I don't own Dead Rising or MLP FiM, they belong to CAPCOM and Hasbro. Enjoy
TIME UNTIL HELICOPTER ARRIVA
Hours Minutes
7 2 : 4 2
After the quick presentation were Frank couldn't get a lick of detail information, he enter the janitor's room where the girl known as Jessie was sitting in a chair watching the camera's monitor, observing anything that could draw her attention, next he goes to the storage room to put the pegasus on the comfy sofa and sitting next to him so the reporter could rest for awhile.
"This is going to be one hell of a story to cover, don't you think?" Frank said to the still sleeping pony. I wonder, where do you come from? For as far as I know there wasn't any zoo nearby and the farms are pretty far from town when I fly here. He thought, then he placed a hand in the pony's mane, petting his head gently.
Later the reporter stood up and decided to leave the pegasus resting on the sofa to go after the man named Brad and try to get some information out of him if he can manage to stay alive around the zombies, but first he needs to inform Jessie and the employee about his plan, partially.
When he entered the Janitor's room and before he could say a word to Jessie, she spoke first. "I told you, I can't answer your question. Even if we rounded up everybody and arrested them, I've still got my hands full with-" before she could continue speaking, she was cut off.
"That's not what I was going to ask you." Jessie turned to look at him. "I was wondering if you can keep an eye on the little guy, he is resting on the green sofa next to the bathrooms."
"Where are you going?"
"To do my job."
"As much as I would like to babysit your pet, I can't leave my position until Brad comes back. But you can talk to Otis, he seems available to help you out." Jessei makes a head gesture signaling Frank to the mall employee before turning back to the monitores.
Frank made his way to Otis who was standing next to the A/C's door vent. "Hi there Otis. Jessie told me that you could help me, if it isn't much of a bother."
"If it's something I can do then it's no problem." Otis said. "What's the job?"
"I need you to take care of the pegasus while I go back to the mall to cover this incident."
Otis was surprised. "You are goin' back down to the mall!? It's too dangerous, why would you want to go back there?" He receives no response from Frank, he sighs knowing the reporter wouldn't change his mind. "You folks never listen to your elders… Alright, I will take care of the little fella for you, but at least take this transceiver with you. And you better take this map too mister?"
"Frank, Frank West." he said, extending his hand for a hand shake that Otis responded by shaking it back. "Well, I gotta go, there is a story waiting to be covered." He entered the air duct crawling his way outside.
After a pair of minutes of crawling, Frank was now outside on the roof where the air duct divide, he walk to a big step were the rest of the roof was divided by a long construction, to the right was an elevator that leads inside the mall and to the left was a more spaced area that ends with a door, Frank goes towards the elevator but then a man with a golf club appeared yelling for anybody around.
The man notices Frank and approaches him asking him if he had seen his wife Natalie while introducing himself as Jeff Miller, Frank haven't see her but he will lend him a hand to find her which lasted 10 seconds since on the other side of the roof was a woman in the corner end of the hallway, much for Frank surprise that woman was Jeff's wife.
After a touching reunion and some photo shots Frank guided the couple to the safe house, later he entered the elevator that led him to the mall warehouse, it was big and full of boxes and tools around, he reached the exit door at the end of a hallway, but before he could enter Frank heard some steps getting close to him. "Zombies huh… Had a feeling you'd show up." he said, he put his back against the wall and pick up a fire extinguisher, he backpace to the corner of the hall preparing to strike the zombie that was following him, In the moment when he turn the corner and swinging his weapon, Frank change the trajectory of his attack after realizing that who was stalking him wasn't a zombie but Jessie.
Both scream from that little scare. "God is you," said Frank in relief while approaching Jessie who was laying on the ground while holding a handgun pointing at Frank, he put his hand over the gun to avoid any accidental shoot. "Look, don't sneak up on me." he helped Jessie to stand up.
"Brad was attacked. I locate him on the monitors." She said, but when Jessie makes her first step she almost falls, her ankle starts hurting.
"It's probably just a sprain."
"I've gotta help Brad"- she said while trying to walk towards the door by using the wall as support. Her ankle still hurts. "Or he's done for!"
"Alright, fine… Gimme your gun." he said, making Jessie look at him. " C'mon. I'm the reason you just got hurt. Let me help."
"No! I can't let a civilian do that. That's against regulations." Jessie tries to sound authoritarian.
He looked annoyed by this point. "Yeah… Well, I don't think they had zombies infested malls in mind when they wrote those regulations, kid." he said sarcastically while extending his hand for the gun.
Jessie wasn't totally convinced but she had no other choice "Do you know how to use this?"
"Kinda, I covered wars, you know." Jessie then decided to trust the reporter and lend him her gun in which Frank put the lock and put it in his pants. "Look. After I'm through helping you… You and I are gonna have a nice little chat." With that Jessie slowly returned to the security room while he continued his way to the mall.
Meanwhile at the storage room, moments after Jessie went through the air duct, a certain pony was starting to wake up.
There he was, slowly opening his eyes, closing them for the sudden light that the fluorescent tubes were producing over the ceilings, slowly but surely the pegasus focus his eyes on what it seam as a large room, he was in a hallway connected to other rooms and a stair that goes up, weakly he stood up from the green sofa that he was laying on and jump off of it, almost falling for not been fully recovered, he inspect the doors noticing that they were bigger for him to opened, he walks up the stairs but there was also a door, he return and went to the end of the hall where he was in front of the door label Janitor's room, he tried to reach it using his back hoove to stretch, barely touching the handle but fall on his flanks, then he kick the door with his back hooves in hopes to opened it but he was too weak that after kicking it he fall forwards face first to the floor, rubbing his muzzle he heard someone pulling the chain of a toilet, water running in signal of whoever creature was cleaning its hooves was coming out.
Paralyzed by fear the pony was at the foot of the door shaking, breathing fast for whatever creature would appear from the corner that covers the bathroom doors.
Otis came out of the bathroom rubbing his hand against a tissue to later dispose of it to the bin next to the door, after that he notice that the pony wasn't in the sofa anymore, He looked to left to right, then upstair and finally down the hallway where he spotted the little animal sitting there next to the door that leads to the monitors, He tried to get close to him but after taking two steps forward something happened that makes him stopped in his track.
"Stop! Please don't eat me!" The pegasus spoke which made Otis speechless.
The mall employee was so surprised by what the pony did, he spoke in English and he was sure it wasn't a hallucination, not knowing what to do since in his experience pointing out the obvious wasn't going to help in any situation.
Seconds later a sound was echoing the hallway, it was the little pegasus belly growling, he was hungry, who knows how long he was in the mall without food, so acting fast Otis check the boxes that were on the shelves looking for something to give to the little hungry pony, between canned beans and chocolate milk Otis found some apples and took them.
He began to walk slowly towards the scared animal, speaking gently. "It's okay little buddy. I am not going to hurt you." he said while the pegasus was pressing his back at the corner of the wall trying to stay away from the strange creature. "Here, you seem like you haven't eaten in a while." he said while placing an apple on the floor and pushing it slowly so the pony could reach for it.
The cream pegasus with one hoof reached for the apple and took it, smelling it before he began eating it.
Otis watched how the small pony was devouring the apple, a clear sign that the poor creature was starving. He placed another apple near the pegasus. "Are you feeling better now kid?"
The pegasus took the apple and bit it, after swallowing he looked at Otis. "I am not a kid, I'm a colt!" Then he looked at the apple he was holding, his ears laying flat in his head with sadness in his tone. "And yes I feel better."
The employee noticed the sad look that the pony had. "Is there something that is bothering you?"
"Is just that… I don't know where I am, how I got here or where my friends are." Then the pony asked the creature in front of him. "Sir, can you tell me what you are… if it isn't any offense?"
Otis, surprised but happy that the pegasus showed more trust, he began explaining. "Hehehe. Not at all, well my name is Otis Washington and I'm a human." The pony put his attention to him. "And now you are inside Willamette's mall in Colorado."
"Co-lo-rado? Where in Equestria is Colorado?"
"Equ- what?" Otis was confused. "Sorry but there is no such place on Earth named like that."
Now is the pony's turn. "Earth? Is that the name of this kingdom?"
"N-no… That is the name of the planet, the country's name is the United States."
Planet!? I am not in a different kingdom but a planet! The pony was shocked by the news the human gave him. "So I'm in a different world? Aren't any other ponies in here by chance?"
"Is there a world full of ponies like you!?"
"Well not just ponies, but also zebras, gryphons, dragons and many others." the pony replied.
But before they could continue with their questions and answers the sound of a door opening was heard by both of them.
From the air duct Jessie was coming out with her leg hurting, limping slowly towards the Janitor's room so she could sit on the chair and put some lotion in her ankle, when she reached the room and sat down on the chair Otis entered the room with the pony behind him.
"Did you get hurt?"
"I got a sprain thanks to Frank. I need some lotion, did you have some in here?"
"Yes, there should be in the lockers, I'll go get it" Otis replied leaving the room and the door opened.
When Jessie was going back to watch the monitores she noticed that the pegasus was now standing in front of the open door.
She leans down a bit and stretches her hand. "Common little buddy! TSK,TSK,TSK, common, let me give you a rub." She said with a smile and tone of a little girl that went to a farm to pet the animals in it.
"No thanks, I'm okay for now." Replied the pony which in return made Jessie freeze in her spot.
Moments later she moved backwards and fell from her seat while screaming. "AAAAHHH!, YOU TALK! YOU TALK! THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN TALK! OTIIIIISSSS!" her scream made Otis run back to the room with the lotion in hand.
"What is going on! something happened!?" he replied, looking around then at a startled Jessie.
"Something happened!? Otis if you didn't notice this creature just talk a second ago!" She pointed and used the seat to support herself.
Otis now with a relief expression, he understood the situation then he proceeded to explain to her what just had happened.
Back to Frank who was now in Paradise Plaza, which had a variety of stores from toys, cloth, food and at the end there was a movie theater, it looked like a nice place except for the zombies that were now roaming around. He make his way between the zombies taken some photos while breaking some heads using his bat, the reporter opened a path towards the second floor and entered to Colombian Roastmasters where he took a gallon of orange with him then he jump off the second floor and landed in the tent balcony which on it have a katana for some unknown reason, he proceed to jump off and go to the glass doors while smashing some zombies in his way.
The door led him outside to the Leisure Park, it was a field in the middle of the mall so big that entire families could practically play and camp here, but now the park was infested with zombies, killing all the magic that the place had but there wasn't time for admiring the park he need to meet with Brad.
After some running and dead zombies later the reporter was now at the Food Court, but sooner than he could expect, gunshots were heard and he felt that those were aiming at him, so he jumped behind the wooden walls that were surrounding one of the segments where people could sit, eat and watch their food being made. Deciding to move, Frank spotted Brad who was returning the fire.
He decided to move close to him while avoiding the bullets that some hostile stranger were shooting at them. "Your, uh… girlfriend sent me to find you."
"Who? Jessie?" Brad was annoyed by the news since he didn't want to involve civilians on his mission. "Dammit!" Another shot passed by them. "OK, We'll have to talk about this later…You know how to use that gun?"
"I've never fired at a person." The reporter didn't want to take someone's life.
Brad knowing how difficult this could be to Frank but also knowing that if they don't act quick they will be the one's death. "Alright, I'll cover you from here. You stick to the shadows… Try to get closer to the target, OK?"
"And what am I supposed to do when I get close?"
"Well, the best solution would be to shoot the guy. But if you can't do that," Brad lent Frank a magazine for his gun. "Keep him busy dodging your bullets and stay out of trouble. Are you up to it?"
"I'm a lot better with the camera. But… Yeah I'll give it a shot."
"Alright, next time he reloads, I lay down a suppressive fire. I am counting on you. Make your way over there." He points Frank to the left entrance to the Food Court's dining tables, they hear the shooter loading his weapon. "1… 2… 3!" Brad starts shooting at the hostile letting the reporter to run towards the entrance of the dining tables.
Back at the security room, both Jessie and the pegasus receive an explanation, more for the pony's understanding since he didn't know about the zombie outbreak and the place he was now.
"And that's what was going so far." Otis finished, Jessie thinks about it while the pony asks a question.
"There wasn't any other pony around where I was found?"
"I am not sure, you are the first one that I saw this far." Otis replied.
"By the way," Jessie interrupted. "You haven't told us your name."
The pony realized that it was true, he didn't present himself all this time. "Sorry… I was scared for my life that I forgot. Hi, my name is Featherweight and I am a pegasus student from Poniville's Schoolhouse." he said it politely
Both Jessie and Otis were surprised by the way he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you Featherweight, I'm Jessica McCarney but you can calm me Jessie and the man who took care of you is Otis Washington." Otis waved his hand.
"So you save me from the zombies out there?" That made Otis turn his head in embarrassment.
"No, I wasn't the one who saved you. I was just watching you as a favor to the man who saved you."
"Man? What man?"
Jessie looks at the monitors and finds Brad and Frank fighting against someone at the roof of the little restaurant. "That man" she said while placing her finger on Frank who was shooting his last round of his shotgun.
Featherweight got close to the monitors watching the man who was evading and cover himself with the walls to get closer to the shooter to attack him, Featherweight was impressed in how his savior was moving and enduring some of the hits that the other man land on him but when he look closer he notice what it looks like a camera hanging from his neck.
Featherweight was confused and looked at Jessie for answers. "That man's name is Frank West and he is a photojournalist." The pegasus was impressed by that statement.
"Really!? I don't believe it, He is putting himself in so much risk for a journalist."
"Well for what he told me he had experience when it comes to dangerous events." Jessie clarified. "He covered wars, you know."
"Why did you get surprised that he is a reporter?" Otis gained Featherweight's attention.
"Well… like I said, I am a student at Ponyville Schoolhouse. But before I appeared here I became part of the school press, since I like to document everything in hope to uhh… get my Cutie Mark for it." He finished a little embarrassed.
"What is a Cutie Mark?" Jessie asked.
"You don't know what a Cutie Mark is!?" Both humans shook their heads. "Uhmm… well a Cutie Mark is a symbol that appears on our flanks when we discover our special talents." he answered, earning a confused look from Jessie and Otis, then both looked at his flank making Featherweight sad since he had no Cutie Mark on it.
"Sorry, it wasn't our intention to make you feel bad." Otis said to the pegasus.
"It's okay. I started at the school press a week ago, so my Cutie Mark could take time to appear." he said, trying to motivate himself, he had been working hard to get his Cutie Mark in something he really likes but with no avail in the school press and by reason of fate he ended up in another world.
Jessie put her hand under her chin thinking about what Featherweight told them, then she snapped her fingers. "I got it! Featherweight, what will you say if I tell you I can convince Frank to teach you some photojournalist skills, maybe that can help you get your Cutie Mark more quickly."
"Really, you think so!?" said Featherweight with hope in his eyes.
"Yes, in fact I can talk to him when he finishes his work." Jessie said with a smile. "So, what did you say?"
"YES! Thank you so much." he said while giving Jessie a hug to her legs. " You don't believe how much I want to get my Cutie Mark for photography"
He was so happy for this new opportunity, but the real reason for Jessie to mention Frank and make the promise was to keep the reporter out of Jessie and her partner's investigation by making him occupied with the and not reveal to him any crucial information that can jeopardize their mission. This is the perfect plan! She thought.
Back to the Court Food, Frank has deliver some hits with his bat at the stranger who was shooting them who results to be the same man that give him the warning at the roof of the mall, after that, the man aim his gun at the reporter who receive two shoots and fall from the taco restaurant roof, Frank took cover feeling weak he proceed and drink the orange juice to get more energy, seconds later he saw the stranger moving from one roof to another, he was aiming at Brad to shoot him but he took advantage of the situation and start shooting at the man forcing him to run and leave the area by using a rope that pull him up and disappeared from the Food Court.
Frank and Brad were aiming at the ceiling but the suspect was no longer there. "He got away." Frank said, annoyed he turned to Brad. "Who was that, anyway?"
"I don't know." Brad watches his surroundings before turning to the reporter. "Well, thanks for your help. The name's Brad." he extended his hand to Frank for a shake which the reporter ignored while looking directly into Brad's eyes.
"I'm Frank West, photojournalist." he pointed to himself. "And right now, I'd rather have an explanation than your thanks, Brad."
Brad was bothered by the question. "Sorry, I've got nothing to tell you." he said to later add more in his explanation. "Look, I don't know what Jessie told you, but as far as i'm concerned, we're through working together. So you cover your zombie story and leave the rest to us."
Frank was using his camera gallery to find what he needed. "You, uh… You guys are looking for someone here aren't ya?" He showed a picture of the old man with a red suit.
Brad was surprised that the reporter knew the person that they were looking for, so he approached him slowly and extended his right arm to the cameras. "Who is that? Where did you take it?"
Frank moves the camera away. "You help me, I help you." he said, waiting for an answer while shaking the camera in an effort to convince him, which it worked.
"Damn! You're one hell of a journalist, aren't you Frank? A hot-headed, underhanded, hotshot paparazzi with nothing better to do than to invade people's privacy."
"I try… You got a point?" He answered back, not affected by the insult.
"You win, Frank. Let's work together." he said, earning a nod from Frank but still no camera so he is forced to reveal more. "Jessie and I are DHS agents. And, yes, we're looking for the man in that picture."
The reporter was impressed but upset about the situation. "You're with Homeland Security? Is this guy a terrorist or something?" He almost shouted, wanting to have more information in which Brad only answered with a stern look.
Frank, understanding that he wouldn't reveal more, handed the agent his camera and explained to him that that photo was taken at the Entrance Plaza. He returned his camera and fast walked towards that direction.
"Hey! So, do I have your permission to cover this story or not?" This made Brad exhale in annoyance for his question and continued walking with the reporter following him.
Back at the Safe place, at the monitores both Jessie and Featherweight were watching how Brad and Frank were heading to Entrance Plaza while shooting, bashing and slashing through the horde of zombies together (Mostly Frank), Jessie didn't want the photojournalist to keep sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.
The pegasus in the other… Hoof was having a mix of feelings from fear to amazed, he could not believe how the reporter was facing the zombies with a big hammer that he took from a tool store while taking some pictures, putting himself in danger for the shot. Is he crazy or incredibly brave? Featherweight thought not sure which one was he. I can't believe this is actually happening to me. Later the two humans made it to the entrance to the plaza and entered.
Back with Frank, he watch how Brad opened a control panel to lift the security grill, allowing access to the Entrance Plaza, they both make their way in to find the man, the agent saw him inside a bookstore closed by the grillage, the reporter was five meters away from them since Brad wanted to talk with the man alone.
So far the old man refused to get out and be taken to the safe room, he was very stubborn, the man returned inside the store leaving Brad alone, from the conversation Frank could hear that his name was Dr. Barnaby.
The agent was walking away from the store. "Well, what happened? You can't just arrest him?"
"He turned down my offer to protect him… Said he isn't going anywhere until I can guarantee a secure route out of here."
Frank could not believe how stubborn the old man could be in a situation like this. Did he really think he can survive alone or is the age making him think like that? He thought.
"Jessie has a direct line to the HQ. The first thing we need to do is call for backup." he left for the security room.
Frank was now standing alone, he explore the Entrance Plaza he finds a group of zombies surrounding a clothing store, after knocking some zombies with his sledgehammer he heard screams for help coming from the storage room of the store, he knock some boxes that were making a wall and finds a chubby guy that was trapped, for what he said he was stuck for two days by the boxes, oblivious about the zombie invasion.
After explaining the situation to the man Frank receive a call from Otis informing him about a guy who was a reporter like him at Central Plaza, after the call and escorting the chubby guy at Al Fresca Plaza, he receive another call informing him that there are two young man trapped in the woman's clothing store at the plaza where he was, when he arrive he wasn't receive with opened arms, instead one of the guys attacked the reporter calling him crazy, Frank calm the man by hitting him a couple of times and making him understand that he wants to take them to a safe place, both men agrees and follow.
At the safe place, Brad came out from the air duct and made his way to the janitor's room to meet Jessie. What he didn't expect when entering was to see the pony totally awake while Otis showed him the articles in a magazine about electronic devices like if the little creature could understand it, thing that he did.
After a second Jessie looked at Brad. "So what's the news?"
"Dr. Barnaby wouldn't come out from the store after we could guarantee his protection." Brad then pointed to the pegasus. "What's the matter with Otis trying to teach it how to read?"
Offended Featherweight replied. "I know how to read! What I don't know is how to use the things that you have in this world." This makes Brad double take, leaving him speechless.
Jessie with a smirk turned towards his partner. "His name is Featherweight, he is a pegasus from a place called Ponyville and he is from another world." she patted her partner on his shoulder.
Brad was looking between Featherweight and Jessie, moments later he rubs his nose bridge. "God, this day can't go any weirder."
Back to Frank, he and the survivors were now at the Central Plaza going to the second floor to see who the other reporter was. When he enters in the restaurant Colombian Roastmasters, he found the reporter, he was young, spiky hair with bear on the chin, thin body, wearing a blue shirt with an orange vest on top, brown shirt, black shoes and he had three different cameras, one in his back with the tripod, another hanging from his neck and the last one hanging from his hip on the left side.
Frank thought he was another survivor that needed help, but instead the new reporter was acting like a prick, a very armed prick. His name was Kent and was claiming to be a 'professional photographer' and calling Frank a novice, he tried to cease the tension and make his way out but Kent stop him and offered him an opportunity to shine by taking photos of him performing poses between the zombies.
After some shots and insults later Kent was looking at Frank's work, he was satisfied, then he showed his own shots to Frank one by one, but when he showed his most violent picture Frank pushed him aside.
Felting insulted, Kent explained his next idea. "OK. Here's the deal, Frankie… You gotta go out there an' take even better pictures than the ones I just showed ya. Ya think you can handle that? Huh?"
he thought for a moment. "Yeah." he replied unmotivated while gesturing his thumb up, he didn't like the idea but if he is to stop this crazy competition he has to do it.
With that Kent slowly made his way out. Later Frank guide the rest of the survivors to the entrance of the warehouse, he notice that the empty warehouse from before was now filled with zombies, the reporter then heard a buzzing sound going towards him, moving just in time to avoid the sting of a wasp, the insect tried to stung Frank again only for him to knock it out on the floor and stomping it three time, but what he didn't expect was that the zombies that were in the room started to convulse at the same time after killing the insect, they later fall to the ground and their heads exploded one after another, leaving pools of blood on the floor.
"What in the hell is goin' on around here?" he said, not knowing what just happened, later it clicked in his head, removing his shoe from the dead wasp he understood that the insect was somehow connected with the zombie outbreak, but with no more details he decided to take the survivors to the safe place and get more information out of the DHS agents.
After a trip to the elevator and the air duct Frank with the survivors made it to the safe place and rested in the rooms at the storage, the reporter made his way towards Jessie and Brad who were discussing the problem about the doctor's demands.
"The old coot's not dumb." Brad said. "He wants us to call for help first. We got a line out or what?"
Jessie proceeds to make a call to her department which results in the call failing. "The signal's being blocked… I can't even contact HQ on the emergency line."
"So, if we want to get our hands on Dr. Barnaby, We're gonna have to secure a way out of here ourselves." Brad said bother. "Alright. We've gotta deal with the situation we've been handed. The boneheads back at HQ might be working on something, too…" he finished making his way to the room with the A/C.
But before he could go out of the room Frank spoke. "There's a helicopter coming." he said, resting his back against the lockers and turning his head to Brad. "Three days from now… at noon. It's my ride."
"Is your ride reliable?"
"Absolutely. That's how I plan on gettin' outta here."
Now with a new opportunity Brad talks. "Alright, then. I'll see to it that DHS picks up the charter fee. Can we take Dr. Barnaby as well?"
"Sure… As long as you tell me what's going on" Frank replied knowing that they have to cooperate to save that man's life.
Both were upsted by Frank's conditions, specialty Jessie but with no more options they have to accept. "OK." answered Brad a bit angry. "I'll tell you what you want to know… later. We have more pressing business right now." Brad turns to Jessie, she nods understanding that she has to help Frank with his story but not telling him all the details. He looked back at Frank "If we have to wait for three days we'll need supplies, water, blankets and the like. We'll get Dr. Barnaby here tomorrow morning. I want you to keep an eye on the monitors" he said to Jessie to later go out of the room to the air duct to continue with his mission.