Dead Rising: Case Equestria

As soon as Rainbow Dash and Spike arrived at the safe room, Applejack ushered them towards the room that Scootaloo and the other ponies had been in before.

"Twilight is everything alright?" Rainbow asked panting a bit, "you seemed a bit worried when you contacted us."

"Well..." Twilight said pausing before pointing towards a screen towards the back of the room, " you'd better take a look for yourself..."

"Okay, if you say so..." Rainbow said a bit thrown off by the way Twilight was acting. "Come to think of it, everypony else here seems to be acting a bit strange..." she thought noticing that everyone else in the room was looking at her nervously or not at all. Spike had also noticed the strange tension that surrounded him, and decided to speak his mind too.

"What's up with you guys? It's like you've seen a ghost or something!" He said a bit annoyed by the silence.

"Well Spike, just watch with Rainbow and you'll see why." Twilight assured him as he shrugged and walked over to the screen. Suddenly, static came up before flashing to a mare holding a microphone. She had a light green mane color with an orange coat that was a bit darker than Scootaloo's, and on her mane she sported a sky blue headband. "Huh..." Spike thought with interest, "she's pretty cute..." he shook his head as he hastily chastised himself for not paying attention.

"Hello everypony!" The mare greeted the viewers with a slight bow, "This is Flash Dancer reporting live from a hotel in front of the Pegasium where as you can clearly see that the situation has grown dire!" She said, emphasizing her statement by gesturing behind her. "This is the result of the outbreak that started within the Pegasium itself, however, this was not the result of a tragic accident, this was a deliberate act of terrorism against our fellow ponies!" She declared passionately.

"What?!?" Both Rainbow and Spike cried out in shock.

"But why would somebody do such a thing?" Rainbow said turning to her friends. However, they said nothing, which made her a bit nervous as she turned to watch the rest of the report.

"The outbreak in question was believed to be caused by a rogue pony as shown in these images here." The mare said as images began to flash on the screen, depicting a pony releasing a small cage that held several zomponies into the tunnels below the Pegasium's crowd seating entrances. However, what was strange about the pony was that...

"Rainbow Dash??? Isn't that you?" Spike said bewildered as he turned to face the cyan pegasus.

"Wha- but that isn't..." Rainbow couldn't find any words at the new information she had just been processing.

"The pegasus," Flash Dancer continued, "is believed to be one of the contestant's of this year's competition: the Aero Blast Grand Prix, Rainbow Dash."

"That's not true!" Rainbow cried out desperately at the screen, wishing this all to have been some horrible nightmare.

"It is unknown what her motives have been, but the royal guard of Celestia herself is said to arrive in three days, and all questions will most likely be answered then. This is Flash Dancer, signing off!" The screen then went back to simple static as Rainbow Dash could find nothing else to say. Spike on the other hand, grimaced at this new information. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Rainbow Dash mustered up the will to speak.

"You guys believe me when I say I didn't do it right?" She said looking frantically to her friends, who at this query gained offended look on there faces.

"It's not that we don't believe ya sugercube! We know you'd never do anythin' like this!" Applejack said as she gave a reassuring pat to her rainbow maned pal, who in returned gave a sigh of relief.

"However," Rarity said speaking up, "even though we know that you didn't do it, every other pony out there doesn't know that you were framed! They'll tear at you the first chance we get if you are allowed to remain..." she paused dramatically, "GUILTY!" She said as she flopped backwards, her ''fainting couch'' suddenly appearing to break her fall.

"Well just one problem though," Pinkie Pie said bouncing in place as everyone else turned to her, "we know that Rainbow didn't let all those meanie pants zomponies out, but if she didn't, then who did?" She said as her bouncing halted while she and the others gained a thoughtful look.

"Well, we may not know who did it..." Spike said musing, "but I think I know where to start looking..." he said as a grin began to appear on his face.

"What do you mean Spike?" Twilight asked her former assistant, who was now gaining a huge grin at his idea.

"Well, Flash Dancer was at the hotel right?" Spike said as everypony waited for him to continue, "and she had to get those pictures from somewhere, and so if we just head over to where she was, then maybe just maybe, she can tell us who her source was and where they got those pictures from!" He said finishing as he gained a proud smile at his deduction.

"Hey you're right!" Rainbow said, her face getting a look of renewed hope on it. "If we find her then she's gotta help us out right?" Spike nodded his head as they shared a smile. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" She declared speeding off towards the exit, almost performing another rainboom in her excitement. Everyone chuckled at Rainbow's sudden change in attitude as Spike began to follow his newfound partner's lead.

"Spike wait!" Twilight said as the dragon turned around.

"Oh, Twilight what's wrong?" He said raising an eyebrow.

"It's just...about what I said earlier..." she said rubbing her shoulder guiltily.

"Twilight it's ok!" Spike said, breaking her out of her mood, "I know you didn't mean it!" He said giving Twilight a small smile to which she returned.

"Really?" She asked, her hope restored that maybe he wasn't as mad at her as she thought.

"Of course Twilight!" He said as he walked over and gave her an embrace. "I know sometimes we have our little squabbles from time to time, but I'll never really stay angry at you!" He said as he felt her begin to return the hug.

"Alright Spike...just promise me you'll be careful ok? I'll keep you posted on anything Pinkie's Pinkie Sense reacts to." She said as the embrace broke off.

"Hey come on Twi!" He said giving her a smirk as he playfully ruffled her mane, "I've cover-"

"Yeah yeah you've covered wars!" Rainbow's voice yelled out from the vent. "Can we please stop being so sappy now and get a move on?"

"...wars you know." Spike finished as his eyebrows furrowed in annoyance at his friend's outburst that had destroyed the tender moment between he and Twilight. Twilight giggled as she saw his look and simply told him to get a move on before Rainbow became anymore anxious to go. Spike hugged her one last time before climbing into the vent.

CASE 1-1: Engaged

Objective: Find Flash Dancer at the hotel near the Pegasium

Date: September 25th, 7:00 A.M.

TIME BEFORE ROYAL GUARD Arrives: 72:00 Hours

"Rainbow come on!" Spike yelled at his friend in frustration, "I was having a moment with my sister/mother figure! Surely you can at least let me have that!"

"Nope! Sorry buddy!" Rainbow Dash said playfully as she stuck her tongue out at him, "too much of that sappy stuff will rot your brain out!" Spike simply shook his head as they climbed out of the vent and into the mall. "Hey by the way," Rainbow said, gaining her ally's attention, "where is that hotel located?"

"Well let's see," Spike said pulling out the map that twilight had given him. "It says that the hotel that Flash Dancer is across the 'Silver Strip.'"

"Well how do we get to the Silver Strip?"

"Hm...oh! An entrance is right across from Roy's Mart!"

"Sweet! Now let's go!" Rainbow said as she began galloping away, Spike running as fast as he could to keep up. As they neared a door that seemed to lead to another maintenance room, they heard a voice that just barely came through.

"Hey Rainbow Dash, do you hear that?" Spike asked his companion as he listened harder, trying to figure out where the voices were coming from.

"Yeah, it seems like it's coming from behind that door!" Rainbow said as they opened the door to find out. What they found however, was a hallway that lead to a maintenance room, and another path that apparently lead underground.

"Hm, it seems like the voices are coming from the underground!" Spike said as he started to go towards the hatch that lead down. However Rainbow stopped him before he could climb down.

"Hold on Spike, let's not get carried away." Chided Rainbow as she looked at the materials lying around. "Hm...i feel like we should collect some more weapons to at least be prepared for whatever is down there..."

"Good idea!" Spike said as he nodded, "We should also find a bag or something to carry any extra things we want to take."

"Alright, so let's split up and come back here." Rainbow said to her draconian friend as they temporarily parted ways. After a couple minutes they came back to the maintenance room. Spike and Rainbow Dash had managed to collect a variety of tools and weaponry, as well as some food while also getting a backpack and a saddlebag respectively. After they gathered up everything they told Twilight to send Applebloom to their location.

"Hold on, I need to know your location first!" Twilight said.

"How are we going to do that though?" Rainbow said as she had a confused look.

"Well...oh I know!" Twilight said as a lightbulb went on in her head, "Just have Spike take a picture of the surrounding area and point out the location on the map as well, and that should be enough to let me know where to send her!"

"Good thinking Twilight!" Spike said, "Alright now let's see I'll head out into the hallway and take a picture there." He walked out into the hallway and closed the door leading into the plaza just to be safe. Then he whipped out his camera and focused the shot.

"Hey Rainbow Dash!" He called out to his partner, "strike a pose!"

"Wait what?" Rainbow said clearly not ready for a photo op, and fell over in a frantic scramble to try and look her coolest for the photo, unfortunately, Spike had taken a shot just as she fell, which did it's main job.

"Hm...Good." Spike said as he listed the photo under the "outtake" category, and the rating it received was about 250 PP.

"Hey! Could have warned me earlier you know!" Rainbow said annoyed that she had taken a bad picture.

"Oh well, let's get this sent!" Spike said grinning mischievously as he pulled up the photo to be sent.

"Spike I swear if you even think abou-" Rainbow began to glare at him, but his grin simply widened as he pushed the send button. Seconds later the both of them heard what sounded like Twilight poorly trying to stifle a laugh. "That's it!" Rainbow shouted as she tackled Spike to the ground, with the purple dragon simply laughing the entire time. However, in the midst of Rainbow's attack, they both failed to notice that Applebloom was already there.

"Um...Spahke? Rainbow Dash? Should I leave or somethin'?" The filly asked confused at the sight in front of her. This sudden appearance jolted Rainbow Dash and Spike back to reality as they both realized that they were in a...compromising position. They both looked at each other, and turned as red as Big Mac's coat as they scrambled to get untangled from one another.

"Uh...h-hey Applebloom," Rainbow said sheepishly, "how are you?"

"Ah need an adult?" Applebloom said obviously stumped on how to proceed after witnessing what had been happening.

"So um the workbench?" Spike offered as he tried shifting the subject away from any awkward encounters.

"Oh yeah the workbench!" Applebloom shook her head as she regained focus on her original task. "So uh, what have you guys got for me this tahme?" She asked as Spike and Rainbow Dash handed over their bags.

"Alright, you guys may want to wait here, things are gonna get pretty hectic in here." Applebloom warned as she closed the door behind her.

[Inside the maintenance room]

(Chuck's Workbench Theme plays)

Applebloom took a deep breath as she prepared to start working, she grabbed a couple of tools she would need off the walls while taking out one of the best tools of building known to ponies...

"Can't go wrong with a lil' duct tape!" She said to herself as she pulled out a couple rolls of the stuff. She then began searching through the bags as she thought of various weapon combos, some deadly, some useful, some were novelty items. After settling on her designs she went to work, her hooves working at a breakneck pace as she used the utmost care and precision in her work. After a while of using duct tape, nails, a saw, and a various other tools, she sighed in relief at the completion of her last creation. Smiling proudly at the work she had done she went back to get the others.

(Music stops)

[Outside the maintenance room]

"So...um...yeah..." Spike trailed off awkwardly as he scrounged around his brain to come up with some decent conversation.

"...Yeah..." Rainbow said just as awkwardly as she rubbed her neck nervously. Suddenly she smirked as a thought came in. However, her train of thought was broken as she heard the doors behind her open to reveal Applebloom with a full saddlebag and backpack.

"Well gahs!" Applebloom said handing them their stuff, "it sure was a lotta' work, but ah think it turned out quite alrahght!" She said, nodding in approval. "Spahke, with your weapons I managed to create the knife gloves, which is the boxing gloves plus the chef knives you found, the blambow, which ah made by combinin' the bow and arrow with the dynamite you found, and another spahked bat for ya!'"

"Aw yeah this stuff is awesome!" Spike said as he looked over his new toys, a single tear of joy almost coming to his eye.

"For Rainbow Dash, I used the spitball launcher and motor oil to create the Fire Spitter, the cider bottles and construction hat to make a novelty cider hat, and the wooden sword and shield plus some nails to create the Holy Arms!"

"Man it feels like Hearth's Warming Eve came early!" Rainbow shouted equally as excited as her partner was.

"Ah'm glad you guys liked em'!" Applebloom said giggling at the way they acted. "Well, ah better head back, so ah'll see ya'll later!" She waved to them as she disappeared in a poof of magic, no doubt due to Twilight's spell. A little later Spike and Rainbow Dash had stopped drooling over their new weapons enough to realize that the handy filly had left a while ago.

"How the hay does that filly not have her cutie mark yet?" Spike asked his Rainbow-maned partner, who simply shrugged in response, now that they were ready to proceed, they headed towards the hatch that lead underground. Once they got to the bottom, they found themselves in a place that looked to be a warehouse of some sort. Suddenly, they heard the voices once again, and one sounded familiar.

"Hey, that sounds like Blueblood!" Rainbow said in realization.

"Hm...well this seems pretty fishy as it is, but him being here just makes it even worse..." Spike said, he then saw the prince himself and another figure walk out from the ground floor, right under the catwalk that Spike was on. Spike and Rainbow Dash gasped in shock as they saw who the prince was talking to.

"Hey, it's my doppelganger from the news report!" Rainbow said, a furious look overtaking her. She was about to charge in and beat the stuffing out of both of them, but Spike stopped her.

"Rainbow don't!" Spike said as he frantically held on to her.

"Why not?!? They deserve it!" She said in a loud whisper.

"Rainbow, use your head! This seems to be turning into something bigger than just the outbreak! If we want to find out what really happened here, we need to get evidence of what's happening!" He said trying to pacify her.

"Well what should we do then?" She asked with a mixture of frustration and impatience.

"Hm...you go hide in a safe spot, I'll try to see what they're talking about and get some photos while I'm at it!" Spike said as he shooed her towards a well-hidden corner of the room. She was reluctant to stand by, but she eventually agreed to wait there. After that, Spike turned his attention towards the prince and the Rainbow Dash imposter.

(Dead Rising 2: Off the Record Pause Menu 2 plays)

"Alright, gotta do this as quietly as possible..." Spike muttered to himself as he set the flash of his camera off. He then saw that Blueblood and the doppelganger were walking towards one of the aisles, and he followed, making sure to get a good angle for his shot.

"So you sure this will help us out right?" The doppelganger asked nervously as she...or he looked around wide-eyed.

"Of course!" Blueblood said reassuringly as he turned to face the Rainbow Dash look-alike. Spike snapped a quick photo of them while he had a direct side view of them talking.

"Yeah! It's a good one!" He said to himself happily as he filed it under the "special" category, the rating came out to be about 449 PP.

"In all seriousness chum," Blueblood continued, "you simply must stop worrying so much, it will take a toll on your health if it keeps up!"

"I'm sorry..." The doppelganger said sadly, "It's just that I'm really nervous about this whole thing..."

"Oh come now!" Blueblood said chuckling as he wrapped a hoof around the other pony, "Just don't let word of this little meeting get out and you'll be fine!"

"Oh ok Prince Blueblood..." The other pony said shakily, but smiled a bit, "I just feel like it was great that I got to help out with such an important job!"

"What the hay are you up to Blueblood?" Spike muttered to himself as he snapped another photo, filing under "special," and getting a rating of 329 PP.

"Alright, now take this," Blueblood said a bit more quietly to his companion, "this is a pass for free roam through Canterlot, it should give you enough clearance to do what I've asked you to. Let no one but the guards see that!"

"O-okay sir..." The imposter said shakily, not realizing that Spike had snapped another photo of the them, but with the pass this time.

"Unbelievable...what are you up to..." Spike whispered, his mind working furiously to figure out what they could be up to. However, soon he had to move across to another catwalk as the prince and his accomplice went out of his view. As he arrived he once again whipped out his camera, becoming ever vigilant to take a photo. Luckily for the dragon turned photojournalist, Blueblood seemed to give him a good shot.

"Now you just take this," the prince said as he handed the other pony what looked like a metal briefcase,

"What is that..." Spike wondered to himself as he took another photo, this one getting him a whopping 1023 PP in the "special" category.

"It has your first payment, with a little bonus considering the job well done. The rest will follow after we are done with Canterlot." Blueblood said as if answering Spike's question.

"Oh okay Sir...thanks!" The Dash doppelganger said happily as he took the case of bits.

"Nonsense my good fellow, it is the little people like you that I admire the most!" Blueblood said as he gave the pony another pat on the back, "those who rise up to the challenge set before them!"

Spike was just about to take another picture when he accidentally knocked over a box from the shelf he had been climbing down. The noise startled Blueblood and the other pony as their heads whipped around to face the direction he was in.

"Aw horsefeathers..." Spike said as he dove into a box in an attempt to hide.

"Hm...I suppose that it may have been a rat... filthy creatures..." Blueblood said in disgust as the other pony nodded in agreement. After hearing them trot away Spike slowly climbed out of the box and signaled to Rainbow Dash that the coast was clear.

(Music stops)

"So what'd you find out?" Rainbow asked him curiously as he showed her the photos.

"Well," he said starting to explain, "it seems that this pony that pretended to be you did indeed start the outbreak here...however, it turns out that Blueblood was paying him to do it!" Spike said, disgusted at the actions of the two he had seen.

"I knew he was up to no good!" Rainbow said furiously.

"That's not all though...it seems that they plan to start another outbreak in Canterlot, probably after the Royal Guard arrives here..." Spike said as he continued his theory.

"Well, then we have to stop them before then!" Rainbow said with a determined look on her face.

"Well, for now we should let them go about their business until we can find out more, but we should probably get back to finding that hotel and clearing your name!" Spike said as he shut his camera off.

"Right, let's do this!" Rainbow said in a mixture of excitement and anticipation. With this new information in their minds they set off to go find Flash Dancer, and hopefully a way to prove Rainbow Dash's innocence...

Time before Royal Guard arrives: 71:12:23 Hours