Let them in. Let them in. Let them in. Let them in."

The voice became distorted, a loud cackle bursting through the speaker of the radio.

Rainbow Dash scowled. "I spent like... a week trying to get this stupid thing to work, and THIS is what we get in return? Seriously?" She growled in frustration.

The sound of wood splintering was heard from upstairs, sending the two pegasus ponies and the unicorn filly into silence.

"They got in. They got Twilight-" Fluttershy whimpered, her voice cracking.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Fifteen

Twilight immediately ran to the door, looking at Fluttershy, who was covering herself with her wings.

"Twiiiilight, Twiliiiiight!~" A familiar voice sang, as the pounds on the door kept coming. "You better open up this door 'fore I kick it down!"

Applejack had found them. Finally.

"What do you want with us?! What are you?!" Twilight shouted in frustration, her horn lighting up as she used her magic to force the door closed.

"We're starving, Twilight... Let us in..." Scootaloo's voice cried from the window. It was an ambush.

"C'mon, silly! It's us! Your friends!" Pinkie was heard on the other side of the door.

Twilight growled. "You aren't my friends... You KILLED my friends. You murdered Princess Celestia. Why do you go after specifically ponies that can use magic?!"

The infected ponies had no response, only trying to get in more frantically now.

"Fluttershy, take Sweetie and go down with Rainbow. I'll hold them off and meet you down there." Twilight looked at the pegasus pony, who nodded.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Fourteen

"Give me the syringe, Sweetiebelle." Twilight said, standing in the cell where they were holding Rainbow Dash. Their efforts on researching this cure were working at least *somewhat*, since Rainbow was still on stage one of the infection. Able to fully communicate. Comprehend. Move. See.

Sweetie nodded and handed the alicorn the syringe full of bright green liquid. Twilight used her magic to bring it closer to her, and injected it into Rainbow Dash's neck, earning a soft grunt from the pegasus.

"How are the others holding up?" Rainbow asked in a hoarse voice.

Twilight's expression fell. "We just lost Rarity... And found out that the infected are feeding off of magic. Any unicorn with strong magic is in danger. We have to use it as liberally as possible, they can probably sense when it's being used."

Rainbow sighed, laying on the cell's cot. "It seems... hopeless. They're going to wipe out all of our chances of protection and finding a cure... just so they can finish us off."

"Don't be so pessimistic. I'm sure we'll be okay." Twilight said calmly, before hearing a thud from upstairs. A heavy sound, like hooves kicking into a door.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Thirteen

"I think they feast on magic!" Fluttershy cried out as soon as she saw Twilight. The alicorn was rightfully stunned by this sudden intrusion.

"...What?" She raised an eyebrow.

"N-None of the unicorns become infected. P-Pinkie got to Rarity, and b-broke off her horn! She ATE Rarity, Twilight! She ATE HER!" Fluttershy cried frantically, beginning to hyperventilate.

"But... That means that every unicorn with reasonably strong magic is in danger!" Sweetie said, briefly breaking through the shock of seeing her sister become food in front of her. They didn't have time to mourn their losses. They couldn't with Pinkie, and they certainly couldn't with Rarity. Their current task was just surviving.

"So I guess they really did get to Princess Celestia..." Twilight muttered weakly, before her eyes widened. "We need to work on researching more of that cure. It's our only hope now."

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Twelve

It's been a week now since Pinkie was sent out. The surviving ponies have been paranoid. Twilight has been desperately trying to contact Princess Celestia, to no avail. She figured the worst has happened.

Rarity had been out on an expedition for resources with a handful of other ponies. Sweetie and Fluttershy accompanied her.

Safety in numbers was the thing that was always told in circumstances like this, right? So the ponies assumed they were fine.

Until they heard some kind of distorted giggle. One pony cried out that they were being ambushed.

It was Pinkie. Fully infected like Twilight assumed. Her social behavior must have stayed as an infected pony, because here she was. Among a crowd. Gleefully giggling as she tore ponies to shreds.

Blood was everywhere. Fluttershy shielded Sweetie with her wings as Rarity attempted to use her magic to take down the corrupted pony.

With a swift claw to the side of her face, though, that hope was shattered. Fluttershy watched in horror as the pink pony that used to be her friend leaned down, and used her strong jaws to chomp down on and break off Rarity's horn.

The white unicorn coughed up blood, raising a shaky hoof.

"T-Take care of Sweetie... Please, Fluttershy..." Were the Element of Generosity's last words. Fluttershy nodded, scooping up Sweetiebelle and booking it as fast as her hooves and wings could carry her back to Twilight's home, which they had turned into a sort of bunker.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Eleven

All the ponies gathered around Twilight as she threw down several papers. Notes on the infection.

Decaying Apple Virus. Name courtesy of Sweetiebelle.

Spreads through cuts and bites, more than likely through the bloodstream.

First stage of the infection begins with a saturation of coat, mane, and eye colors. Small wounds appear on the body.

Second stage has the subject losing every tooth in their mouth rather quickly. They cry about not being able to see, always hiding their face. Perhaps their eyes fall out?

The last phase of the infection shows their hooves splitting into jagged claws, their toothless mouths filling with sharp, twisted fangs.

Illustrations were attached.

Sweetiebelle claims the infected speak. It's been confirmed by Rainbow Dash, so I'm inclined to believe them. We shall find out, though-

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Ten

Another day passed. Then another. Pinkie hadn't returned. Twilight assumed she was infected. Fluttershy took on the role as healer, while Rarity, Twilight, and Sweetiebelle tried to find a cure.

It turns out, Rainbow's interaction with Scootaloo didn't leave her unscathed. The blue pegasus pony had a teeny scratch on her shoulder, which Fluttershy was tending to. Rainbow had been locked in one of the cells, due to her slightly saturated coat, but she seemed okay for the most part. Maybe treatment was keeping it at bay.

"Guys, I think I have an idea how the infection works!" Twilight's voice echoed through the building.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Nine

Scootaloo was currently being cornered by Applejack, the infected ponies having met up in the Apple Family's barn. The smaller pony was cowering, but softly growling as if in defiance.

"Food." Was all the infected Applejack snarled, stamping her clawed hoof to signal the small filly to follow.

Applebloom snorted in agreement, resting on Applejack's back.

No matter how much pony flesh the monsters ate, they were still starving. Though Applebloom and Applejack managed to get their own catch... Something massive.

A hefty, bloodstained white coat was dragged from the barn by Applejack, thrown in front of the two smaller ponies. A horn was seen. Bloodstained white feathers. Beautiful gold jewelry.

It was a glorious feast.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Eight

Great. Now there was an infected pony on the loose. Probably in the building.

Searching with Pinkie Pie rose... suspicion. The pink party pony was unusually quiet and irritable, and she kept rubbing at a specific part of one of her upper front legs.

"Hey, Pinkie?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"What?" The pink pony shot her a glare. Her eyes looked a bit bloodshot. Twilight could swear her colors weren't as vibrant as before...

"Can I take a look at that cut on your leg..?"

Pinkie froze, looking down. "Huh. I really *did* get scratched by something! I thought I was just imagining it." She shrugged.

Twilight was torn. Keeping Scootaloo in containment didn't work, she convinced Rainbow Dash to let her out and now she was loose somewhere. Maybe her safest bet was to kick out Pinkie.

"Hey, uh... You think you can run a little errand to Sugarcube Corner? I'm DYING for a cupcake..." Twilight forced a grin.

But Pinkie bought the lie. "Of course I can! Oh, I'll bring as many as I can! I'm sure Rainbow and Rarity and Fluttershy and Sweetie are in a cupcake mood too!" The pink pony hummed, bouncing off.

Twilight sighed. At least a possible future threat was gone for now... They just had to find Scootaloo now.

[thedecayingapplefiles]

Part Seven

After Sweetie had told her what had happened, Twilight was stunned. She didn't think the infected were capable of speech. And she doubted the little filly was lying, she looked genuinely terrified.

"It's okay, Sweetie. Calm down. I'll have Rainbow go back and see if Scootaloo says anything. Maybe we can learn more about the infected that way!" Twilight tried to be assuring to the young unicorn.

It didn't help Sweetie feel much better, she was anxiously pacing now.

The next day, Rainbow was nowhere to be found for a few hours. The remaining Mane Six members searched everywhere for her, eventually finding her...

In front of the now-empty cell of Scootaloo, the ground in front of it covered in glass, and drips of blood.

"She told me to... She told me to let her out... She was crying so hard, she just wanted to see me again..." Rainbow was muttering to herself. "B-But I couldn't open the door... So she broke the glass..."