Dead Rising: Hoof, Camera, Action!

Chapter 4: Party Pooper.

TIME UNTIL HELICOPTER ARRIVA

Hours Minutes

6 5 : 5 7

Evening in the middle of the mall at Leisure Park, Frank was running on the field trying to reach a zombie with a gun in its hand while the convicts made their way towards Frank by flattening and shooting zombies with their stolen armed hummer, forgetting about the woman whose boyfriend they had killed in the first place. Featherweight in his part was trouble now that he was given the task to distract the convicts while Frank gathered the weapons he needed to face them, the only problem was that Featherweight had to fly, a thing that he can’t do since he didn’t have received his Cutie Mark. OH NO! Frank Mr. West doesn’t know that I can’t fly yet! Featherweight thought. What can I do now! I had to do something right now, anything!

Meanwhile Frank had delivered a flying kick to a zombie cop that was holding a gun, he took the weapon and begin searching for a bat, unfortunately the convicts were approaching Frank, ready to kill him to go after the other survivor but before they could reach for him a boomerang pass between their faces, the driver stop the vehicle to see who was responsible for the action, but a soccer ball was flying so fast that hit the copilot in the face making him grunt in pain. “UGH! Who tha’ fuck did that!?” the copilot convict said.

When they look at the responsibility for the ball they spot Featherweight looking back at them. The driver and gunner convicts laugh at the pony and their friend for being hurt by a small animal. “HAHAHAHA! Man! Did the wittle’ pony hurt ya!? HAHAHA!” said the gunner convict, only for later Featherweight kicked with his hind legs another soccer ball that flew to his face. “ARGH! Son of a bitch!!” Now the other convicts laugh at him.

“So What do ya think? the little shit worth extra points.” the driver said to his friends with a grim smile, the others nod and laugh maniacally to his suggestion. Then the driver stepped on the gas and turned the wheel, now chasing the little pegasus who was running for his life. “Not so tough now aren't ya!” the driver said.

For Luna! I didn’t think this through! Featherweight though, still running away from the convicts. “AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!” he screamed while dodging the vehicle when it got close.

The convicts laugh more at the pony’s torment. Meanwhile Frank got the baseball bat, now he is prepared to face the convicts, he turns and finds the psychopaths chasing Featherweight who was using the trees to evade them and make them crash on them. Why is he not flying? He is going to get himself killed! Frank thought. It doesn’t matter now, I have to save him.

“HUH HUH! Somepony! HUH HUH! Please HELP!” Featherweight yell while running away from the vehicle.

“Run pony! RUN!” said the copilot convict. “You are making this game more fun!”

“FEATHERWEIGHT!” Shouted Frank. “Over here! Come on!” Frank waves his hands to get the pegasus attention.

Featherweight spot Frank between some trees at the center of the park next to the lake. He realized what Frank's plan was so he ran as fast as he could to reach him, the convicts didn’t mind Frank since they wanted to kill the little pegasus first.

“Here come on!” Frank yells, while standing between three trees. “Now do as I said!” Featherweight stood next to Frank, both looking at the convicts getting closer, when they were in a fair distance he yelled. “Now!” Both jumped at opposite sides making the convicts crash in the tree maze, they were stuck letting Frank the chance to shoot his handgun at the gunner convict.

“Mother fucker!” yelled the gunner convict, pointing the hummer’s .50 Caliber Machine gun and fireback at Frank.

Frank had to move and cover constantly from the convict’s shots, the driver was trying to free the vehicle from the tree trap. “How the hell do you even get your hands on a thing like that!?” Frank yells at them while covering himself behind a tree.

Unfortunately the convict driver managed to free the hummer. Featherweight was out of his cover taking some photos of the fight PERFECT!!! BRUTALITY. But the driver noticed him and with a mad laugh he stepped on the gas and the chase continued.

Featherweight was again running and dodging the convicts, heading to a monument that had clocks on the top, Frank was running behind them trying his best to reach Featherweight. “Shit! I know I asked for photos but risking his own life!” Frank commented. “Great, now I sound like Otis”

After reaching the clock monument Featherweight was running around it to evade the psychopaths charge and shots towards him. I don’t wanna die! Not here! Please! Featherweight thought, scared with tears coming from his eyes. “FRANK HELP!!!” he screamed now standing in front of the convict’s vehicle.

Frank was now in reach shooting at the convicts but his handgun was empty, then he took out his bat. “AAAAAHHHHH!” Frank screamed, getting closer to the vehicle and delivering a flying kick to the driver, causing the driver to turn the wheel, the hummer went the opposite way and crashed into a tree. In that moment Frank used his bat to hit the guner before he could have time to aim at him.

Frank killed the gunner who’s body fell to the ground, the driver put the vehicle in reverse to continue with his chasing but not before Frank could unattach the .50 caliber machine gun.
“Why don’t you play with someone of your own size!” Frank said while opening fire at the convicts, killing them while the vehicle was still marching, making the hummer roll over and exploding in the process, emptying the weapon’s magazine and dropping it away.

Frank walked towards Featherweight who was laying in the ground, covering his head and crying. “Is okay kid, those guys are now history.” Frank said, kneel down and caressed the pegasus head.

“FRANK!” Featherweight yelled while jumping to him, hugging him tight and crying some more, burying his face on his shoulder.

“It's okay buddy, I am here, it's okay.” said Frank returning the hug and patting his back to calm the agitated pegasus.

After 5 minutes Featherweight finished his sobbing, he wiped his eyes, still a little shocked. “Feeling better now?” Frank asked.

“Yeah, I’m feeling better now” Featherweight said in a calm (a little sad) tone.

“Good, we need to escort the survivor out of here.” He said.

“Yes!” Featherweight replied, more relaxed and decided.

Both went with the survivor that fortunately wasn’t attacked by the zombies. When they reach her, they notice she has short brown hair, dressed in a gray with black striped sweater, black skirt and black shoes. Her name is Sophie. “OH! I can’t believe they killed my Francis, OH!” She was sobbing for the death of her loved one.

Frank tried to console her. “It wasn’t your fault, nobody could expect a riot in the middle of a zombie outbreak.” Then Frank remembered something. “By the way Featherweight I have something to asked you”

“Uh? What is it Mr. West?” Featherweight asked.

“Why didn’t you fly when I asked you?” Frank asked, wanting to know the reason for not using his wings.

He was depressed, he knew what to respond but felt bad for not clear it with Frank. “Mr.West I, I…” He felt embarrassed for admitting it and more for hiding it, it was difficult for him.”I can’t… fly.”

“What!?” He cannot believe it.

“I can’t fly!” Featherweight said it more loud and clear.

“But, you are a pegasus, isn’t supposed that flying is something you do naturally after being born?” Frank asked, not knowing how he can’t use his wing for its only purpose.

“Some pegasus can’t fly and if they do it is still difficult for them to do it.” Featherweight explains. “If a pegasus obtains its Cutie Mark then they can fly without problem, just like with a unicorn with magic, they can’t perform it well without the Cutie Mark, only after they get it.” Featherweight explained.

Frank was impressed with the new information. Wait, unicorns have magic? He thought. “How did you expect me to know that!?” he replied. “Why didn’t you tell me this before? You could die out here!”

Featherweight was feeling down and guilty for not telling Frank before. He was right, he could have died for being reckless and hiding his flight issue.

Frank was feeling bad, he didn’t want to be harsh with Featherweight but they were in a place where a simple mistake could cost them their life. “Look kid, I don’t wanna make you feel bad.” Frank said. “It's just that I don’t want to put you or anyone in a dangerous situation, and since you are the only pony from another world, it is my responsibility to take care of you and protect you.”

“Thank you Mr. West.” Featherweight said, lifting his head to meet Frank’s eyes. “And sorry for not telling you before.”

“Don’t worry kid, we are going to get out of this hell together.” Said Frank, petting the pegasus head.

“What do you mean by ‘the only pony’?” The woman known as Sophie said.

Both looked at her with a quizzical expression. “What do ‘you’ mean by that?” Frank asked her.

“I mean that, he isn’t the only pony here.” She said.

Now both of them were surprised by her answer. “Have you seen other ponies like me!?” Asked Featherweight with curiosity and hope. It can be that I am not alone in this world? He thought.

“Yes, me and Francis watch some of you running around the streets and in the mall,” Sophie said. “But they were multi-colored, is that even normal?” she asked.

“Yes it is.” Featherweight said. “Can you tell us where you see them?”

Sophie tried to remember. “Sorry, we didn’t put much attention since the zombies were threatening our lives.” She said, making Featherweight’s hopes go down. “But before we got here, me and Francis watched from a distance another pony, its coat was a light greyish amber with a light gray mane, it also wore glasses and a white collar with a green cloth on it.” She explained to both of them.

“Where was the last time you saw it?” Frank asked her

“It was at Wonderland Plaza, next to the Court Food.” Sophie said.

Frank put a hand under his chin, he was absorbed by this new information. Featherweight was looking at Frank, waiting for him to make a decision. “You said Wonderland Plaza right?” Frank asked, she nods. “Then let's head there, this pony may need some help.”

The group were now heading to the Food Court, Frank was making a path with his bat but it later broke and he need another weapon to deal with the zombies, he find a big garden scissors and start cutting zombies in half or cutting their heads off leaving the grass tainted in blood to later broke, they make it to the doors but a big group of zombies where surrounding the door, Frank spot a big mower with its blade expose. Frank told his company to go and wait in a clear spot while he headed to the mower, in his way he picked up a trash container and threw it toward some zombies leaving between the trash a baseball bat which he picked up and began to break some zombies head off. What was doing that in the container? Frank thought, one of the zombies was an officer and took his gun, Frank reached the big mower and started its engine, he was now chopping the zombies legs to later go to their full body, after letting a pool of blood and chopped rotten meat Frank called his companion to enter the building.

When they entered the Food Court, Frank’s transceiver was ringing, they went to the dinner level next to the door so no zombies would bother them while Frank answered the call. “Hi Frank it’s Otis, I wanted to tell you that the Space Rider machine in Wonderland Plaza looks like it’s outta control. Maybe there’s somebody out there. You wanna check out?”

“Actually, we were heading there.” Frank responded. “You are not going to believe this but, we find a survivor who claims that she saw other ponies like Featherweight.”

“Really!?” Otis said, surprised by the news.

“Eeyup! And that ponies is precisely in Wonderland Plaza, I contact you later, over.” Frank finished the call.

“Who called you?” Featherweight asked.

“It was Otis, it seems that the place we are heading is suffering from an attraction malfunction.” Frank replied. “And how things were going, it will be better to reach there fast. But before we go I need you to tell you something.”

“What is it Mr.West?” Featherweight asked.

Frank kneels and looks at Featherweight in the eyes. “I need you to know that if things get more dangerous like before, you would run and take cover far from danger, Alright?”

“But how would I take the photos if I am far? Or if you need help how could I aid you?” Featherweight asked. “Even if I can’t fly I can still use my wing for other things, after all I did distract those murderers.” He replied

Frank thought for a moment, he sighs. “UGH. Okay, but promise me that you will keep yourself away from unnecessary danger.” Frank said with a serious face. “Promise?”

Featherweight with a smile responded. “Promise Mr.West!”

With a nod from Frank, the tree began to run to the plaza while knocking some zombies, Frank picked a bottle of wine in his way.

Wonderland Plaza was not short in its name, entering there was a great playground in the middle of the hallway of the plaza and a space attraction at the center, in their right there was a giant pink bunny wearing a blue overall. Featherweight was amazed by the place, Frank would be too but the zombies were taking his attention.

“It’s so wonderful!” Featherweight said, forgetting that the place is infested of zombies and acting like a foal again.

“Well, that is why it's called Wonderland.” Frank said. “But we have things at matter, come on let's move.” With that the group took the stairs to the second floor to reach the controls of the attraction while Frank used the bat to knock a zombie holding a knife and took it.

When they reached the Space attraction they noticed that the space cars were running, nobody was operating them and there weren't any zombies nearby, Frank felt uneasy. “Go take cover inside the store, I don’t like this.” Frank told Sophie and Featherweight, they did as asked.

Frank went inside the attraction and spotted the control panel but before he could touch it a laugh was heard behind Frank. “HAHAHAHA! Stay away from there, gramps!” Like if it came from a cliche horror movie, there was a fat clown that speak in a high pitch tone, he have red hair bald on top, a tiny hat, white face with blue drawn eyelashes and smile, a circus coat half yellow and the other half green, puffy blue pants and big red clown shoes, he was juggling with two blue chainsaw while laughing in a crazy maniac way. He stopped the juggling to see Frank’s face who was perturbed by his act. “Uhh? Everyone used to laugh at me… Jejeje.” The clown said slowly approaching Frank. “I was a walking punchline. Hahaha….” Then he began to sob. “But not anymore… Waaa! Waaa!” The clown was close to Frank who was trying to get away from his chainsaw. “When the zombies came, everyone died! Waaa! Waaa! Wahahaha!” The clown passed from crying to laughing in seconds and resumed his juggling. “That’s why I decide to give all the happy people a lift on this fun ride besides with a little companion!” Frank took a glance at the cart that was arriving, he noticed that inside of it was a Willamette’s mall employee and sitting in front of him was the pony that the woman mentioned before, they were held hostage inside the cart. “I won’t let you stop the ride, gramps!” The clown said menacingly while getting close to Frank with the chainsaws close. “If the ride stops, the zombies come back, and that won’t be any fun at all! HAAAA! HAHAHAHAAA! WHOOOOO! AAAAHHH! HAHAHA!”

Frank knew this guy’s mind was far gone and that if he wanted to help the hostages he needed to take care of him first. So he moved away from the clown to prepare himself, what he didn’t expect is to see the clown spit fire from his mouth, he was away so the fire didn’t reach him. Frank then pulled out the handgun and fired at the clown, but he blocked Franks shots with his chainsaws, Frank then changed to his baseball bat to try hand to hand fighting.

Frank went to the hallway to have more space to face the clown, when both were now facing each other Frank decide to go first and struck the clown in the chest but he tried to spit fire at Frank again only to missed, Frank stepback a little but the clown start to blow up a balloon which Frank took advantage to shot at with his gun, stunning the clown. Frank delivers him a series of hits with his bat to the head and back but then the clown spins with his chainsaws and cuts Frank, launching him over the railing and falling to the ground floor where some zombies were roaming around. Defying the laws of gravity the clown makes a big jump and lands on the floor bedding a little but with no broken bones or any injury, Frank got up as fast as he could. Getting ready for the next round, the clown jumps towards him to later spin again in Frank’s direction, when he stops spinning Frank moves close to hit him some more with the bat before the clown cuts Frank in the back. “That’s not very nice!” the clown said, pulling out some knives and throwing them at Frank who roll to avoid them only to get two inserted in his left arm.

Frank pulled out the knives from his arm and switched his bat for his handgun and fired at the clown that was getting closer by the seconds even if the clown blocked his bullets. When the clown was close to Frank ready to strike him with the chainsaw he was interrupted by a trash can that felt on top of him, making him fall to the ground. Frank looked up and saw Featherweight and Sophie behind the railing. “Go get him Mr.West!” said Featherweight before preparing the camera for another shot GREAT!! DRAMA.

Frank looked at the broken garbage container and found a survival knife. Really? What else do those containers have in them? Frank thought. The clown got up and shook his head for the surprise attack “That's cheating!” The clown said, but before he could do anything else he receive a slash to his chest by Frank’s knife, angered the clown began to slash left to right laughing in a maniac way, trying to cut Frank into pieces, after a minute of no success he begun to blow up another balloon only this time Frank pull out his gun and shoot the balloon causing the clown a great deal of damage, then Frank finish him by pulling out the bat and charge to deliver a powerful swing, so strong that it could rip off the clowns head and make a homerun with it, then everything blackout for a moment.

Frank was tired but the clown was devastated, he dropped his chainsaws that were still running, fell on his knees to later drop his whole body on top of his chainsaw’s blades. “HEHAHAHAHEHE! OUH! AGH! AAHH! HAHAHA! HAHAHA! HAHAHA! HAHAHA! HAHAhahahaaa…”That was the clown’s last laugh. From the clown’s blood a keycard was slipping on the floor which Frank deduced was the key for the attraction’s control panel.

Frank took the small chainsaw and examined and kept it, later he picked up the card and headed to the stairs that were on the corner next to a store, he regrouped with Sophie and Featherweight. “Are you okay Mr. West?” asked Featherweight looking at the cut that Frank has in the chest.

“Yeah I’m fine, I just need a little sip of and I’ll be good as new.” said Frank to later take out the bottle of wine, he poured a little in the cut and drank the rest.

After that the little group run towards the space attraction, Frank get to the control panel, he use the keycard and press whatever button that seem to be an emergency stop for the machine, later the attraction’s alarm went off just in time and moment were the cart that held the clown’s hostages stop in front of the group.

After the cart stopped its motion the passengers made their way off the attraction feeling dizzy for god knows how long they were there. “Thanks, we were in some real trouble there.” the Mall’s employee said.

“You have my entire gratitud for saving us from that nightmerish clown.” said the gray mane pony. “Tell me to whom I owe my life.”

“My name is Frank West, freelance photojournalist.” he said while extending his arm towards his group. “And this is Sophie a survivor and this is Featherweight, a pegasus that I presume is from the same world as you.”

With that statement the gray mane pony was surprised that there is another pony survivor. “You are right Mr. West, my name is Mayor Mare, I am or I was incharge to taking Ponyville’s citizens' needs and demands.” She presents herself extending her hoove to Frank to later shake, he quickly glances at her flank while Featherweight to a picture of the scene NICE! OUTTAKE. And just like Featherweight said in her flank was her Cutie Mark, it was a scroll tied with a blue ribbon, the representation of her talent made sense since a Mayor had to approve or disapprove petitions from their citizens and deal with other political tasks.

“And I am Greg Simpson, employee of Willamette’s mall.” He said shaking Frank’s hand too. “By the way, are there other survivors around?” Greg asked, capturing everyone’s attention.

“Sure, there are in the security room but Featherweight is the first pony survivor so far and my apprentice.” Frank responded to both.

“Oh, so there is nopony else.” Mayor Mare said with sadness in her tone.

“Don’t worry Ms. Mayor, soon we will rescue more ponies in our way to reveal the truth!” Featherweight said. “Mr. West is strong and brave, he can deal with any zombies and psychopaths anytime!” he said with a tone of admiration towards Frank, making him embarrassed for the praise of the pegasus.

Mayor Mare looked at the human and at the foal. “Well, I can see that you already have the trust and respect of one of my citizens.” Mayor Mare said. “Okay Mr. West I follow you.”

“Me too Mister.” Said Greg.

“Okay then, Follow me!” Frank said while giving Greg his bat while he used the clown’s small chainsaw so both can open a path for the other survivors to their way to the security room. I have a feeling that I will begin to meet more ponies than humans around here! Frank thought. Oh well, nobody will say that being a journalist is the most boring job after this! Frank and his train of thought stopped to concentrate on his job of killing and push the crowd of zombies away to reach safely at the safe zone.