Dead Rising: Hoof, Camera, Action!

Chapter 3: The Apprentice.

TIME UNTIL HELICOPTER ARRIVA

Hours Minutes

6 6 : 3 0

It is late noon and Frank has got himself a deal, he will get the information he needs for his story and all thanks to his ride out of here, Should I return to the mall and check what else could it be out there to add to my story? Frank though, Nah, later, first I will go and get some rest before returning to that zombie field. When he made his mind Frank had a feeling that he forgot something but he couldn’t point what that's until he opened the door to the storage room and saw the pegasus that he rescued now standing in front of him, looking directly into his eyes with an expression of admiration.

Then Frank moved close to him, kneel down and pet his head. “Hey little buddy, did uncle Otis treat you well when I was gone?” Frank said in a playful tone.

Jessie and Otis (who was now next to Jessie) put their attention on Frank waiting for the next scene to pass. “I’m fine thanks, my name is Featherweight and I just wanted to tell you that I’m very thankful that you came to save me, I own you my life.” The pony finished with a little bow and a smile, but Frank was frozen in place to notice, he was trying to process what just happened.

Did he just talk!? Frank thought. There is no way that he just did that! It is impossible! But then again he is a pegasus and I am in the middle of a zombie infested mall… What are the chances?

“Surprised, Mr. I cover wars?” Otis said while chuckling and heading to the A/C to make guard, Jessie was laughing too.

After that Frank stood up and presented himself. “Well… nice to meet you Featherweight, my name is Frank West, Photojournalist and soon a world star after covering this story!” he said while smiling and making a pose.

Jessie shook her head for that little remark and returned her attention to the monitors while Featherweight was impressed by Franks confidence. “Wow!… are you really a photojournalist?” he asked.

“But of course.” Frank replied. “I don’t have a camera just to pretend.”

“Can I see it Mr. West… if isn't much of a bother.” Featherweight asked.

Frank was going to protest but the little pony was making a pleading face wanting to see the camera. “Fine, but be careful since it is the only one that survived this trip.” Frank took off the band that held the camera from his neck and passed it to the pony’s hooves.

Featherweight was amazed by how the camera looked and weighed, it was a bit more heavy and different from his own camera but its features compensated that, he then turned it on and started checking its white balance, focus, brightness, resolution and the framing.

Frank was impressed by how Featherweight as young as he looked he was checking the camera like an expert. “Did you handle a camera before, kid?”

Featherweight was looking through the camera’s viewfinder at different parts of the storage. “Actually, It was for the magazine that Otis showed me, about electronics and this camera appeared on it.” He explained. “But I have my own camera at home, for that I joined the school press to test my photographic skills and earn my Cutie Mark!” he said happily.

“Cutie what now?” Frank said, confused.

“A Cutie Mark, is a symbol that appears in the ponies flank representing our special talent.” he explained.

Frank was processing the information while taking a quick look at Featherweight’s flank, noticing it was markless, so he changed the theme. “So, school press, did you learn how to handle a camera there or your parents teach you that?” He asked.

That question makes Featherweight sad. “I… I don’t have parents, I'm an orphan.” he said while lowering his head, ears flat against his head.

A shit! I touch a sensitive subject. Frank thought. Way to go Frank, that's why you can’t cover celebrity kid’s parties anymore. Now Frank has to do or say something to cheer Featherweight.

Then he said the first thing that came through his mind. “So, kid… Do you want me to teach you some techniques to take good photos?” He said it slowly, waiting to see if his offer had the effect he wanted.

“Really!?” Featherweight asked excitedly, forgetting why he was depressed at first.

“Yes, it will be fun to teach someone that likes photography as much as me” Frank said, relieved that his offer had the effect he was waiting for, or was more than he expected.

“Yes, yes, yes I accept!” Featherweight said very happily running and bouncing around the storage room, seconds later he stopped in front of Frank and extended his hoove in signal for a hand/hoof shake.

Frank understood the gesture and shook his hoof. “I like to see you excited to learn some of my photographic skills.” Frank said smiling at the little pony.

“Yes, you don’t know how eager I am to become your apprentice and earn my Cutie Mark at your side!” Said Featherweight cheerfully while displaying his full smile to Frank.

“Yeah kid, I will show you the best position to take a panoramic photo and how to choose the right le- wait WHAT!?” Frank cut what he was saying.

“That I can’t wait to be your partner and learn your skills closely!” Featherweight said.

Frank was confused and surprised. “Woah! woah! hold on buddy, who told you that I was taking students?”

“Jessie told me that after you finished your mission with Mr. Brad you and her will have a talk about my photographic learning.” Featherweight respond. “It wasn’t what you were talking about inside the room?”

This was the drop that spilled the cup, Frank looked at Jessie’s direction. “Stay here, I’ll come back.” he said while walking to the Janitor’s room where Jessie was watching the monitors.

Frank entered the room and slammed the door. “Explain! Now!” he said to Jessie with an annoyed expression.

“Explain what?” Jessie calmly said, still looking at the monitors.

“Well, I don’t know, Maybe the fact that the little pony believes that I am looking for a student!” Franks said, angry at the lie that Jessie told Featherweight.

Jessie turned to Frank on her seat. “Well, Featherweight was a student and a member of his school’s press and he is an’ orphaned.” She said with the same calm tone and neutral expression she has, Frank now knows she heard his conversation with the pegasus. “Aaand you are a professional photojournalist that has covered many cases, he needs a figure, someone to admire.” She said while standing up off her chair and gently pushed Frank towards the door of the room where Featherweight was in, looking through the glass to him. “So this can be a way to bring the little orphan some hope in this new world, this can't be any more dangerous than your previous experiences, only now you have someone that can help you take your shots, besides.” She walks back to her seat, turns to Frank and imitating his voice says. “You covered war, you know.”

After that chat, Frank went to the bathroom to clean his face, he was so pissed off that Jessie used the pony’s situation to her advantage. But he needs to admit that his extortion was as evil as Jessie’s, maybe a little less than hers. Okay Frank, keep your cool, don’t let her get over your emotions or they win. Frank thought, he started to inhale and exhaled slowly to calm himself. Aah! that's much better. Now I need some rules if I want Featherweight to learn and survive this nightmare. But first of all, I need to find a way for Featherweight to hold the camera while running through the mall, after all, he used his hooves to hold it, if there was a wa-” Frank stop his thought for a moment, realizing that Featherweight was a pegasus, he literary is a winged pony that can fly and took pictures. “Frank you smart devil.” he said while smiling and leaving the bathroom. (if he only knew a certain detail)

Featherweight was sitting on the green couch waiting for Frank to come out, after five minutes he saw Frank approaching him, “So, when do we start?” he said, jumping off the couch and smiling.

“Does now sound good?” said Frank.

Featherweight responded immediately. “Yes! Ooooh! I can’t wait any longer.”

Then Frank and Featherweight walked towards the Janitor’s room where Frank glanced at Jessie, making an expression that could translate as ‘I will teach this pony while getting the information that I need and there is nothing that you can do to stop me.’ Later Frank and Featherweight went with Otis who was next to the A/C’s air duct.

“Wait Frank! Do you really plan to take Featherweight with you to the mall!?” he was surprised that Frank would take the pegasus to a dangerous place.

“Yes, I think it is time for him to see what we are facing here,” he explains while rubbing Featherweight's mane. “Besides he will gain some experience from this to earn his pretty mark.”

“Is Cutie Mark Mr. West.” Featherweight correct Frank.

“And it’s master West for you my young pupil!” Frank said, trying to sound cool and covering his mistake.

“Yes Sir!” Featherweight replied while making a military salute with his wing.

Otis chuckles at the scene. “I can see that both of you are getting along already. Take care and return safe.”

With that said both the human and the pegasus went through the air duct to the roof of the mall, when Featherweight came out he watch the surrounding, he notice that it was evening, the outside was not as bright or colorful like in his world it felt very different, later he look the appearance and type of structure that the roof have, it was a combination of cement and metal, the walls have a brown and white colors and the floor was gray, it was like the buildings that were in Manehattan, there where some kind of machines that were stick to the floor some make noises some didn’t, he then looked at the right noticing a chain-link fence that reveal more of the outside world, he run to it and saw hills, trees and other buildings but the most notorious thing was the multitude of zombies that were surrounding the mall, growling and slowly walking towards the entrance, he felt like a mouse hiding in the only tree on an open space while been circled by owls, he later decide to go back with Frank.

They walk to the exterior elevator but before Frank would hand his camera to Featherweight, he needs to make sure that he wouldn’t faint or froze by terror, and what better way than killing some zombies in front of him.

“Well my student, before I give you my precious and only camera, I have to make sure you wouldn’t run away or get petrified by terror.” Frank explains while picking up a bat that was lying on the roof’s floor.

“Don’t worry Mr. West, I saw some of the footage of you killing those monsters before.” Featherweight smiled.

“I know you did.” Frank said while stopping in front of the elevator’s door. “But, watching it through the monitors isn’t the same as seeing it in person.” he said while standing in a fighting position. “Can you step back a little.”

After Featherweight backed up he put his attention to what Frank was planning to do, Frank then pushed the elevators button to call it and after a couple of seconds the elevator’s door opened and reveal that in it’s interior were zombies, Featherweight was surprise with the number of monsters that were in there and how Frank knew of it.

Later a zombie walked towards Frank which he smirked and swung his bat towards the zombies head making it explode. Featherweight was astonished by the action, seeing pieces of brain and bones splatter every way, later the rest of the zombies came out of the elevator towards Frank, he began to swing left to right killing some zombies and tripping over others. The quantity of blood coming out of the zombies was unreal and the growls they made was horrible, Featherweight tried his best to not to vomit at the bloody scene of Frank beating the zombies to death, getting his bat covered in blood more and more by every hit to the undeads in the back, chest or in the head while rising up only to been killed by Frank.

When Frank finished, Featherweight’s stomach was struggling not to empty its content either for the gory display or the aftermath smell of the corpses. “So, do you think you can handle it?” Frank asked, looking at his partner.

Featherweight shook his head composing himself and put on a brave face. “I am ready Mr. West!”

Frank smiled at that. “Okay then. Let's continue with the lessons.”

“Mr. Frank, I have one question,” Featherweight said. “How did you know there will be zombies inside the elevator?”

“That’s easy.” Frank said and began explaining. “When I first went inside the mall, there weren't any zombies at the warehouse, but when I returned from my journalist duty the warehouse now had zombies in it. It was only a matter of time for them to learn how to enter, but it seems that they can’t operate the elevator, only enter in it.”

“I guess that makes sense.” Featherweight have some doubts about the explanation but for now he accepts it. Then, both entered in the elevator that now has corpses on the floor, Featherweight tried his hardest to endure the stench of rotten flesh until the elevator took them to the warehouse.

Now inside the warehouse Frank begins to give Featherweight some last advice to take different kinds of photos and how to deal with zombies if they get close. “Okay Featherweight first you need to know which parts of a zombie you need to attack in order to kill them or run from it.” Frank said while breaking a box which had a sickle and took it. “First you need to know that a zombie's weak point is their heads.” A zombie walks towards Frank, he proceeds to use the sickle by putting it’s blade behind the zombie’s neck and using his foot to push the zombie’s head while at the same time pulling the sickle, cutting the zombie’s head clean and it’s body felt to the floor.

Featherweight was still uncomfortable by the violence but he understood that this is necessary to survive. Frank starts walking and the pony follows. “Now if you want to escape from them you have two options.” Frank said while another zombie ran at him. “You can either cripple them.” He said, while swinging the sickle towards the zombies legs, cutting them off and making the zombie fall but still moving by using its arms, Frank indicated Featherweight to follow him, another zombie appeared and Frank continued with his lesson without stopping running. “Or you can ‘push’ them really hard.” he said then while jumping and delivering the zombie a flying kick which makes the undead to fly backwards and push another zombie making them fall.”

“I thought you said push them.” Featherweight points out.

“That's how I push out!” he answered.

Now Frank and Featherweight were in the big space of the warehouse where more zombies were either standing, walking or eating a severed hand. “Okay, next lesson, how to identify a good shot.” Frank said while taking his camera and looking around. “There are different types of photos.” he was beginning to explain. “First there are the normals which are simple photos with some content but nothing remarkable on it. Secondly we have Horror which we have a bunch of, thanks to the zombies being themselves.” he said, looking at the zombies growling and walking around, Featherweight looks at them too. “Later the Brutality, which are photos showing graphic violence in them.” Frank said while pointing his student to a zombie eating a hand and proceeded to take a photo of it, GREAT!! BRUTALITY. to later show the picture to Featherweight. “Next there are the Outtakes, that are photos showing oddities or funny scenes.” he said while pointing to a zombie officer using his walkie-talkie like a normal person and taking NICE! OUTTAKE. and showing the photo to his student. “There is also Drama which describes the problems of certain events, and lastly there is Erotica which is something I will teach ya’ when you grow older.”

Featherweight didn’t understand why the last type was out of limits but he decided to not question it and keep putting attention. Frank then took off the camera and handed it to Featherweight. “Ready for your test kid?” Featherweight was confused, but before he could say something Frank was running toward the zombies who noticed him and started to surround him. Featherweight immediately understood that his job was to take photos of Frank’s performance against the zombies.

Frank used the sickle to cut some zombies head off to attract their attention, later he change the weapon for his sledgehammer to swing it to the zombies making them fall backwards in order to smash their heads with less problem but then his hammer broke and he was caught by a zombie that was trying to bite his head, Frank put his foot in the zombies chest to later kick him to off, Frank quickly took of his bat and start swinging at the zombies breaking their heads or killing them by the force of his attack and ending the little battle.

Featherweight took some photos of Frank's action GREAT!! BRUTALITY. Feeling that he did a good job, Frank later asked Featherweight for his camera to check the work of the little pegasus.

“Hmmmm…” Frank hummed while checking the photos one by one, Featherweight was nervous by each second, hoping that the photos he took were perfect enough for Frank to let him continue learning. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, okay, hmm.” Frank was still checking the photos. “Okay Featherweight.” Frank said in a serious tone and expression. “After watching your work I have only one thing to say.” Featherweight was lowering his head, expecting Frank to be disappointed of him. “FANTASTIC!” he said with a smile and his thumb up.

“Wait, REALLY!?” Featherweight asked with an incredule expression.

“Yes, your shots were done at the perfect timing, you move to get better lighting, you capture an excellent balanced shot and your close ups are incredibly clear and steady.” Frank explained “if I were the public I would say that these photos were made by a professional. You passed the test.”

“YAY!” Featherweight jumped celebrating.

“Alright buddy, I officially name you a photojournalist student of West’s Academy!” Frank said and gave his camera back to Featherweight. “Just be careful with it and mind the battery, I lost the charger along with some replacement parts.” After that both walked in the direction of the mall. Man, he took very good photos, I still can't believe how lucky I’m to have a partner that likes and what to be a photograph, but why didn’t he take some aerial shoot, that could give him a more panoramic view. Frank thought for a moment, but brushed the idea for later.

After a quick trip to the camera store to recharge the batteries, Frank and Featherweight were now standing in the mall at Central Plaza in their search for the best story ever, Featherweight was amazed by the type of stores that were inside the mall and the zombies that roamed the place. “Okay kid, remember, we only want espectacular shots, we don’t want many of the same.” Frank said holding his bat.

“You got it Mr.West!” Featherweight respond while preparing the camera.

Then both student and teacher run through the crowd of zombies, Frank swinging his bat at the horde creating a path to pass between the monsters, killing some and capturing a wasp in the process. If what I saw was true, then this wasp can be useful against them. Frank thought.

Featherweight was following Frank, keeping his guard up if any zombie got close. “Whoa! Stay back!”he said while running and pushing the zombies away from him to get in a clear spot and taking some photos of Frank and the zombies that looked like they were worthy.

Frank threw his bat at the zombie horde knowing that his weapon was going to break soon, he was near at the entrance of an instrument store and had spotted Featherweight at the top of a platform that was in the middle of a pond for some reason, Frank had an idea. “Hey partner!” he yells to the pegasus, getting his attention. “Look at this!” Then Frank runs in the middle of the crowd of zombies. “Capture this!”

Frank then pulls out the jar with the queen wasp in it and smashes it to the floor, this provokes the zombies that were in a radius of 5 meters to shake until their heads explode leaving their headless body on the floor but also making some kind of huge worm come out from the corpses who jump a little to later die. Is this even professional? He seems to be having fun. Featherweight thought after taking the photos.

Why isn’t he flying around? He would be more safe there than being around zombies. Frank thought. Maybe he wants to have more courage? I hope he doesn’t have some kind of wing injury. (If only was that).

Frank and Featherweight make their way to the glass door and out to Leisure Park, they carefully walk through the park to reach the Food Court in order to explore the other side of the mall, Featherweight was impressed to see a park inside a mall but suddenly the sound of a car horn and laughter was becoming more and more strong and closer to them, when both turn their heads they notice a military vehicle driving towards them, quickly Frank tackle Featherweight away to avoid been flattened by the crazy conductors, After stopping rolling, for Frank’s surprise the responsible of operating the roofless Hummer where convicts, still dressed in their orange prisoner jumper.

They were three in total, one driving, the other in the copilot seat with a bat in hand and the last one standing in the back operating a mounted 50mm heavy machine gun. “You missed looser!” the convict on the back said while the others laughed. “Get your aim right, brother!”

The Convict driving looked away and spotted something, it was a pair of survivors who were walking away from the zombies, but he seems to have another plan in mind. Patting the copilot and pointing at the survivors while laughing, the convict with the bat understood what the driver had in mind. “Alright! Looks like we found our next contestants!” he shouted.

“I’m gonna take that dude an’ snach his old lady!” the convict with the machine gun added.

“Here we go!” said the driver convict, stepping on the gas and driving in the survivor pair’s direction.

After getting closer the survivors ran at the opposite way allowing the driver to put the copilot close to the old man allowing him to hit the other in the back of his head, killing him in the moment while passing the woman who was now screaming for the death of her beloved.

Frank could not believe witnessing something so twisted happen to an innocent people, he felt disgusted and furious at the convicts action, Featherweight was feeling the same, now worried for the fate of the woman Frank looked at his partner. “Featherweight I want you to take cover far from here. This might be more dangerous than facing zombies.”

Featherweight seems to struggle between protecting himself or helping Frank, but when he heard the woman screaming again he made a decision. “No! I want to help her too, she needs our help just like I need yours when you found me!” he replied with a look of determination on his face.

Frank wanted to protest but those lunatics were making some spins in the field while running over some zombies that were in their way, ready to return. “Okay, I might need your help in here more than ever!”Frank said.

“You got it boss!” Featherweight replied.

Frank looks at his surroundings to find a weapon or anything else that can help him. He spotted a police zombie holding a gun but not using it and a baseball bat laying on the ground. “Alright! Here is the plan.” Frank said. “I am going to get that gun that the zombie is holding and then go for the bat.” Featherweight nods. “Meanwhile you would fly and distract them to get their attention so I can deal with the convict that is operating the heavy machine gun and take the others down, got it!?”

“Yes Mr.West, you go for the gun and bat while I distraaa… flying?” Featherweight was now petrified, he didn’t tell Frank about his disability. “Umm, Mr. West…I-I… ” Before he could explain, the laughter of the convicts caught their attention, it seems that they had crashed with a tree but they seemed not to be bothered by it and were starting the vehicle again.

“There is no time! remember to fly, distract them and then fly away!” Franks said it while running away to get the weapons. “I will return soon!”

“Frank the thing is I can’t… fly” It was too late, Frank was far away from him. OH! Celestia! What am I gonna do now! He was frightened, he didn't know what to do, he is a pegasus but he can’t fly and now someone’s life is hanging in his hooves. He needs to think in something quick or everything will be over.