Dead Pony Rising: Off the Record

Chapter Seven

Royal Guardianship - 3

Discord’s limp body hit the hospital bed with a sudden thud. Everypony in the bunker had gathered around the viewing window to bear witness to the one creature that gave Equestria hell many millennia ago. Fortunately for them, but unfortunately for Flank, he was still unconscious from the chariot crash. Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Rebucka, and Flank were all gathered around the bed as Ray slowly made his way into the room.

“What’s he doing here?” Ray asked. “Isn’t he that Discord fella?”

“Yeah,” Flank answered as Ray approached the bed and stood next to Flank. “Discord here paid some pathetic protestor to start this whole thing. Mostly because ratings were down on his show and he needed the cash.”

“We’ve got enough information to run with the story, Flank.” Rebucka said, filming Discord with her camera.

“Oh really?” Ray asked as started trotting over to other side of the bed. “Well, I’m still going to keep an eye on your friend until the Royal Guardians come in…just to make sure.”

“This story is going to be big.” Rebucka said excitedly. “Huge even…its award-winning material.”

“Oh, yeah,” Flank agreed, “We are going to be huge.”

“Is he out cold?” Ray asked when Flank finished talking.

“Cold as ice.” Flank said as he took a quick picture of the disgusting Draconequus.

“We oughta’ make sure he stays that way…” Ray said as he slowly made his way to the side of Discord’s bed.

“Don’t hit him too hard, Ray.” Flank said as he pushed the unicorn back a couple inches.

“Why?” Ray asked in objection. “Capital punishment was made for a creature like this.”

“We need him so he can tell Equestria what he had done.” Flank said. “Don’t give this slimeball an easy way out by killing him or damaging his brain.” Ray slowly trotted over to the side of Discord’s bed, a frown growing quickly on his face.

“Fine.” He finally said, using his magic to bring up his set of hoof cuffs. “We’ll do it your way.” The cuffs floated over and Flank grabbed them with his teeth. “I’ll stand watch first,” Ray continued as Flank placed the cuffs on Discord’s talon, “he’s not going anywhere for a while.”

“Great,” Flank said. “Well, listen, I’ll be back for the rescue.”

“Where are you going?” Rainbow Dash asked, casually floating next to the old stallion.

“I’m going to see if I can find a high vantage point,” Flank said, “get some pictures of the Royal Guardians rolling in.” Flank said before he trotted out of the room. Rebucka was close behind.

*** *** ***

Flank was on the rooftop of the Royal Sun Mall, Rebucka was standing on the top of the Naughty Pony Sex Shop. Her camera was gently floating in the air and Flank was adjusting his view finder, ready to get shots of the Royal Guardians. While looking through his camera, Flank spotted the golden chariot coming in, pulled by some of the strongest Clydesdales in all of Equestria.

He turned his attention to Rebucka, and noticed that she was still learning the ropes of freelance photojournalism.

“Hey, rookie!” He shouted, getting the young mare’s attention. “You’re shooting into the sun! And, besides, from my spot, I can already see the Guardians!” He turned his camera back to the Guardians, just as they came over the bridge leading from Manehatten. Rebucka just shrugged off Flank and continued filming with her camera.

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 North End of 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, colts.” 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 continued filming the Guardians as they riddled the unfortunate zombies with bullets and Flank took picture after picture.

One Guardian casually stood on top of a metal grate, raining bullets into more zombies; the bullet casings fell out of the gun and into the dark underbelly of Celestial Sisters. That same Guard spun around and aimed his gun at another zombie, it was missing its’ hind legs.

“Hey,” he shouted to his fellow troops, “look at this waste of ammo.”

That’s when everything went downhill.

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 another metal grate, one that was pouring the green fog, started coughing and spluttering uncontrollably.

“What in Equestria?” Flank asked as he tilted his camera away from his face.

A zombie shambled up to the Guardian 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. 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.

“I can’t see anything in this fog.” A Guardian said, hearing one of his soldiers being tackled to the ground and screaming bloody murder. The commander couldn’t believe what he was witnessing, all of his troops were being attacked and brought down by newer, more powerful zombies.

“Medic!” One Guardian shouted. “I need a medic over here!”

“They’re all around us!” Another shouted. “I think they’re all around us!” One Guardian spun around and shot the pony shouting dead. As the pony’s body hit the ground, a small grenade fell out of the magic aura that was keeping it afloat.

It rolled and rolled until it stopped underneath a chariot that was trying to get away. The explosion sent the Guardians in the chariot in different directions. The sound of buckling metal and murderous screams filled the air. The commander could smell the faint scent of burning hair and flesh. Even through the fog, the commander was, unfortunately, able to see some of the carnage around him.

One Guardian was dead and being eaten by some of the gas zombies. Another was taken down and devoured alive, his screams piercing the commander’s own ears. Another pony came out of the fog and grabbed the commander.

“Sarge! Sarge!” He shouted. “You’ve gotta’ get us outta’ here!” A zombie grabbed the unfortunate unicorn and was pulled into the green fog, screaming louder than the others. The commander watched in horror as the new private was attacked viciously. The commander took mercy and killed both the zombie and the private.

He aimed his gun into the fog, but realized quickly that it was a moot plan. Placing his gun aside, he grabbed the hoof of a down Guardian and started pulling him towards one of the remaining chariots…but the hoof came off in the commander’s hoof.

He stared at it for many moments, the sounds of gunfire ceasing and explosions increasing. The commander threw the hoof down and galloped at full speed to the remaining chariot. He hooked himself up using his magic and started galloping north towards the Zavros Zavana Casino.

Rebucka was slowly making her way across the Celestia Strip as the commander sped pass her into the thick, green fog. Flank was watching her carefully and realized what she was about to do.

“Rebucka, what are you doing?” He asked himself quietly. “Don’t do what I think you’re planning to do.” Rebucka looked behind her and saw dozens of gas zombies start to chase after her. She had no choice but to chase after the chariot that made its way to the end of the strip.

“You’re going to get yourself killed.” Flank said as he stood up and galloped over to the ladder leading back down to the Celestia Strip.

*** *** ***

The unicorn commander had snapped and was firing at the zombies shambling towards him. He made it to the underground entrance of Celestial Sisters; the gas was at its most concentrated in this area of the entire city. His dead Guardians were lying around; but the commander acted as if they were still alive and fighting the good fight. Flank was hiding behind a support beam and taking pictures of the event that was unfolding before his eyes.

Bullets whizzed through the air and riddled the zombies and walls around Flank. Sweat was glistening on his forehead and he was shaking madly in his hooves.

“Suck on this, you dead creeps!” The commander shouted as more zombies hit the ground.

Flank had tried talking to the commander, but said pony thought anything that moved was a walking, moaning pony corpse. Flank noticed that Rebucka was unconscious and lying on the ground behind the crazed unicorn.

“8-Ball!” He shouted to his left. “They’re comin’ in from the left flank!” He poured more rounds into the zombies. He stopped and took a moment to reload his gun. While doing so, the unicorn commander galloped over to the dead body of 8-Ball and plopped himself next to the dead pony.

“Atta’ boy, 8-Ball!” The commander said happily. “Keep that flank covered!” He looked to his right at another dead Guardian. “Switchblade, I need ammo!” He shouted as he rolled across the ground to the dead body of Switchblade.

“Hang on, stallions!” The commander shouted. “We’ll have evac here in a minute! You’re not dying at the hooves of Sergeant Steel Flame!” He grabbed ammo from the corpse and reloaded his gun. Flank poked his head out again and was about to try to talk with Steel Flame again…

“LEFT FLANK!” Steel Flame shouted noticing Flank trotting out from behind the support beam. Rebucka started to regain consciousness and noticed the old stallion trying to rescue her.

“Flank…” She said. Steel Flame turned his attention to Rebucka and slammed the butt of his gun hard into her head, chipping off a bit of the tip of her horn. Her unconscious body hit the floor again and Steel Flame took the moment to lift her body up and into the chariot he had tried to escape in.

The crazed commander turned around to look at Flank again. Steel Flame picked up his gun and noticed he had run out of ammunition again.

“I’m out!” He shouted. “Curtis! Gimme your weapon!” He shouted as he galloped over to another dead Guardian to his left. A bright orange aura enveloped the weapon and it aimed directly over at Flank.

“You want some of this?” He asked deranged. “Come get some!” The trigger was pulled and bullets rained in the direction of Flank. The old stallion jumped out of the line of fire and behind some wooden crates.

“Rebucka! Why would you put your life in jeopardy like this?!” Flank frantically looked around, hoping to find some kind of weapon. All he could find was an M-16, a couple full clips of ammo, and a roll of duct tape.

Most weapons of the Royal Guardians weren’t designed in mind for earth pony combat. Flank found this out in Fillydelphia, and again, the hard way, in Celestial Sisters. Flank, with some difficulty, was able to duct tape the massive gun do his jacket, in hopes of being somewhat able to use it.

Having some knowledge of Royal Guardian weaponry, Flank was able to modify the trigger by applying duct tape to the actual trigger and having the tape run down to his main hoof. All he had to do was flex and the weapon would fire. He aimed the gun at Steel Flame and flexed his hoof.

Bullets poured out of the gun and into the rib cage of Steel Flame. The commander was dead before he even hit the ground. Flank ripped the M-16 off his jacket and galloped over to Rebucka, who was still unconscious.

“Thank Celestia you’re alive.” Flank said. He hooked himself up to the chariot and started to slowly pull the massive, gold plated vehicle out of the underground.

*** *** ***

Flank, Rebucka, and a few other ponies were in the medical ward, waiting patiently for news about the rescue. Flank was lightly applying an ice pack to Rebucka’s back left hoof. Rainbow Dash casually floated in the room.

“What happened to the zombies out there?” She asked as she landed on the floor. “They went…berserk.”

“There was some sort of gas…” Rebucka said, twinging from the cold pack. “As soon as the zombies came in contact with it…they…changed.”

“Sounds like some good stuff.” A recognizable voice towards the back said. “I’ll have to try some of it myself.” Everypony turned to see Discord awake from his temporary coma. Ray took a step forward and stared hard at the Draconequus.

“And what’re you looking at?” Discord asked. Ray’s temper started to flare and started trotting over towards the maniac. But Flank held out a hoof and stopped Ray dead in his tracks.

“We need him alive, Ray.” Flank said.

“That’s a real shame.” Ray replied. Flank started trotting over to Discord.

“What’s going on, Discord?” He asked. “Where’d you get that gas?”

“I’m not saying anything.” Discord said.

“Why pay that PURE member to do your dirty work?” Flank asked, still trying to get Discord to fess up to the whole crime.

“I don’t bucking know!” Discord yelled at the old stallion. “He was just the name she gave me.”

“She?” Flank asked in curiosity. “What are you talking about?”

“Somepony had to take the fall.” Discord said. “And aren’t you cute, trying to figure it all out? Big-shot Flank West…world famous has-been. One last try to make it back into the limelight. Guess again, Flank…you’ve already been forgotten.” Discord just started laughing at Flank. The last words are what made the old stallion get extremely angry. He lifted up his hoof and was about to hit Discord square across the jaw, but Rainbow Dash stopped him.

“It’s not worth it.” She said. “He’s not going anywhere.”

Rebucka carefully climbed down from her hospital bed and slowly trotted over to the group, having some trouble getting back on her hooves. He helped her get rebalanced and trotted angrily out of the room, Ray was quickly close behind him. He used his magic to stop Flank in his tracks and spin him around until the two were face-to-face.

“Flank,” he said, “I don’t want to alarm the mares…but…standard operating procedure means there’ll be another rescue operation in 24 hours.”

“Why would that worry anypony?” Flank asked confused.

“If the operation to save survivors fails again…” He started to falter.

“What?” Flank asks. “What happens?” Ray sighed solemnly.

“Firebombing…just like in Las Pegasus.” He said. “Only was to get rid of ‘em for good.” Flank sighed and started trotting back to the security room, hoping he could possibly take a nap.

*** *** ***

The Next Day

Flank had gotten his wish and had slept for almost twenty hours. It was the best sleep he had ever gotten since the events that took place in Fillydelphia. Rebucka, Flank, and Rainbow Dash were gathered together in the security room, still trying to piece the whole thing together. Flank had a cup of coffee and was casually sipping it was Rebucka was talking to Rainbow Dash.

“Discord knows more…” She said. “A lot more than he’s letting on.” There’s just no way he made that gas by himself…he just doesn’t have the resources.”

“Well, we don’t know that yet.” Flank said. “We’re talking about a dictator who ruled Equestria for centuries…you’re telling me that he doesn’t have the resource to pull this off? This is all just so weird…” Flank’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!” Flank shouted. He looked over at the control panel and noticed that it was shooting sparks in different directions.

“It’s been sabotaged!” Rebucka exclaimed.

“I’ve gotta’ hotwire that panel.” Flank 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. Rainbow Dash and Rebucka then started pushing items in front of the door to prevent any zombies from coming in.

Flank 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, Flank 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 altogether.

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. Flank 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, Flank started trotting to the medical wing to make sure Ray and Discord were okay.

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. Flank 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.

Discord reached for his bite and looked at Flank with a scared look in his face. Flank stood there, staring at the doomed Draconequus.

“Welcome to the club.” He said casually as he helped Discord up from the floor.

*** *** ***

“Last thing I knew…” Ray said. “I was sitting by the door…like usual.” He clutched his head a bit harder. “Next thing…I was coming to…looking at you.” He said pointing a hoof at Flank.

Flank had helped Discord get back into his temporary prison in the medical wing. Ray was clutching his head, being knocked out by the said Draconequus.

“He must’ve gotten loose somehow.” Ray continued. “I can’t believe he got the better of me.” Discord just kept his attention on Flank. “But, I can tell you right now that it isn’t going to happen again.” Ray said as he stood up and trotted over to the two.

“You need to get me Zombrex, Flank.” Discord said pleadingly. “And you must move quickly!”

“We oughta’ toss him out there with his own kind.” Ray said bitterly. “Let them tear each other to pieces.”

“Looks like you got yourself bit pretty bad there, Discord.” Flank said with a smirk on his face.

“He’s not turning yet…why?” Rebucka asked as she trotted slowly into the room.

“Some ponies…well, creatures…are just more resistant to the infection than others.” Discord grabbed Flank jacket with his cuffed talon and turned the old stallion’s attention back to him.

“I’m your story, stallion.” Discord said. “You’ve got to help me.” Flank ripped himself away from Discord.

“So,” Rebucka said, ignoring Discord, “how long has he got, Flank?”

“We won’t know until he turns.” Flank answered. “But, I’m sure I can spare some Zombrex to save his sorry hide from becoming one of those zombies.” Flank took out a box from his back pocket and took out the pre-filled syringe.

“And, Discord,” Flank said, “the only reason I’m keeping you alive is because death is way too easy for you.” He pushed back some of the fur on Discord’s arm.

“Oh, you just want that interview.” Discord said. “It’s plain and simple as that…something in it for you too, baby…” Flank slammed the syringe hard into Discord’s arm, drawing a bit off blood in the process.

“You better get used to this, Discord.” Flank said as he pulled the needle out.

“And you better get used to being a foal.” Flank threw the syringe away and was about to leave the room. “By the way,” Discord said, “thanks for the medicine, sucker.” Flank bucked Discord hard in the face and started trotting out of the room, going to wait for the Royal Guardians to arrive.

“Don’t mess with the face, Flank!” Discord shouted before Flank slammed the door behind him.