Chapters 1 - Welcome to Stable Brook
Chapter One
Welcome to Stable Brook
One Month Later
Date: August 29, 2011 6:57 a.m.
“This is Rebucka Hayes, reporting live from just outside of Las Pegasus, Equestria,” said the small radio in the chariot, “It has been over twelve hours since the first reports of a zombie outbreak in Las Pegasus, the death toll has reached an estimated 100,000 and as many as a staggering one million ponies may be infected.” The yellow and red chariot pulled into a chariot repair shop and came to a slow and steady stop. The stallion pulling it was wearing a yellow, blood-stained Motoclops helmet, with the word Tsuaf written across it. He pulls of the harness and removes the helmet. He had an orange and black t-shirt on with a giant number four on the back. He was also wearing faded, dark blue jeans. His mane was a dark olive and his fur was a very dark orange.
“To make sure the contagion does not spread,” Rebucka continues, “The Royal Guardians have set up a 50-mile perimeter outside of Las Pegasus.” The stallion sighs angrily. “They have shoot-to-kill orders for anypony off the main roads.” He looks down and notices that the faux leather strap used for the harness was wearing down severely. He walked over to a small bin and pulled out a fresh new one to replace it. “Guardian and Government personnel are screening everypony at the roadblocks, before allowing them to leave the quarantined area.” The stallion turned up the volume. “This just in,” Rebucka continues, “Princess Celestia has just announced that she is going to increase the sentencing of Braeburn, notorious pony that started the Fillydelphia outbreak, in beliefs that this is the work of one of the infected ponies he had sent out many months ago.”
As the stallion was replacing the strap, he looked around the small town he stopped in. It was dead silent; possibly from the outbreak occurring nearly fifty miles north of their location. It had a very eerie silence, unusual for even the smallest of towns.
“The number of chariots leaving the city has trickled to a stop in the past few hours…an ominous sign that few ponies remain.” The stallion looked on as a beat up chariot filled with many ponies rides through the small town and out of sight. As he finished tying down the new strap, he heard the sounds of thunder and lightning shoot across the sky. He galloped out onto the street and saw three Wonderbolts fly through the sky carrying crates full of many unknown items. As he watched, something started beeping like crazy. The stallion looked down and noticed it was his watch going off. He galloped back over to the back of the chariot and swung a back gate open.
Inside was a small filly sleeping under a faux leather jacket with the same Tsuaf insignia across the back written on it. Next to her was a small green backpack that read ‘Clop Clop’ over the front in pink, with white outlines font. He stared at her with sad eyes.
“Many sources say that the controversial drug ‘Zombrex’, which is said to inhibit the zombification process for a period of twelve hours, is being widely administered.” The stallion reached over to a small compartment and pulled out a white box with the Zombrex label written on the front.
“Anypony to be infected, but not yet turned, will be quarantined and given medical attention.” He took out the small syringe and carefully pulled back the red jacket the filly was wearing and…
“NO, DADDY! NO!” The filly screamed when she saw the needle get closer to her hide.
“Nopony likes shots, honey!” The stallion said angrily with a slight sadness in his voice. “But it’s very important that you get this.” The filly started to calm down and the stallion gently injected the blue serum into the filly’s shoulder. She cringed as any little filly would and the stallion pulled out the needle.
“Daddy, I don’t like shots.” She said with a slightly cracking voice.
“You won’t have to take another one for a long time.” He said. “A whole twelve hours.” He continued; doing his best to make twelve hours sound like an eternity.
“Maybe we’ll run out.” The filly said. The stallion started to carefully lift her up.
“Sorry, sweetie,” he says, “Daddy’s still got a few more.” He started trotting towards the small repair shop; hoping that somepony was inside. He approached the door and swung it wide open to find…Nothing. He trotted in as the door behind him slowly shut. He set down his daughter and trotted up to the counter.
“Hello?” He asked loudly. “Is anypony here?” He looked around inside the garage next door and saw a majorly beat up blue chariot. He kept trotting around looking for somepony alive.
“Katey, stay where I can see you.” He said. The little filly was trotting around as well. The stallion stood at the counter and waited a few second until there was a loud explosion outside mixed in with the sounds of screaming ponies and chariots being stopped at high speeds. He started to leave when he noticed his daughter starting to follow him.
“Stay here.” He says. The stallion then swings the door open and carefully and slowly trots outside. The sounds of gunfire started to fill the air as well as more screaming ponies. He continued trotting away from the entrance and noticed some smoke billowing in the air. He stood there watching the smoke get higher and higher in the sky. A black mass runs out of the repair shop and starts hooking himself up to the chariot.
The stallion hears the sound of the straps and turns to find a beat-up unicorn tying down the last strap.
“Hey!” The stallion shouts. “That’s my chariot!”
“Sorry, Mr. Greene.” The unicorn says. “I’ve always been a fan, but I need to get out of here now.” He starts galloping away from the repair shop. The stallion starts chasing after the unicorn and is able to grab onto the back for a moment.
“Stop!” He shouts over the sound of the clopping hooves. The stallion loses his grip and falls off the side of the chariot he rolls a few times before coming to a complete stop. He could do nothing but look on as the chariot got smaller and smaller in the distance; heading back to Las Pegasus.
“Son of a gryphon!” Greene says as he slams his hoof into the dirt. “The zombrex…” He places his head in his hoof and sighs angrily; Katey slowly trots up to him.
“Daddy,” she says, “there’s a pony over there.” She says pointing in the distance. Greene pulls himself up quickly hoping to find somepony that can help him; but finds a zombified pony slowly shambling towards him and his daughter. He looks around and sees many zombies appearing out of some of the local shops.
Greene gets up, grabs his daughter, and starts galloping back to the repair shop. Some more zombie ponies were approaching the building as Greene galloped in and sat Katey down. He slammed the door into a zombie’s face and looks around for something to block the door. He sees a vending machine and in no time at all, brings it down and shoves it in front of the door. He grabs Katey and the two hold each other as the zombies start pounding at the door.
“It’s okay, honey,” he says, “They can’t get in.”
“Daddy…what do we do now?” Katey asks scared. Greene looks around and motions Katey into the chariot repair garage. The two slowly trot into the small garage and find just the broken down blue chariot from moments earlier. Greene guides his daughter over to a worn down couch that had many oil stains and stains of other liquids and chemicals that where unknown to most ponies. She sits down and Greene kneels down until he’s eye level with the young filly.
“Katey…” He says. “Daddy loves you…so…so much.” He says. He looks into her blue eyes for a few moments before pulling himself up and walking towards a door near the back.
“But…where are you going?” Katey asks with a scared tone. Greene swung the door open and looked outside to find rusted old chariots stacked on top of one another.
“I have to find more Zombrex and figure out a way to get us out of here.” Greene kept looking around; the sound of Katey’s hooves as she galloped up to her dad.
“But, no, Daddy.” She says. “I don’t even like Zombrex.” Greene sighed deeply and turned to look at his daughter.
“I know honey.” He starts trotting her back to the sofa. “But it’s very important you have another one before bedtime.” He sits her down on the couch. “You stay here,” he continues, “I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“You’re not afraid of those bad ponies outside?” Katey asks; referring to the zombies.
“Nothing’s gonna’ stop me from keeping you safe.” He looks at his daughter one last time before getting up again and heading back for the door. Before he heads out, he notices a baseball bat leaning up next to the door and a box of nails sitting on a shelf on the other side of the door. Greene thinks about it for a moment; then grabs the items and brings them to a work table. He takes a hammer and starts hammering the nails through the bat and taping down the handle with duct tape to give it more grip.
Greene then goes outside and starts trotting through the small maze of old chariots until he reached a fence with an unlocked gate. He looks out towards the street and sees another pony fending himself in another broken down chariot. Greene swings the gate open and starts galloping to the pony and swings his spiked bat in all directions; landing blow after blow against the zombie skulls. When the last one hit the ground, the stranded pony climbed out of the chariot and shook Greene’s hoof.
“Thank you, so much, mister.” He says. “I was certain they were going to eat me alive.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Greene says. “Hey, do you know where I could find Zombrex? And, possibly, a way out of this town?”
“Well, there may be some Zombrex back at my pawnshop, but it’ll cost ya’.” He says. “And, as for a way out, I guess heading that way to Las Pegasus.” He said pointing towards the road Greene and Katey came in on.
“No,” Greene says, “I just came that way…Las Pegasus is gone.” He says solemnly. “Thank you, anyway.” Greene starts trotting away.
“Hey!” The pony shouts. Greene turns around to listen. “I think there might be a Royal Guardianship camp set up near the edge of town. If anything, they’ll have Zombrex.”
“Where on the edge of town?” Greene asks as he trots back to the other pony.
“Just keep going down this road.” He says. “It’ll be to your right; just before a giant bridge.”
“Thanks.” Greene says as he starts galloping in the direction the pony showed him.
“Hey, buddy!” The stallion shouts.
“Yeah?” Greene asks.
“If you need anything like food or weapons or the like; come on by my store. All Your Pony Needs is the name.” The stallion says.
“Thanks, but I don’t plan on staying too long in this quaint little town.” Greene says. “But, if I have any questions, I will be sure to come to you.”
“The name’s Pawn.” The stallion says. “I, unfortunately, must charge you bits for my products.”
“I’m Buck Greene and I must ask…why?.” Greene says back.
“If I survive this…I would like to have something to show for it.”
“Greed is a sin; one of the Seven Deadly Pony Sins.”
“I’m very well aware of the seven sins, boy, but it isn’t greed.” Pawn says angrily. “I have a will and the only pony who’s in it is my granddaughter. All the bits I make go to her schooling fund in Canterlot.”
“Where am I supposed to find bits?” Buck says, getting closer to Pawn.
“This is the only area in Equestria that permits gambling…you figure it out.” Pawn says. “There’s a small casino across the street from my shop. You could break the slot machines and take whatever money there may be inside.” And with that, Pawn starts galloping to the small shop he owned and runs into the building. Buck just shrugs it off and gallops down the road towards the camp Pawn was talking about.
All around him were zombies; most were normal looking while others exhibited some early signs of decomposition. Buck just shoved through the crowds and kept galloping as fast as he could to get to this camp the other pony was talking about. He galloped past a bowling alley, a small casino, a diner, a movie theater, and many other buildings that could’ve been nice to go to. He eventually reached the edge of town and saw a small camp set up.
Unfortunately, it was set up next to a small road that was blocked and filled with destroyed chariots. In the distance, he could see a small fire billowing up smoke and the charred remains of unfortunate ponies that couldn’t make it out in time.
“That explains the explosion from earlier.” He trots up to a giant stretch chariot and climbs up to the top to get a better view of the carnage. The Royal Guardianship had set up a road block, the one Rebucka Hayes reported about earlier that morning, and there was no chance of getting out that way.
“I guess I’ll have to head back the way to Pegasus and just find another exit to take.” He looks around and sees an overturned medical chariot deep inside the camp. Buck jumps down and slowly trots over to the chariot and looks around for any Guardians that could help. There were none that Buck could see. He trots over to the medical chariot and starts unhooking some straps to get the back hatch open.
It swings open and a dead royal guardian unicorn pops out. Buck falls back and down on the ground from the sudden shock of seeing a dead pony that wasn’t trying to eat him. Buck carefully pulls himself up and starts checking the body for any Zombrex. He comes up short and starts giving up hope. Maybe that pawnshop pony could give him an exception.
“Oh, thank Celestia!” He said as he kissed the box. Buck pulled himself up and started trotting back to the repair shop…when a small transceiver started going off on the dead unicorn’s body.
“Come in, twenty-six…” It said through major static. “I repeat, come in, twenty-six.” Buck stops and turns back to listen. “We are organizing back up for your blockade now.” The other Royal Guard said on the transceiver.
“Hang tight and do not let anypony past your post.” He says. Buck reaches for the transceiver but backs away from it. “A new quarantine crew, with full security detail, will be there at 21:00 hours.” Buck backs away a bit more and starts to panic.
“I need to get out of her within the next twelve hours.” He says. “But how?” He looks around and notices a poster of himself, from a few months earlier in Ponyville, hanging in one of the medical tents. It was him dressed in his full Motoclops gear riding on a customized Motoclops bike. He looked at the details of the poster and started fitting the pieces together in his head.
“Motoclops bikes are easy to make, even from scratch.” He says to himself. “If I can get the appropriate pieces, I just might get Katey and myself out of here.” He trots up to the poster and tears it down from the wall.
“But where to start?” He asks. He trots out of the tent and starts looking around the camp for any ideas. As he looked through the carnage of the roadblock, he found the body of a cycle lying in the middle of the road. He gallops over and picks it up.
“This’ll work.” H says as he starts galloping back to the repair shop with it.
*** *** ***
Date: August 29, 9:02 a.m.
Back at the repair shop, Buck had set up the cycle body on top of a table. He had a piece of paper and a pen and was writing down all of the supplies he would need in order to make a fully-functioning Motoclops-style bicycle. He noticed that it needed wheels, hoofstraps for both him and Katey, two seats to accommodate him and Katey, and a light just in case they need to travel at night. That’s when Katey started groaning in agony. Buck stopped what he was doing and trots over to see what Katey needed.
Katey was leaning on her side; groaning even more. She noticed that her dad was kneeling in front of her and she pulled herself up.
“Hold on, honey,” Buck says, “Everything’s gonna’ be just fine. Daddy’s just got to go outside a bit more to get a few things.”
“Daddy,” Katey says, “I don’t feel so good. Could I have more of that medicine now?” Buck looked at his watch; noticing it was nearing one in the afternoon. He shook his head no and looked up to Katey.
“I can’t give it to you too early, honey.” He says. “It’s dangerous; you’ll get too much.” Katey looked up and noticed the cycle body that Buck brought in.
“Can you fix that bicycle, Daddy?” She asks. Buck smirks and slowly pulls himself up. He looks over at the bike and then back to his daughter.
“Daddy can fix anything.” He says. He trots back over to the pad of paper and writes down a few more things before setting it down again and heading for the backdoor.
“Daddy?” Katey asks.
“Yes, sweetie?” Buck asks.
“While you’re out there…could you get me something to play with? Like a toy or a game?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Buck says. “I have no idea what they even have in this small town; but I will do my best to get you something to play with.” And with that, Buck opens the door and trots back out into the dangerous town of zombies.
Chapter Two
A Bike and a Dream
Date: August 29, 2011 9:30 a.m.
Buck slowly trotted through the gate and onto the dirt road outside. There were many, many zombies still shambling around. He looked around some more, getting his bearings and figuring out where he could get the supplies he needed. That’s when a wasp flew into his view and started buzzing around his head. Buck swatted it and it fell to the ground; unable to fly due to the sudden shock it received. The zombies noticed Buck and started shambling towards him.
Remembering the book that Flank West wrote a few months earlier, Buck lifts up his hoof and slams down onto the wasp, killing it instantly. The zombies around him started to react; seizuring out and their heads exploding off their bodies. As the last one hit the ground; Buck couldn’t help but smile. He wiped his foot off and started trotting back into the center of Stable Brook.
“Now, if I were a bike seat, where would I be?” He asked himself. He looked all around at the shops that were available in the small town, but had no idea where to start. A zombie slowly shambled up to Buck and was about to bite when the sound of a gun rang through the air. The zombie’s body fell to the side and Buck looked all around for his savior.
“Hey, buddy!” Somepony shouted. Buck looked up and saw an old stallion with a dark gray mane standing on top of the local bank. “There’s a ladder in the alleyway. C’mon up, I’d like to talk to you.” He says. Buck then gallops into the alleyway on the side of the bank and quickly climbs up the ladder leading to the roof. He trots up to the old stallion and they shake hooves.
“Thanks for saving my flank down there.” Buck says.
“It wasn’t a problem, buddy.” The stallion says. “The name’s Ace Spade.”
“Buck Greene.” Buck says. The two shake hooves again. Buck catches his breath before speaking again. “Do you know where I could find a bike seat and other materials to make a Motoclops bike?”
“If I had to guess, I’d go to Trot ‘n’ Go.” Ace says. “If you go down one block that way and make a right, you’ll find a giant building with the words Trot ‘n’ Go in big red letters on the front of the building. They should have anything you need.”
“Thanks, Ace.” Buck says as he starts trotting back to the ladder. Ace stops Buck and spins him around.
“While you’re there, could you do me a favor?” Ace asks.
“Anything, what do you need?” Buck asks.
“My daughter and I got separated when everything started.” Ace says. “Could you look for her and tell me if you find anything?”
“Absolutely. What does she look like?” Ace takes out a picture from the front pocket on his vest and hands it to Buck. “She’s very beautiful. Where was the last place you saw her?”
“Over near the Royal Guardian campsite a little ways out of here.” Ace says taking back the picture. “After the explosion, things got crazy and we got separated. I’d go look for her myself, but, the old grey stallion just ain’t what he used t’ be.” The two shared a small laugh.
“I’ll go check it out.” Buck says. “I was over there earlier; but I didn’t see anything.” He trots over to the ladder and starts climbing back down to street level. His hooves hit the ground and he started galloping down the road to the Trot ‘n’ Go store. As he galloped past a bar, he could hear a couple arguing with each other. Buck slowly opens the door and sees a unicorn and a Pegasus fighting with each other.
“Sweetie, I’ll come back for you, I promise.” The Pegasus says.
“No you won’t!” The unicorn says angrily. “As long as you have the bits, you’re not coming back.”
“How could you say something so hurtful? You’re the love of my life.”
“Then explain to me why you want to take the case full of thousands of bit with you to get help.”
“Because, if I leave this here with you, you might get robbed or eaten…”
“Excuse me,” Buck says, “I know where the two of you can be safe.”
“And just who are you?” The Pegasus asks angrily.
“I’m…”
“Here to steal my quarter of a million bits?” He asks angrily.
“You’re quarter of a million bits?” The unicorn asks. “I thought what yours is mine and what’s mine is yours, hubby?”
“Look,” Buck says as he trots closer, “I can take you somew…” The Pegasus slammed the briefcase full of bits across Buck’s face; knocking him to the ground.
“Gold Bar!” The unicorn shouts. “This stallion is trying to help us.”
“No, he’s trying to take my hard-earned bits.” Buck then sweeps his leg under Gold and knocks him to the ground. Buck quickly jumps on top of him and pins him to the ground, making sure that the stallion didn’t try to pull himself back up.
“I don’t want trouble, buddy.” Buck says through gritted teeth. “But if I have to kill you, I will.”
“You wouldn’t kill an innocent pony!” Gold says.
“Try me.” Buck says. The two stay there in awkward silence until the box of Zombrex Buck had falls out from his shirt pocket.
“Zombrex?” Gold asks nervously. “You’re infected?”
“No, my daughter is.” Buck says. “And she needs that stuff twice a day.” Buck inches his face closer to Gold Bar’s. “I’m willing to kill anypony that gets in my way to make sure she gets this stuff.” Buck pulls himself off of Gold Bar and starts trotting out of the bar. The unicorn gallops up behind him and stops him.
“Wait!” She says. “Can you take me to that safe place you were talking about?”
“Absolutely.” Buck says. “Do you want to bring your husband?”
“I don’t know.” The unicorn says. “After today, I don’t think I can really consider him my husband.”
“Juniper, I’m sorry.” Gold starts to say.
“It’s too late.” Juniper replies. “You can keep your bits, I’m sure you cheated the casinos out of them anyway.” Juniper then trots next to Buck and the two leave the small bar. As they gallop down the street to the Trot ‘n’ Go, Gold Bar steps out of the bar and takes to the sky; briefcase full of bits in tow.
“The name’s Juniper Leaf.” The unicorn says.
“Buck Greene.” Buck says.
“Wait, Buck Greene?” Juniper asks. “As in, the Buck Greene?”
“One and only.” Buck says as he gallops to the store front. “I’d give you an autograph, but I need to get out of here with my daughter.”
“Oh, I completely understand.” Juniper says. “I’m just amazed that I’m actually with you.” They open the doors, trot inside, and then quickly close the doors behind them.
“So, you want to help out for a good cause?” Buck asks.
“Sure, what do you need?” Juniper asks.
“I’m looking for material to make a makeshift Motoclops bike.” Buck says. “I’ve already got the body, but I need hoofstraps, seats, wheels, and a light. Can you help me find the light?”
“Sure thing.” Juniper says. “You take aisles one and two; I’ll take three and four.”
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.” Buck says. The two then split up and start looking down the aisles. Buck looked high and low on both sides, but was quickly losing hope.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Juniper shouted from the other side.
“No, a simple flashlight could work just fine.” Buck replies.
“Great, then let’s get out of here.” Juniper says.
“You found one?” Buck asks excitedly as he gallops out of aisle one and rushes over to aisle four.
“I sure did.” Juniper says as she trots over to Buck with the flashlight floating in the air; an aura of light green surrounding it as Juniper used her magic.
“Okay, that’s one item down, four more to go.” Buck says. He looks around and finds a saddlebag that he could wear. He grabs it and straps it down quickly; Juniper places the flashlight in the bag and the two start trotting back to the entrance.
“What’s next on the list?” Juniper asks.
“Wheels.” Buck says. “We’re gonna’ need to stop by the bank and talk to a stallion named Ace.”
“Why?” Juniper asks as they open the door and start galloping back to the bank.
“He knows this town better than anypony I’ve met so far.” Buck says. “If anypony knows this town, it’s him.” They gallop down the street and into the alleyway next to the bank. Juniper hauls herself up first and helps pull Buck up onto the roof.
“Well,” Ace says, “did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yeah, now I’m looking for wheels, do you know where they could be?” Ace stands there for a moment; thinking carefully.
“If I had to guess,” he finally says, “there might be some at Pawn’s shop.”
“Pawn?” Buck asks. “He may have some wheels?”
“Yep, Pawn and I are probably the last native ponies in Stable Brook.” Ace says. “Pawn’s been here longer, however, and he owns his own store.” Buck growls angrily and starts trotting back to the ladder.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Juniper asks.
“No.” Buck says. “You head back to the safe area.” Buck turns back to face Juniper. “Do you see that chariot repair shop down there?”
“Yeah.” Juniper says; looking at the shop Buck was pointing at.
“There’s an open gate next to it. Just go inside and make yourself comfortable.” Buck starts trotting back to the ladder. “Oh, by the way,” he says, “my daughter is in there; so, let her know I sent you. That way she won’t panic and try to come looking for me.”
“Sure thing.” Juniper says. “Be safe.” Buck then climbs down the ladder and gallops across the street to Pawn’s shop. He trotted up to the door and knocked loudly on the glass. For a moment, there was silence, until Pawn started talking.
“The doors unlocked,” he says from inside, “Just don’t let anypony that’s unwanted inside.” Buck then swings the door open, trots inside, and closes the door behind him.
“Well, look who it is.” He says. “How can I help you, Mr. Greene?”
“Ace Spade told me you know where I can find some wheels for my bike, is this rumor true?” Buck asks.
“Yes, it is true, I do sell wheels here.” Pawn says.
“How much?” Buck asks, remembering what Pawn said earlier that morning.
“For you, fifty bits. It’s an out-of-towner discount I have.” Pawn says. Buck digs through his back pants pocket and pulls out five gold ten bit coins. Pawn quickly counts it up and trots into the backroom of his shop. After a few seconds, Pawn returns with two giant wheels for Buck’s bike.
“Thank you, Pawn.” Buck says as Pawn places them on the counter.
“No problem, Greene.” Pawn says. “I’ll do anything to help a fellow pony citizen.” And with that, Buck grabs the wheels and trots back into Stable Brooke. Before he opened the door, he noticed a small device sitting on a shelf. He sets down the wheels and gets a closer look at it. It was a portable gaming system. He picked it up and trotted over to Pawn.
“How much for this gaming thing? My daughter is bugging me to get her something to play with.” Buck asks.
“Two hundred bits.” Pawn says. "Again, that's an out-of-towner discount."
“Two hundred bits? That’s outrageous!” Buck says angrily.
“I told you, Mr. Greene, I want my granddaughter to go through her schooling in Canterlot.” Pawn says. Buck gets angry and jumps over the counter to strangle Pawn.
“You shouldn’t be charging ponies in the first place!” Buck says angrily. “This is a dark time for all of us and all you can think about is making a quick bit!” He punches Pawn across the face; knocking him out cold. Buck pulls himself up and hops onto the other side of the counter.
“I’m sorry, but that’s just how I feel about that.” He says as he places the gaming system and any games he could find, into the saddlebag. He grabs the wheels and trots out of the store. As he enters back into Stable Brook, he sets the wheels down and looks at his watch. The afternoon was quickly ticking away; Buck had only four hours to get the remaining supplies and rebuild the bike. He picks up the wheels again and gallops back to the alleyway next to the bank. He gets to the roof and sets all of his things down.
“Seen any signs of your daughter?” Buck asks.
“No, you?” Ace asks.
“No. But, like I said, I’ll let you know the moment I find anything.” Buck says. “Will you watch the wheels until I get back?”
“Where you heading?” Ace asks.
“Back to the repair shop.” Buck says. “When I pulled in earlier, I had to replace the harness straps on my chariot just before somepony stole it. There were plenty left last I checked.” Buck looks over to Ace. “I figure they’ll work just a well.”
“And, is that it?” Ace asks.
“No, I also need to find two seats…possibly three or more at this rate.”
“Don’t worry about me and my daughter. We’ll get out of here just fine; you worry about yourself and your daughter.” Ace says. There was a brief moment of silence. “I know where you can find seats.” Ace finally says.
“Really? Where?” Buck asks.
“There’s a diner just up the block.” Ace says. “You can use the red stool seats they have in there.”
“Hopefully those will work.” Buck says. “Thanks.”
“It’s no problem, Buck. I’ll look after your wheels while you get the last of your supplies.”
“Thanks.” Buck says as he starts trotting back to the ladder.
*** *** ***
Date: August 29, 2011 2:36 p.m.
Back at the repair shop, Buck had all the parts laid out in front of the bike. He wrote a few more things on his pad of paper, and then proceeded to start the repairs.
“It’s a nice place to visit,” he says, “but I ain’t gonna’ die here.” He took a small wrench and started attaching the wheels first. After he left Ace one more time, he headed back to the diner he was talking about and grabbed three, one for him, one for Katey, and one for Juniper. From there he grabbed a couple hoofstraps from the front of the repair shop, grabbed the wheels back from Ace, and then came back to the repair shop.
After a few minutes of tightening the screws onto the wheels, he attached the strap to keep his front and back hooves in place while riding. From there, he taped on the flashlight Juniper found to the front of the body. And, lastly, he screws on the three seats, each one in front of the other. He positioned them so he could lay down and get a better hold on the bike and the other two so Katey and Juniper can lay on top of him. He finished it up and stood up.
“You got it done?” Juniper asked. “That was pretty fast.”
“Well,” Buck says, “when you work in Motoclops, you just pick up some experience. These bikes are very easy to make, even the simplest of simpletons can make one.”
“Are you sure it’ll work?” Juniper asks.
“I’m positive.” Buck says. “This could even be Motoclops worthy, but aside from that. I’m gonna’ head back out.”
“What for?” Juniper asks. “You’ve got everything you need.”
“That stallion at the bank is looking for his daughter.” Buck says. “I’m going to do my best to find his mare before the three of us leave this Celestia forsaken town.” He opens the door and trots back into Stable Brook.
“Buck, wait!” Juniper shouts. She gallops after him and turns him to face her.
“Where will you be?” She asks. “Just in case.”
“That Royal Guardianship campsite outside of town; that’s where Ace last saw his daughter.”
“When you’re in that area, could you get something for me?”
“Depends, what is it that you want?”
“When Gold and I escaped Las Pegasus, he had just bought me these jewels from some of the winnings he got. Even though I despise that parasprite, I want those jewels back.” She says; a small tear going down her face.
Buck just sighs, “What do they look like?”
“It’s a gold necklace encrusted with rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. It should be inside a rusted-down red chariot.”
“I’ll see what I can do, I’m not gonna’ guarantee anything.” Juniper then placed her lips against Buck’s and kissed him heavy and passionately. Buck pushes her away. “What’s wrong?” She asks.
“I…I don’t want to talk about it...just yet...” Buck says. He then gallops for the gate and into the town.
*** *** ***
Date: August 29, 2011 5:07 p.m.
Buck had taken a few hours to get back to the guardian outpost, mostly to calm himself down and try to stay composed. He was sifting through some of the charred remains of a destroyed chariot; but couldn’t find the necklace Juniper wants. He continued searching some of the other chariots; hoping that he could find the jewels.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from behind Buck. He swung around and saw a young mare unicorn trotting up to him, limping on a bloodied hoof.
“Who are you?” Buck asks.
“Diamond Heart.” She says. “Who are you?”
“Buck Greene, are you Ace Spade’s daughter?” He asks.
“Daddy’s looking for me?” Diamond asks.
“Yeah, and he put me in charge.” As he looked at her, he noticed she was wearing a gold necklace that had many gems on it. It didn’t take more than a moment for Buck to figure out the original owner. “Come with me, I’ll take you to him.” She slowly limps up to him and whispers in his ear.
“I was bit.” She says.
“Are you serious?” Buck asks. “How did it happen?”
“I climbed through the barricade and was attacked by a Royal Guardian.” She says solemnly. “He seemed nice…until he pinned me down and bit my hoof.” Buck didn’t know what to say, the news of this just put him in total shock. “If you could get me some Zombrex…” She says. Buck slowly pulls out the small box of the miracle liquid.
“I’m saving this for my daughter.” He says. “She needs it in a few hours.”
“Please?” Diamond asks. “I’ll give you this necklace I found.” Buck thought it through quickly.
“No.” He says.
“No?” Diamond asks shocked. “Why not?”
“Because my little filly means more to me than all the bits and jewels in Equestria.” He lends Diamond a hoof and the two slowly make their way back to the bank. The trip was quick goin as Buck wanted to get back to the repair shop on time. He helped her up the ladder and led her to Ace.
“Daddy!” She shouted in excitement.
“Diamond!” He shouted back. The two embraced each other for a very long hug. Ace looked down at Diamond’s hoof and noticed the blood.
“By Celestia, what happened to your hoof?” He asked.
“I was bit, Daddy.” She says.
“How did it happen?”
“I made it through the barricade and was jumped by a Royal Guardian.” She says. “And…I want you to do something for me.”
“Anything, you name it.”
“I want you to shoot me.”
3 - Worst Has Yet to Come
Chapter Three
Worst Has Yet to Come
Date: August 29, 2011 5:10 p.m.
“WHAT?!” Ace asked in his loudest tone. Everypony stood there in silence for a moment.
“I want you to shoot me with your gun.” Diamond says again.
“But…there’s Zombrex.” Ace says. “We can get you some.”
“I don’t want Zombrex…anymore.” She says. “Taking Zombrex twice a day just isn’t the kind of life I’m willing to live. I just can’t imagine Buck’s daughter going through that.”
“But…you’re my whole world.” Ace says. “I haven’t been the same since your mom passed.”
“You’re just going to have to deal with it, Dad.” Diamond says. “Now, quit wasting time and shoot me.” Diamond then kneeled down in front of her father. He slowly and shakily aimed the gun between his daughter’s eyes.
“This is just too much.” He says. “I can’t bring myself to kill my only daughter.” Buck slowly trots up to him and places a hoof on Ace’s shoulder.
“I’ll do it for you if you want.” He says. “I, unfortunately, already have some experience.” Ace stands there for a moment with the gun shaking in his hoof. He turns around to face Buck.
“Please, just make sure she doesn’t suffer.” He says. Buck is about to take the gun, when Ace aims the gun at his neck and pulls the trigger. Blood lands on Buck’s face as Ace’s body collapsed to the ground.
“Daddy! No!” Diamond rushed to her father and wrapped her arms around his body. “You could’ve moved on!” Buck nearly vomited as he watched Diamond try to put her father’s brains back into his skull. “Everything will be fine.” She said sadistically. She then reached for the gun and placed the barrel in her mouth.
Buck turned away the moment she pulled the trigger. The shot rang out throughout the small town. He slowly turned around and saw the top half of her head all over the roof. Buck couldn’t hold it anymore and vomited all over the roof.
“This is by far…the worst day in Equestrian history.” He says wiping some vomit from his lower lip.
*** *** ***
Date: August 29, 2011 6:55 p.m.
Buck slowly trotted into the repair shop; Katey and Juniper cowering behind the broken down chariot. Juniper peaked her head out and saw Buck slowly trotting in with blood all over his shirt and face.
“By Celestia, are you okay?” She asks as her and Katey step out from behind the chariot.
“Physically, I’m at my peak…but mentally, I may have to see a therapist after all this.” Buck says as he trots into the main room of the repair shop. Katey trots back over to the couch she was on all day as Juniper follows Buck.
“Why? What happened?” She asks. “And does it have something to do with those loud gunshots earlier?”
“Yeah…it does.” Buck grabs a bottle of sarsaparilla and sits on the floor.
“So,” Juniper says while sitting down next to Buck, “what happened?”
“Well, do you remember that old stallion at the bank?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I found his daughter…but she was infected.”
“Oh, no.” Juniper says. “What happened?”
“Well, she told her father that she wanted to die, she couldn’t deal with the fact of taking Zombrex twice a day. Needless to say, Ace pulled the gun on himself and blew his brains all over the roof. Diamond, the mare, freaked out, grabbed the gun, and killed herself.” The two remain in dead silence for a few moments.
“And, I got your jewels.” Buck says as he pulls the necklace out of his back pocket. “Diamond jacked them and claimed they were hers.” Juniper takes them and puts the necklace around her neck. More awkward moments of silence.
“Why did you push me away when I kissed you?” Juniper asks. Buck sips from the bottle and looks over to Juniper.
“I’m…well, I was married…until last night.” He says.
“What happened?” Juniper asks.
“My wife…was attacked by a zombie.” He says with a small choke. “It was in the early hours of the Pegasus outbreak.”
“By Celestia, that’s horrible.” Juniper says.
“But that’s not the worst part…she…” Buck’s watch starts going off and he notices it’s time to give Katey some more Zombrex. “I’ll tell you later.” He says as he gets up and pulls the box out of his front pocket. Katey was sleeping lightly on the couch when he came in to the garage. Buck trots over and kneels down in front of his daughter.
“Katey.” He says shaking her awake. “It’s time for your medicine.” Katey pulls herself up and pulls up the sleeve of her jacket. Buck takes out the syringe and carefully injects the blue serum into her shoulder. He lightly rubbed it and pulled down her jacket sleeve.
“Daddy,” she says, “why did mommy bite me?” Buck started tearing up.
“That wasn’t mommy, sweetheart,” he says, “it just…looked like her.” Suddenly, there was a sound from behind them. Buck turned around to find a giant Clydesdale unicorn trotted in through the back door. He had a massive tank strapped to his back and had a shotgun floating in front of him; a pitchfork crudely duct taped to the barrel. Buck noticed his Cutie Mark was that of welding equipment.
“Hey, buddy,” Buck says, “sorry if this is your place…we just needed to get some supplies.” The Clydesdale looked over Buck’s shoulder and saw Katey slightly cowering behind her father. He chuckled lightly.
“Well, all right, a little’un.” He says in a rough southern accent. “Perfect to complete mah collection.” He chuckles a bit more.
“What the hay are you talking about?” Buck asks. “You stay away from her.” The unicorn starts pacing back and forth.
“Zombies are good huntin’ son,” he says, “kinda’ like shootin’ ponies, but without all the legal hassle.” He smiles evilly as he looks back at Katey. “This here outbreak’s been a pill ‘a fun.” He starts laughing hoarsely. “Ah never liked that feller next door anywho.” He says as he cocks his gun.
“Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Buck says, “listen, she’s not a zombie…she’s just little filly.”
“Oh, Ah seen you give ‘er that shot.” He says. “She’s a zombie alright, now, c’mon now, step aside and let your buddy Weld finish the job.” He slowly trots closer to Buck.
“Katey,” Buck says, “RUN!” Buck then grabs Weld’s gun and starts holding him back as Katey gallops out the back door.
“There’s no call fer that now.” Weld says. “Ya’ know it’s just a matter o’ time. Ah’m just doin’ you a favor.” Weld pushes Buck down the ground and starts trotting to the back door. “Better now than later.” He says as he leaves the garage. Buck pulls himself up and gallops after Weld.
Outside, Weld had his gun aimed in front of him as he searched his junkyard.
“C’mon out now, little’un.” He says. Katey gallops behind him and jumps into a compartment in a broken chariot; Weld turns around and sees Buck standing outside.
“You’re not gonna’ hurt her.” Buck says. “Not over my dead body!” Weld aims his gun at Buck.
“Ah dun had ‘nuff of you, zombie lover.” Weld says angrily. “Get outta’ mah way!” Buck dives behind a chariot just as Weld fired a round in his direction. “You better hide!” Weld shouted. “You stay where you are, Ah might just let you live.” Weld the started trotting to another part of the junkyard. Buck looked around for any kind of weapon he could use. He looked around and found a small hatchet.
He picked it up and looked for Weld. He spotted the crazed unicorn looking through some of the more damaged chariots. Buck took careful aim and threw the hatchet with near perfect precision. The blade struck the hose connecting the welding device to the tank and caused an explosion that sent shrapnel flying in many directions; most of which embedded itself into Weld’s neck.
Weld started suffering major shock as he leaned into the chariots to keep him standing on all four hooves. He looked over at Buck and started shouting at him.
“Ya’ might’ve saved her fer awhile.” He shouts with some bloody coughs. “But somepony will get yer little zombie sooner or later…you can be sure o’ that…it’s only a matter o’ time!” He fell into the chariots and started causing one on the very top to shake violently.
“And If Ah can’t do it…Celestia will!” He fell against the chariots again and pulled himself back up. There was a loud creaking sound and Weld looked up to find a rusty chariot slowly sliding down from the top of the tower. Weld didn’t react enough in time and was crushed by the weight of the chariot. Buck slowly trotted up to Weld’s still twitching corpse and just trotted away. He starts looking around for his daughter; hoping she’s still close by.
“Daddy!” Katey shouted as she climbed out from the compartment she was hiding in.
“Katey?” Buck asks as he turns around. Buck starts galloping to his daughter and helps her out of the chariot. The two share a quick hug and Buck sets her down on the ground; Buck kneels closer to his daughter.
“Don’t you worry, honey.” He says. “Daddy will never let anypony take you away.” She starts hugging her dad. “Not for any reason, never.” Buck continues. Juniper trots through the door and sees the knocked over chariot.
“What in Equestria is going on here?” She asks. “What was all that commotion?” Buck and Katey start trotting back to the garage.
“I’ll tell you all about it later.” Buck says. “But, now, we need to get the buck out of here.” The three then trot into the garage and over to the bike. “Juniper, I want you to the garage door.”
“On it.” Juniper says as she gallops over to the control panel and presses the red button. Buck attaches the hoofstraps to his hooves and adjusts his body to conform to the body of the bike.
“Katey, sit behind me.” Buck says. “Juniper, you set behind Katey.” The garage doors slowly lifted open revealing dozens upon dozens of zombies gathered near the front door. Juniper helped Katey get behind her dad and she climbed on herself.
“Hang on, you two.” Buck says as he kicks his back leg and starts peddling out of the garage. As he came up to the road; a blinding light filled their eyes. Above them was a Royal Guardian chariot filled with unicorns talking to them through a loudspeaker.
“Halt!” They shouted through the speaker. “Put your hooves up and surrender yourselves for screening. We will be forced to shoot if you do not comply.” Buck looked around and saw many Royal Unicorn Guardians with weapons drawn aiming at them.
“Maybe we should, they’ll go easier on us if we just do what they say.” Juniper says.
“If I comply, I lose Katey.” Buck says. “I’m. Gonna’. Gun it!” Buck then kicked his leg again and plowed past the Royal Guardians.
“Fire at will! Fire at will!” The unicorns in the chariots shouted. The unicorns on the ground started opening fire at the three ponies as they drove down the mane street. As they neared the edge of town, Buck saw a wooden gate and plowed through it, sending shards of wood in all directions.
They ended up on a dirt road that also had Royal Guardian posted. They themselves started opening fire on the trio. They were about to reach the mane road; when several bullets started whizzing over their heads. Buck just dodged them and kept peddling down the road away from Stable Brook.
*** *** ***
Date: August 30, 2011 5:49 a.m.
It was already dawn as Buck started slowing down. Katey was still fast asleep and Juniper didn’t make any noise since they plowed through the guardians.
“How’re you two holding up?” Buck asked, trying to wake them up. Both didn’t budge. Buck just kept peddling down the hot desert road. As he went down the road, he noticed a chariot up ahead with a broken wheel. He slowly peddled beside it and heard Metallicolt playing a song from their latest album. He came to a slow stop and started unhooking his hoofstraps. Buck woke up Katey and helped her down from the bike.
He started shaking Juniper, but she didn’t wake. Buck gave her one last shake and her lifeless body fell to the ground. She slowly started regaining consciousness.
“Juniper, what’s wrong?” Buck asks.
“I was shot…many…times.” She says. Buck looks at her back and sees blood and bullet wounds everywhere.
“No, no, no! This can’t be happening.” Buck says. “You can’t die on me, not when we’re this close to safety.” Juniper slowly took the gold necklace off and placed it in Buck’s hoof.
“Thank you for getting me out of there.” She says. “I’d rather die…out here than in Stable Brook.” Her eyes slowly closed as she died in Buck’s arms. Buck started crying heavily; the most since his wife became a zombie and attacked her own daughter.
After a few minutes, Buck slowly carried Juniper to the broken down chariot and laid her in the back. She grabbed a small blanket and placed it over her body. He looked around and turned off the small radio that was still going on. He grabbed a yellow leather jacket and slid it on. It had the same Tsuaf logo and number four like the orange shirt he was wearing.
He looked down in the chariot and pulled out Katey’s Clop Clop backpack and the remaining supplies of Zombrex he had before the chariot was stolen. And he finally pulls out a small picture of Katey that was taken a few weeks earlier. He trots over to Katey and hoofs her the backpack. Buck sits down on the side of the dirt road and starts breathing heavily…calming himself down from everything that’s happened in the past two days. He looks over to his daughter and starts talking to her.
“Honey,” he says, “listen to me. We’ve made it this far…and I will not stop until you’re safe. Nothing is more important than that. You understand?” Katey slowly nods her head and hugs her dad. He pulls himself up and gets her set up on the bike. “Let’s get going.” He says.
Buck then attaches the hoofstraps to himself and kicks off from the dirt. He starts peddling and the two drive off into the distance; a sign on the side of the road saying Manehatten – 300 Mi.
4 - It's Happening Again, Isn't It?
Chapter Four
It's Happening Again, Isn't It?
One Month Later
Date: September 26, 2011 5:00 a.m.
There was a rumbling sound filling the room; the sound of an engine. It was the latest in technology in Equestria; an engine on a bicycle. The most technologically advanced piece of equipment was the steam engine system that ran all over the country; so, this was the most amazing thing they’ve seen. An earth pony was revving the engine; making sure that everything was working the way it should. He was given extensive training on these motorbikes now that they were becoming popular at Motoclops events. But this motorbike was different.
On the front were two saws, but they also had motors inside them. To the ponies of the land, they were called chainsaws. They roared loudly as they cut through the bodies of trees to make new homes for the Equestrian population. The earth pony kept revving the engine, noticing a small change that couldn’t be heard by normal pony ears. He reached down to get a wrench but couldn’t find one. Suddenly one came in his line of view; it was in the hooves of a younger filly sitting on top of the motorbike. He smiled warmly and lightly took the wrench from her and started tightening a screw.
“Hey!” Somepony shouted as he trotted into the room. “You’re on in two minutes, Mr. Greene.” The earth pony turns to face the unicorn that just walked in.
“My name’s Buck.” The earth pony says. Buck sets the wrench down on the floor and pulls himself up to talk to the unicorn.
“Yeah, yeah,” the unicorn says. “Look, I need you to sign this release form before you go out there.” He says floating the form in front of Buck. Buck grabs the pen with his mouth and carefully signs his name on the dotted line. “Oh, and…uh…don’t forget to include your next of kin.” Buck looks at the unicorn with slightly angered eyes.
“Her name is Katey.” He says. Buck turns back to his daughter and helps her down from the motorbike. “Can you take her somewhere safe?” Buck asks.
“Yeah, I’ll take her to the green room.” The unicorn says. Buck straps himself into the motorbike and turns to look at Katey.
“Go with the nice unicorn, Katey. Don’t worry,” Buck says, “I won’t be long.” Buck then revs the engine and takes off town a maintenance tunnel heading towards the sound of cheering ponies.
*** *** ***
Date: September 26, 2011 5:05 a.m.
Buck arrived at a large elevator with three other ponies on motorbikes. Much like Buck’s, they all had chainsaws specially attached to the front. His motorbike was yellow while the others were green, red, and blue. They all had logos of sponsors; the bike next to him, ironically, was sponsored by Phenotrots. And, on the front, was a logo they all shared: TIR.
Buck looked around and noticed the four of them were surrounded by a large fence surrounded by zombies that were pounding against the metal to try to get to the ponies inside.
“Hey, buddy,” the pony on the green motorbike said, “I heard you lost your wife in Pegasus.” There was a brief moment of silence. “I guess you suck at killing zombies, otherwise she’d still be around!” He starts laughing hysterically as Buck just turns his attention back at the zombies.
“Save it for the show, you parasprite.” Buck says angrily. Suddenly, the announcer came on.
“Zombies,” he said, “took our Fillydelphia! They took our Las Pegasus!” The small elevator they were on started rumbling as it came to life. “But tonight, Equestria, we’re gonna’ get a little payback!” Giant doors above Buck and the other ponies opened up; the cheering of many ponies getting louder. The elevator they were on started lifting up towards the now fully opened doors.
“Welcome, everypony, to Celestial Sisters, Manehatten!” Another said into the loudspeaker. “Equestria’s entertainment playground!” The elevator came to a stop in the center of a giant arena; packed with thousands upon thousands of ponies. Fireworks were going off everywhere as the pounding of heavy metal music filled the air. Buck looked around and just gazed in awe by the amazing sight that befell him.
“And now, it’s time for Equestria’s most dangerous game show!” The announcer continued. “It’s time for Terror. Is. Reality!” The entire audience started cheering even louder, the music was turned up many more decibels, and even more fireworks blasted through the air. “Now, here’s your host: Chaotic King!” Buck looked behind him to the main stage and saw somepony rise from the floor on his own personal elevator.
He stepped out and was quickly greeted with cheers and applause from the excited ponies. He was wearing dark sunglasses that covered most of his face, a giant purple coat that covered nearly his entire body, and a suit to match the coat. Buck could barely see his face and body with all the clothing and accessories he was wearing. The pony brought up a microphone and he started speaking to the audience.
“Well, Equestria,” he said, “are you hungry, for a little terror? Because tonight, we’re gonna’ give it to you!” He starts slowly pacing back and forth on the stage. “I’ve been poking these zombies all week,” he continues, “and boy are they ticked!” He laughed lightly. “Our contestants are almost ready, so let’s send them a little message: you’ve gotta’ be willing to risk it all, if you’re ever…really…gonna’…”
The entire audience then shouted in unison, “WIN! BIG!” And with that, Buck put on a specially designed helmet and revved his engine. A counter on the stage ticked down 3…2…1.
Buck then slammed his hoof on the gas and took off for a huge crowd of zombies set up for them. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands, of them just standing around. The goal was to kill the most zombies as possible before the clock hit zero. Each had a collar attached to their necks that would alert the scorecard if it was killed. Buck and the other three ponies kept driving back and forth through the endless crowds of zombies that were fed through two giant doors on either side of the arena.
What had Buck concerned is as to where all these zombies came from. He knew that all the zombies in Fillydelphia were taken out and Las Pegasus was completely sealed off from the rest of Equestria. He just shrugged it off and kept taking out more and more zombies. Blood started to coagulate on the front of Buck’s helmet; making it a little difficult to see where he was going.
The winner received over ten thousand bits to do whatever they please. Buck was there so he could make enough bits to get his daughter some more Zombrex. Phenotrots, maker of the product, recently released a special serum that can be taken once a day; versus the original twice a day.
“Better hurry up!” Chaotic said. “You’ve got fifteen seconds left, contestants.”
Buck started thinking about his daughter Katey and the fact that she had to take the forsaken drug. He had been working on getting as many bits as possible to keep his little one alive. He could still remember the horrible night she was infected; attacked by her own zombified mother in Las Pegasus. The trip through Stable Brook and the many deaths he witnessed.
“10…9…8…7…” The audience started chanting in unison, “6…5…4…3…2…1…” A loud horn blasted inside the arena signaling that the event was over. Buck slammed on his brakes and started driving away from the crowds of the shambling zombies that survived the initial attack.
“Alright!” Chaotic shouted. “Let’s wipe ‘em off and hose ‘em down! Let me here it everypony!”
“I LOVE YOU, CK!” A mare in the audience shouted.
“CK loves you too, baby.” Chaotic said. “Though, I did expect a little bit more from a real Motoclops champion.” The crowd started booing Buck. “But fillies and Gentlecolts, that is what I call a smackdown. And our winner will trot away, with the big money.” The crowd kept cheering.
“And we even have a little something for the losers.” Chaotic said; looking right into Buck’s eyes. “But we’re just getting started, everypony. The carnage is just…beginning. So, right now, let me hear you…MAKE SOME NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIISE!” Buck and the other three contestant drove back to the elevator they came in on and started heading back to their respected garages.
*** *** ***
Date: September 26, 2011 5:32 a.m.
“Veterinarians are looking into the problem and examining the diets of different farms.” A news anchor on a television set said. “This seems to have only compounded the problems which have been linked to the milk shortages in local areas.” Buck is sitting in the locker room looking at the money he won in tonight’s event; listening loosely to the newscast going on.
“The zombie rights group P.U.R.E. is in the news again.” The news anchor continues. “The protest group has shown up in the adult playground of Celestial Sisters, which was chosen as the sight of the latest installment of the pay-per-view game show Terror Is Reality.” Buck turns his attention to the T.V. to get a better listen to the report.
“The protest just compounds the problems of the game show,” the anchorstallion continues, “which has been plagued recently by tumbling ratings and controversy. PURE was on the site of the show to display their opposition to what they call the unethical treatment of zombies.” Buck just shakes his head about what he was hearing.
“Fluttershy, leader of the protest group, had this to say.” The report cuts to footage of Fluttershy in front of the Celestial Sisters Arena earlier that day.
“Let our government know that we will not stand for their systematic neglect of the infected.” She says bitterly. “We must take drastic action, now! That is…if everypony is able to.”
“Public opinions are mixed on the groups’ views, which are sometime seen as radical.” The anchorstallion continues.
“This is a joke, right?” One average pony citizen says on the broadcast. “Why would you want to save those ‘things’?”
“Stay tuned,” the anchorstallion says, “coming up after the break, we’ve got weather and sports.” The broadcast ends as commercials for Zombrex start playing. Another contestant from the show trots into the locker room and sits next to Buck.
“Doesn’t feel very good, does it?” He asks. “I lost my family in Fillydelphia. I’d rather just have them back.” Buck nods in agreement; remembering his wife. After a few seconds, Buck pulls himself up and trots over to his locker. His TIR uniform is hung up and he just slams the door closed. As he starts trotting to the exit, he stop by another pony and asks him a question.
“Hey, do you know where the green rooms are?” Buck asks. The pony turns around to face Buck.
“Yeah. Just take the elevator up a floor and straight down the hallway.” He says. “You can’t miss it.” Buck then trots out of the locker room and towards the elevator the other pony was talking about. He passed some posters of the show and a couple vending machines before finally reaching the polished metal doors of the elevator. He pushes the button just as soon as the doors open; a beautiful, black-maned mare trots out wearing a sequenced silver dress.
“The mares were a little disappointed in your performance tonight, Buck.” She says in a seductive voice. “But you must get that a lot.” She says insultingly. Buck trots into the elevator and watches as the mare meets up with her twin sister and the two hold hooves as they look at Buck.
“Good night, fillies.” Buck says as the doors to the elevator close. Light muzak starts playing as Buck looks at a Zombrex. He sighs and just waits for the elevator to stop. Suddenly there was a loud explosion and the elevator comes to a loud stop; throwing Buck to the floor and the lights going out. For a few seconds the lights came back to life as Buck pulled himself up. He could hear an alarm and screams outside of the elevator.
“Katey.” He says as he gallops to the doors. Using all of his strength, Buck starts pulling the doors open to get outside and to safety. They slowly opened and Buck saw some ponies running away from somepony else. One Pegasus pony trots into view clutching his shoulder as blood poured out of the wound.
“Oh, Celestia,” he said in a pain filled voice, “oh, Celestia, she got me…she got me…” He came to a stop and started growling. More ponies pushed past him and kept running for safety. The Pegasus turned around, revealing himself to being a fresh zombie. He notices Buck and starts trotting for him.
“Oh, no.” Buck says as he starts pushing the elevator doors apart harder this time. The zombie got closer and closer to Buck as he pulled himself out of the elevator. He was about to attack, when a frantic unicorn accidentally ran into him and the two fell to the ground. The zombie Pegasus started to devour the unicorn as Buck just watched in shock. He jumped over the zombie and started galloping to the green room his daughter was in. All around him, ponies were being attacked and devoured by zombies. Buck couldn’t help any of them and just kept galloping down the hall to the green rooms.
He reached the end of the hall and saw one with a gold star and the word GREENE imprinted on the front. He swung the door open and galloped inside.
“Katey?!” He asked scared. He looked over and saw a zombie devouring somepony on the ground. Panicking, Buck gallops over to the two. “Katey!” He shouts. “Get off her!” He says as he pulls the zombie away and throws him to the ground. He looks back and notices it’s the unicorn that brought Katey to the green room in the first place. He picked up the green Clop Clop backpack that Katey always had and looked around.
There was a sudden thump coming from one of the closets next to Buck. He trotted over and opened the door; Katey jumped out swinging a clothes hanger back and forth protecting herself.
“GO AWAY!” She shouts still swinging.
“Katey, it’s me, it’s Daddy!” Buck says calming her down. She looks up at Buck.
“It’s happening again, isn’t it?” She asks scared. “Like what happened when Mommy…”
“Shh, Katey, listen to me.” Buck says helping put Katey’s backpack on her. “You need to stay calm, okay? We need to get out of here, so hang on tight, okay?” He helped her onto his back and spun around to face to doorway. Katey wrapped her hooves around Buck’s neck and Buck started galloping out of the green room.
More zombies had filled the hallway while Buck was inside the room. He galloped out of some double doors and into the main hall of the Celestial Sisters Arena. There were zombies everywhere, attacking innocent ponies and devouring them. Buck just kept galloping through the masses of zombies. He galloped down a small flight of stairs and out of the building.
“Get to the safe house!” A pony with a hoofgun shouted. Buck galloped past him and up a flight of stairs until he was at what was known as the Luna Strip. He came to a stop when he saw a sign that read: Celestial Sisters Emergency Shelter. Buck looked down and saw giant metal doors slowly closing.
“We’re gonna’ have to take our chances in there, kiddo.” Buck says as he starts trotting down the stairwell and into the safehouse; just before the doors closed for good. As he came in, he sat Katey down on the ground. He looked around and saw seven other surviving ponies shuffling around and panicking. “It’s going to be okay now, Katey.” He said.
“I can’t get a signal. Why…why can’t I get a signal?” One unicorn mare asked as she fiddled with a small radio. Buck looked over to a larger pony who was pacing back and forth; talking to himself.
“She…she was looking right at me…and they had her…and I couldn’t do anything.” He said. “She went down…without a sound. I…I had to get outta’ there…I just…galloped.” Suddenly, the zombies started pounding on the metal door; the gurgling of the blood in their mouths filled the small room. Another set of doors opened on the other side; a huge stallion waiting. The other ponies started trotting into the massive safehouse. Buck started trotting in with Katey; when the stallion stopped him.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” he said, “hold on a second, son.” He noticed a bite mark on Katey’s leg from the Pegasus outbreak.
“Listen,” Buck says, “it’s an existing condition, alright? It’s okay, it happened a long time ago.”
“It’s only a matter of time before she turns.” The stallion said.
“Hey, don’t worry.” Buck says pulling out a small white box. “I’ve got Zombrex.”
“Yeah? Well, you better have a lot.” The stallion says. “Because there ain’t none here and the rescue ain’t comin’ for three days.”
“Three days?” Buck asks.
“Yeah, the Guardians will already be mobilizing but their first priority is to quarantine the city. And that takes time…They’ll enter the city at first light three days from now; that’s the standard procedure.”
“So…we’re stuck here?” Buck asks.
“There’s a couch in the security room,” the stallion says, “why don’t you take her in there, it’s quieter.”
“Thanks.” Buck says. He starts trotting away as the stallion closes the metal doors for the last time. Buck slowly trots into the security room and has Katey sit on the couch. He sits down next to her and pulls out the empty box of Zombrex he showed the stallion.
“We don’t have any Zombrex, do we?” Katey asks.
“I was gonna’ get some…right after the show.” Buck says. “We still have time.”
“Where are you gonna’ get it, Dad?” Katey asks.
“You let me worry about that, okay kiddo?” Buck says.
“I know where you can get some.” A quiet voice says out of the corner of the room. Buck and Katey look over and see a yellow Pegasus with a long pink mane.
“How long have you been listening?” Buck asks.
“Don’t worry,” she says, “I won’t say anything.” She trots over to a table. “I think there’s a pharmacy in the Royal Sun Mall…I’m Fluttershy, by the way.” She says as she sits on a chair.
“I’m Buck…and this is Katey.” Buck says. Buck starts trotting over to Fluttershy. “Do you know a way out of here?” Fluttershy thinks for a moment.
“No.” She says. “But, if you find one, I suggest you take this.” She reaches over and hands Buck a small yellow transceiver. “That way we can keep in touch.” Buck puts it in his back pocket.
“There are closed circuit cameras all over the city.” Fluttershy continues. “These monitors are playback only, but I’ll keep an eye on them.” Buck starts trotting back to the door leading into the safe house. “Buck,” Fluttershy says, “If you find anypony alive out there…”
“I’ll do what I can.” Buck says. “Keep an eye on my daughter, okay?” Buck looks over and sees Katey pull out the gaming system he got back in Stable Brook; Fluttershy smiles and nods that she’ll keep an eye on Katey. Before Buck trots out of the security room, he notices a map of Celestial Sisters on the table next to the monitors. He picks it up and puts it in his back pocket just before trotting out of the room. He closed the door behind him and started walking through one of the many halls to find a way out.
He came up to a small ventilation system and saw a hatch leading into an air duct. He gallops down to the hatch and swings it wide open. He looked inside and found it to be dead quiet. He looked all around before climbing in and crawling back into Celestial Sisters.
5 - Ponies For Undead Rights and Equality
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.
“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…
“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.
“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.”
Chapter Six
King of Chaos
Date: September 26, 2011 10:22 a.m.
“I should have known you two were in cahoots the first moment you set hoof in this place!” Ray shouted from behind the security room door. Buck had just gotten back to the safe house after gathering no evidence to prove his innocence…now he has to worry about getting kicked out from the safety that he was lucky enough to obtain. “You’ve caused nothing but trouble.”
“PURE is innocent!” Fluttershy shouted. “It’s a setup!”
“After you put this whole bunker at risk, you expect me to believe that?” Buck trotted up to the door and listened in on the argument. After a few moments, Buck slams the door open and trots inside.
“Hey…” he says to calm everypony down. Ray looked over and started getting angrier.
“Oh, well, lookie here. Stallion of the hour…Mr. Buck Greene.” Ray says bitterly. “I should’ve listened to my gut and kicked you out when you got here.”
“Ray, “ Buck says calmly, “I have nothing to do with this.”
“I saw it on the T.V. Saw you, buddy.” Ray says. “Explain how that little trick works.”
“It wasn’t me on the tape, it was somepony else in my show outfit.” Buck says. “Look, I don’t care whether or not you believe me. I’ve only got three days ‘til the Royal Guardianship gets here to prove that I’m innocent.” Ray just stares at him. “I’ll hand myself over if I haven’t gotten any proof by then. I’m just asking for a fair shot.”
“Ahem,” somepony says as they trot into the security room. Everypony looked over to find Rebucka casually standing at the entrance. “You could have told me that the front door was locked…”
“Hey,” Ray says, “you’re that T.V. filly.” He looks over at Buck and continues talking. “I’ll make you a deal: you keep rounding foalks up, you can keep coming and going. You die out there and we’ll have to leave it to the Windigoes to sort you out.” He starts trotting back to the door.
“But ain’t nopony gonna’ cover your flank when the Guardians arrive.” He says. “If you pull anything…and I do mean anything…I’ll do whatever I have to do.” He trots away leaving the three ponies there slightly awestruck.
“What was that all about?” Rebucka asks.
“He watches too much T.V.” Buck says to calm everypony’s nerves.
Fluttershy slowly trots back over to the security monitors and sits down. “Tell me you found something.” She says.
“We went to the central security room,” Buck says, “but somepony got there before us. Everything was smashed…all the tapes were gone.” Buck notices that Rebucka had her small camera aimed at Katey. “Hey…no footage of my daughter.” He says with an increased tone in his voice. Rebucka just shrugs and puts her camera away. She looks over to find Fluttershy staring at her angrily.
“Fluttershy,” Rebucka says, “I’m Rebucka Hayes, Channel 6 Action News…I’m here to help.”
“Oh, well, you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t think it’s very helpful that you accused my organization of a crime we didn’t commit.” Fluttershy says bitterly as she turns back to the cameras.
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on here,” Rebucka says, “but clearly things are not as they seem. I put out the information I had at the time.”
“Remember,” Buck says, “you can have all the exclusives you want if you help us figure out what’s going on here.”
“Works for me.” Rebucka says. “Whether you’re innocent…or guilty…I just want the truth.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Fluttershy says. “But, okay, we’ll work together. I’ll keep an eye on these monitors.”
“And I’ll go back out there to see what I can find out.” Rebucka says as she starts trotting for the door.
“I’ll let you know if I see anything.” Fluttershy says warily. Buck stands there for a moment, happy by the fact that there are other ponies that care about his innocence.
*** *** ***
Date: September 26, 2011 8:58 p.m.
It was getting late into the evening, close to 9:00 p.m. Buck was lying on the floor, waiting for either Fluttershy or Rebucka to tell him that either of them found a lead. He looked at his watch and just kept counting the seconds as they ticked by slowly and slowly.
He pulled himself up off the floor and slowly trotted over to Katey…she had fallen asleep a few hours earlier. Fluttershy looked over and noticed that Buck was slowly stroking her shoulder.
“I’m a little concerned about her…” she says. “The stress of all of this, along with that horrible medicine. It’s a lot to take in for a little filly.” Buck stands up and trots over to Fluttershy.
“When this is all over,” he says, “I’m going to do everything I can to make this up to her.” Something came up on the monitors and Buck noticed it within half a second. “Hey, what was that?” He asked motioning towards the monitor. Fluttershy spun around in her chair and looked at the monitor; noticing the disturbance Buck picked up a few seconds ago.
“I don’t know,” she says, “it looks like something’s going on at the entrance to this maintenance tunnel. I can’t quite tell for sure…but it looks like somepony is moving equipment or something along those lines. It looks pretty organized.”
“It’s a lead.” Buck says. “The only one we’ve got…it could be whoever’s doing this to us.”
“Listen, it’s none of my business, but,” Fluttershy says.
“What?” Buck asks.
“Nothing. Just…be careful, okay?” Fluttershy asks. “For her sake.” She looks over at Katey and then back over to Buck. Buck looks at his daughter and then back at Fluttershy.
“You don’t need to worry, I’ve been through two of these before…I’m sure I can handle a third.”
*** *** ***
Date: September 26, 2011 11:03 p.m.
Buck approached a massive entrance that lead into a giant system of underground tunnels than ran through the under parts of Celestial Sisters. As he hid behind a giant shelf full unmarked goods and whatnot, he could see a pony guard near a giant set of train tracks. He seemed to be talking to another pony through a headset around his head.
“Uh, huh.” He said. “Yes sir.” He turned to another pony guard. “They’re almost here, move it!” He shouted. That’s when a small train slowly pulled up next to the platform and came to a steady stop. Buck looked on to find a strange looking pony, roughly the size of CK, standing on his hind legs.
Then Buck realized something really bad.
He was many feet tall and had the head of a goat, the body of a gryphon, a lion’s paw, one bat wing, one bird wing, a pony leg, and a dragon leg and a snake tail. It didn’t take long for Buck to realize that it was the maniacal lord of Equestria from many a millennia ago…Discord. The Draconequus slowly stepped out onto the platform.
“Discord?” Buck asked in utter shock. “What in the wide world of Equestria is he doing here?” Buck looked on as Discord was commanding the pony guards about what to do with the train of strange items. Buck couldn’t hear any words from the distance he was at and tried to get a better hear. But he accidentally knocked over some pieces of wood.
In an instant, he tried to grab them. He successfully grabbed one, but couldn’t catch the other one in time. It made a loud thud that attracted the attention of Discord and the other pony guards. Discord slowly turned his head to the side and started to slowly walk over. Buck threw down the other piece of wood and started walking towards Discord.
“Bucky!” Discord said in a happy tone. “You made it out alive. After that pathetic performance you gave last night, I thought for sure that somepony would find you lying dead in a ditch with a load in your shorts.” He slowly backed up to the platform and gave an order to his guards. “Show Bucky how the game is really played, boys.”
As the guards slowly trotted away from Discord, weapons armed and ready, Discord used his magic to close the security gate between the railway system and the storage area. The guards kept getting closer and closer to Buck; Buck’s nerves tensing up as he realized this may be his last minute on Earth. But then, he heard the roar of an engine as another guard came speeding out from another tunnel, riding a motorbike.
Buck thought for half a second and then grabbed the piece of wood he threw to the ground. He carefully watched as the bike got closer and closer; the pony revving the engine louder and louder. Then, in one quick swoop, Buck jammed the piece of wood in between the spokes and watched as the helpless pony careened off course and slammed into the two other unsuspecting ponies. The motorbike kept sliding along the ground until it smashed through the gate, making a nice small hole for Buck to squeeze through.
Discord started to get angry and commanded the rest of the guards to get aboard the train. “Leave him.” He said. “We’ve got enough to do the job. Let’s go.” They all boarded the train. Buck galloped through the hole and brought the bike upright. He carefully placed his hooves in the correct places and started revving the engine loudly.
He slammed his hoof on the gas and took off after the train’s caboose. As he was riding through the tunnels, close behind the train, a couple of the pony guards from earlier started throwing empty crates at Buck. Buck just swerved left and right to avoid the cargo and carnage for as long as he possibly could. The train drove next to a small ledge that had a ramp built for easier access. Buck took the opportunity and blasted off from the ramp.
He jumped and landed against the back of the train. The temporary bike fell apart behind him as he pulled himself onto the back of the train. He pulled himself up and saw two scared and startled pony guards staring at him.
“Hey,” Buck says, “which one of you jerks was throwing the junk at me?” Both guards pointed at the other one. “Well, guess you’re both gonna’ get it.” Buck grabbed the ponies by their manes and slammed their heads together, knocking them both unconscious. Buck slowly, but at a good pace, made his way to the front of the train. There weren’t as many guards as he was expecting, but still made sure he wasn’t being followed.
After a few minutes of frantic trotting, Buck made it to the front of the train to find Discord and two other pony guards waiting. The guards aimed their weapons, but Discord told them to stand down.
“Come on, Gentlecolts,” he said in his usual mocking tone, “Let’s give this pony a hand…well, hoof.” Discord then started to slowly applaud Buck’s performance in catching up to them.
“What the hay are you up to, Discord?” Buck asked angrily. “Who in Celestia’s name would want to resurrect you?”
“Well, to answer your first question, I’m here to enjoy the land of opportunity.” Discord continued. “And to answer your second question, you’ll have to find out.”
“You framed me!” Buck shouted, going back to his biggest priority. “That footage was fake!”
“Oh, don’t be such a downer, Buck.” Discord said. “I made you famous.”
“I’m not playing your games, Discord. You’re coming with me and you’re going to tell the whole country that I didn’t do this.” Discord snapped his fingers and appeared next to Buck. Discord grabbed Buck by the back of his neck and lifted him up until they were both eye level.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Discord said. “You and I are going to play a game…a game that may or may not guarantee your innocence. And, there are but two simple rules for you to follow;” Discord slowly brought Buck to the edge of the train. “Rule number one: everypony, and that includes Miss Rebucka Hayes and Fluttershy, has to play or the game is over.
“And the other rule, which you will definitely break in a few seconds, no flying and no magic.” Discord said with a smirk.
“But I can’t fly or perform magic. I’m just a simple earth pony.” Discord lifted Buck high in the air.
“Earth ponies can still fly…given the proper circumstances.” Discord then chucked Buck high in the air as the train thundered through the tunnel. Buck screamed loudly until he hit a concrete wall and slid down onto his flank.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 6:54 a.m.
“Is he going to be okay?”
“I’m not sure, he had a mighty big bruise on his forehead.”
“Well, he’s still breathing…it’s a good thing you found him when you did.”
“Aw, shucks, it was nothin’.”
Buck slowly opened his eyes to find Fluttershy, Rebucka, Katey, Ray, and another pony standing over him with scared eyes.
“Look, he’s waking up!” Shouted Katey as she reached down and started hugging her father warmly. Buck couldn’t help but hug her back.
“Buck, are you alright?” Fluttershy asked as he pulled himself up.
“Yeah, just a little sore.” He said as he clutched his head in slight pain.
“What happened down there?” Rebucka asked.
“What I’m about to tell you…may shock and scare you all…but, I’ll tell you anyway.” Buck cleared his throat. “Discord…has returned to Equestria. He’s the one behind this outbreak.” Everypony in the room just stood there in total silence. The news that Equestria’s most well-known villain has returned turned their blood cold as ice.
“He posed as a pony hosting TIR,” Buck continued, “When I was down there, I saw him moving equipment using the trains. But I have no idea what it’s for. He’s up to something…something big. This isn’t over yet…not by a long shot.” Buck pulled himself up off the floor and looked up at the clock…it was nearing seven in the morning.
“I need to get some Zombrex…and fast.” Buck said as he started trotting for the door.
“Why?” The fifth pony asked. Buck turned around to find an orange-yellow earth pony with white freckles and a ten gallon hat.
“My daughter is infected. She needs her Zombrex now or she’ll turn into one of those things.” Buck said.
“Don’t fret, sugarcube,” the pony said, “Ah’ll help ya’.” The orange pony slowly trotted over to Buck and took her hat off. Buck looked inside to find a few syringes of the miraculous blue serum taped inside the brim.
“Why do you have so much?” Buck asked.
“’Cause, yah never know when this here stuff’ll come in handy.” She ripped off one of the syringes and handed it to Buck.
“You’re a life saver.” Buck said. He galloped over to Katey and got her prepped. As she was rolling up her sleeve, Buck asked who the mysterious mare was.
“Mah name’s Applejack. Founder and ex-CEO of Phenotrots.” Applejack said proudly. Buck finished injecting the Zombrex and lightly rubbed Katey’s shoulder.
“All done, Kiddo.” He said. “You feeling okay?” Katey’s head was tilted down and she had a sad expression on her face. She turned around to face her father.
“I’m sorry.” She said glumly.
“Sorry? For what?” Buck asked.
“You always have to do stuff to get my medicine…weird stuff. Like that dumb show.”
“Ah wish there was a better solution.” Applejack said. “Ah’ve been doin’ mah best lookin’ fer a cure…Ah’ve…come up short a many times.” Buck turns back to face Katey.
“Hey, don’t worry about that.” Buck said. “You’re my best girl…I’d do anything for you.” Buck lightly kissed Katey on the forehead and she galloped back over to the couch and continued playing with her video game. Fluttershy slowly trotted up next to Buck.
“I still can’t believe you were on that show…it’s just so cruel.” She said.
“Yeah…I know.” Buck said hesitantly. “But I didn’t have a choice.”
“Well, listen,” Ray said, “there’s really not much we can do as for the Discord situation, except wait.” He trotted into the center of the room. “After finding out that Discord has returned to Equestria, we really need to keep an eye out for strange things.”
“If only Twilight and Spike were here. She could send a letter to Celestia and help get this whole mess figured out.” Fluttershy said.
“Hold on,” Buck said, “there’s a zombie apocalypse occurring out there…and Celestia has done nothing about it?”
“Well, it is sort of like Fillydelphia.” Rebucka said.
“It’s nothing like Fillydelphia. This has made national news…you don’t think she watches T.V.? What in Equestria could she be doing that’s more important than the safety and well-being of her own ponies?”
Everypony just stood there silently…thinking over what Buck had said.
“Maybe she’s just tied up with letters flooding in and she’s trying to plan everything out.” Fluttershy said.
Buck just grunts and exits the security room.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 7:32 a.m.
As he was trotting back to the Royal Sun Mall, Buck came across five zombies that were just standing around doing nothing. He watched as they slowly realized that he was the only living thing in the small hallway. As they approached him, a yellow wasp started buzzing around Buck. It was like a typical wasp, but with some different features: namely it had glowing red eyes and an abdomen bigger than the rest of the body.
Buck swatted it to the ground and slammed his hoof down on it. He watched as, one-by-one, all the zombie ponies’ heads exploded and their bodies hit the ground. Buck smiled lightly as he trotted pass the bloody mess and through the set of double doors leading into the Royal Sun Mall.
“Hello? Hello?” Somepony was asking off to Buck’s left. He looked over and saw a scraggly-looking pony dressed in a Pony Postal Service uniform. He was standing outside a sporting goods store shouting at somepony that wasn’t there. “Special delivery! Signature required.” Buck slowly trotted past the delusional pony’s small carriage and stood behind him quietly.
“A signature is required for delivery!” He shouted at his loudest.
“Hey, buddy,” Buck said finally, “I don’t think there’s anypony there.” The postal carrier slowly turned around to see Buck. His expression went from stressed to relieved in almost an instant.
“Sir, maybe you can sign for this?” The crazed pony asked as he trotted up to Buck.
“What?” Buck asked surprised.
“Special delivery, signature required. I have rounds to do…and I’m behind!” The pony shouted angrily at Buck. Buck just stares at him.
“You do know that there’s a zombie outbreak going, do you?” The crazed pony placed his right hoof up to his forehead and started quoting his pledge of honor and duty.
“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor zombies, are going to keep me from my appointed rounds .” He said proudly. “I swore that oath, sir. And this package requires a signature!” He shoved the package and clipboard in front of Buck.
“Whatever, buddy, if it’ll make you feel better.” Buck said as he started signing the form. “I could use that anyway.” He said noticing the Zombrex sticker on the front. The crazed postal pony started handing the box of Zombrex over to Buck, when he pulled it back away after reading Buck’s signature.
“You’re Buck Greene.” He said. “You stopped the…” He trailed off lightly. He placed the box of Zombrex back in his bag. “Actually,” he said, “I have been looking for you.” He said as he pulled out a different package from his saddlebag.
“This package is a very special delivery…just for you…” He handed Buck the package and started chuckling heavily. “Have a nice day.” He said. After a few seconds, the crazed pony ran in the opposite direction, back to his waiting carriage. Buck slowly placed the package next to his ear and could clearly hear the sound of a ticking clock.
He realized that it was a bomb and chucked it to the mail pony. The package landed right inside the carriage as the mail pony strapped himself in. He looked behind him and saw the package.
He tried to unhitch himself…but he ran out of time. The bomb went off and destroyed the entire carriage. Glass from surrounding shops shattered and fell to the floor. Buck was thrown backwards and crashed into a kiosk. He lifted his head up and saw a bright fire building up. The remnants of the mail pony were long gone. He pulled himself up and looked at the burning wreckage.
“So much for some more free Zombrex.” He said sadly as the package was engulfed in flames. Suddenly, Buck’s transceiver started ringing, he grabbed it and answered.
“Buck,” Fluttershy said, “come back to the security room. Applejack and I want to talk to you more about your encounter with Discord.”
“Sure,” Buck said, “I’ll be there in a minute.”
7 - Never Trust a Draconequus
Chapter Seven
Never Trust a Draconequus
Date: September 27, 2011 8:00 a.m.
Buck slowly trotted back into the security room to find Applejack and Fluttershy sitting on the couch. Both, in unison, looked over to Buck.
“We need t’ talk.” Applejack said.
“Okay, what about?” Buck asked.
“Are you positive that you saw Discord?” Fluttershy asked, shivering after saying his name. Buck looked over to the scared pony.
“I’m positive. He grabbed me by my neck and told me he caused the whole outbreak right to my face.” Buck said, cringing as he remembered the events that took place the night before.
“But that’s not possible,” Applejack said, “we turned him into stone those months ago. Who would want to resurrect him? And for that matter, why would he give up his own show? He made millions a bits with that program.”
“I’m telling you, I saw him with my own eyes.” Buck said defensively.
“So you say.” Rebucka says as she enters the room. Buck turns to face the intruding mare.
“Is that who your source is? Discord?” Buck asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Buck.” Rebucka said. Suddenly, the entire room that the ponies were in started shaking as if a tactical rainnuke was detonated just outside the bunker doors.
“Whoa, what was that?” Buck asked.
“It sounded like it came from outside.” Fluttershy said as she trotted over to the computer monitors. “It looks like somepony is messing with the casino vaults.” She said noticing some activity happening at the Equestriana Casino. Buck trotted up next to her and looked to see some of the guard ponies, the kind that were helping and protecting Discord, breaking down a door leading to the main vault of the casino. “I’m not sure who it is, though.” Fluttershy said.
“Then, I’d better get out there and find out myself.” Rebucka said as she pulled her digital camera out from her back pocket. Once Rebucka was out of ear shot, Applejack started talking.
“Ah don’t know if she’s really brave…or just really stupid.” She said as she stood up from the couch and trotted over to Fluttershy. Buck looked at some of the other monitors and noticed that there were guards stationed not only at the Equestriana, but also at the Apple Acres Casino, the Zebra Zavara Casino, and the Kingdom de Gryphon Casino.
“I bet Discord has something to do with this.” Buck said. “I’m gonna’ go stop him.”
“No, don’t go out there, Buck.” Fluttershy said. “They’re very dangerous.”
“And Ah bet they have fancy weapons that’ll bring ya’ down in an instant.” Applejack added. Buck thought about it for a second.
“I don’t care.” Buck said. “Discord is up to something big, but why he’s breaking into the vaults, I need to know why.” Buck then grabbed the transceiver and map and stormed out of the room.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 9:20 a.m.
Buck slowly entered the Equestriana Casino to find it packed with zombies and a few of the pony guards from earlier. He slowly made his way through the path of flashing and loud slot machines, avoiding zombies and guards as best he could. As he came up to the main room that housed the vault, a guard spotted Buck and started to open fire.
Buck quickly ducked down behind a Luna-themed slot machine. The gunfire suddenly stopped and Buck peaked out to find the guard’s gun had jammed. Buck took the chance to gallop out from behind the slot machine and lunged at the guard. The guard had zero time to react and was thrown to the ground loudly and heavily.
“What’re you doing here?” Buck asked. “Why is Discord doing this?”
“I’ll never talk…you’ll have to kill me first.” Buck gets angry and headbutts the criminal into silence. He grabs the gun and starts fiddling around with it. After a few quick seconds, Buck found the problem and quickly resolved it. He slowly trotted over to the door and swung it wide open to find two unarmed pony guards using a drill to break through a giant steel vault door.
Buck carefully took aim and shot the two ponies dead. As their limp bodies fell to the floor, Buck galloped over to the drill and quickly turned it off. He looked around, hoping to find any evidence of why Discord had ordered his guards to drill through the vaults. He unfortunately came up short and slowly trotted back to the door into the casino main floor. His transceiver started ringing and he quickly answered it.
“Yes?” He asked.
“Buck, get back here immediately!” Fluttershy yelled. “You need to just ignore those other ponies and focus on the big picture…”
“I am focusing on the big picture, Fluttershy.” Buck said calmly. “If I don’t get the needed evidence, I’m going to prison for the rest of my life.” He turned the transceiver off and placed it back into his pocket.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 11:33 a.m.
Buck slowly made his way to the Kingdom de Gryphon Casino and hid himself behind a wall to avoid getting caught by some of the pony guards that were set up outside the tall casino. He looked and noticed that there were at least five guards set up around a giant black chariot that looked like it could plow through solid metal.
He thought for a second about the best course of action he could take.
Option 1: he could run in and starting kicking everypony’s flank until they ran screaming or submitted defeat. Pro: he’ll be a hero and get required evidence. Con: he’ll die.
Option 2: he could get another pony survivor’s help in distracting the guards while he, Buck, galloped in and destroyed the chariot. Pro: he’ll be a hero and get required evidence. Con: he, and the other pony, will die.
Option 3: somehow get a grenade and blow up the chariot and pony guards into smithereens. Pro: it’ll work. Con: he doesn’t have a grenade and it also might not work.
Buck was on the verge of giving up hope, when he noticed one of the pony guards accidentally dropped a grenade and trotted over to another part of the building. Buck carefully trotted over and grabbed the grenade while the other guards were distracted with a giant sack of bits that was being placed in the chariot. Buck ducked behind the wall again and looked down at the grenade.
“Okay, the Fates have given me a golden opportunity here.” Buck said. “I’ll only have one shot at this, and I really need to make it count.” He looked around and saw a football over at a kiosk. He thought carefully for a moment. “If I can somehow attach this grenade to that football, I may be able to throw it into the back of the chariot and blow the whole thing to kingdom come.”
Buck got up and galloped over to the football and grabbed it with his mouth. He ran over to behind the Gryphon Casino and found some duct tape to use. He pulled off some strips and started rapping them around the grenade and the football together. Buck started trotting back to the front of the casino and saw that the guards were getting ready to leave.
“Hail Mary, full of grace…” Buck said as he chucked the football into the air and it landed right next to a big sack of bits. He held back his excitement as he ducked back behind the building. The explosion rocked the entire area and sent shards of metal and concrete in different directions. Buck lost his balance and fell forward onto a pile of garbage. He raised up his head and saw Rebucka slowly trotting over to the destroyed chariot.
“Quick thinking on your hooves, Buck.” Rebucka said.
“Thanks.” Buck said.
“By the way, who’s Mary?” Rebucka asked.
“I honestly have no idea,” Buck said as he stood up, “I just said the first thing that came to my mind.”
Meanwhile, Discord slowly walked up to the edge of the Kingdom de Gryphon Casino rooftop. He looked down and saw the carnage that Buck had caused. He curled his fists and started fuming. He grabbed a walkie-talkie from a belt around his waist.
“What do I pay you ponies for?” He asked angrily. He breathed deeply and started talking into the walkie-talkie again. “We’re staying a bit longer than planned, boys.” He started walking back to the rooftop door; a couple pony guards following him closely with their weapons at the ready.
Back on ground level, Rebucka was taking video footage of the destroyed chariot. Buck was standing a small distance away so he doesn’t get in the shot. She slowly got closer and closer to the burning wreckage; getting quick glimpses of some of the dead ponies.
“Fantastic.” She said excitedly. Buck looked over and saw somepony moving from underneath the wreckage. Buck noticed that the surviving pony had a grenade in his mouth…the pin already pulled. Buck started galloping over to Rebucka.
“For…D-Discord!” The pony shouted just before the explosion. Buck tackled Rebucka to the ground and rolled her and himself out of the way from more debris.
“You sure do have a knack showing up at the right place at the right time.” Buck said as their eyes met. “Have you covered wars, or something?” Rebucka inched her face closer to Buck’s.
“Not until now.” She said. “Everypony has a first time, Buck.” She said as she lifted herself up until she was upright and sitting on top of Buck’s lap. She pulled herself up and gave Buck a hoof.
“So,” Buck said as he got up, “you believe me now? Discord’s robbing the city…that’s why he started this…for bits.” Rebucka walked over to pick her camera up off the floor. “You sure got your story now.” Buck continued.
“Listen,” Rebucka said, “I’ve got a meeting with my source tonight. I think maybe it’s time you met.” Buck started grinning.
“I thought a professional journalist never gave up a source.” He said, still grinning.
“I think this is kind of a special case, Buck.” Rebucka said. “I’ll meet you at 11 o’clock, in the bar at the Zebra Zavara.” She said as she trotted off into the distance.
“It’s a date.” Buck said. He slowly pulled the transceiver out of his pocket and turned it on. Not two seconds after turning it on, Fluttershy was yelling her loudest into the transceiver.
“DAMMIT, BUCK! GET YOUR BUCKING FLANK BACK TO THE SAFEHOUSE THIS INSTANT!” Buck could hear her breathing heavily until she let go of the button.
“You’ve got it, Fluttershy.” Buck said. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. We need to talk anyway.”
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 1:02 p.m.
Buck sat down at one of the tables in the cafeteria; Applejack and Fluttershy at his sides.
“So,” AJ said, “what is it y’all wanna’ talk ‘bout?”
“Well,” Buck started, “I will be talking with the pony that gave the false video tape to Rebucka. And, I know why Discord is causing all of this.”
“Why is he doing this?” Fluttershy asked.
“Bits.” Buck bluntly said. “He started this whole outbreak just so he could get his greedy paws on millions…maybe even billions of bits.”
“But why?” Applejack asked. “Discord can control time and space. Why would he start an outbreak just for bits?”
“I don’t know.” Buck said. “All of this seems pretty strange. But, after I talk with Rebucka’s source tonight, we’ll know the reason.”
“But, there’s another thing that doesn’t make any sense.” Fluttershy said. “Who would steal Discord and get away with it? I mean, think about it. Celestia beefed up her security to insure that Discord would never rise to power again.”
“Well, Ah’m sure whoever did it must be pretty smart and tough.” Applejack said. “So, when’re you meetin’ Rebucka and ‘er source.”
“Tonight, at about 11 o’clock.” Buck said. “I’m just glad this is all almost over. We just need to pull through tonight and tomorrow, then the Royal Guardians will save us and Celestia will be able to deal with Discord properly.”
“Applejack,” Fluttershy said, “what happened to Twilight, Dash, Pinkie, and Rarity?”
“Ah’m not sure, sugarcube.” Applejack said. “We got separated when everything went crazy. Last I saw, Dash was flying away to look for rescue and Twilight and Rarity were creating some kind of magical barrier to protect Pinkie and a group of other ponies.”
“How did you end up underground?” Buck asked. “Just seems like an odd place.”
“There was a door wide open next to the arena.” Applejack explained. “Ah ducked in there and tried calling for everypony else…but…I just knew they weren’t gonna’ make it.” The three sat there in solemn silence. This whole event had a taken a toll on everypony… especially Buck.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 8:00 p.m.
Buck was making his way through the Zebra Zavara Casino…heading up to the club that Rebucka told him about. It was getting close to ten o’clock in the evening. He figured that if he got there early, they’d be able to transfer the information quicker and Buck can head back to the safehouse. As he was walking through the twists and turns of the casino, he saw a scared looking pony run into his line of view. The stallion stopped and stared at Buck.
“Hey, buddy!” Buck shouted. The stallion took off in another direction; leaving Buck standing there with an unsure look on his face.
“Raindrop hungry.” Said a strange voice behind Buck. Buck turned around and got punched in the face by an unknown assailant…knocking him out cold.
*** *** ***
Date: September 27, 2011 10:47 p.m.
Buck awoke to him being dragged slowly across a floor towards a giant glass cage. He looked forward and saw a giant gryphon dragging him closer to the cage.
“Aw, no.” He said quietly. The gryphon stopped and dropped Buck’s hind legs to the ground. The gryphon looked around to face Buck.
“Look what I found you, pretty girl.” He said in a slow voice. “Fresh meat.” Buck looked over and saw a manticore sleeping on a giant rock next to him. Buck jumped back a few inches.
“Whoa, look,” Buck said, “there’s plenty of zombies around for her to eat…”
“No!” The gryphon yelled like a young filly. “No! Not zombies! That meat is rotten! Like all her food now. It went bad! She needs meat…fresh meat.”
“Okay, okay…” Buck said calmly, “not zombies. But…I can help. I can get her some food…maybe a nice pie or cake or something.”
“NO!” The gryphon yelled. He spun around to look at the manticore. “People not been very good to me.” He said. “Not like Raindrop,” he said, petting the manticore lightly. “Raindrop my friend.” Buck slowly pulled himself up from the floor.
“Listen,” he said, “let’s talk this over. What’s your name?”
“Gregory.” The gryphon said. “But everypony call me Greg.” He said with a light smile growing on his face.
“That’s good,” Buck said, “you don’t have to do this, Greg. We just need to slow down and talk this over, right?” Greg’s smile quickly faded the moment Buck said the word ‘slow’. “Nice and slow, Greg.”
“NOOO!” Greg yelled, waking up the manticore. “Greg not slow! They all said that. Greg not slow! STOP SAYING THAT!!” Greg looked over at Raindrop, who had her head up. “See, ponies not nice!” Greg said. “Raindrop, got and eat your fresh meat…nice…and slow.” He said mocking Buck’s voice. The manticore pulled itself up and slowly walked up to Buck.
“Well, this is my cue to get the hay out of here.” Buck started galloping at his fastest speed to the nightclub he was supposed to meet Rebucka at; Raindrop close behind him. Buck galloped up the dead escalator and down a brightly-lit hallway that had a giant sign at the top that read: Everfree Nightclub. He blasted through the faux leather doors and quickly slammed them behind him.
He slowly trotted over to one of the many couches and sat down to catch his breath.
As he was trying to relax, a mysterious mare slowly trotted up to the door and locked the hatch. Buck reached over to a half-drunk glass of mysterious alcohol. Another mare rushed over to another side of the room with another pony tied up by her front hooves and a gag in her mouth. Buck finished off the drink and threw the glass across the room to see if it would break. It didn’t shatter.
Instead, one of the mysterious mares had caught it.
“Hmm…enjoy that drink, Buck?” She asked. Buck pulled himself up from the couch…recognizing the voice of the pony. She slowly trotted into Buck’s POV…carrying a polished katana sword with her unicorn magic. “Discord had a feeling you’d show up.”
“You’re the source?” Buck asked. It was one of the pony twins he encountered just before the outbreak started; the one wearing a silver sequenced dress.
“Can’t have the stallion responsible for the outbreak galloping around free now, can we Buck?” She asked while lifting up the sword higher. “Especially as he keeps interfering with other pony’s business.”
“That’s a lie and you know it.” Buck said. “Discord set me up and you helped.” The other pony twin galloping behind him…Rebucka tied up and gagged. The pony in gold sequence slowly slid her hoof up Rebucka’s neck slowly and sensually.
“We’re just some fellow survivors trying to win big, Buck.” She said. She then slid her tongue down Rebucka’s throat and the two started kissing. Buck stood there, gawking at what he was looking at. The gold pony threw Rebucka to the ground and lifted up her own sword into the air. “But…you wouldn’t know much about that.” She continued.
“This outbreak is killing thousands…ponies are dying!” Buck said angrily.
“Bragging doesn’t really suit you, Buck.” The silver pony said. “I always saw you more as the strong, silent type.”
“The very, very silent type.” The gold pony said. Buck looked over at the silver pony and noticed she was aiming the sword for Buck’s chest. He looked over and saw the gold pony aiming for his head.
“On the count of three, sis’.” The gold pony said. “One.”
“Two.” The silver pony said.
“Three.” They both said. The swords flew through the air; flying at Buck. Buck ducked down onto his knees as the katana swords flew over his head. The gold pony dodged her sister’s sword…but the silver pony wasn’t as quick. The sword’s trajectory was off course and landed square in her throat. She fell to the floor as blood started gushing from the newly opened wound.
“Silver Tail!” The gold pony said as she galloped over to her downed sister. She kneeled down and carefully placed her hoof in her sister’s hoof. She looked up and over at Buck with an evil glare in her eyes.
“What have you done?” She asked as Buck pulled himself up. “She was my…other half. But you’ll pay.” Buck grunted after she said that. “You will never get out of here alive, Buck. We promise that…all of us.” She pulled the katana out of her sister’s throat and placed it a few inches above her underbelly.
“I’ll never be complete, again…never.” She said as she started trembling.
“No, don’t..!” Buck started to say. But the gold pony jammed the katana into her gut and started twisting, insuring she would not survive. She fell to her side and was face-to-face with her dead sister. For her last few moments on Earth, she slowly stroked her sister’s mane. Buck looked on with tears welling up in his eyes. He brushed his face with his hoof and trotted over to Rebucka, who was still tied up. He kneeled down and started untying the ropes around her hooves.
“It’s about time.” She said. “You’d almost think you liked me being tied up.”
“That’s not the thing that I liked the most.” Rebucka jumped up on her hooves buried her nose in Buck’s face.
“If you say anything, to anypony, anywhere, I will kill you myself so Celestia’s guards don’t have to.” He stared at her for a moment and then trotted over to the dead pony bodies.
“I can’t believe you trusted them.” Buck said.
“I know…I’m sorry.” Rebucka said massaging her hoof. “But they had the tape…it spoke for itself. Maybe this will make it up to you: I heard them talking earlier, Discord’s got another chariot coming in tomorrow at sunset, this one driven by Pegasi. He’s getting whatever bits he can still get his hands on, and then getting out of the city.”
“Did they say where he was meeting the chariot?” Buck asked.
“No, so we’re going to have to watch for it.” Rebucka said. “I’ll meet you on the rooftop above the bunker at eight o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.” Buck said. Rebucka started trotting over to the doors leading into the Zebra Zavara. “Wait!” Buck yelled. “Don’t go that way.”
“Why not?” Rebucka asked.
“Long story…but trust me.” Buck said. “We’ll just have to find another way out.”
“What do you suggest?” Rebucka asked. Buck stood there for a moment…nothing coming to mind.
Chapter Eight
Great and Powerful
Date: September 28, 2011 7:00 a.m.
It was early in the morning, their last day in the safehouse before the Royal Guardianship finally arrives. Buck was getting another syringe of Zombrex ready for his daughter. He had been thankful for Applejack finding him at the most important time. The needle quickly plunged into Katey’s hide and Buck pushed down on the plunger.
Katey shivered from the temperature of the blue serum, an unnatural effect that comes with the temporary cure, and Buck carefully pulled out the needle. He lightly rubbed her shoulder and unrolled the sleeve of her jacket.
“Daddy…” She said in a woozy tone, “I don’t feel so good.” Applejack looked over as Katey slumped to her side and Buck caught her.
“Katey!” He shouted as she passed out. “Katey! Katey!” Fluttershy and Applejack trotted up to the two. “This is how her mother was before she…”
“It’s alright.” Applejack said. “Look, she ain’t turnin’.” Buck picked her up onto his back and carefully carried her over to the couch; the two mares close behind. He carefully laid her down onto the couch and covered her with a small blanket.
“This happened to a friend of mine, once.” Fluttershy said. “It’s that forsaken drug.”
“A friend?” Buck asked.
“She used to have to deal with Zombrex, too.” Fluttershy said.
“Used to?” Buck asked. “What happened?”
“She couldn’t take it anymore.” Fluttershy continued. “Everything in her life revolving around that drug…one day she…just…let herself…”
“I’m sorry.” Buck said. Applejack trotted up next to Buck.
“Like Ah was tellin’ you, Ah was lookin’ fer a cure.” Applejack said.
“Well, none of this would be happening if you didn’t go all terrorist against your country.” Buck said bitterly.
“Ah wasn’t the terrorist, mah cousin was.” Applejack said in defense. “He was angry, takin’ revenge for that horrible government experiment that caused all this in the first place.” Applejack brought her head down. “Ah tried to help…Braeburn and Ah worked with Flank West to make the first inhibitor…using Queens.” Buck sighed heavily and placed his hoof on her shoulder.
“I’m happy to know that you did your best.” Buck said. “Why’d you stop in the first place?”
“Merger with another pharmaceutical company.” Applejack said. “We kept it on the down-low and didn’t let it spread from beyond the offices of mah company. Ah stepped down and let somepony else takeover the projects.” Buck lightly rubbed her shoulder.
*** *** ***
Date: September 28, 2011 7:59 p.m.
Rebucka slowly trotted up behind Buck.
The two were standing a giant chariot landing pad that was on the rooftop of the safehouse bunker. It was close to eight o’clock, like Rebucka had planned, and they were watching the skies of Celestial Sisters for any sign of activity.
“Good.” Rebucka said as she stood next to Buck. “We can see the whole city from here…Buck, we can’t afford to miss this. If those pony twins were right, and Discord gets away in that chariot…”
“I know.” Buck said. Rebucka carefully pulled something out from her back pocket.
“Here,” she said handing the item to Buck, “I found these in the bunker.” Buck looked down and noticed she was holding a pair of binoculars. Buck took them out of her hooves and started looking up at the night sky.
For what felt like hours, Buck just stood in the same exact spot, just staring at the sky. Rebucka also looked around with him, but, after awhile, found herself just sitting around doing nothing. She looked at her watch and noticed it was nearing midnight. She looked over at Buck.
“It’s been a while.” Buck said.
“Ya’ think?” Rebucka asked.
“Do you think we can trust that reliable source of yours?” Buck asked, ignoring Rebucka. Rebucka just ran her hoof up and down her leg from boredom.
“I’m sorry, Buck.” She finally said. “Look, I…” Suddenly, they both heard the sound of flapping wings as a giant gold chariot flew across the sky. “Hey, there it is.” Rebucka said excitedly. Buck looked through the binoculars again and saw, in the distance, three Pegasi bringing in a massive gold chariot…big enough to hold lots of bits.
“It’s landing on the hotel.” Rebucka said. “Looks like Discord’s getting ready to check out.”
“That Draconequus isn’t going anywhere.” Buck said. “There’s no way I’m taking the fall for this.”
“We better hurry, I’ll meet you there.” Rebucka said as she galloped back to the elevator leading back into the safehouse bunker. Buck sat the binoculars down on the ground and quickly followed suit.
*** *** ***
Date: September 29, 2011 12:03 a.m.
Buck galloped up to the elevators that led up to the rooftop. He had gotten to the hotel in a matter of minutes, his passion for ending the whole debacle fueling his legs. He was about to push the button, when Rebucka galloped in and stood next to him.
“Not without me, Buck.” She said. “You’re the best lead I’ve ever had.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Buck said. “So, how should we approach this? Professionally or O.K. Corral style?”
“Whatever you want, Mr. Stallion-of-the-Hour Buck Greene.” Rebucka said. “This is your mess to clean up.” The little monitor on the elevator slowly kept ticking up number by number. The tension in the small cramped room just kept getting bigger and bigger as they counted down the numbers in their heads.
The bell rang and the doors swung open. Buck pushed Rebucka behind him and told her to stay put. He galloped out onto the rooftop and saw Discord using his magic to levitate the bags of bits into the chariot. One Pegasus was placing them in the appropriate order and accidentally dropped one.
“Hey, careful with the bits, foal.” Discord said. “We don’t have much left over after yesterday.” The Pegasus carefully sat down the last sack and noticed Buck standing on the other side of the chariot landing pad.
“Hey, look boss.” He said pointing a hoof at Buck. Discord turned around and started grimacing.
“Not possible.” He said. “Not going to happen. We’re taking off, now!” Discord then jumped into the back of the chariot and ordered the Pegasi to hook up and take off. Buck looked on as the Pegasi started flapping their wings and the giant mass started lifting off the roof. In a panic, Buck rushed over to a small service crane, leftover from construction, and grabbed the swinging hook with his mouth.
He galloped as fast as he could, leaped up high in the air, and attached the hook to the back of the chariot. He fell to the ground and rolled to the side. The Pegasi then flew forward into one direction and the hook and rope pulled tight against the back of the chariot.
The sudden jolt broke the chariot from the harnesses and the mass of gold started falling back to the hard earth. The Pegasi continued to fly, from fear of dealing with a pony that brought down an entire chariot without using his hooves. Discord jumped out from the chariot and tried to fly after them, but the chariot clipped his wing and he fell to the ground. He fell hard on his head and was knocked unconscious.
Buck slowly trotted up to him as the chariot hit the roof and toppled over the side of the building. A few bits flew up and started hitting the ground with force. One hit the roof and flew up, almost hitting Buck in the face…but he caught it with his teeth. He spat it into his hoof and stared at the golden piece of currency.
“Well,” Rebucka said, walking up with her camera, “that was one hay of a show.” She stopped next to Buck and stared at the knocked out Draconequus.
“He killed all those ponies…just for this.” He said, still holding the bit.
“Is he alive?” Rebucka asked.
“He sure is.” Buck said. “He’s not even started paying what he’s done. Let’s get him back to the bunker.” Buck then threw the bit and the piece of small gold smacked Discord in the face.
*** *** ***
Date: September 29, 2011 1:08 a.m.
Discord’s limp body hit the hospital bed. Buck and Rebucka had gotten him back to the bunker and placed him onto a hospital bed in the emergency ward of the bunker. Fluttershy and Applejack still couldn’t believe their eyes…Buck had been telling the truth the whole time. Ray slowly trotted in and looked at what they were all looking at.
“What’s he doing here?” Ray asked. “Isn’t he Discord, that master of chaos or something?”
“Oh, yeah,” Buck said. “And he started it. He’s behind everything. He killed all these ponies and framed us for it. Just so he could make some easy bits.”
“We’ve got enough to run with the story.” Rebucka said.
“Well I’ll be.” Ray said as he trotted over to the side of Discord’s bed. “The four of you brought down this big shot? I’m impressed.”
“This story is going to be big…huge. It’s award material.” Rebucka said. Ray looked at Discord’s lifeless face.
“He’s out cold?” Ray asked. “We oughta’ make sure he stays that way.”
“Wait,” Buck said, “we need to keep him alive.”
“Why? Capital punishment was made for a Draconequus like this.” Ray said.
“There’ll be a lot of ponies out there who’ll want to see him pay for what he’s done.” Buck said. “We just need to sit on him until the rescue comes in the morning.” Ray thought about it for a moment and then pulled out a pair of hoofcuffs.
“Fine.” He said. “We’ll do it your way. I’ll stand watch first. He’s not going anywhere for awhile.” And with that, the other four ponies slowly made their way out of the emergency ward and back to the security room.
*** *** ***
Date: September 29, 2011 7:01 a.m.
Katey was still playing with the gaming system that she got in Stable Brook. Buck slowly trotted up to her and took it out of her hooves.
“Dad! You didn’t let me get to the save point!” She complained. “I’m gonna’ have to restart.” Buck just smiled at the ridiculousness of her statement.
“Sorry, kiddo.” He said. “Time for your medicine.” He then pulled out the syringe and went through the same procedure he’s done for the past three months. After it was over, he handed Katey her game back and walked over to Fluttershy and Applejack.
“The rescue is coming, Buck.” Fluttershy said excitedly. “Ray said they’ll save anypony at the bunker at first light. There might still be ponies out there that we can help. If you could get them back here in time…”
“It never stops, does it?” Buck asked. “Did you see anything on the monitors?”
“Well,” Fluttershy said, “I did see something going on over at the Apple Acres Casino. Maybe you should go there first.” Buck nodded his head and headed out of the security room.
*** *** ***
Date: September 29, 2011 7:42 a.m.
Buck slowly found his way to a stage that was surrounded by three ponies tied up and sitting in chairs. The first one he noticed was a cyan blue Pegasus with busted wings and a strange device attached to said wings. Buck slowly trotted up to her and the Pegasus spoke.
“She’s coming.” She said. Buck stopped and turned around to see another blue pony trotting up on the stage. She was wearing a black cape that had stars, sparkles, and crescent moons all over it. She had a white-ish mane and a cutie mark with a crescent moon and magical wand.
“Oh,” she said, “Trixie has kept you waiting for so long. I know you want that encore, right?” Buck just stood there in amazement. “This is going to be incredible.” Trixie continued. “You know Trixie does it all for you ponies. You can barely even wait for this comeback tour to start. But, we are going to need a few more things before we can start…and if Trixie doesn’t get them soon…” She pulled out a weird device with a giant red button in the center.
“How is the Great and Powerful Trixie supposed to work under these conditions?” She asked. “Trixie is an artist! Well, despite the technical problems caused by Trixie’s incompetent crew, the show must go on.” Buck just shrugged her off and turned his attention back to the cyan Pegasus.
“No!” She said. “We’re…we’re wired. If we move…they’ll go off.” He noticed that the device on her wings was a small bomb. Buck’s eyes widened and realized he was dealing with, yet again, a psychopath bent on killing innocent pony lives. Buck then started trotting up to the stage where Trixie was standing. As he got closer, Trixie spotted him and started trotting across the stage to meet up with him.
“Hey, you,” she said, “Are you the new crew? Or maybe just another crazy fan who loves the Great and Powerful Trixie to death?” Buck thought carefully for a brief moment.
“Sure, I’m your new stage manager and crew, what would you like me to do?” He asked.
“Good, Trixie’s got a job for you.” She knelt down closer to Buck’s face. “Trixie needs you to run a few errands for her, kiddo, before we get started. Trixie is not sure if she can take waiting any longer. She gets rather explosive when she has to wait.” Buck stood there for a moment, thinking over what he’s just agreed to. The cyan Pegasus took a drink from the glass that was in front her and looked over at Buck.
“I’d get her what she needs.” She said. “She doesn’t seem like the joking type.” Trixie looked back over to Buck.
“Well,” she said, “we can’t keep Trixie’s audience waiting.”
“Fine.” Buck said. “What do you need?”
“Well, first, Trixie needs a cold drink to help sooth her tired throat.”
“Done. Anything else?”
“Hmm…that outfit simply will not do, go put on something fancier…like a nice tuxedo.”
“No problem, I can do that. Anything else?”
“Just one more thing…” she thought for a moment, “Yes, that’s it, bring an audience of great size that is worthy of the Great and Powerful Trixie. You do all of those, and then we can begin the show of a lifetime.” Buck nodded and then trotted back onto the Apple Acres Casino main floor.
*** *** ***
Date: September 29, 2011 7:58 a.m.
Buck finished rounding up some zombies, an audience to Trixie, and had climbed up on stage to give Trixie her cold bottle of water. He had broken into a Gentlecolt’s Wearhouse and stole an expensive tuxedo for him to wear for the occasion. Trixie trotted over to Buck and took the bottle of water out of his mouth. She gulped the whole thing down in a matter of seconds and tossed the bottle off to the side, clipping the horn of a tied-up white unicorn.
“Well,” Trixie said, “you’ve been a good little assistant. You’ve got a nice suit, my water, and an amazing audience…Trixie guesses that there’s nothing left but to start the show. Finally…time for Trixie’s big comeback special. The performance of a lifetime. Now, Trixie will need some help backstage.”
“Look,” Buck said, “I got what you asked for. You need to let those ponies go now.”
“Oh, surely you’re not suggesting that after all this,” Trixie said, “Trixie won’t give her adoring audience what they want? The comeback tour everypony’s been waiting for? The big show stopper? Trixie might get a little angry if that happens.”
“JUST DO IT!” A pink earth pony mare shouted from one of the tables.
“Look, you can’t be serious.” Buck said.
“Oh, shush,” Trixie said. “Now, get backstage and let’s put on a show. You can’t keep talent like Trixie’s waiting.” She looked over to a fourth pony tied up in a corner. Buck looked over at her too. “That…thing will give you instructions. Prepare yourself…for genius.” Trixie said as she walked on stage. Buck turned around and galloped over to the pony. She had purple fur, a dark purple mane to match, and she was a unicorn.
“Are you okay?” Buck asked.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She said. “Just…turn on that switch every couple seconds and Trixie will do the rest.”
“Why did she kidnap you ponies?” Buck asked. “Just trying to get an audience, or what?”
“Actually,” the unicorn said, “she’s fulfilling a grudge. We humiliated her in Ponyville and she’s just getting her revenge.” Buck helped untie her and trotted her over behind the curtain. “Can you help us, please?”
“I’m thinking.” Buck said. “I have a slight idea…but I’m not sure if it’ll work.”
“Look, if you can just distract her long enough for me to get the control, do whatever you see fit.” Buck nodded his head and trotted back out from behind the curtain.
“Uh, Miss Trixie.” He said. “One of the switches is glowing red…I think it’s one of the cannons on the front of the stage.”
“Oh, what is it that you want the Great and Powerful Trixie to do?” She asked bitterly.
“Just check the one closest to your left, there might be something clogging the engine.” Trixie sighed and trotted angrily over to one of the fireworks cannons. Buck pushed the button and all of the fireworks exploded in unison, sending Trixie off the stage and into the waiting crowd of zombies. The remote controlling the bombs laid motionless on the stage; the purple unicorn used her magic to bring it over to her.
That’s when Trixie emerged from the pile covered in blood and many other unknown substances.
“Humiliated again!” She screamed as she galloped away from the approaching and very hungry zombies. “This isn’t over, Sparkle! I’ll be back! You’ll see!” And with that, the “Great and Powerful” mare slammed her hooves to the floor and in a plume of pink smoke, ran off.
“Thank you!” She exclaimed excitedly. “Let’s go check on my friends.” Buck and the purple unicorn galloped from the stage and towards the scared ponies. Buck untied the Pegasus while the purple unicorn untied the pink and white ponies. They all gathered back on stage, away from the closing zombies.
“Thank you, again.” The unicorn said. “What’s your name?
“Buck Greene.” He said. The four ponies stood there staring at him.
“You must be joking.” The white unicorn said.
“No, and I didn’t start this.” Buck said. “Look, it’s a long story, and I’ll explain it all if you come with me back to the bunker.”
“And why should we trust you?” The Pegasus asked.
“Because Applejack and Fluttershy are worried sick about you four.” The four ponies gasped from what they heard. “Yeah, I know who you four are. You’re Twilight Sparkle. You’re Rarity. You’re Pinkie Pie. And you’re Rainbow Dash.” He said pointing to each pony respectively.
“AJ and ‘Shy survived?” Rainbow asked.
“Yes, now, will you come with me?”
“We’d be dumb if we didn’t!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Take us there now!”
“Okay, just follow me.” Buck said.
9 - Royal Guardianship - 2
Chapter Nine
Royal Guardianship - 2
Date: September 29, 2011 8:56 a.m.
Buck looked at his watch one last time…before the Royal Guardians came in to save him and the other ponies in the bunker. It was nearing 9:00 a.m. and Buck pulled himself up to get his daughter ready. She stopped playing with her game long enough to put it into her backpack and zip it up. Buck helped her off the couch and the two started trotting over to the monitors.
“Ready to go home, kiddo?” He asked.
“Ready.” She said excitedly. They trotted up next to Fluttershy and Applejack, who were still watching the monitors carefully. Ray trotted into the room and stood behind them as well.
“Aren’t you supposed to be watching Discord?” Buck asked Ray.
“Didn’t want to miss the rescue.” Ray said. “Don’t worry, he’s out cold.”
“It looks like they’re comin’ over the bridge.” Applejack said looking at the monitor. Sure enough, the army of chariots everypony was waiting for came flying across a large bridge separating Celestial Sisters from most of the greater Manehatten area. There were dozens of the Royal Guardian Unicorns in the giant golden chariots.
Meanwhile, in the convoy, a lead unicorn guard sat patiently for the chariots to slow down. He picked up a professional walkie-talkie and talked to another pony on the line.
“We’ve reached the first checkpoint.” He said. “We will arrive at the Celestia Strip in a matter of seconds, General Prance.”
“Excellent,” said the general, “report back to me once clean-up is over.”
“Yes, sir.” The unicorn said. “Alright, stallions, you heard the orders. Make sure this city is completely clear for evac.”
“Sir yes, sir!” All the guardians shouted in unison. The gates to Celestial Sisters started rising up as the convoy of unicorns poured inside. Zombies that were in the way of the mass of unicorns were crushed underhoof and left to bleed out onto the cement ground. The lead chariot, holding the commander, came to a screeching halt on the Celestia Strip.
Once the other two chariots came to a stop, the unicorns grabbed their weapons and poured into the strip. The commander slowly trotted out of the chariot and stood in front of his troops.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” One unicorn shouted to some other unicorns.
“Ready to kick some flank, fillies?” The commander asked his troops. “You all know the drill: first we mop up and then we grab the survivors. Start with the Celestia Strip and work your way down to the arena.”
“Sir yes, sir!” The unicorns shouted. One of them prepared his weapon and was about to fire the first shot, but the commander stopped him.
“Whoa, whoa,” he said, “hold your fire. First kill belongs to Daddy, sweethearts.” He said as he grabbed the gun and aimed it at a shambling zombie. He pulled the trigger and three bullets riddled the unfortunate zombie’s skull.
“Nice shot, sir.” Said one of the guardians. The commander tossed the gun back to the other guardian.
“Have at it, stallions.” He said as he trotted back to the chariot to supervise their progress. The Royal Guardians started aiming their guns and firing at the zombies that were packed all around the Celestia Strip. Rebucka was on top of the Apple Acres Casino and was recording everything that was happening with her digital camera.
But, nopony was noticing something else going on. The once clear air around them started getting filled up with a green fog that choked some of the unicorns and made it difficult to see the zombies. One of the guardians stepped onto a metal grate, one that was pouring the green fog, started coughing and spluttering uncontrollably.
A zombie shambled up to him and stopped as soon as he came up to the fog. The zombie itself started having body spasms and went into a small seizure. Giant boils started forming all over his body and blood gushed from his mouth at a much faster rate. His eyes were glowing a sinister bright red and his wheezy breathes became evil growls and howls.
“What the hay?” One of the guardians asked. He started firing more rounds into the new ‘gas zombie’, but it wouldn’t go down. “C’mon, drop you son of a gryphon! C’mon!” The zombie started galloping after him and puked red, hot blood into his face. “My face! Oh, Celestia, it burns! Help me, it burns!”
He fell to the ground and some more gas zombies piled on top of him.
“Hold still, private, I’ll shoot ‘em off.” Said one guardian before another gas zombie galloped up and attacked him. His magic faltered and the gun went off, firing in all different directions. One of which landed between the commander’s eyes. Rebucka stopped filming after the fog became too intense for her to handle. She slowly trotted backwards and out of sight from the gas zombies.
Back in the security room of the bunker, everypony was watching is sadness and in horror of what happened before them. Buck quickly turned Katey away from the monitors and trotted closer to the group.
“What the hay just happened?” He asked.
“Zombies can’t take out a Royal Guardianship column…they just can’t…can they?” Fluttershy asked surprised.
“Regular zombies can’t…but those…what happen to them?” Buck asked.
“If that was supposed t’ be the Royal Guardians…how are we supposed t’ get out now?” Applejack asked.
“We’re gonna’ have to go out there and find a way out ourselves.” Buck said.
“Now everypony wait a minute.” Ray said angrily. “There’s another part to standard operating procedure. My understanding is if there’s a problem with the rescue operation,” Ray said, “there will be another attempt in 24 hours…if it looks like there’s any survivors.”
“What do you mean ‘your understanding’?” Rainbow Dash asked as she trotted up to Ray. “It seems to me that you knew plenty about standard operating procedure before.”
“Hey, hold on, missy.” Ray said to the cyan Pegasus. “This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I’m the only reserve pony that made it here alive and I’m doing my best.”
“And what if that rescue fails, huh?” Dash asked. “Everything else has gone wrong so far.” Ray sighed hopelessly.
“Firebombing.” He said bluntly. “It’s the only way to get rid of ‘em…for good.” Rainbow Dash slowly fluttered back down to the ground. Everypony in the room went silent…tension building up.
“Firebombing?” Fluttershy asked. Buck stood there for a moment with Katey in his arms. He carefully trotted her over to the yellow Pegasus and started trotting out the door.
“I’m gonna’ go look for Rebucka.” He said.
“Buck, be careful,” Applejack said. “If those things can take out tha Royal Guardians…” Buck nodded and left the room. He trotted down the concrete hallway, back to the hatch leading into the Royal Sun Mall, when he saw Rebucka limping up the stairs.
“Rebucka! Are you okay?” He asked. She slipped and fell forward; Buck galloped over and helped her back up on her hooves.
“I’ve been through worse.” She said. “I sprained my back hoof when a zombie tried to bite me.”
“Did it get you?” Buck asked.
“No, fortunately, could you get me an ice pack of some sort?”
“Sure, just come with me over to the medical room.” Buck helped prop her up on his back and the two slowly trotted to the medical ward of the bunker. He sat her on one of the beds and trotted over to a cabinet and pulled out an ice pack for Rebucka’s hoof. As he prepped the small bag, Applejack and Fluttershy trotted in with the other Elements of Harmony closely behind.
“What happened to the zombies out there?” Fluttershy asked Rebucka. “They went…berserk.”
“There was some sort of gas.” Rebucka said. “As soon as the zombies came in contact with it…they...changed.”
“Sounds like some fun stuff,” said a recognizable voice, “I’ll have to try some of that myself.” Everypony looked over to find Discord slowly waking up from his brief coma. Ray looked over at him, glaring with pure hate-filled eyes.
“And what are you looking at?” Discord asked. Ray started trotting up to him; but Buck held out his hoof and stopped him from going any further.
“We need him alive.” Buck said.
“That’s a real shame.” Ray said.
“What’s going on, Discord?” Buck asked as he trotted up to the crazed Draconequus. “Where’d you get the gas?”
“I’m not saying anything.” Discord said. “As I said, this is your game to play; I just make the rules as I go along.”
“But, why frame me? What the hay did I ever do to you?” Buck asked.
“I don’t bucking know.” Discord said bitterly. “You’re just the name she gave me.”
“She? What are you talking about?” Buck asked.
“Somepony had to take the fall,” Discord continued, “Buck Greene…Motoclops superstar…angry over his wife’s death…you put the pieces together. Your DNA is all over backstage…prints…hairs…fur…Maybe even some stains from where you peed your pants before the show.” Buck’s rage started filling his fist as he lunged for Discord. But Rainbow Dash quickly stopped him before he did anymore damage.
“He’s not worth it…” Fluttershy said. “He’s not going anywhere.” Buck pushed Rainbow aside and stormed out of the room. Everypony just stood there, staring hard at Discord for the longest time.
The Next Day
Date: September 30, 2011 8:47 a.m.
“He knows more…a lot more.” Rebucka said. Everypony was now set up in the security room; Katey was fast asleep on the couch. “There’s no way he made that gas…he just doesn’t have the resources.”
“Well, we don’t know that yet.” Buck said. “We’re talking about a dictator who ruled Equestria for centuries, maybe even millennia…you’re telling me that he doesn’t have the resource to pull this off? This is all just so weird…” Buck’s sentence was cut short as alarms in the bunker started blaring.
Curious, everypony galloped over to the window to see what was going on. After a few tense seconds, a zombie pounded itself against the window, scaring all the ponies inside. Hundreds upon hundreds of zombies were pouring in through the giant bunker doors leading into Celestial Sisters.
“The door, it’s been breached!” Buck shouted. He looked over at the control panel and noticed that it was shooting sparks in different directions…sabotaged.
“It’s been sabotaged!” Twilight exclaimed.
“I’ve gotta’ hotwire that panel.” Buck said. “Stay here…barricade the door.” He said as he galloped out of the safety of the security room and into the danger of the zombie filled bunker. Applejack and her friends then started pushing items in front of the door to prevent any zombies from coming in.
Fluttershy flew over to Katey and started cuddling her in her arms.
Buck galloped through the crowds of massing zombies and started working on the control panel. Somepony had smashed most of the controls to bits and left hardly anything for him to work with. He thought carefully and started re-routing some of the wires to place the destroyed ones.
After many frantic seconds, Buck finally started to close the doors, but it was a long and heated process. He couldn’t help but watch as some of the survivors that were able to make it got eaten alive and attacked by zombies. His heart raced as the doors seemed to slow down in their already slow speed and stopped moving.
He bashed his hoof into the control panel and the doors gave one final push…closing the remaining zombies outside. But the sudden slam caused many zombies to get crushed…needless to say; blood went in all different directions. Buck was doused in the disgustingly cold and sticky, rusted, and foul smelling goo. He wiped his hoof across his face and took care of the last remaining zombies that were still standing around the bunker. Once the last one hit the floor, Buck trotted back into the security room and threw his weapon down on the ground.
“I think I got most of them.” He said as Rarity handed him a clean, dry towelette to him. He started wiping away the quickly drying blood from his jacket, pants, and most of his face. Katey galloped up to him, but quickly stopped after getting a huge whif of him.
“I don’t blame you, sweetie.” He said.
“I knew you’d get them.” The little filly said with excitement.
“What happened t’ Ray?” Applejack asked. “He’s supposed t’ be keepin’ this here place secure. Or is leaving yer post part of ‘standard operating procedure’?”
“I’m gonna’ find out.” Buck said. He turned around and started heading for the doorway back into the bunker.
Meanwhile, Discord slowly made his way out of the medical room and was walking through the halls to find a way out of the retched building. He looked all around to make sure nopony was watching or trying to follow and stop him. As he rounded a corner, a zombie straggler came around a corner and pounced Discord.
The two hit the ground and Discord, in a panic, tried to shove the zombie off of him. But it quickly sank its teeth into his neck and blood poured all over his and her fur. Buck noticed what was happening and reached for a fire extinguisher on the wall. He grabbed it and slammed it against the back of the zombie’s head, killing it and knocking it to the ground.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 9:04 a.m.
“Last thing I knew,” Ray said, “I was sitting by the door, like usual.” Everypony had gathered back at the medical room and found Ray waking up from being knocked out cold. “Next thing, I was coming to…looking at you fine ponies. He must’ve gotten loose somehow.” Discord was back in the bed and Buck was standing over him…keeping close watch. “I can’t believe he got the better of me.” Ray continued. “But I can tell you, right now, that isn’t going to happen again.” Discord looked over at Buck.
“You need to get me some Zombrex, Bucky,” he said, “and you need to move fast.”
“We oughta’ toss him out there with his own kind.” Ray said. “Let them tear each other to pieces.”
“He hasn’t turned yet…why?” Buck asked. Applejack trotted up next to Buck.
“Some ponies and creatures are just more resistant to the infection than others.” She explained. Discord grabbed Buck’s arm with his handcuffed arm.
“I can set you free, Buck.” He said. “You need to help me.” Buck pulled away sharply and turned back to Applejack.
“How long does he have?” He asked.
“Ah don’t know, Buck. None of us will until he turns.” Applejack said as he trotted out of the room and back into the bunker. Ray stayed behind and continued keeping guard over Discord.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 11:04 a.m.
Everypony was gathered in the small cafeteria of the bunker, listening to another news source. It had been a few hours since the scheduled time the Royal Guardians would have been sent in and everypony is getting nervous.
“Royal Government sources have confirmed that there has indeed been a dangerous mutation of the zombie contagion within the city.” The news reporter said. “Early indications of survivors at the official emergency shelter were proven false when a Royal Guardianship Rescue Team entered the shelter…only to find it completely overrun and everypony inside already dead.”
Fluttershy put her hoof up to her mouth and stifled a cry. Her friends gathered closer to her and started hugging each other warmly.
“Contact with the rescue team,” the news reporter continued, “was abruptly lost as they attempted to exit the city. They are now presumed to have also perished in the outbreak. In light of this new information, Princess Celestia has ordered the immediate eradication of everything within the quarantine zone. Wonderbolt Bombers are preparing to execute these orders at precisely seven o’clock tomorrow morning.”
Buck started growling after hearing this new information.
“Our thoughts go out to the families of all those who have lost loved ones in Celestial Sisters.” The news reporter finished. Fluttershy jumped out from her friends and spun around to face everypony else.
“You think I’m still paranoid?” She asked in an aggressive tone.
“They just got the wrong information.” Ray said. “Now calm down and relax.”
“Calm down? Our royal government is going to bomb us!”
“Now, ease up there, missy.” Ray said. “Our government is simply not going to kill a bunch of unarmed civilians.”
“That would be un-Equestrian.” Fluttershy said.
“Hey, we simply need to go out there and take control.”
“Go out there? Are you out of your mind?” Everypony just stared at the two as they kept arguing back and forth…especially Fluttershy’s friends.
“Look,” Buck said finally, “let’s just try to stay calm and think our way out of this.”
“I did not work this hard just to get blasted off this rock.” Rebucka said. “I’ve got to get in touch with my station. They’ll come get me…hay, they’ll come get everypony. This is the story of the century.”
“Well, no pony’s going to hear it unless we get out of here.” Rainbow Dash interjected.
“There’s more going on here than just a heist.” Buck said. “First the gas…and now this.”
“We know Discord framed Buck and started the outbreak.” Rebucka said. “But there’s no way he could access the media with that lie that we’re all dead.”
“And he couldn’t order a Wonderbolt firebombing.” Twilight said.
“This is bigger than Discord…way bigger.” Rebucka said. Ray slowly trotted over to Rebucka and stood behind her.
“Look,” he said, “I know we’ve all been through a lot in the past few days, but don’t go making it worse by making things up.” That’s when it dawned on Buck.
“Rebucka,” he said, “could we look at the video you took during the failed rescue?” Rebucka grabbed her camcorder and started fiddling with the switches as Buck stood next to her to get a good look at the tiny monitor.
“I didn’t notice it at the time,” she said, “everything was happening so fast. The gas…it looks like it’s coming from underground.” Buck nodded his head.
“Then that’s where we’ll find out more.” He said as he turned around to leave the cafeteria. Ray quickly stopped him with his hoof.
“Whoa, Buck.” He said. “Those tunnels are gonna’ be crawling with thousands of those…gas zombies or whatever they are. Going down there is just plain suicide.”
“We don’t have a choice now.” Buck said.
“We all got choices, boy.” Ray said.
“I’ll come with you.” Rebucka said as she stood up. But the pain from the sprained ankle caused her to lose her balance and almost fall to the ground. Buck quickly grabbed her and helped put her back in the chair she was sitting in.
“No, you take it easy for awhile.” He said. “You’ve got your story…don’t go losing your head over this.” He started trotting for the door, when he stopped and went over to Applejack.
“Say, AJ,” he said, “could I get another syringe of Zombrex?”
“Sure,” she replied, “what do y’all need it for?” She took off her hat and pulled out a syringe just for Buck.
“I’m gonna’ make sure Discord pays for everything he’s done.” Buck said as he grabbed the needle and trotted into the medical room. Discord was lying down patiently as Buck prepped the needle. He slowly trotted over to the side of Discord’s bit wound.
“I don’t know how you lasted this long, Discord.” He said. “But you are one lucky son of a gryphon.”
“No such thing as luck, earth pony.” Discord said. “It’s the superior genes.” Buck slammed the needle into Discord’s arm and the Draconequus lurched and yelped in pain. Buck leaned in closer so he could speak directly into Discord’s ear.
“My daughter takes this better than you.” He said as he yanked the needle out of his arm.
“You did raise her right, Bucky.” Discord said. “It is a real shame that she has to die.” Buck got so angry, he slammed his hoof against Discord’s face. Discord shook his head and tried to recompose himself.
“Don’t mess with the face.” He said as he spat blood at Buck. Buck just sighed angrily and left the medical ward.
Chapter Ten
Buck Greene
Date: September 30, 2011 1:06 p.m.
Buck slowly trotted through the green fogged center of Celestial Sisters. As he went pass a giant rock formation, he heard the sound of a revving engine as it rapidly approached him. He spun around to find a pony on a green, chainsaw-equipped motorbike speeding quickly up to him. Buck, in a panic, rolled to the side as the beast flew past him.
Buck pulled himself up from the ground to find that it was the pony that mocked his dead wife before they all went on to do Terror Is Reality many days earlier. His black mane was greasy and de-shelved from many days of, obviously, not bathing. His fur was red and caked with a huge buildup of blood.
“Well, lookie here,” he said menacingly, “if it ain’t widdle Bucky Greene. Didn’t get enough of me yet? You come back for my autograph?” Buck just shook his head in disbelief by what he was hearing. “Oh, I bet you just get rock hard thinking about me at night, don’t you, Bucky?” He said as he started thrusting his pelvis hard into the body of the motorbike. “You come to throw your panties at me?” He asked as he started revving the engine and driving around Buck in circles.
“Whatever, buddy,” Buck said, “look, I can take you to the bunker where it’s safe…there’s going to be a firebombing in the next 24 hours.” The pony stopped his motorbike and just stared at Buck.
“Bunker?” He asked. “Where it’s safe? Wow, you are a little filly, aren’t you?” He asked completely ignoring what Buck had said about the firebombing. “I used to follow you when you did Motoclops…but…look at you now. You’re a broken stallion. You just don’t got it anymore, do you?”
“What’s your problem?” Buck asked angrily.
“You’re such a chump, Buck.” The pony said. He looked forward at the sound of another pony survivor in the distance. Buck looked in the same direction and saw a rather large Clydesdale waving his hooves in the air.
“Hey!” He shouted. “Over here!”
“I’ll race ya’ for him.” The pony on the bike said. He grabbed a hold of the throttle and revved the engine loudly. In an instant, the maniacal pony sped off after the surviving pony. Buck just looked on as the crazed pony sliced the chainsaw right through the body of the innocent stallion. The motorbike spun around and headed right for Buck’s body.
But the bike stopped at the last second and came to a gentle halt.
“What are you doing?!” Buck asked. “That wasn’t a zombie!”
“Yeah, no duh, Buck…twice the points.” He says. “They’re harder to hit ‘cause they move around so much…bastards.”
“You’re crazy!” Buck said. “This isn’t a game.” The crazed pony slowly turned his head to face Buck.
“You’re right about that…that was just practice.” He said as he revved the engine some more. The motorbike started driving around in circles around Buck. “Now it’s a game! Terror Is Reality, Buck, for real!” He laughed in between statements. “Live in Celestial Sisters!” His bike came to a stop in front of Buck.
“I’ve always wanted to take you down, chump.” He continued. “But you need some wheels, Bucky.” He said as he took out a set of keys from his pocket and threw them to the ground. Buck thought for a moment and then proceeded to pick up the keys the sadistic pony threw to the ground.
“Don’t keep me waiting.” He said just before he drove off into the distance. Buck picked up the set of keys, curious as to what they were supposed to go to. He looked around his area, mostly out of curiosity, and spotted his yellow chainsaw motorbike setup near one of the giant rock formations of Celestial Park.
“How could he assume I’d show up?” Buck asked himself as he galloped over to his bike and started setting himself up. He spun the bike around and breathed a heavy deep sigh about what was going to happen.
“Ya’ ready, Buck?” He could hear the crazed pony ask. “Time for some good ol’ jousting; just like when Equestria was established many a millennia ago.”
“Jousting?!” Buck asked in shock. “Are you insane?”
“Nope, but I could be.” The crazed pony laughed hysterically and started riding at Buck at his top speeds. Buck, in turn, did the exact same thing and drove after the nutjob. Time seemed to slow down around Buck as the two motorbikes got ever closer and closer.
Buck thought long and hard about what he was doing and realized that this isn’t the best thing to do…especially now of all times. His heart was on the verge of explosion as the sadistic stallion was getting ever nearer to his target.
Without much thought, Buck jerked his bike just slightly to the right, to avoid hitting his target. He cringed when he heard the sound of severing muscles and tendons as the chainsaw sliced through the pony’s back leg and gas tank. He yelped in agony and the motorbike he was on started to dip to the left. He hit the ground and rolled a few times before coming to a stop just outside the Kingdom de Gryphon Casino doors.
Buck spun his bike around and drove over to the downed pony to see if there was anything he could do. To his amazement, the pony was still alive and was trying to get back onto his bike; laughing hysterically some more.
“Oh, you think it’s that easy, Buck?” He asked as he pulled the motorbike up right. Gas was pouring all over the ground around the downed cycle. “You think you’re the stallion?” He continued. “You’ll NEVER beat me.” He said as he tossed his bleeding leg over the motorbike and sat down on his haunches. He revved the engine and started up the chainsaws again.
“Yeah, that’s right,” he said, blood dripping down the side of his muzzle, “quadruple points, Bucky…let’s see you top this.” He then started doing donuts in front of Buck; his chainsaw getting lower and lower to the gasoline-stained concrete. “Yeah!” He shouted. “You take that!” The chainsaw hit the ground and sparked the still wet pool of gasoline.
In an instant, the motorbike went up in flames and engulfed the senseless stallion. He just kept laughing as if nothing was happening, still sending sparks into the air as his chainsaw ground up against the…ground.
“On top!” He continued boasting. “All the way to the end.” The flames started burning away his fur and mane. The fiery contraption came to a slow and sickening stop as the pony pulled himself away from the wreckage…still on fire.
“But never forget, chump,” he continued, the smell of burnt fur quickly filling Buck’s nostrils. “I’M. NUMBER. ONE!!!” He fell to the ground, dead. Buck stood back a few inches to avoid getting burnt himself.
“Yeah,” Buck said, “you’re on fire.” Without hesitation, Buck turned and started galloping off to the maintenance tunnel entrance.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 3:05 p.m.
The dark underground was filled with even more of the green fog than above ground. There was a huge mix of gas zombie ponies with regular, non-gassy zombie ponies. But what was most interesting to Buck, as he slowly trotted through the tunnels, was that they weren’t attacking him and were all shambling to the same area.
Buck went along with their migration for many, many yards, until they all came upon a giant set of huge metal doors; eerily similar to the ones that were sabotaged in the bunker. Again, the zombies around him weren’t making any advances to his open and exposed body. This was all very strange to Buck as he made his way to a security panel that was blinking red with the word OPEN. He pressed the flashing red button and the giant metal doors started to open up.
Once they were fully open, the zombies started shambling down a long passageway. Buck mixed in with the crowd, curious as to what in Equestria was going on down here.
And then he saw it.
A giant room that had huge amounts of the green fog emanating everywhere; guards were stationed all over the place with odd looking gun that didn’t seem to take bullets whatsoever. But the weirdest thing about the room was the chandelier…at least, it looked like a chandelier. That is if others had five rotating sections, rotating at different speeds, with one giant hole in the center that went to Celestia-Knows-Where.
Buck ducked behind some giant, red containers and watched as the zombies seemed to be transfixed to the spinning device. He just kept looking at the strange device…until a, very high-pitched, ringing started filling his head.
He grabbed his head in agony from the pain; trying his hardest not to scream. As he was dealing with that, the zombies around his start convulsing and having spasms. Much like when Buck killed the Queen wasp, all of their heads exploded. Any Queens that had managed to burrow inside the heads of the zombies were now flying up to the rotating device.
After a few seconds, or a millennium on the moon for Buck, the painful ringing stopped and guards started trotting in to clean up the dead bodies. Buck looked around and took this opportunity to look for any information regarding what he just saw happen. As the guards were distracted, Buck made his way to a main office overlooking the whole room.
Fortunately, nopony was in the room when he arrived. Everything inside was mostly files and file folders. But there was one thing that caught Buck’s eye: a laptop computer. Amidst all of the low-tech equipment, this was the one piece of technology that stood out from the rest.
Buck made his was over and found out that it was Royal Government Property, that made Buck curious. After a bit of fiddling, Buck found information that made his rage overflow.
The laptop was under the sole custody of Phenotrots pharmaceuticals. And it had information that was related to everything that happened in Celestial Sisters…as well as information proving his innocence.
“Phenotrots, huh? You sick bastards.” Buck said to himself. He closed the laptop and picked up with his mouth. But before he left the room, he noticed a key card controlling the elevators and a weird looking device that had numbers all over it going from zero to nine. He grabbed those items too and proceeded to trot back to the bunker.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 4:09 p.m.
Buck came in and sat the laptop down on the table closest to Rebucka…that was everypony in the room could see. He flipped the top open and turned to look at the other confused ponies.
“It’s Phenotrots,” He said, “They’re the ones behind everything.”
“Phenotrots?” Fluttershy asked. “But they make Zombrex.” That’s when Ray made his way into the security room; followed closely by Applejack.
“You two just calm down a minute here.” Ray said. “This one’s been feeding up claptrap since you all got here.” He continued; pointing an accusing hoof at Fluttershy. “Now look, we’re all under a lot of stress,” Ray continued, “seeing things out of the corners of our eyes…imaginary stuff.” Rebucka was quickly working through the data on the laptop.
“There’s nothing imaginary about this.” She said bringing up a few files. Buck and Fluttershy got closer to get a better look and saw things on the screen. Double-helix DNA strands that spun around in three-dimensional animations; small packets talking about the green gas and how it’s affecting the zombie’s genetic make-up.
“I don’t understand,” Fluttershy said, “why would they..?”
“I’ll tell you why.” Rebucka said, almost figuring out everything within half a second. “It’s been a couple of months since the last major outbreak. Ponies aren’t buying Zombrex the way they used to. But now, zombies are back and even the Royal Guardians can’t stop them. There are probably line-ups at every pharmacy…just for Zombrex. They’re making a killing off this.”
Buck slowly trotted away from the computer; breathing heavily and angrily.
“Ok, let’s see if I’ve got this right,” he said. “You’re saying that Phenotrots…killed all these ponies…just to drive up their Celestia forsaken stock price?”
“This is just crazy.” Ray said.
“We have to get this information out.” Buck said. “We have to take these parasprites down!” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the number device, which he realized later was a portable phone, and handed it to Rebucka. “I found this down there, too.”
“I’ll call my station,” Rebucka said, “they’ll send help.” She spun around in her chair as she dialed the number.
A gunshot rang out.
Rebucka’s body fell to the floor; a bullet hole between her eyes.
Ray was holding his gun.
“What in Equestria?” Buck asked, astonished. Katey quickly galloped behind her father for protection. Ray motioned Applejack to grab the laptop computer. She did, but with major hesitation.
“Looks like you finally got your story.” Ray said to Rebucka’s dead body. “Too bad you won’t be getting that award though.”
“You jerk…you’re on their payroll.” Buck said. Applejack also grabbed the cell phone and placed the item in her hat.
“Yep.” Ray said as he aimed his gun at Buck. “You were supposed to die in the outbreak, Buck. All of you were supposed to die. But don’t worry; the firebombing will fix all of that. So nopony will find the bullets in your bodies.” Fluttershy slowly inched to a baseball bat hidden under a table next to her. Ray cocked his gun and got closer to Buck.
“I didn’t want it to go down this way.” He continued. “Although, I do have to say, I’m going to enjoy this…”
“I knew you were the bad guy.” Katey said from behind Buck’s flank.
“Fillies say the cutest things, don’t they?” Ray asked as he aimed the gun between Buck’s eyes. Buck closed his eyes, accepting his fate, when Fluttershy flew up and smashed the baseball bat against Ray’s foreleg; a loud snapping sound was quickly followed. The gun dropped and Ray slammed his head into Fluttershy, knocking her to the ground hard.
Buck grabbed the gun, and was about to fire, when Ray grabbed Applejack by her mane and galloped her out of the security room. Fluttershy looked up at Buck with pain-filled eyes.
“Buck,” she said, “you can’t let him escape…especially not with Applejack.”
“Don’t worry.” Buck said as he got closer to the door. “They’re not getting away this easily.” He galloped out of the room, at full speed, to his (hopefully) final showdown with Ray.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 4:46 p.m.
It took Buck half an hour to catch up to Ray. The nutjob of a pony had made his way to the top of the Zebra Zavara Casino, with the laptop and cell phone in tow, and was getting a harness prepared for both him and Applejack. Buck trotted through a broken door and started yelling at the two ponies.
“So, you two are behind this.” He said. “You’ve killed all these innocent ponies…for bits!”
“Buck, Ah…” Applejack began to say.
“Shut it!” Ray shouted at the earth pony. He turned back until he was eye-to-eye with Buck. “After everything that’s happened, that’s what you think? The bits are secondary…we’re trying to save lives here, Buck.”
“Saving lives?” Buck asked. “What the hay are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on!” Ray shouted. “We have had to take the necessary steps to ensure a consistent supply. Phenotrots can’t make the drug without Queens, Buck…a lot of Queens, you can thank Applejack over here for that.”
“And Discord looting the city?” Buck asked. “What, that’s not about bits?”
“He went off the rails.” Ray said. “He was well paid for his part…but then he just got too greedy. That was his work…not ours.”
“Whatever happened to ‘do no harm’, Ray?” Buck asked, his temper flaring above his normal thresholds.
“Open your eyes, Buck.” Ray said. “Do you have any idea how many ponies are infected in this great country of ours? Doctors, politicians, CEOs…some of our country’s best are infected! Even your little filly, Buck,” Ray continued, pulling on Buck’s heartstrings, “What would happen to your cute little time bomb if she didn’t get her drug?” Ray looked back and saw a flying chariot come down from the sky.
“Celestial Sisters was a small price to pay to ensure our country’s way of life.” Ray said as he trotted next to Applejack.
“You murdered these ponies!” Buck shouted.
“Acceptable losses.” Ray said. “This wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last!”
“You PARASPRITE!” Buck shouted as his body was shaking from rage. “You did it! You caused the Pegasus outbreak, too, didn’t you?! You killed my wife! You destroyed my family!”
“Everything that we have done has been absolutely necessary!” Ray shouted as he trotted over to the chariot with Applejack. Buck galloped after them and tackled Ray to the ground. His hooves were swinging in different directions as he landed blow after blow against Ray’s head; blood coagulating on Buck’s hooves.
Ray bucked his hind legs and sent Buck flying through the air and crashing into some scaffolding. Ray pushed Applejack into the chariot and hopped in himself.
“Get us to the facility, now!” Ray shouted. While he was distracted, Applejack threw the cell phone out of the chariot just before it took off; hoping Buck would get to it in time. Buck just watched helplessly as the chariot got smaller and smaller in the distance. Tears were streaming down his face; the first time he’s cried since Stable Brook three months earlier.
Phenotrots, the one company he would always trust, was behind everything that destroyed his life. This thought made him more angrier than sad as he pulled himself up from the ground. Pain shot up his hind leg, realizing he sprained his back right hoof. He slowly made his way over to the cell phone and dialed for information.
After a few tense seconds, Buck got a hold of Rebucka’s station.
“Channel Six Action News?” Buck asked. “This is Buck Greene. Do you want the scoop of a lifetime?” A small pause as the pony on the other line gave her answer. “There’s a bunker, full of survivors in Celestial Sisters, and I’ve got the proof of what happened here. I need rescue chariots…and I need them right now.”
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 6:01 p.m.
A flying chariot landed on the roof of the Celestial Sister’s bunker. Channel Six sent in three different ones: one for the survivors, one for Twilight Sparkle and her friends to be taken to Canterlot immediately, and one specifically for Buck and Katey. Fluttershy stayed behind so Katey got on the chariot safely with her father.
Buck galloped off the chariot and towards the waiting ponies. Fluttershy slowly made her way to Buck; not realizing that Katey had dropped her Clop Clop backpack. Buck galloped up to the two and gave them a warm hug.
“It’s over,” he said, “we’re going home.”
The elevator doors closed.
Fluttershy carefully handed Katey over to Buck and the three started trotting back to the waiting chariot. Once Fluttershy and Katey were secured in, Buck started getting himself ready, too. But he noticed something strange.
“Wait, Katey’s backpack, it’s not here.” He said as he stepped off the chariot again.
“Couldn’t you just leave it?” Fluttershy asked.
“It has all her mother’s things in it.” Buck said. “I’ll be right back; it’ll only take a second.” He then galloped back towards the elevators.
The ringing of the elevator started, signaling it was coming up from the bunker.
Buck approached the doorway and was about to grab Katey’s backpack, when a talon came out of nowhere and grabbed Buck by his leg. Buck slowly looked up to find Discord staring at him with hateful, yet sarcastic, looking eyes.
“Hello, Mr. Greene.” He said mockingly. “We meet again.” Buck picked up the backpack and raised a hoof to punch Discord across the face.
“Discord!” Buck said. “Will you give it a rest? You’ve lost…deal with it!”
“Oh, no Buck.” Discord said. “I’m still in this game…you have lost. Thanks to that dose of Zombrex you gave me, I can still help Phenotrots out with its master plan.”
“What master plan?” Buck asked.
“I’m not going to divulge information like that so easily.” Discord said.
Back at the chariot, Fluttershy was getting concerned about why it was taking Buck so long to return. She laid Katey down carefully on the seat and proceeded to step off the chariot.
“Ma’am,” one of the Pegasi said, “we can’t wait much longer.”
“Please, wait.” Fluttershy said bluntly. “It’ll just be a second.”
“Where did Ray take Applejack?” Buck asked. “Could you at least answer that question?”
“Nope, I’m afraid I cannot.” Discord said. “Now, before we drag this out any longer than it needs to be…” Discord grabbed Katey’s backpack and threw in Fluttershy’s general direction. The timid Pegasus caught it with her muzzle, unexpectedly, and started shivering in fear of Discord.
“Would you be a dear and take that to young Katey?” Discord asked. Fluttershy squealed and galloped back to the chariot. The Pegasi started flapping their wings and the chariot slowly lifted up from the rooftop.
“Why are you doing this, Discord?” Buck asked.
“As I told you many days ago…I’m just enjoying the land of opportunity.” Discord said. “Now, have some fun with your new friends.” Discord then snapped his talons and the elevator doors opened to reveal the compartment full of zombies. In an instant, Discord shoved Buck into the elevator and snapped his talons again; this time closing the elevator doors.
He chuckled loudly and snapped his talons once more and disappeared into a flash of white light; sealing Buck’s fate forever. The chariot then flew off in the distance.
Chapter Eleven
A Familiar Face
Over a year ago, a zombie parasite was introduced to the population of Fillydelphia, Equestria as an act of vengeance for the unchecked experiments that devastated the Western Equestrian town of Appleloosa.
Since then, outbreaks have sprung up in cities all across the pony country, including Las Pegasus and the Celestial Sisters Adult Pony Playground located on the outskirts of Manehatten.
Buck Greene, the stallion framed for the Celestial Sisters incident, is fighting for his life….
Date: September 30, 2011 7:33 p.m.
Buck’s hooves were starting to get sore after beating all the zombies down. Even though there were only ten, it was still a nightmare to keep them down. It was as if as soon as one went down, another would pop right back up and try to sink its teeth into Buck’s hide.
Discord, the spirit of chaos, was helping Phenotrots with the outbreak and framed Buck so they could get away with their plans. But before Buck could tell the country, Ray, a pony who kidnapped Applejack, got away with all the important evidence, leaving Buck with Rebucka’s, now dead, camera.
As he was dealing with the zombies, the elevator doors started opening and another pony stepped in to help. He had a baseball bat in his mouth and he was swinging wildly, killing any zombies that tried to attack Buck.
In a matter of seconds, the two stallions stopped to catch their breath. After awhile, Buck looked over to his savior and noticed that he looked oddly familiar. His mane was scruffy and black and it seemed to be receding due to age or stress. He was wearing a black dress jacket and a white dress shirt that had to open buttons on the front revealing his, very fluffy, chest. He wore dark sunglasses that covered up his eyes and a silver medallion that had the etching of an apple orchard on the front. He also had a black camera around his neck.
“I think I’ve seen you somewhere before,” Buck said, “you must be…” The pony that helped him also noticed Buck’s face and pushed him down into a pool of running blood.
“Hey, you’re the one who’s all over the T.V.” He said. A gruffy voice that had a hint to age in it. “They’re saying you caused all of this.” Buck started to pull himself up off the floor.
“That’s a lie.” Buck said. He pushed past the pony and trotted onto the main rooftop of the bunker. He noticed that this pony came in on his own Channel Six chariot. “Phenotrots set me up.” Buck continued.
“You know, there’re vigilantes out for your head.” The gruff pony said. “You’re commanding a nice bounty.” Buck spun around stuck his nose in the other pony’s face.
“Is that why you came, huh?” Buck asked. After a few seconds of silence, the other pony spoke.
“Well,” he said, “maybe I don’t exactly believe everything I see on T.V.” Buck sighed heavily and started trotting over to the side of the rooftop. As he looked on at the green city, the other pony slowly trotted up behind him.
“Phenotrots are the ones who kill thousands in Celestial Sisters…thousands in Pegasus.” Buck said. “They’re the ones who killed my wife…and they’re the ones who killed Rebucka.” The other pony came to a quick stop behind Buck.
“Rebucka? Rebucka Hayes?” The other pony asked. “She’s…she’s dead?” Buck realized that this pony knew the late Rebucka.
“I’m sorry.” He said. “A Phenotrots agent shot her.” Buck looked towards the sky and saw another chariot, this time with a large container in the back, flying off in the distance. “Look, I need proof, now. I’ve got to clear my name.” Buck said as he trotted away from the edge.
“You don’t have time for that.” The other pony said, grabbing Buck’s foreleg. “The Wonderbolts are going to blow this place to the moon any second.”
“The report said that the bombers weren’t coming in until the morning.” Buck said.
“Celestia apparently pushed the order forward.” The other pony explained. “They’ll be here any moment now.”
“Then I’m screwed.” Buck said.
“Look,” the other pony said, “I’ve got an idea. I have a source that’s told me about some sort of Phenotrots facility…west of here.”
“What kind of facility?” Buck asked.
“I don’t know.” The other pony said as he turned to face his chariot. “I was going to find out…with Rebucka. And you might be able to find your evidence there. There might even be a connection to what happened here.” Buck then trotted up to the other pony. The two slowly made their way to the waiting chariot.
As Buck approached the chariot, the other pony turned around to talk to him.
“You can come,” he said, “but if I find out you had something to do with this.” He said pointing at the zombie-infested city. Buck sighed angrily, getting sick of all the blaming.
“Look, buddy, I didn’t do it, alright?” He said. “What are you looking for, a big story? Some way to get yourself back in the limelight?” That’s when a watch on the other pony’s hoof started beeping.
“Oh yeah? Is that what you think?” He asked as he pulled out a syringe full of Zombrex from his coat pocket. “There’s a hay of a lot more to it than that.” He said as he injected the needle into his neck and pushed down on the plunger.
“And the name’s Flank.” He said as he threw the syringe to the ground. “Flank West.”
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 8:49 p.m.
Flank and Buck were standing on a ledge that overlooked the wide-open desert of Equestria. But, in the middle of this tundra, was a massive facility with steam pouring from giant exhaust ports on the roof. Chariots, all with giant containers, were flying in and landing in a giant yard in the back of the building.
Flank was looking at everything through a set of binoculars and Buck just stood there, angered by what he was seeing. After a few moments, Flank handed Buck the binoculars and Buck started looking at the facility himself.
“Do you see anything?” Flank asked.
“Uh…yeah.” Buck said. “There’s an unguarded vent leading into the building. If we take that, we’re in, no problem.”
“Good, then let’s go.” Flank said as he slowly climbed down the side of the cliff.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 9:11 p.m.
Flank and Buck were slowly making their way through the mass of tunnels that were the ventilation shafts. Flank was in front and Buck was heading up the rear. As they made a turn, Flank found himself at a dead end; Buck noticed the problem, too.
“Great,” Buck said, “A dead end, nice investigative work there, Flank.”
“Just drop it, Buck.” Flank said as he started backing up.
“Get your haunch out of my face!” Buck said angrily.
“Back up!”
“You’re too close!”
“I said drop it!” Suddenly, the floor supporting them gave and they fell forward into a tiled room. Buck and Flank started grabbing their bodies in agony from the shock of falling.
“Consider it dropped.” Buck said as he looked over to Flank.
“At least it was a soft landing.” Flank said as he started pulling himself up. But the ‘soft landing’ he was talking about, turned out to be a zombie lying on the floor. Buck and Flank started standing back-to-back as they realized the room they were in was filled with zombies.
They started panicking and tried to find a way out, but to no avail.
“You got any ideas, Flank?” Buck asked.
“No, you?” Flank replied.
“No.” Buck said. As the zombies got closer and closer to the pair, a set of doors started to lift up from the ground, revealing even more zombies on the other side. As Buck shook in fear, Flank looked through the crowd and saw that they were in one of the many containers that were brought in from Celestial Sisters.
“Buck, we need to go that way, through the back.” He said pointing past the crowd of zombies.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” The two then started galloping at full speed through the zombies to the door. They both heaved it wide open and ran out into the safety of open space. Fortunately, they were the only two living ponies in the area.
“Okay, we’re alive, now where do we go?” Buck asked. Flank looked around as the zombies started pouring out of the container. He noticed, in giant red lettering, that there was a shipping office on the second floor.
“To the shipping office, we can go from there.” Flank said as he started galloping up to a metal stairwell; Buck quickly behind him.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 9:32 p.m.
Flank slowly opened the door leading into the shipping office. He was crouched down to the floor, whereas Buck was standing tall on all four hooves. Flank, angrily, grabbed Buck by his jacket and yanked him down to his level.
“Stay down.” He said in a hushed yell. The room was very quiet, almost too quiet. There were many desks and many high-tech devices scattered about. File cabinets where against white and blue painted walls and some unknown files were scattered all about the blue-carpeted floor.
They silently made their way to a doorway leading into another room in the shipping office; Buck looked inside and saw two guards stationed at some security monitors, completely unaware of Buck and Flank’s presence.
“There are two guards.” Buck said silently to Flank. The two then quietly made their way into the room and up behind the two guards. Buck slammed his hoof against the first guard’s head, knocking him out, whereas Flank bucked the guard in the back and slammed his head against the table.
“So, what do we do with them?” Buck asked.
“We’ll deal with them later.” Flank said. “My source said that he’ll talk us through when we arrive at the shipping office.” That’s when the loudspeaker came on, a soothing and loving voice talking.
“Warning!” She said. “There has been an unscheduled release of the zombie supply out of the containment area.”
“Wait, look!” Buck said as he looked down into the container room. “The zombies have gotten out of their pens.”
“Please take precautions as to not harmfully damage the supply.” The mare on the loudspeaker said.
“Supply?” Flank asked. That’s when a computer monitor in front of the two blinked to life and started typing as if they were in an instant messaging room on the Ponynet.
Remote Host: Welcome Flank West…and friend.
“I think this may be my source.” Flank said. “As I told you, he’s expecting me.”
“Your source works for Phenotrots,” Buck said, “are you sure you know what you’re doing here, Flank?”
“Use your head.” Flank said bitterly. “He started the outbreak to distract security and unlock the doors.”
“Look, for all you know, this could be a big setup.” Buck said. That’s when a printer near the back of the room started printing out a blue sheet of paper. Buck started trotting over to the page as Flank continued his conversation.
Remote Host: Welcome Flank West…and friend.
Local Host: Hello?
Remote Host: I’ve hacked the doors to set off an outbreak and distract security.
Remote Host: I’ve sent a map for you to use when you’re ready to go.
“It’s a map.” Flank said. “Check it out.” Buck grabbed the piece of paper and brought it over to Flank so the two of them could look at it together.
“Harvesting Room…Refrigerated Containment…Biowaste Disposal…what in the..?” Buck said as he looked over the map.
“Look,” Flank said, “he says he can hack into the secure networks if we can enter these access codes.” Flank said pointing to series of number located next to doors leading into the different rooms. “Then, he’ll download information about this place: security footage, facility designs, and things of that general nature.” Buck folded up the map and put it in his back pocket.
“We don’t have much time.” Flank said. “The codes change every few hours.”
“Then let’s get the hay out of here.” Buck grabbed one of the guns the security guards was using and made his way to the door leading back into the giant storage room. “Where do we go first?”
Flank looked at the map with the attached codes. “There are two places we need to enter these codes: one is in another security outpost like this one and the other is just beyond the…’Living Quarters’, that’s located on the other side of this place.”
“Well, let’s get started now.” Buck said. “Get back in time so we can get our evidence.” And with that, the two ponies exited the building and back into the Phenotrots facility.
*** *** ***
Date: September 30, 2011 11:09 p.m.
Buck and Flank galloped back into the security room they first entered at the start of this journey. Both were panting heavily and covered in blood.
“What in Equestria were those things?” Flank asked as he wiped blood from his forehead.
“I’ve come to call them ‘gas zombies’.” Buck explained. “Phenotrots unleashed this green gas in Celestial Sisters and it mutated the zombies and turned them into those monstrosities.” They both continued catching their breath. Flank took his sunglasses off and started wiping them down with his white dress shirt. Buck slowly trotted into the main room of the security office, with Flank close behind.
“So,” Buck said, “what’s this evidence, Flank? Huh?” Flank sat down in front of Buck and put his sunglasses back on. “What does it show and when are we going to get it?” Buck asked.
“It must show what’s going on in this place,” Flank said, “but my source needs time to download it. Let’s just get the hay outta’ here and meet up with him later.” He said as he motioned Buck to the door.
“I still need proof that I was set up in Celestial Sisters.” Buck said. “You might have your big story now, Flank, but I’m a dead pony if we don’t find some evidence that clears my name.” Flank stood up until he was eye-to-eye with Buck and patted his shoulder.
“Okay,” Flank said, “just…calm your nerves. You’ve been under a lot of stress this whole week.” Flank made his way back over to the computer and started chatting with his source again. Buck slowly trotted up behind him and watched as the two had their conversation.
Local Host: Buck is looking for information to clear his name. This won’t be enough. He says he was framed for the Celestial Sisters outbreak and that Phenotrots is responsible.
Remote Host: I’ll look around and see what I can find for him.
“He says that he’ll try to figure something out.” Flank said. That just seemed to make Buck angrier.
“Try, huh?” Buck said. “Yeah, that’s great. I’ll figure it out myself then.” As Buck started trotting back to the door, Flank’s source started typing on the computer again.
Local Host: Buck is looking for information to clear his name. This won’t be enough. He says he was framed for the Celestial Sisters outbreak and that Phenotrots is responsible.
Remote Host: I’ll look around and see what I can find for him.
Remote Host: I want to take them down just as much as you do. You must believe me.
“ ‘I want to take them down just as much as you do…you must believe me’.” Flank repeated back. Buck sighed and trotted back over to Flank. That’s when somepony outside in the storage bay started screaming. Buck and Flank galloped over to the window and saw a stallion Clydesdale, dressed in a scientist uniform, galloping away from a group of gas zombies that had made their way to the other side of the facility.
“Should we go help him?” Buck asked.
“It’d be wrong if we didn’t.” Flank said. “It’s weird.”
“What is?” Buck asked.
“Well, it’s like every time there’s an outbreak, there’s always that one or more pony that can’t help or defend themselves and it’s up to some heroic pony to save their sorry flank.” Buck stood there and thought for a moment of what was just said.
“Well, aside from that, let’s go see what we can do for him.” Flank nodded his head and the two galloped out of the security room and into the main storage bay. Besides the onslaught of zombie ponies and gas zombie ponies, there were also unicorn ponies in hazmat suits using electric cattle prods to subdue any undead creature that came within their area. Buck and Flank just ignored them as they made their way to the stranded pony, who had managed to climb on top of one of the metal containers that brought the zombies in.
“Help me get rid of these things so I can get out of here!” He shouted when he noticed Buck and Flank galloping up to him. Buck grabbed his gun and started firing into the crowds of zombies, blood and brains spraying all over the walls around them. Once the last one fell down, Flank pulled himself up to the scientist pony and told him everything was going to be okay.
“I’ve never seen you two here before.” He said. “This must be your fault.”
“Sir, we actually…” Flank began to say.
“Save it,” the pony said, “if you really didn’t start this, why don’t you be a good ponytarian and look for others who got caught up in this mess!”
“We’ll see what we can do.” Buck said from below.
“And, while you’re looking for other survivors, can you try to find my fillyfriend Lisa? I last saw her in the cafeteria at breakfast.” He said as he jumped down to Buck’s level.
“As I said, we’ll see what we can do.” Buck said again.
“Thanks, now, if you’ll excuse me.” The scientist pony then galloped at full speed to an emergency exit and left the building. Flank hopped down to Buck’s level as well and stood next to him.
“Well, that’s a first.” Buck said.
“I know…a survivor that actually didn’t need much assistance.” Flank said.
*** *** ***
Date: October 1, 2011 2:03 a.m.
Many hours later, Buck and Flank were resting in the security outpost, waiting patiently for Flank’s source to return with any important information. After witnessing everything in the facility, Flank was starting to have doubts about that company that saves even his own life.
“I just can’t believe it.” He said. “They’re collecting Queens from the zombies…with that gas.”
“And those zombies are from Celestial Sisters.” Buck said as he trotted over to Flank. “Do you get it now?”
“I…” The computer started back up again, interrupting Flank. The two ponies started trotting over to the computer to see what the source was talking about this time.
“It’s for you, Flank.” Buck said as Flank sat down at the chair and started typing away.
Remote Host: Hello, Flank.
Remote Host: The Director’s Observatory should have information on the outbreak – what Buck will need to clear his name. To get access, you’ll have to get the key card from one of the labs. But be very careful in there – it’s rigged with alarms. She’ll be out of there for a few hours, so you better hurry.
“He says the Director’s office should have the evidence to clear your name.” Flank said, paraphrasing the source’s information. “We’ll need to get a key card to get in there, but it’s rigged up with alarms…” Buck pushed Flank aside and started typing into the computer.
Remote Host: Hello, Flank.
Remote Host: The Director’s Observatory should have information on the outbreak – what Buck will need to clear his name. To get access, you’ll have to get the key card from one of the labs. But be very careful in there – it’s rigged with alarms. She’ll be out of there for a few hours, so you better hurry.
Local Host: Who are you?
After a few brief seconds, the screen went black with the words CONNECTION DISCONTINUED across the front. Buck slammed his hoof against the desk.
“Great!” He said. “Well, let’s get out of here.”
12 - The Time For Truth Is Near
Chapter Twelve
The Time For Truth Is Near
Date: October 1, 2011 2:31 a.m.
Buck and Flank carefully entered the Director’s office; a massive room that overlooked an area called the ‘Secure Labs’. Buck trotted over to a filing cabinet near the back labeled ‘Celestial Sisters’ and started digging through the mysterious contents.
Flank, however, trotted up to a massive wall of computer screens that had pictures of many ponies, ranging from earth and Pegasus ponies to unicorn ponies and even a few gryphons and zebras. There were signs that read: Test Results and Missing Ponies. Flank just couldn’t believe what he was reading. On the other side of the wall, Buck noticed and oil painting of Princess Celestia that was autographed by said alicorn.
“Record of Missing Ponies Reports…” Flank said. “And this is a list of prisoners, Buck.” He turned around to find Buck trotting up with a confidential folder with Celestial Sisters written on it in red bold letters. “What’s that?” He asked.
“Blueprints of Celestial Sisters’ underground. A harvest projection.” He slammed the folder shut and looked up at Flank. “I saw it all back in Celestial Sisters. They need Queens to make Zombrex.” Flank started reading through the file.
“But Phenotrots has been telling the country that the drug is synthetic.” Flank said. “Made in a lab…not from Queens anymore.”
“That’s a lie, Flank, don’t you get it?” Buck asked. “It’s still made from Queens…from zombies.” That’s when Flank pulled out a box of Zombrex from his coat pocket.
“And if you run out of zombies…you just make more.” He said angrily.
“And sometimes you run out of prisoners…or the homeless…” Buck added in. That’s when Flank looked back at the wall of green computer monitors.
“…or missing ponies.” He said solemnly.
The box of Zombrex went flying across the room and hit the wall next to the Celestia portrait. It accidentally triggered one alarm that was still active in the room. In an instant, the loudspeaker came to life.
“Attention,” it said, “all security personnel. Breach in the Director’s office. All available personnel respond immediately. You are directed to use lethal force.” Flank grabbed the file folder and made his way to the exit. Buck trotted over to Flank’s box of Zombrex and grabbed it before he too left the room.
As they exited, two unicorn guards arrived to cut them off. But they weren’t the ones Buck and Flank had gotten used to. They were the size of Clydesdales…maybe even bigger than that. They were dressed in dark black hazmat suits that covered every inch of their bodies. And they had giant weapons attached to their front right legs: a massive yellow device that had the look of a pneumatically-powered hammer. It didn't take a genius to figure out what would happen to the two stallions in the hallway if they were cornered by those things.
“Oh, crap, what do we do?” Flank asked. Buck looked around frantically and noticed a sledgehammer and an axe over to their left. Buck got an idea…one of which he was not going to be too proud of. For almost a week, he’s been killing more than zombies and ponies…he had been killing his own psyche.
“Hand me that sledgehammer and you use the axe.” Buck said. Flank did as he was told and grabbed the two heavy weapons. Buck positioned himself and got ready to attack as Flank hoofed him the sledgehammer.
“Who do you want?” Flank asked.
“Uh…the first one.” Buck said. The two nodded and switched their positions so Flank was taking on the unicorn to the right and Buck was taking on the one to the left. Everything was just a blur to the two ponies.
All they remembered was the sound of breaking bones, gushing blood, and shattering teeth as the two guards fell to the ground, groaning in agony. Buck and Flank took them out of their misery and threw the two weapons down on the ground.
“Are you worried we may have grown desensitized to murder and death?” Buck asked as they trotted down the dark hallway leading back into the main building; going back to his earlier thought.
“Oh, I lost that sense after Fillydelphia.” Flank said without emotion. Buck tried opening the door and realized it was locked from the outside.
“Great, how are we going to get out of here now?” He asked as he turned to face Flank. The aging pony looked around for any possible way out and noticed a wall of windows leading into the secure labs.
“We could smash those windows and escape that way.” He offered.
“We need to leave discretely .” Buck said. Flank looked back at the locked door.
“We could bust down the door.” He said.
“Once again, we need to be discrete !” Buck said angrily, a slight hiss on the first syllable.
“Security G249, you’re not responding. What’s going on up there?” A voice asked out of the silence, sending Buck and Flank back a few inches. They looked down and noticed that it was a transceiver on one of the unicorn’s body going off. Flank knelt down and carefully picked it up.
Quoting one of his favorite movies of all time, Flank responded, “Uh, yeah, we had a slight… alarm… malfunction up here. All’s clear…situation normal.” He let go of the button and waited for the other pony to speak. Buck just shook his head side to side, not being able to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
What seemed like an eternity only lasted a few brief seconds. The door made an unlocking sound, hinting it was locked electronically.
“Pfft, zombies,” the other pony said, “Alright, nice work guys.” Flank pulled himself up.
“You do realize there was a one in five-billion chance that would actually work.” Buck said.
“Never tell me the odds.” Flank said as he trotted out of the hallway and into the main building.
*** *** ***
Date: October 1, 2011 3:00 a.m.
Buck and Flank galloped into the security room just as Flank’s source started communicating with the two again. Flank galloped over to the monitor and started reading to Buck what it said.
“I have your evidence, Flank, but I’m trapped in the secure lab.” He said. “I need to override the security lock to the main lab doors, but it’ll take time. I’ll let you know as soon as I make some progress.” Buck sighed angrily and sat down on a chair next to Flank.
“So, now what do we do?” He asked.
“We could play a game.” Flank said.
“What game?”
“The game…it’s pretty fun. The simple rule is that if you think about the game, you lose.” Flank said with a smirk growing across his face.
“But, how do you win?” Buck asked.
“Just don’t think about the game.” Flank said.
*** *** ***
Date: October 1, 2011 5:58 a.m.
Buck and Flank had waited in the security room patiently for nearly three hours for the source to even respond. Buck had gotten so bored that he started amusing himself with a clickable ballpoint pen. For the past half hour, he just kept clicking it open and closed.
Open and closed.
Open and closed.
Open and closed.
Over and over again and Flank was starting to get annoyed.
“So, where the hay is this stallion?” Buck asked, still clicking the pen away. Flank looked over but didn’t have an answer. He just turned back to the monitors and kept a close eye on them. The clicking pen continued…almost seemingly getting louder in Flank’s ears.
His teeth started grinding as he was doing his best to push away the building anger from what he was hearing. More clicking…more clicking…more clicking. Flank screamed and grabbed the pen from Buck’s hoof and threw it across the room; breathing heavily out of frustration.
“You know, for a guy whose covered wars…you’re just a little high-strung.” He said as a smile grew on his face. Flank spun around and was about to send an insult in Buck’s direction, when the source cam e back up on the computer monitor. After a few brief seconds on reading, Flank turned back around to face Buck.
“Now, see?” Flank asked happily. “He’s got our evidence downloaded. We just need to break in to where he is. But he can’t hack the doors.” Buck pulled himself up and trotted over next to Flank.
“Then, it looks like we’ve got to cut the power.” He said. Flank started typing Buck’s idea in.
Remote Host: I’ve got the evidence downloaded and I’ve put it on a memory stick. But there’s a problem. I’m not able to get out of the secure lab to meet you. There’s a firewall which won’t let me open the doors. Is there anything you can do to help?
Local Host: We can cut the power.
Remote Host: That’s a great idea. I know that there are C4 explosives in the security tower in the zombie storage bay and you can find a detonator from the supply bay. You’ll need to hurry, though – the guards were just called away. This is our chance!
“Now’s our chance,” Flank said, “The guards just took off for something.”
*** *** ***
Date: October 1, 2011 6:09 a.m.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Buck?” Flank asked as Buck was getting the C4 prepared. They had broken into the generator room and were quickly applying the explosives Flank’s source told them about.
“I had a brother in the Royal Guardianship, he taught me a few things about the kinds of new weaponry they’ve been using during territory conflicts.” Buck explained.
“Wait, you had a brother?” Flank asked. “What happened to him?”
“Zebra Troopers kidnapped him, he’s still a P.O.W.” Buck said as he attached another wire. “Now, when I say gallop, you better gallop like Nightmare Moon herself was chasing you with a sharpened horn.” He placed in one last wire before flipping a small switch on the side.
“GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!” Buck shouted as the two galloped out of the generator room. The beeping on the explosive started slow and then picked up rapidly. Within a matter of seconds, an explosion rocked the area and sent Buck and Flank flying through the air. The blast wave shattered all glass in the area and even threw some zombies through the air and into some of the hard, unforgiving walls.
Buck and Flank landed hard on the floor, at the edge of the secure lab doors. All the power in the building suddenly went out and the back-ups for the lights came to life. The two ponies helped pull each other up and made their way into the now unsecure, secure labs. What took almost no time at all, the power kicked back on and everything started humming lightly.
“Power has been restored.” The loudspeaker said. “Thank you for your cooperation.” The two stallions came to a stop as they saw a third pony slowly trotting up to them. She was wearing a blood-stained white overcoat and had a brown ten gallon hat. He fur was a light orange and she had white freckles just underneath her eyes.
“Finally…ya’ made it.” She said looking at the two ponies.
“AJ? You…you’re my source?” Flank asked surprised.
“Applejack?” Buck asked. “Well, thank Celestia that you’re okay.” The young mare slowly made her way over to Flank and placed a hoof on his shoulder.
“It’s been so long, Flank.” She said. Flank pushed her away in anger.
“You work for them?” He asked.
“Flank!” She said. “Ah work for ‘em, yes. But it ain’t what ya’ think. Ah was forced t’ do it…it was that or go t’ jail.” She turned away from Flank as tears swelled up in her eyes.
“So, all this time you knew Queens were a key ingredient?” Flank asked. “You’ve been helping them?” She spun back around to face Flank.
“Ah’ve tried t’ make a synthetic.” She continued. “But…she stole mah work!” She started trotting away. “Ah have been working on a cure…Ah was so close…Ah must get out of here and continue mah research.” She looked back to Flank for help.
“Wait,” Buck finally said, “why did you say she stole your work?”
“Oh, my dear, I’m afraid that will never happen.” Everypony in the room looked up to the Director’s office and saw the last pony they’d suspect as running Phenotrots: Princess Celestia herself. The doors leading into the secure labs opened and two unicorn guards came in with automatic weapons drawn.
Applejack, Buck, and Flank all started to kneel to the ground, but AJ took off for another exit in the secure labs and tried to get away. A unicorn shot at her, but missed completely. The guard stopped and turned back to Flank and Buck.
“She was just using us to escape.” Buck said to Flank. The guards then grabbed Buck and Flank and started trotting them away from the secure labs.
“Not to worry, Gentlecolts.” Celestia said. “No pony is leaving from here alive.”
“Don’t give me that.” Buck said. “You no longer care about lives.” He looked up to her and noticed a giant bite mark on her neck.
“Everything I do here is for the greater good.” Celestia continued. “You all rely on me. No pony would even stop me…even if they knew.” The guards continued escorting Buck and Flank out of the room, when two gunshots rang out and the guard behind the duo fell to the ground dead.
Applejack had returned carrying a pistol. Flank smiled warmly, knowing that Applejack wouldn’t betray anypony like that. But his smile quickly disappeared when he noticed another pony standing behind her. His mane was a light grey and he had a beard to match. He had a black eye and many bruises all over the front of his face; in the shape of hooves.
And, much like the unicorn guards that Flank and Buck killed with a sledgehammer and an axe, he had two giant hammed on his front legs that sent a shockwave of energy through any unfortunate pony body. He was Ray, the betraying Clydesdale from Celestial Sisters.
“Applejack!” Flank shouted. But it was too late, Ray slammed one of the hammers into Applejack’s body and she slid across the ground and into some metal shelving. After a few seconds, she started moving and pulled out a flash drive from her front coat pocket and slid it over to Buck and Flank.
“Take it!” She shouted. “The country needs t’ know!” She then fainted as Buck reached down to grab the drive.
“Discord, bring her to me…I still have use for her.” That’s when Discord appeared behind Applejack and carefully picked up her body.
“Discord?” Flank asked in surprise.
“Hello, Flank West.” He said. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you. But, I really need to go.” He snapped his finger and teleported into Celestia’s own private office. Buck tried reaching for the flash drive again, but Ray trotted up and smashed it with one of his hammers.
“Well, we meet again, Buck Greene.” He said. “I’m going to finish what I started back in Celestial Sisters.” He lifted up his hammer and was about to strike down, when Flank rushed over, grabbed the pistol Applejack had moments earlier, and fired some rounds into Ray’s side.
He screamed bloody murder as he started tripping over himself towards a container that housed dozens of Queens. Buck looked on with a smile as Ray’s hammer smashed the glass and he fell through into the waiting, and very angry, Queen wasps. They started stinging every inch of his body and some even climbed inside of his mouth.
After many agonizing seconds, Ray’s body went limp as five wasps pulled themselves out of his mouth; orange fog rising as he gave his last breath. Buck and Flank slowly trotted away from the dead psychopath and faced Celestia’s office. Flank also noticed the huge bite mark on the side of her neck.
“You look like you could use a little Zombrex everyday yourself, Princess.” Flank said. “Why would you do this?” Princess Celestia just smiled and gave a curt laugh.
“You can’t think I need Zombrex anymore.” She said. “I made something to remedy that quite awhile ago.” Buck got angry from what he was told. “With Applejack’s very helpful notes.” She said, looking over at the unconscious mare.
“A cure?” Buck asked. “You’ve had a cure all this time?”
“Of course,” Celestia said, “but it wouldn’t have been in our country’s interests to release it. And besides, none of you are worthy…not really. Its pony greed and apathy that brought zombies into being. The pony race deserves the zombie apocalypse…and now look at you. You’re destroying the very company that brings you the medicine to heal your loved ones.”
“But you’ve loved all of your citizens!” Flank shouted. “Why would you have a sudden change of heart?”
“Well, not only was it greed, our economy has been dipping for years now.” She said. “I was at Appleloosa when everything went downhill. I too was bitten by a rotting corpse. Thanks to Applejack and Braeburn’s notes, I was able to make a cure for me…and for Discord.”
“You helped Discord?” Buck asked. “WHY?!”
“I’ve grown tired of this dual monarchy that my sister and I share…it’s about time that Equestria goes through another absolute monarchy…and you can’t have one without and king and queen.” She started punching some numbers into a small keypad by her desk.
“There will need to be another harvest now.” She said. “You reap what you sow…” And with that, Celestia, Discord, and Applejack trotted away and left Buck and Flank behind.
“Attention, all personnel,” the loudspeaker came on again, “Self-destruct sequence initiated.” Buck started trotting back into the main building of the facility.
“We’ve got to find it!” He said. “The cure…it’s got to be in here somewhere!” Flank grabbed Buck by his jacket and stopped him dead in his tracks.
“We’ve got to get out of here, Buck.” Flank said.
“No, we can’t leave.” Buck said as he continued trotting. “I need to find that cure for my daughter!” Flank stopped him again.
“It’s too late!” He yelled at Buck. “We gotta’ go, now!”
*** *** ***
Date: October 1, 2011 6:57 a.m.
Within the span of five minutes, Buck and Flank escaped the facility with merely the Celestial Sisters underground blueprint. Buck was able to get the remaining bits of the flash drive before he was incinerated. He believed that if he could put the pieces back together and release the data, he could put their beloved princess and horrible Discord behind bars…or better.
Flank looked on as smoke bellowed from the smoldering remains of the Western Equestrian Phenotrots Facility. Buck was waiting patiently on an old Motoclops bike; one with no motor built into the chassis. Flank kept doing what he did best: photography.
“A cure…” Buck said. “Can you imagine the difference that would have made to the country? Let alone the world?”
“That might have been a lie, Buck.” Flank said as he looked over to the sad stallion on the bike. Buck slowly looked over at Flank.
“I need to believe that there’s a cure out there.” He said. Flank turned back and continued looking at the carnage half a mile away. Buck pulled himself off the bike and trotted next to Flank.
“Well,” Flank said, “at least we have the evidence that shows they were behind the Celestial Sisters outbreak.”
“But nopony is going to take our word that Celestia is behind the whole thing.” He said. “I looked through this folder and everything says that it was the previous CEO’s orders…she’s framing Applejack now.” They both stood there in silence for a moment.
“Celestia knew about Appleloosa…and Fillydelphia.” Flank said.
“She resurrected Discord to help bring about the outbreaks in Pegasus and Celestial Sisters.” Buck continued.
“And now she’s rebuilding our government to make way for a new tyranny.” Flank said.
“She framed me, for reasons I don’t know.” Buck said.
“And she killed millions of ponies just to help stimulate the economy.” Flank said. They both stood there in silence again. That’s when an alarm went off on Flank’s watch; time for more Zombrex. His eyes widened.
“My Zombrex,” he said, “I…I left it back in the…” Buck pulled out the white box of Zombrex and handed it to Flank.
“Take it,” Buck said, “the country needs Flank West.”
