Dead Pony Rising: Off the Record

Chapter Two

PURE Innocence

Flank 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.

“Flank?” Said a voice through the transceiver. “Come in, Flank.” Flank took the small device out of his back pocket and answered.

“Yes, Rainbow Dash, what is it?” 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.” Flank 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.” Flank put the map back into his pocket and continued trotting down the hallway.

“Thanks again, Rainbow.” 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 one poster proclaiming the best rock band to grace Equestria, Metallicolt, was to perform a benefit show on the Celestia Strip to help raise awareness of the Cutie Pox.

There was another poster about two unicorn brothers who proclaimed they had the best apple cider in all of Equestria. Flank remembered reading an article about how the two brothers lost business after everypony found out that they were willing to sacrifice quality for quantity.

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

“Fantastic.” He said quietly. Flank quickly and quietly started trotted 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!” Flank shouted. “Don’t you ponies have something better to do?” The unicorn looked around and saw Flank trotting out from behind the shelf he had hidden behind.

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

“Just looking for some meds,” Flank says, “no need for things to get ugly.”

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

“Well, talking to you is giving me a headache.” Flank 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?” Flank 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 Flank with his crowbar.

“That could be arranged.” He said. The looter then swung his crowbar at Flank’s face, but Flank slammed his hoof into the looter’s stomach and pushed him to the ground; the looter dropping his crowbar. Flank 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,” Flank says, “but you take the taco, pal.” Flank 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?” Flank 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.” Flank 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.” Flank says as he takes the box and puts it in his jacket pocket.

“When were you bitten?” The mare asks.

“What’s weird is that I never was bitten…it just…sort of happened.” Flank explained, remembering the moment Braeburn told him he was infected.

“That’s really strange.” The mare said. Flank turned around to face the doorway and was about to leave, when he turned back to face the mare.

“Look, we may need your help.” Flank said.

“We?” The mare asked confused. “There are more of you?”

“Yeah, there’s a bunker full of survivors. If you follow me, I can take you there safely.”

“Absolutely, I would just love to be anywhere but here.” The mare said.

*** *** ***

Flank and the mare climbed out of the air duct and into the safehouse. The old stallion that Flank 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.

“Well, I wasn’t just going to leave her there.” Flank says. The stallion comes to a stop and slowly looks at Flank.

“We can’t afford to have any infected in here.” He says as he trots up the stairs. “One is bad enough.” Ray leads the pharmaceutical mare into the small hospital room situated in the bunker; Flank trots upstairs and into the cafeteria, a waiting Rainbow Dash inside. Flank pulled out the syringe and jammed the needle hard into the side of his neck. He grunted slightly as the unnaturally cold fluid was plunged into his veins.

“Glad to see you found some.” Rainbow Dash said as she was flipping through the channels on the T.V. set in the cafeteria.

“Yeah, me too.” Flank said. He slowly made his way over to the coffee machine and started pouring himself a cup. Rainbow Dash landed on the Channel 6 News station and sat back down in a chair to watch the current news report.

“I have been told that we have received a broadcast from our field reporter Rebucka Hayes, who is inside Celestial Sisters.” The anchorstallion said during his report. Flank finished pouring his cup of coffee and turned to the T.V. set after hearing Rebucka’s name. The T.V. cut to a young mare with a short black mane in a white dress giving her report; a posh hotel in the background.

“It is clear that the outbreak started in the Celestial Sisters arena, during last night’s ‘Terror Is Reality’ show. Information received from a behind the scenes source reveals that this outbreaks was not an accident, but rather an act of terrorism.”

“Oh, Rebucka,” Flank said, “look at you. Not the weather filly anymore.” He started taking a sip from his cup of Joe.

“…at the site of the Terror Is Reality gameshow.” Rebucka continued her report. “This shocking footage was obtained from a source inside the Celestial Sisters arena, it may be upsetting to some viewers.” The report cut to security camera footage of a scraggly-looking stallion placing an electronic device on a gate containing zombies.

Flank realized something; it was the same pony he saw talking to CK many hours earlier. He watched as the pony galloped off screen as the electronic device, now a bomb, went off, releasing the zombies into Celestial Sisters. The screen then cut back to Rebucka Hayes.

“Initial reports suggest that the man in the video is a member of the protest group PURE.” She said. Flank’s eyes widened after he heard what she said.

“PURE?” He asked.

“Authorities speculate that PURE was attempting to discredit Terror Is Reality,” Rebucka continued, “or to shock Equestrians out of what PURE sees as their complacency. No statement of responsibility has yet been received. This horrible act of terror appears to be an escalation of violence for the protest group.” Flank slowly looked over at Rainbow Dash.

“This is Rebucka Hayes, reporting live from the Celestial Sisters Hotel, in the heart of Celestial Sisters.” Flank trotted over and shut off the T.V.

“You?” Flank asked as he slowly turned to face the cyan Pegasus. “What the hay? That was your picture on that screen!”

“Where did that even come from?” Rainbow Dash asked, her eyes showing signs of fear of Flank.

“It came from the security camera, filly.” Flank said. “What the hay were you thinking? Your friend’s group has a reputation, but come on!”

“PURE had nothing to do with this.” Rainbow Dash argued.

“It’s pretty easy to say that, isn’t it?” Flank asked. “But you’re gonna’ need more than that. You better start talking…right now.” He said as he slammed his hooves into the table.

“I’m telling you, we’re being set up.” Rainbow Dash said. “My friend’s group has been accused of things before, but we don’t believe in violence! We’re just somepony’s convenient excuse.”

“Oh, really?” Flank asked.

“It’s not the first time members of PURE have been falsely accused of being involved with an outbreak. I’ve got to find whoever leaked that tape. That stupid CK and his horrible show.”

“I’m not saying I believe you,” Flank said, “but something’s not right here, that’s for sure. I needed something to get back in the game. I investigate this, maybe I can get back to doing what I do best. That reporter…where is she?”

“I think she said she was in the hotel.” Rainbow Dash said as she slowly flew over to the cafeteria door. “I know this could end up being a big chance for your career, but don’t forget, this could mean mine and my friends’ lives.” Rainbow Dash slowly flew out of the room; Flank quickly behind her.

*** *** ***

Flank slowly trotted into the main lobby of the Celestial Sisters Hotel. All around him was strewn luggage and baggage from pony families coming here for a vacation…unfortunately having it brutally cancelled. As he looked around the area, he noticed a small I.D. badge lying in a small pool of blood. Flank slowly knelt down to study it further; realizing that it had a picture of Rebucka Hayes on the front.

“Amateur.” Flank sighed. “Looks like you’re zombie chow, now.” That’s when the body of a mare started pulling itself up. She had a black mane and was wearing a blood-stained white dress. Flank noticed her getting up and was starting to back away slowly, when a gunshot rang out through the lobby.

The zombie’s body fell down to the floor; another mare standing in the back with a smoking gun in her mouth. She slid the gun back into its holster and looked over at Flank.

“You need to pay attention out here, buddy.” She said as she started trotting up to him.

“Uhm…thanks.” Flank said.

“Rebucka Hayes.” The mare said. “Channel 6 Action News.” Flank held out his hoof.

“Flank West.” He said. Rebucka took a step back, avoiding shaking Flank’s hoof.

“Oh, I know you.” She said in a slight mocking tone. “You used to be a kind of a hero of mine…before you got washed up.” Flank’s smile slowly faded after hearing her make that statement. “You homesick for zombies? What are you doing here?”

“Hey, I came to help with your story.” Flank argued. “I think PURE’s being set up.” Rebucka slowly started trotting in circles around Flank.

“My exclusive tape says otherwise.” The young mare said. “And…I don’t exactly need your help.”

“It doesn’t have to be a contest, filly.” Flank said. “I help you…you help me…simple as that. With that being said, where’d you get the tape?”

“Reporters don’t reveal their sources, Flank.” Rebucka said. “Not real ones, anyway.” Flank twinged a bit from that stinging insult.

“I wouldn’t underestimate Flank West, sweetheart.” He said. “I’ve got some pictures you might be interested in.”

“Okay, let’s see what you’ve got.” She moved forward to get Flank’s camera. Flank stepped back away holding his camera.

“Not so fast.” He said. “You’re got to throw this old dog a bone before he does any tricks.” Rebucka thought about it for a moment.

“Okay,” she finally said, “maybe I’ll let you tag along for a while.”

“That’s more like it.” Flank said. Rebucka started to slowly trot in circles around Flank again.

“I can’t tell you my source.” She said. “But there is a central security room, in the arena. There’ll be footage of everything that happened there. I can take you there.”

“Well, you show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” Flank said. “Where’s your crew?” Rebucka sighed bitterly and started trotting to the entrance of the, unfinished, NightMare Mall.

“They galloped off.” She said. “With all the equipment. I guess they just didn’t want it bad enough.” She continued into the darkness of the unfinished mall; Flank quickly on her tail.

*** *** ***

Flank and Rebucka slowly made their way to the entrance leading into the Celestial Sisters arena. As they approached the doors, Flank noticed that a gate was still down. This was, unfortunately, blocking their way into the arena.

“Great.” Flank said as he pounded his forehoof against the gate. Rebucka slowly turned her gaze over to the old stallion.

“I have no idea how you would survive out here on your own.” She said mockingly. Flank slowly looked over to the condescending mare.

“Just push the button, filly.” He said. Rebucka lifted up her hoof and pressed a big red button, located on a control panel next to the downed gate.

“I sure hope I don’t have to do everything for you.” She said as the gate started lifting up. She turned over to Flank and just stood there for a moment, waiting patiently for him. “Well? What’re you waiting for?” That’s when Rebucka ducked down and trotted over to the main door leading into the arena.

“Just admiring your…” Flank was saying, noticing her haunches wiggling in the air for a moment. “…skills.” As they entered the main area, Flank realized they were in trouble. Thousands upon thousands of zombies were crowded inside the main entrance. It didn’t take them long enough to notice Flank and Rebucka standing around like two stupid dogs.

“Flank…what do we do?” Rebucka asked. Flank thought really quick; remembering his time in Fillydelphia. There was a brief moment during that week where Flank thought about something really stupid, but a possible plan.

His dumb idea was to trot around and act like a zombie in hopes of getting through giant crowds of the undead rotting things. He breathed in heavily and told Rebucka his plan.

“Are you crazy?” Rebucka asked. “That’s gotta’ be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard anypony say in the history of Equestria!”

“Well, what do you suggest?” Flank asked. “We’re up to our necks in zombies and I’ve got nothing better to think of.” Rebucka stood there for a moment, thinking over what Flank had said.

“Fine.” She said. “But when we die, I’m going to bother you in the afterlife.” Flank breathed heavily and started moaning in the same manner. His jaw drooped open and he started drooling. Rebucka was starting to get repulsed, but she too followed suit.

The zombies kept getting closer and closer to the duo. Flank and Rebucka were starting to get nervous, fearing that maybe what they were doing wasn’t working for them at all. One zombie to Rebucka’s left started pressing its muzzle into her mane, sniffing like a dog meeting a new neighbor.

Then it trotted away.

The plan had worked. With that, Flank and Rebucka slowly made their way through the main hall of the arena and approached the entrance to the main Celestial Sisters security room. Flank grasped the handle with his mouth and started to turn it. But it wouldn’t budge. Using all of his strength, Flank started shaking the handle like a nutjob. Rebucka placed a hoof on Flank’s shoulder and pushed him back away.

“I’m gonna’ have to break it down.” Flank said.

“Here…” Rebucka said. “Let me try.” She reached into her skirt and pulled out a screwdriver and a bobby pin and started working on the locked door. Her haunches started wiggling in the air again and Flank couldn’t help but watch with a grin on his face.

“They didn’t teach me that in journalism school.” He said, still staring at Rebucka’s backside. Rebucka paused for a moment and turned around to face Flank.

“You went to journalism school?” She asked. “Could’ve fooled me.” And with that, Rebucka swung the door open and motioned for Flank to go in. He did so and Rebucka followed him in. As soon as Flank trotted in, he realized something big was wrong.

Everything in the room was destroyed. Computer towers and monitors were crushed on the floor, the television monitors had cracks and were playing nothing but static or the rainbow colored test bars, and two dead security ponies in their chairs.

“What a mess.” Flank said. “Well, this just gets better and better.”

“Wow, looks like somepony didn’t like the show much.” Rebucka said.

“You should get this on video.” Flank said as he trotted over to some of the destroyed computers strewn all over the floor. Rebucka carefully pulled out her video camera from a front pocket on her dress.

“They didn’t want us to see what really went down.” Flank said as he looked at the destroyed motherboards.

“Flank,” Rebucka called from the other side of the room, “check this out.” Flank started trotting over to Rebucka to see what she was talking about. When he got there, he saw what she was talking about. The two security ponies were not attacked by zombies, but were shot in the forehead by a gun. The obvious sign being the massive bullet wounds between their eyes.

“Zombies don’t use guns.” Flank said. Rebucka put her camera away and looked over at Flank.

“I’m not so sure PURE’s not involved,” she said, “but it definitely prove somepony’s covering up what really happened.”

“Not a bad lead, kiddo.” Flank said.

“Now it’s time to show me those pictures, Flank.” Rebucka said. Flank was about to give Rebucka his camera, when the transceiver Rainbow Dash gave him started going off.

“Flank…you need to get back to the bunker now.” She said in a scared tone.

“What is it Rainbow?” Flank asked.

“It’s Ray…he saw the report.” She said. Flank could hear her friends arguing with Ray in the background. “Can you get back here? He’s threatening to kick me and my friends out.”

“I’m on my way.” Flank said before he put the transceiver back into his pocket and took off back for the bunker.

“Wait.” Rebucka said before Flank left the room. “Who was that?”

“Just a friend.” Flank said as he pushed the door open. Rebucka thought for a moment.

“Rainbow…Rainbow Dash?” She asked. “The friend of the leader of PURE?”

“Gotta’ go.” Flank said as he left the security room. Rebucka just sighed and continued filming the destruction of the security room.

“He can’t ditch me forever.” She said under her breath.