Dead Pony Rising: Off the Record

Chapter Nine

His Name's Flank!

The Wonderbolts Wonderland had many rides as previously explained, the Sonic Rainboom Experience, Soarin’, and the Fleetfoot Echo. But, there was another ride that was going to be added. It was going to be called the Tactical Rainnuke. It was a ride built to look like a giant Rainbow Dash, but it had arms that ponies would sit in and it would twirl them around in different directions to create the speed and sensation of being up close to a tactical rainnuke.

Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were set up in the main control panel room of the ride. Rarity was controlling the right arm with her magic, Twilight was controlling the left, and Rainbow was giving directions on where to strike.

The fight had been going on for many hours, it was nearing twelve in the morning when Flank was curled up behind a destroyed metal crate. He was breathing heavily and blood was pouring down from a gash on his right shoulder.

“This is so unfair.” Flank said. “How am I going to get out of this one?” He turned his head around a corner and saw that Rarity’s arm was lying on the ground; her magic had burned out and was starting to give herself a rest. Flank thought carefully about what he had planned to do.

His basic plan was to gallop up the side of the arm and into the control panel, defeat the fillies inside and figure out a way to get out of Celestial Sisters before the firebombing could commence. Obviously, this plan was much easier said than done.

But, inside the massive Rainbow Dash head…

“It’s okay, Rarity.” Dash said. “Give your horn a rest… we’ve been going at this for hours now.”

“But… we can’t…” Rarity said between breaths, “We can’t let him… get away…”

“Don’t worry.” Twilight said after ceasing her flow of magic. “That gash you gave him… he’ll bleed to death in a matter of minutes.”

Flank just lied there, bleeding heavily onto the cemented ground beneath him. His breaths were starting to grow painful. But, he decided that if he was going to go out, he would at least try to go out in style. So, Flank pulled himself up from the ground and slowly trotted out from his hiding place to find that the arms were still lying motionless on the ground.

“Well… better late than never.” Flank said just before taking off at a full gallop to the right arm. Rainbow Dash looked down and saw that Flank had climbed on top of the downed arm. She turned to Rarity and ordered her to slam his sorry hide into the ground.

Doing as she was told, the arm became surrounded in a light blue aura and started lifting back up from the ground, Flank still riding on top.

“This’ll be interesting.” Flank said. The massive arm came down and almost crushed Flank into pony pulp. The arm just lied on the ground for a moment or two, giving Flank the chance to jump on try to disarm the device. But as he was slamming his back hooves into the small control panel, Twilight started lifting up her arm.

The left arm went up and slammed against the other arm with such force, that it sent Flank flying in one direction and completely tearing the other arm in half. Flank pulled himself up and saw the carnage that lay before him. Metal was lying everywhere and small sparks were shooting from the remnants of the right arm. There was a sharp pain in his back left hoof and he peered down to investigate.

His hoof was twisted horribly and he knew that it was badly broken. But with the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Flank only felt a small pinch over agonizing pain.

“Twilight, you egghead!” Rainbow Dash yelled.

“Sorry, I was told this ride was made of pure titanium.” Twilight said. “Apparently that was a lie.”

“Obviously.” Dash said. “It doesn’t matter; we can still take this piece of trash out.” Twilight lifted her arm up again and got ready to strike directly at Flank. The said earth pony was wobbling on his three tired legs and one severely damaged leg; trying to map out his next course of action.

He had virtually no time to react as the remaining arm shot forward and slammed hard into the concrete earth in front of Flank. Twilight’s aim was off by at least two inches. Dirt and debris shot up and smacked Flank in the face, breaking his sunglasses. He quickly shook them off and galloped at full sprint up the arm.

He had a new plan.

“What in the wide, wide world of Equestria is this pony doing?” Twilight asked, watching Flank gallop up the arm.

“I don’t know.” Rarity said. “But he is rather persistent.” Flank stopped just at the shoulder and looked through the window that the other three ponies were peering through. He reached into his back pocket and withdrew a pistol.

“Oh, no!” Rainbow shouted. Flank fired two rounds into the window; causing the whole viewport to collapse and allowing Flank the chance to get inside and deal with the three betraying ponies.

“Oh, what do we do?” Rarity asked in desperation. “WHAT DO WE DO?!” Rainbow Dash slapped her hoof across Rarity’s face, making her go silent.

“First, you need to calm down.” She said. “Second, we kill that son of a…” Flank fired two more rounds into the room, chipping off the tip of Twilight’s horn and shattering Rarity’s horn. The two unicorns fell to the ground in total and complete agony. Rainbow Dash slowly and carefully trotted over their writhing figures and made her way up to Flank.

“You just don’t quit, do you?” She asked.

“Nope, never had…never will.” Flank said. “You three are going to pay for your crimes against Equestria and your fellow ponies, zebras, gryphons, dragons, and whatever else creatures there may be that roam our fair country.”

“Oh, but there’s just so much you don’t understand.” Rainbow said as she flapped her wings and started hovering in the air above Flank. “So much, in fact, that if you or anypony were to find out, it would mean sour news to Equestria.”

“What’re you talking about?” Flank asked. “You used fear to drive the masses into falling for your faux pas. The one thing, or I should say pony, you didn’t count on was me. I uncovered the truth about what happened in Appleloosa and Fillydelphia. The whole country is going to know about this in a matter of hours. It’ll be in your best interest to just give up now and submit to me.”

“But,” said a mysterious fourth voice, “it’ll be in our country’s best interest for you to die.” Flank spun around to face the unknown, yet familiar, voice. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened in total fear.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were floating in the air in front of the window that Flank had shot out with his gun moments earlier.

“Celestia… what’re you doing here?” Flank asked.

“I’m here to pick up my most favorite student and her best friends.” She said. “I can’t have them die at your hooves.”

“Wait a minute…” Flank said.

“That’s right, Mr. West.” Celestia said. “I am the one that started the Celestial Sisters outbreak. I also started the one in Las Pegasus. I ordered the eradication of all living things in Appleloosa and Fillydelpha. I own Phenotrots and PURE. And I will see to it that nopony finds out what happens.” A yellow aura of magic surrounded the massive Rainbow Dash ride and started shaking violently; Celestia was planning on loosening the screws and causing the head to fall off.

Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed Twilight and Rarity and flew through the broken viewport to a waiting chariot on the ground. The yellow aura disappeared and Celestia flew down to the waiting chariot as well.

“Luna! Get your haunches down here immediately!” Celestia yelled to her sister. Luna looked Flank in the face, a tear streaming down her face.

“I’m so sorry it had to end like this.” She said. Flank was about to call her out… but realized that she legitimately meant what she had said.

“It’s okay… I don’t blame you…” Flank said before Luna flew back down to the waiting chariot. The two Pegasi controlling the chariot started making a galloping start towards the right side of the ride and their wings began to flap hard.

The head groaned loudly just before it tilted forward and started falling to the earth. Flank closed his eyes and embraced for the release of death… but nothing happened. He expected to hear the sound of crumpling metal, breaking glass, and ripping flesh.

All he heard was a magical wisp and lots of heavy breathing.

He opened his eyes just a tad and saw the Princess of the Night sprawled on the floor; panting like a dog on a hot summer day. Flank looked down and realized he was in the Celestial Sisters bunker.

“Luna…” He began. “What did you do?”

“I… I teleported… both of… of us back to… safety…” She said between breaths.

“But… why?” Flank asked.

“My sister… she… she needed to… be… stopped…” Luna explained. “Just before the… head fell… I teleported us… back here…”

“And your sister?” Flank asked as he lifted himself off the floor.

“Hopefully… under two tons of… heavy metal… and broken glass…” She tried lifting herself up, but the sudden strain of magic had caused her to burnout and nearly pass out.

“Whoa, just lay down for a minute, okay?” Flank said. “Just rest right now, we’ll get out of here in no time whatsoever.” Flank said as he trotted away from the tired alicorn and towards the security room. Everypony around him were amazed, and a bit terrified, to see Luna in the flesh.

“Is Rebucka okay?” He asked a couple ponies.

“We assumed that she was okay when you left,” one pony said to Flank, “but that nurse had a look over her…”

“Is she..?” Flank asked.

“No… not yet at least.” The pony said. “But… she probably doesn’t have much time left.” Flank was scared of hearing those words. He didn’t know Rebucka that long… but he was starting to have strong feelings for her. He hadn’t had true feelings like that since he met Jessie back in Fillydelphia.

With that, Flank galloped at his fastest speed to the door of the security room. The nurse was slowly trotting out of the room; a couple unicorns carefully moving Ray’s body to the helipad for proper delivery to said unicorn’s family were behind her.

“Nurse,” Flank said, “is she going to be okay?”

“I’m afraid not, Flank.” The nurse pony said. “The wounds she suffered from the gunshot quickly got infected and went septic some couple hours later… I’d give her only a few minutes left until she passes.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing you can do?” Flank asked in desperation.

“I’m sorry.” She said. “We send out a team of five ponies to get antibiotics from my pharmacy. Powerful stuff, too, that could bring down her fever… only one made it back.”

“So, I need to go get her those antibiotics to ensure she lives?” Flank asked for clarification.

“I’m afraid I’ve already given them to her.” The nurse pony said. “It didn’t help one iota.” Flank just stood there in silence; taking in the news that a new friend was dying. “She’s awake right now.” The nurse said. “Go in there if you need to.” The nurse slowly trotted away towards the cafeteria.

Flank turned the handle to the door and trotted inside to find Rebucka lying on the couch; a blood-soaked blanket lying carefully on top of her. She turned her head over and gave a small smile to Flank.

“Hey there.” She said lightly. So light to the point Flank could just barely hear her.

“Oh, Rebucka,” Flank said as he trotted over to the couch, “I’m so sorry this had to happen to you. Don’t worry though, Rainbow and her friends are dead.”

“I’m not too worried about that, Flank.” Rebucka said. “I just want to know one thing: why?” Flank hesitated. These were her last moments on Earth and Flank didn’t want her to find out the truth that Celestia was behind everything from Las Pegasus to now. So, he lied… and it tore him up every second he did it.

“Applejack’s company, Phenotrots made the gas to mutate the zombies and grow Queens at a faster rate.” Flank said. “Rainbow Dash used Fluttershy’s group as a tool to ensure a consistent supply for Zombrex.” Rebucka smiled lightly after hearing the truth… what she believed to be the truth.

“At least… we know.” Rebucka said. “I’ll die peacefully knowing that.” She took at deep breath and stared at Flank for a bit longer; taking in all of his features before closing her eyes for the last time.

“Rebucka… there’s something I want to tell you…” Flank said. “I’ve been getting a crush…” A white hoof shut Flank’s mouth; Rebucka smiling happily, getting what he was about to say. He just smiled, closed his eyes, and nuzzled Rebucka’s hoof. The two stayed in the position for the longest time, it seemed to go on for an eternity in Flank’s mind. After awhile, Flank opened his eyes and saw that Rebucka’s were closed shut.

Flank gently placed Rebucka’s hoof against her chest and pulled the blanket up and over her head. Tears were streaming down his face as he cried his hardest since he escaped Fillydelphia. The past few days have been even tougher for him since he arrived at that horrid mall. He spun himself around and started trotting out of the security room. But, before he left, he saw the saddlebag Rarity dropped when she escaped with Twilight and Dash.

He dug through it and pulled out the cell phone Rebucka was going to use to call her news station. The phone number was still in the main memory databank and Flank just pressed the call button. After a few seconds of ringing, a stallion came on to greet Flank.

“Channel Six Action News?” Flank asked. There was a brief pause.

“This is Flank West.” He said. “Somepony lied to you.” Everypony in the bunker slowly made their way over to Flank, Luna included.

“There’s a bunker… full of survivors in Celesital Sisters.” Flank continued. “I’m gonna’ need rescue chariots… and I need them right now… before the firebombing begins.” He threw the phone down and started trotting to the rooftop of the bunker.

*** *** ***

The first of a few chariots landed on the main landing pad of the bunker rooftop. A unicorn galloped over to Flank to greet him. He had a very light pink coat and a blood red mane. His eyes also had a strange yellow-ness to it.

“Okay, we’ve got thirty minutes before the Wonderbolts get here.” The unicorn said. “How many ponies are we loading up?”

“We’ve got about fifteen.” Flank said. “Including two dead ponies, Princess Luna, as well as Discord.” The unicorn stopped dead in his track after hearing the last name.

“Discord?” He asked. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Flank bluntly replied. “Do you think you can pull it off without a hitch?”

“I’m sure I can.” The unicorn said. “All right, get a move on, we need to get these ponies out of here, and we need to get them out of here now!” He shouted to a couple other unicorns in the chariot.

Everything started working and going smoothly. It seemed like no time had passed at all by the time they got down to only two ponies. But Flank was quickly caught off guard as a talon and a lion paw grabbed Flank by his shoulders and threw him in the opposite direction of the landing pad.

Flank smashed hard against the metal doors of the elevator. In a woozy haze Flank looked up to see Discord standing in front of him; breathing heavily and his nostrils flaring.

“You’re so dead!” He shouted. “I’m going to make sure you never see the light of day again.” Discord ran over to Flank, grabbed the old stallion by his neck, and pinned him hard against the elevator doors.

“Discord…” Flank said. “How did you escape?”

“Hello! I’m just as magical, if not more magical than, an alicorn!” He said. “I can teleport to whatever location I desire!”

“How come you didn’t do that when you first got captured?” Flank pointed out.

“When I play games,” Discord explained, “I enjoy messing with a pony’s psyche. You forget that I’m more powerful than Celestia. I use that advantage to make you feel real important… then I crush it down like a condemned building. But, that doesn’t matter anymore. You’re going to pay for killing Celestia.”

“Why do you care about Celestia?” Flank asked. “You two have been at each others’ throats for thousands of years.”

“I’ve always loved that alicorn.” Discord confessed. “We were set to marry and rebuild Equestria.”

“What’re you talking about?” Flank asked.

“Your economy is dipping with each passing day, Flank.” Discord said. “You’d think a journalist would be up-to-date with current events… but you just proved me wrong. Anyway, Celestia has been working on ways to bring in more profit. She instated the Westerns Appleloosan Pomaceous Research Facility to study new ways of producing apples to help down on breeding costs.

“It led to the zombie outbreak of Appleloosa. From there, she was able to produce a temporary cure. With the help of Applejack and her friends, Celestia helped found Phenotrots and started mass-producing Zombrex. Bits starts flowing in like water down a river; we had profit and ponies felt safer at night.

“But, she needed a little extra help. She resurrected me to help start both the Las Pegasus and Celestial Sisters outbreaks. She soon realized my true feelings for her and we decided the best course of action to take with Equestria is to re-instate a true monarchy; where I would be king and she would be queen.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Flank asked.

“Because, it’s all you really wanted to know.” Discord said. “And, now that you do, you must die.” With that, Discord chucked Flank through the air towards the waiting chariot. He hit the chariot with such force that it knocked him out cold.

*** *** ***

Flank woke up from his temporary sleep to find himself lying in a flying chariot heading the direction of Manehatten. He looked behind himself and saw Wonderbolts dropping large crates into the fiery remains of Celestial Sisters. He turned to face the rest of the chariot and found he was sitting in the same chariot with Princess Luna and the unicorn he first met when the chariots came in.

“What happened?” Flank asked.

“Well, looked who decided to wake up.” The unicorn said. “Discord tried to kill you, but I was able to take him down before he had the chance. We escaped before the Wonderbolts arrived and we’re heading towards the nearest hospital to have a look at your injuries.”

“Thank you…” Flank said. “Can I ask for your name?”

“Certainly,” he said, “I’m the general of the unicorn division of the Royal Guardianship. My name is General Prance.”