Dead Pony Rising 2

Chapter Five

Ponies For Undead Rights and Equality

Date: September 26, 2011 6:03 a.m.

Buck swung the hatch door wide open and found himself in a giant room filled with generators; possibly providing power to the mall…maybe even the whole city. He climbed out from the air duct and started trotting through the room, going past many giant machines that hummed lightly. He soon found himself at the base of a small metal stairwell leading up to open double doors. He could hear the sound of mall music and the scent of fresh hot coffee that’ll never be drunk. He slowly trotted up the stairs and into a long, brightly-lit hallway.

“Buck?” A quiet, yet noticeable voice said through the transceiver. “Come in, Buck.” Buck took the small device out of his back pocket and answered.

“Yes, Fluttershy?” He asks.

“Oh, good, I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” She says. “I was able to locate you on the monitors…you should be coming up to the maintenance entrance to the Royal Sun Mall.”

“’Kay, thanks.” Buck says as he starts to pull out the map.

“Redheart’s Pharmacy should be on the other end, so, you’ll have quite a ways to go.” Buck puts the map back into his pocket and continues trotting down the hallway.

“Thanks again, Fluttershy.” He puts away the transceiver and swings the second set of double doors open. There were hardly any zombies in the mall, a sign that the outbreak was a bit slow going. He just shrugs it off and goes into a gallop to get to the pharmacy faster.

Along the way, he found abandoned kiosks and empty stores that looked like a riot had broken out just before the zombies got loose. He also took some time to check out posters for events that were going to take place after Terror Is Reality left Celestial Sisters. There was one promoting a live manticore that was in a small habitat at the Zebra Zavara Casino at the end of the Celestia Strip.

There was another poster about a unicorn mare that did feats of magic in front of live audiences with her two assistants. She called herself the Great and Powerful Trixie. Buck remembered reading a newspaper article about her when she was revealed as a fraud in Ponyville many months earlier.

Without even realizing it, Buck passed the pharmacy. He stopped and started trotting to the entrance. There were two sets of doors from what Buck could see; and the first set was locked. He sighed angrily and galloped to the other set and opened them. Inside, there were for masked ponies grabbing medications and medical supplies from the shelves and shoving them into saddlebags. It didn’t take Buck long to find out they were looting the mall.

“Oh, great.” He said quietly. Buck quickly and quietly started trotting over to a backroom. One of the looting ponies got angry and stormed over to the front counter; a frightened nurse pony cowering in fear.

“Hey!” He shouted. “I know you’re holdin’ out on us. Where are the bits?!” He slammed his hoof on the counter in anger. “Where’s the safe?!” He used his magic to lift up the frightened pony by her shirt collar. “Come on! Don’t lie to me!”

“We don’t have a safe!” The mare shouted in a scared tone.

“Don’t…lie to…” The unicorn looter said.

“Hey, dirtbag!” Buck shouted. “Let the mare go.” The unicorn looked around and saw Buck trotting out from behind the shelf he had hidden behind.

“Why don’t you mind your own business, old stallion?” He said angrily.

“Exactly what I’m doing,” Buck says, “I’m just here looking for some Zombrex.”

“Well, you’re definitely gonna’ need some painkillers when I’m through with you.”

“Well, talking to you is giving me a headache.” Buck says.

“Oh yeah,” the unicorn says, “what say you give me a few bits and I’ll go get some for ya’?”

“Yeah, give us some bits, grandpa.” Another pony looter says. “We’ll help you out.”

“How about it, Grandpa?” A third looter asks. “You got any bits?” Buck stood there for a moment.

“Yeah, I got bits you can have.” He says. “But you’ll only get them when you pry them from my cold, dead hooves.” The first looter drops the mare and slowly trots over to Buck with his crowbar.

“That could be arranged.” He said. The looter then swung his crowbar at Buck’s face, but Buck slammed his hoof into the looter’s stomach and pushed him to the ground; the looter dropping his crowbar. Buck quickly picked up the weapon and swung violently at the three other looters that galloped up to him. He knocked each one down with one hit and trotted over to their downed leader.

“I’ve met some pretty nasty ponies in my life,” Buck says, “but you take the cupcake, pal.” Buck then punches the leader one last time before jumping over the counter to the scared mare.

“Are you okay?” He asks. “They didn’t do anything too severe?”

“No, they just tried to scare me into giving them bits.” She said. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Do you have any Zombrex?” Buck asks. The mare thinks for a second.

“I’ve only got one box left.” She says. “Most of the supply was stolen by those creeps.” Buck growls angrily.

“Well, could I get that box?” He asks.

“Absolutely, it’s the least I can do for you.” She says as she trots over to a door leading into the pharmacy’s backroom. She reaches inside one of the many drawers on her desk and pulls out a fresh box of Zombrex.

“Oh, thank Celestia.” Buck says as he takes the box and puts it in his jacket pocket.

“When were you bitten?” The mare asks.

“Oh, never,” Buck says, “this is for…my daughter.”

“Oh, that’s terrible.” The mare says.

“Yeah, but I’m willing to do anything for her, go to any length.” He says. “Can I take you somewhere safe?” Buck asks.

“Like, where?” The mare asks.

“There’s an empty bunker that’s completely safe and out of harm’s way.” Buck says. “If you follow me, I’ll take you there.”

“Please do.” The mare says. “I can be of some assistance considering my profession.”

*** *** ***

Date: September 26, 2011 6:55 a.m.

Buck and the mare climbed out of the air duct and into the safehouse. The old stallion that Buck met earlier was standing outside; waiting patiently. He looked on as the pharmacy mare trotted up the stairs and into the bathroom.

“Where in Equestria did you find her?” The old stallion asks. “Never mind, I don’t wanna’ know.” The old stallion then starts trotting to the stairs.

“There’s still ponies alive out there.” Buck says. The stallion comes to a stop and slowly looks at Buck.

“We can afford to have any infected in here.” He says as he trots up the stairs. Ray leads the pharmaceutical mare into the small hospital room situated in the bunker. Buck trots upstairs and down towards the security room. He opens the door to find his daughter still playing with the video games system he got her. He trots over to the couch and sits down next to her and pats her on the shoulder.

“Hey, honey,” he says, “I told you I could get some Zombrex."

Katey takes off the headphones she was wearing and sees the box of Zombrex that Buck found. She takes off the pink jacket she was wearing and pulls up the right arm sleeve on her shirt. Buck takes the syringe out of the box and carefully injects the needle into her hide. Katey cringes as the serum is plunged into her blood.

Buck pulls the needle out, places it back inside the box, and throws it in the garbage can.

“See? That wasn’t so bad, Dad.” Katey says jokingly.

“You sure are daddy’s girl.” Buck says. Katey grabs the game system and starts playing it again. Fluttershy smiles warmly and stands up from the chair she was sitting in.

“Look, Dad!” Katey says excitedly. “I got a new power-up in Mega Mare!” Buck looks down at the small screen and watches Katey play her game. Fluttershy slowly trots to the door and turns to face Buck.

“I’m going to go get something to drink,” she says in her usual quiet voice, “do you want to come with? That is, if you want to.” Buck pulls himself up and walks over to the door.

“Sure, I’m a bit parched.” He says as they both start trotting out the door. “Katey, if you need me, I’ll be in the cafeteria.” Katey just kept playing her game, unaware of what her dad just said. He closed the door behind him and continued trotting with Fluttershy.

“So,” Buck says, “what brings you all the way to Celestial Sisters?” Buck soon realized the redundancy of his question, but Fluttershy just answered without thought of what Buck said.

“Well, my friends and I came out here to protest the way these horrid ponies are treating the undead ponies.” Fluttershy said.

“You’re not serious, are you?” Buck asked.

“Yes, I am dead serious.” Fluttershy said. “The way these ponies are treating the undead is wrong and unjust.”

“But, here’s the thing,” Buck said with a brief pause. “THEY. ARE. NOT. ALIVE!” Buck shouts. “They are soulless creatures doomed to continue trotting around Equestria.”

“That’s what you say, but are you sure that they’re the dead ones and not just you?” Fluttershy asked as she walked through the door to the cafeteria. Buck sighed deeply and followed suit. She sat down with an ice cold bottle of sarsaparilla she got from the fridge. Buck slowly trotted over to a coffee pot full of the fresh dark brown energy giver. Fluttershy turned on the small T.V. and watched the news report about the outbreak going on outside the bunker.

“I have been told that we have received a broadcast from our field reporter Rebucka Hayes, who is inside Celestial Sisters.” Said the news reporter on the television; the screen cuts to a young unicorn mare doing her report on the unfolding events of the outbreak.

“It is clear that the outbreak started in the Celestial Sisters arena during last night’s ‘Terror Is Reality’ show.” She says as she comes onto the screen. Buck starts pouring himself a cup of coffee as the report continues on. “Information received from a behind the scenes source reveals that this outbreaks was not an accident, but rather an act of terrorism.” Fluttershy trots over to get a better listen to the report.

Buck stops pouring his cup of coffee and trots over next to Fluttershy; intrigued by what Rebucka had just said.

“This shocking footage was obtained from a source inside the Celestial Sisters arena,” Rebucka continues, “the site of the Terror Is Reality game show. It may be upsetting to some viewers.” That’s when security footage came onto the screen.
It was pointed down a hallway that had a cage full of zombies at the end. One pony, dressed in a bright yellow TIR uniform, trots up carrying a strange device. The pony tapes the device onto the cage and starts galloping in the opposite direction. After a few seconds of tense uncertainty, the device exploded and knocked out the camera filming the whole thing.
Rebucka continues her report, “Initial reports suggest that the stallion in the video is former Motoclops champion, Buck Greene.”

“WHAT?!” Buck shouts angrily.

“Greene,” Rebucka continues, “a member of the zombie rights protest group PURE, was a contestant in tonight’s pay-per-view game show. Acquaintances describe Greene as a known drifter, who was still angry over his wife’s death in the Pegasus outbreak.” Buck’s temper starts to flare. “This horrible act of terror appears to be an escalation of violence for the protest group. This is Rebucka Hayes, reporting lives from the Celestial Sisters Hotel, in the heart of Celestial Sisters.” Buck turns off the T.V.

“What?” He asks angrily. “That’s complete parasprite fodder!” He slams his coffee cup onto the table, breaking it open and spilling the contents out. “That was not me.” Fluttershy starts to slowly trot back to the door.

“Did…did you have something to do with this?” She asks in a scared tone.

“No way, not on your life.” Buck says. “My daughter and I barely got out of that arena alive. What possible reason would I have to do something like this?”

“But, why are they saying you’re part of PURE?” Fluttershy asks.

“I went to one meeting.” Buck says. “Once. After I lost my wife.” He closes his eyes and remembers the horrible night that happened many months earlier. Clenching back his tears, Buck continues, “Look, I don’t know what the hay is going on here, but I’m being set up.” He says as he slams his hoof into the table.

“I think I know why.” Fluttershy says. “It’s not the first time members of PURE have been falsely accused of being involved with an outbreak. As I said, we were in town protesting that awful show you were on.”

“Do you believe me?” Buck asks, pulling himself up from the table.

“I don’t know what to believe,” Fluttershy says. “But you sure don’t seem like a terrorist. And I know my friends and I weren’t involved.”

“Look,” Buck says, “we have three days before the Royal Guardians roll in. That’s how much time I have to prove mine and your innocence.” He points to the T.V. “The reporter…the one at the hotel…the tape she had is a complete fake. She said she had a source…whoever that is must know more. I need to find out where she got it.”

“She said she was at the hotel.” Fluttershy says. “I’ll keep an eye on your daughter…I won’t say anything to her. I don’t want her to worry.” She slowly trots out of the cafeteria; Buck quickly behind her.

*** *** ***

Date: September 26, 2011 9:02 a.m.

Buck slowly galloped through the double doors of the Celestial Sisters Hotel to find it completely deserted. He looked all around and found baggage and luggage strewn all over the place. While looking around, he noticed a small pass lying on the floor. He trotted slowly up to it and grabbed it with his mouth. After close inspection, he realized it had a picture of Rebucka Hayes.

Unbeknownst to him, a zombie was slowly pulling itself up from the ground, blood gushing from its mouth. Buck was too distracted to notice as it slowly inched closer to his flank. The zombie started growling as it was about to bite down…
A gunshot rang through the lobby of the hotel. Buck jumped in shock and saw the zombie’s body fall to the floor, Rebucka behind it with a smoking gun.

“You need to pay attention out here, buddy.” She said as she holstered her gun. Rebucka slowly trotted up to Buck; Buck the same.

“Thanks.” Buck says.

“Rebucka Hayes, Channel 6 Action News.” Rebucka says.

“Buck Greene.” Buck says as he holds out his hoof. Rebucka quickly pulls away after hearing his name.

“Are you serious?” She asked. “From the security video? I thought you’d be long gone by now.” Buck sighs lightly. “But, since you’re sticking around,” Rebucka continues, “care to answer a few questions?”

“I’m not your story, filly. I didn’t have anything to do with the outbreak.” Buck says.

“Right, sure you didn’t.” Rebucka says as she slowly starts to trot in a circle around Buck. “And that tape showing you tampering with the cages was..?”

“A fake.” Buck says; finishing Rebucka’s thought. “I had nothing to do with this. My daughter and I barely got out of there alive.” He stops Rebucka from trotting. “I need to know where you got that tape from…and who your source is.”

“Reporters don’t reveal their sources, Buck.” Rebucka says. “That’s privileged information.”

“Privileged, my flank.” Buck says angrily. “That wasn’t me on the tape, I’m being set up.”

“Hmm…why should I believe you?” Rebucka asks.

“You don’t have to.” Buck says. “But you want the big story, right? Be the next Flank West maybe? Help me out and I’ll give you an interview.”

“With the prime suspect?” Rebucka asks intrigued. “It has to be an exclusive.”

“Sure, it doesn’t matter to me.” Buck says.

“I can’t tell you my source, but there is a central security room.” She says. “There’ll be footage of everything that happened there. I can show you where it is.”

“Well,” Buck says, “that’s a start at least. Aren’t we going to need your crew?” Rebucka sighs.

“They galloped off.” She said. “With all the equipment, too. I guess they just didn’t want it bad enough.” She starts trotting to another part of the hotel. Buck takes a deep breath and follows her out of the hotel.

*** *** ***

Date: September 26, 2011 9:30 a.m.

As the two ponies trotted through the dark corridors of the unfinished Nightmare Mall, Buck asked where the central security room was.

“It’s just inside the Celestial Sisters arena.” She replied.

“What?” Buck asked surprised. “Are you out of your mind? That place is going to be crawling with zombies.”

“Well, I don’t know what else to tell you.” Rebucka says. “The central room is located in the back room to the right of the main entrance. Do you want to prove your innocence or not?”

Buck just sighs angrily and the two kept trotting through the dark halls. They went past a couple signs leading them to the arena and a few shops that were going to be finished. Mostly were just based around fashions designed by Hoity Toity of Canterlot and Rarity of Ponyville. As they came up to a hall leading into the arena, Buck noticed a security gate still down and preventing them from getting into the arena. Buck trots up to it and slams his hoof into the gate; hope fading quickly.

“Dang it!” He said. Rebucka turns to look at Buck.

“Better get used to that view, Buck.” She says, mocking his possible life imprisonment.

“Cute.” Buck said with a distasted attitude.

“Hope I don’t have to do everything for you.” Rebucka says as she pushes the main control button on the control panel that was right next to the gate. “Well, what’re you waiting for?” Rebucka asks. The gate starts lifting up as Rebucka makes her way under it and towards the arena. Buck slowly, but surely, follows suit.

“Just checkin’ out the view.” Buck says.

The entire arena was a mess, blood and clothing were everywhere. However, there weren’t as many zombies as Buck had anticipated. There was still a sizeable amount, but nothing the two ponies couldn’t handle on their own.

“This way.” Rebucka says as she starts galloping to the back of the arena; Buck quickly in tow. They galloped into a small hallway and Buck slams the double doors closed behind them. He runs over to the main security door and starts to fiddle with the knob. Rebucka lightly pushes Buck aside.

“Here,” she says, “let me try.”

“Don’t bother,” Buck says as Rebucka takes something out of her back pocket, “it’s locked.” Buck noticed that Rebucka had pulled out a lockpick and was working on the door’s lock. “You’ve got some interesting…” Buck says noticing Rebucka’s flank wiggling in the air, “…skills, for a reporter.”

“Nopony ever got an award playing by the rules, Buck.” She said as she continued fiddling with the lock. The door swung open and Rebucka motioned Buck into the room. As he trotted in, he immediately knew something was wrong.
All of the monitors were playing nothing but static, most of the screens were cracked and broken in, computers were either gone or completely destroyed, and a couple of unicorn security guards were sitting dead in their chairs.

“Wow,” Rebucka says, breaking the silence, “looks like somepony didn’t like the show much.” They both started trotting around the room, looking at the carnage. Buck picked up a piece of a computer motherboard while Rebucka pulled out a digital camera from her pocket and started gathering evidence.

“No!” Buck says angrily. “There’s nothing here that we can use.” He throws the motherboard to the ground. “Everything’s been destroyed.”

“Buck,” Rebucka says, “check this out.” Buck looked over and saw that Rebucka was standing over one of the dead pony guards. Buck slowly trotted over to get a better view of what she was talking about. There was a bullet hole right between the poor guard’s eyes.

“No zombie did that.” Buck said.

“There might not be anything here to clear your name,” Rebucka says, “but it definitely proves somepony’s covering up what really happened.”

“Do you believe me now?” Buck asked.

“Let’s just say I’m intrigued.” Rebucka says. The transceiver Buck got from Fluttershy started beeping. Buck pulled it out of his pocket.

“Buck,” Fluttershy said, “you need to get back to the bunker, now.”

“What is it?” Buck asked. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Ray. He saw you on the T.V. You need to get back here…he’s threatening to kick Katey out.” Buck’s blood turned cold.

“I’m on my way.” Buck put the transceiver back into his pocket and started galloping back to the door.

“Wait, who was that?” Rebucka asks.

“Uh…Fluttershy.” Buck says as he continues his way out the door.

“The leader of PURE?” Rebucka asked.

“I guess.” Buck said as he left the room.

“I’ll meet you there.” Rebucka yelled to Buck. “Oh, this just gets better and better.”