Autumn Leaves: Final Chapter -Bury Me Not-

Autumn Leaves

Chapter 9

-The Storm-

 

"C'est une chanson

Qui nous ressemble.

Toi qui m'aimais

Et je t'aimais."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etlSB8LtvQs&feature=BFa&list=SP880D572DF1EA418B

 

>Neon lights and bright signs illuminate the cold streets of Las Pegasus, a light rain creating a shine along the roads you walk on.

>Your eyes are dead to the bright spectacle around you, your face expressionless.

>Fido lumbers next to you, his expression similar to yours, the only exception being the helmet covering his eyes.

>Clockwork trots along your other side, his face still pale and his demeanor still rattled from what happened earlier.

>The silence between all three of you could be called unsettling, but casual conversation isn't something you want to engage in right now.

>What you want right now is a quiet place to just sit down in.

>So when you see the small sign for a tavern, you finally break the quiet atmosphere of your squad.

"Anyone up for a drink?"

>CLOCK: "Yeah."

>FIDO: *Grunt*

"Good. Let's settle down here for the night."

>The three of you make it into the tavern, and you're hit with the smell of old oak tables and spiced rum from inside.

>The place looks fairly abandoned from the signs of broken glass littered here and there, picture frames knocked over and tilted on the walls around you.

>Fido walks over to a booth and sets down his mace and helmet, you and Clockwork doing the same with your equipment.

>You walk over to the bar, brushing off empty and broken bottles and making space for the three of you to sit across from it.

>CLOCK: "I think... I think I'm gonna use the bathroom real quick. I don't feel so-"

>Clockwork's stomach finally gets the better of him, and he gags before galloping off to the restroom.

>He was still incredibly shaken up.

>You were too, but you didn't feel sick to your stomach.

>Instead, you felt guilty.

>Soarin' was gone.

>He died right in front of your eyes. You had watched as his life slowly slipped away.

>You had tried to stop the bleeding, but...

>You stare at the bar, your fingers scratching the wood as you ball your hands into fists.

>Breathe slowly, mate.

>Calm down.

>Getting a hold of yourself, you crouch down and inspect what this bar has to offer in the way of drinks.

>You find numerous bottles of vintage wines, as well as bottles of whiskey.

>But you ignore them when your eyes catch the sight of a familiar label.

>You reach your arm back as far as you can into the cabinet and pull out a tall, amber bottle.

>The label wrapped around the glass reads, in gold lettering: "Sweet Apple Acres Apple Cider: Only the Finest."

>And in the corner of the label were the signatures of the family.

>Applebloom.

>Big Macintosh.

>Granny Smith.

>Anonymous.

>And Applejack.

>You could think of nothing finer to drink with your team.

>Well, what little was left of it, anyway.

"Hey, Fido?"

>FIDO: "Hm?"

"Ever had apple cider before?"

>The large grey dog gives a short grunt as he approaches the bar.

>FIDO: "Diamond dog not drink frilly-fruity-pony juice. Fido prefer vodka. Strong vodka."

>You brush off some of the dust on the bottle.

"You'll like this, Fido. Trust me."

>FIDO: "Is good?"

"Only the finest."

>FIDO: "How you know is good?"

"Because, I helped make it."

>Fido raises an eyebrow and shrugs, sitting down on a bar stool.

>You crack open the bottle and find two glasses in the cabinet.

>The scent of the cider wafts into the air, and Fido sniffs the glass you pour for him

>FIDO: "Hmmm... frilly fruit juice smells... good."

"Wait till you taste it."

>You pour yourself a glass and raise it up to Fido.

"For Soarin'."

>Fido brings his glass up to yours.

>FIDO: "May he be giving the plains of Tartaraus the hardest of days."

>As your cups click together, you can't help but smile at Fido's words.

>The image of Soarin' tearing through Tartaraus, giving it all hell, was something else.

"Well, wherever Soarin' is... let's hope he's putting in a good word for us, yeah?"

>FIDO: *grunt*

>You down the cider right away, the spice biting at your tongue and throat.

>It was a good burn.

>A familiar burn.

>One you remember sharing with Applejack in the loft many, many times.

>Fido sets his glass on the bar and proceeds to lap up the cider with his tongue.

>You let out a small laugh. The sight of this diamond dog, who only hours ago had been crushing changelings with his bare hands, as he calmly lapped up cider from a cup was only just a bit humorous.

>Fido raises his head and licks his muzzle.

>FIDO: "Is good. Is damn good. You say you make this?"

>You give a nod.

"Yeah. My family back in Ponyville makes this brand of cider. We sell it to help us get through the winter."

>FIDO: "Family should be proud. Is very good, Fido likes."

>You take the bottle and pour more into your cups, the two of you enjoying the peace the bar brings while it lasts.

>FIDO: "You miss them, yes?"

"My family?"

>He nods.

"Everyday, Fido. Everyday."

>Fido laps up more of his cider.

>FIDO: "In time, all will end. It has to, after all. All things come to end. And when that end comes, you will be with orange pony once more."

"Thanks... I hope you're right."

>FIDO: "Fido means what he says. Have no doubt, friend."

>From where the bathroom is, you can hear Clockwork wretching faintly, the unpleasant sounds dampening the mood slightly, but not entirely.

>Fido looks to the restrooms and gives a snort.

>FIDO: "Horny pony has not strong stomach."

"Yeah well... can you blame him? Not everyday you have to watch one of your friends die."

>FIDO: "Friend?... Soarin' was good comrade. Was a loyal, fierce ally-"

"Yeah, that's what I'm-"

>FIDO: "-to YOU. Brothers in arms, the two of you were. Clockwork? He is not upset at death of winged comrade."

>"So what is he doing spilling his guts out in the bathroom for?"

>FIDO: "HA! Does not like the sight of blood and death! Makes him queasy, like little pup who eats too much supper."

>You mull over Fido's words as you down your drink.

>Clockwork and Soarin' didn't exactly get along well, that much was certain.

>The sight of Soarin' as he bled out on the street enters your mind again.

>Your hands press against his wound, the blood refusing to stop spilling out of him.

>You remember yelling to Clockwork, asking him if he knew any healing magic.

>And he had panicked.

>He just stood there, his eyes locked onto Soarin's wound, his pupils like pinpricks and his form shaking.

>You may have had disdain for Clockwork, but you understood that what he had witnessed wasn't pleasant.

>Not in the slightest.

>At that moment, Clockwork walks out of the tavern's bathroom, the color in his face slightly returned to him, but his legs still wobbling slightly.

>FIDO: "Horny pony, you are well, yes? Done vomiting?"

>He throws Fido a glance and sneers, speaking towards you instead.

>CLOCK: "I'm fine. What've you got there?"

>You raise up the bottle of cider and pull out another glass, motioning him towards the bar.

"Take a seat. We're just unwinding for the night. Sharing a drink, toasting the fallen. Care to join?"

>CLOCK: "I'll pass on the toasts, thanks."

>With a glow of his horn Clockwork pulls the bottle from your hand and levitates it over to himself, taking it to a booth in the back.

>As he walks away he lets out a sharp gasp and recoils a hoof from the ground.

"You okay?"

>CLOCK: "Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Just cut myself on some glass. Hold on."

>His horn lights up once more, and the bloody gash on his hoof knits together, the flesh sealing itself.

>Maybe it was the sight of what he did that set you off.

>Maybe it was the liquor in your body.

>Maybe it was simply anger.

>Whatever it was, you were over to him in a flash, pinning him to the wall of the tavern with a heavy thud.

>CLOCK: "What the hell are you-"

"Since when could you do that?!"

>CLOCK: "Wha-"

"You just healed yourself!"

>CLOCK: "What does that have to do with anythi-"

>Your fist cracks against his jaw, cutting him off.

"You could preform healing magic this whole time?!"

>Clockwork begins to retort, but then understands what you're getting at.

>The look of fear in his eyes returns almost instantly.

>CLOCK: "Wait, look. I was scared, alright? I didn't know what to-"

"He's DEAD, Clockwork. DEAD! I watched him die! I felt his pulse slip away as I tried to stop the bleeding!"

>CLOCK: "Anon, please-"

"And what did you do? Nothing. Fucking NOTHING!"

>You send another right hook against Clockwork's muzzle, and he flings you away from him with a push of magic.

>CLOCK: "It's not my fault! I'm not the one who killed him! He got himself killed, I'm not to blame for his own mistakes."

"You shut your fucking mouth. That goddamn bug used his own heart against him and ripped out his throat."

>CLOCK: "He got tricked, he payed the price. I didn't see you hesitate when that thing changed into your father, now did I?"

>You grab a bottle from the floor of the tavern and crack it against the bar, breaking it, and point the shards towards Clockwork.

"He didn't deserve that! He deserved better, dammit!"

>CLOCK: "What he got is what he got, there's no denying it!"

>You can feel a few tears form in your eyes, blurring your vision.

"You could have helped him! You could have helped him, but you didn't!"

>CLOCK: "I was-"

"Scared! That's what you were. You were scared, like a fucking filly who got lost in the woods!"

>CLOCK: "Anon!"

"And now he's dead! You need to buck the fuck up if we're getting out of this alive, Clockwork."

>FIDO: "Anon."

"What?!"

>You spin around to see Fido, his arms raised slightly as he backs away from the door of the tavern.

>You have guests, it appears.

>A pack of changelings surround you in the bar, more of them filing in and encircling the three of you.

>They cut you off from where you laid down your weapons, leaving you defenseless.

>You slowly put the broken bottle to the floor, raising up your hands cautiously like Fido, standing at his back.

>Clockwork shuffles over to you two and darts his head around looking at your captors, and whispers.

>CLOCK: "Should I blind them?"

>You scan the room with your eyes, and every single changeling has their horns directed at all of you, a green glow emanating from them all.

"By the time you charged up the spell, we'd be dead on the floor. No."

>Another armored changeling walks up to you, slightly taller than the last general. He peers into your eyes, then lights up his horn.

>You feel something tug out of your shirt pocket, and see that your picture of Applejack is being taken by the changeling.

"Hey wait give-"

>You're cut off as he swiftly headbutts you, dropping you to the floor in a stunned state.

>The general inspects the picture, then scoffs, dropping back at your feet.

>You promptly pick it up and put it back in your pocket.

>FIDO: "So... what happens now?"

>You get back to your feet and look at the changelings, the ones behind you closing in, leading you to the door of the tavern.

"I have no idea..."

 

Applejack's perspective.

 

"Nous vivions tous les deux ensemble.

Tou qui m'aimais,

Moi qui t'aimais."

 

>The rain was coming down faster now.

>You galloped through alleys and empty streets, bright Las Pegasus lights glowing around you.

>You had been trying to track down Anon for hours now, but still no luck.

>Fear had begun to creep inside you, the sight of dead bodies along the roads rattling you.

>What were the odds that he would be one of those bodies, face down in the rain and concrete?

>No.

>No, you couldn't think that way.

>You would find him, you just had to.

>You cut through more back alleys and eventually come to the scene of a skirmish.

>Thankfully, although still stomach churning, most of these bodies were of changelings.

>You spot a few of them with arrows protruding from their corpses.

>Those had to be from him.

>You were getting close.

>As hope began to settle in, it quickly fades as you find one other body amongst the road.

"...mah stars... no..."

>There, wet and stained crimson was the body of Soarin'.

>You carefully trotted up to him, and tapped his shoulder delicately.

"...Soarin'?"

>Nothing.

>You look closer, and see that his neck was-

>You glance away and trot from the body, gagging.

"Dear Celestia... what did they do t'him?"

>Soarin'. He was in Anon's squad.

>You quickly dart around the remains of the fallen, looking for any signs of Anonymous.

>Nothing.

>He could still be alive.

>Or maybe he was captured.

>You push the negative thoughts from your mind and race on down the street, continuing towards the center of the city's strip.

>Hours pass, and you eventually stop to take a breather.

>As you lean against the stoney wall of a rundown building, the light of a tavern glints against your necklace.

>You tumble the small emerald softly in your hoofs, your reflection shining off it slightly.

>You thought of him every time you looked into that tiny gem.

>Your eyes dart upwards when your ears catch the sound of wings against the wind.

>Darting inside the building you lean against, you find a spot to hide and peer cautiously out one of the windows on the second floor.

>A platoon of changelings landed near the tavern, their heads shaking around as they brushed off the rain water from their bodies.

>Seems like they were just there to stop and rest, like you were.

>You hold your breath as they start to walk towards the building you're hiding in, but breath out a sigh of relief when something else catches their attention.

>What sounds like glass breaking rings in the air, slightly muffled by the sound of shouting coming from the tavern.

>The tallest changeling gives a few orders, and then all of them are rushing into the bar.

>You exhale deeply in relief when they all file out into the street.

>Maybe now that they were distracted, you'd be able to-

>Oh... no.

>No no no...

>Your eyes widen and you breath catches as you see who they're leading out of the bar.

>A unicorn.

>A diamond dog.

>And a human.

>Anon.

>A small, sliver of hope still remains inside you.

>Maybe they would lead them to a camp. Take them prisoner.

>Then you could follow them. Maybe you could even free them.

>It's only until you see them lead them to a wall opposite the bar, and line them up, that the last shred of hope in you fades away.

"Please no..."

 

Anon's Perspective

 

>Your back slams against the brick wall behind you as the changelings line the three of you up.

>You had thought that they would have at least taken you prisoner.

>But it seems that was hoping for far too much.

>The rain is coming down much harder now.

>You look to the ground and spot a few yellow leaves, probably from the nearby park.

>Funny, they reminded you of home, in a way.

>Looking up, you see that the changelings have all lined up in front of you, their horns at the ready.

>The general stands tall in the center of the lineup, his slit eyes piercing you.

>"Who goes first?"

>It's the first time you've ever heard these things talk to you.

>Still, it doesn't change the fact of the situation.

>You were about to be executed in the rain and left to rot in the gutter outside a rundown bar in Las Pegasus.

>You only wished you could see her one last time.

>To hold her in your arms, her soft hair tickling your nose as you both rested on the hay in the barn.

>Flashes of green fly past you, slamming into the unicorn to your left, but you can barely hear his screams as you concentrate on home.

>Don't think about what's happening right now.

>Think about her.

>Not all of this.

>Only her.

>More flashes fire to your right, and you turn to see Fido still standing tall and defiant, scorch marks and holes littering his body, a smirk on his face.

>FIDO: "Try harder, tiny bugs."

>The changelings fire another volley of beams at Fido, his body going limp for a split-second, but still he stands in defiance.

>He lets out a single laugh and coughs up a hefty amount of blood, and looks over to you, a paw outstretched to you.

>You take his paw into your hand and squeeze it firmly.

"Give Tartaraus the hardest of days, comrade."

>He smiles at you, shaking your hand for a final time.

>FIDO: "All things end, friend. This is how it must be."

>He looks back at your captors, and lets out a loud, valiant howl as energy riddles his body for the last time, finally bringing him to the ground.

>You stare straight ahead, your eyes meeting that of the general's.

>Steam rises from the bodies of your fallen comrades, and you look up into the rain filled sky.

"Huh... guess I couldn't keep that promise, eh Applejack?"

>Your eyes close, the pitter patter of rain against your face that last thing you feel as the final volley of beams impact you.

 

Applejack's Perspective

 

>He hits the ground, his body not moving an inch once it does.

>The tallest changeling stares at the bodies, and then motions for them all to leave.

>Their wings unfurl, and the changelings fly away into the night.

>You peer out the window, your hooves pressed up against the glass.

>Tears have already made their way to the floor, and your mouth hangs open.

>No.

>There's no way this is how it ends.

>He wouldn't... he wouldn't just stand there and let them...

>No.

>Tears stream down your face, and you curse at the wind, slamming a hoof on the glass of the window, cracking it.

"Dammit... dammit you promised..."

>You had tried to get to him.

>You were so close.

>So very, very close.

"You never break a promise, Anon... damn you..."

>You look back out the window, and see-

>...

>You weren't sure what that was.

>It almost seemed like-

"Anon."

 

Anon's Perspective

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxKckHuHx_0

 

>You sucked on air as if you had never had a fresh breath of air before.

>Consciousness returned to you with the force of a freight train, and you struggled for air.

>You grasp your chest, and fiery pain courses through you as you come into contact with your wounds.

>You look to your hand, and see it covered in blood.

>There was a hole right where your heart was, along with numerous other impact point littered along your body.

>Get up.

>You strain your body to move, the pain searing across your skin as you do so.

>As you make your way to your feet, you hear a voice.

>You recognize it almost instantly.

"...AJ?"

>You turn as best you can, palming your wound.

>Down the street a ways is Applejack, galloping towards you.

>Was it her?

>Was it really her?

>No.

>No these things couldn't be trusted.

>They used Soarin's emotions and killed him.

>You had survived a volley of magic, and you'd be damned if you were going to be suckered in by a straggler.

>You reach down and pick up a loose brick raising it into the air.

"Don't you come any closer you FUCK."

>God it hurt to talk.

>You were bleeding badly.

>It walks up to you, tears in its eyes.

>Or maybe it was just all the rain.

>You can hear sadness in its voice as it speaks to you.

>"Anon! Anon, oh god Ah thought you... when they put you on that wall Ah... Ah just..."

>She comes closer, but stops when she sees the brick in your hand.

>"What... what're you doin'?"

"You won't take me. Not like you did Soarin'. Not again."

>You step towards it, the brick in your hand ready to strike.

>It back away timidly, but then stops.

>"Anon, it's me. It's me, sweetheart. Ah'm not a changeling!"

>It sounds just like her.

>They were better than you thought.

>If you were going to die, you were going to make sure you died by your own terms and not at the hands of this thing.

>You get closer to it, yet it stays put, not running away.

"Go ahead, go ahead and tell me you're Applejack. Why don't you change into my dad too, see if that stops me?"

>"Anon... sugarcube it's me... please.."

>A hand wraps around it's neck and you push it to the ground.

>You crouch over it, raising the brick high above your head.

>Tears fill your eyes.

"Change... CHANGE you son of a bitch. Don't make me kill you like this."

>It's crying too, and it pleads with you.

>"Ah... Anon please... Ah love you, Anon. Please, don't..."

"Change!"

>"It's me! Ah swear, it's me Anon!"

"I said CHANGE."

>"Ah can't! Please!"

>You prepare to bring the brick down on it's face, your anger and sadness engulfing you.

>And as your fist rockets towards it's face, you make out the glint of something silver and green.

>A necklace.

>Her necklace.

>The brick slams into the ground, inches from Applejack's face, her eyes filled with fear and tears.

>You stay there, looking at the necklace around her neck, before finally looking into her eyes.

"...Oh god..."

>As you realize what you had almost done, your heart gives and you collapse on top of AJ.

>You can still hear her as your vision fades to black.

>"Anon? Anon! Don't leave me like this! Stay awake! Stay with me sweetheart! Please... stay with me...... stay..."

>She's crying into your shoulder, but you can still smell the sweet scent of her hair.

>And for a second, for one, single second, the hard street and rain is replaced with soft hay and a cool Autumn breeze.

 

Two Years Later

 

>You trot carefully through the rows and rows of headstones, the bright green grass contrasting with the white marble of graves.

>Here lie the fallen.

>Here lie all who died to keep this land safe.

>As you walk through the cemetary, your hat on your head and your mane let down, you can't help but wonder how many others lost loved ones.

>How many others lost dear friends.

>There were flowers in your mouth; a bouquet of red roses.

>You looked up to a small hill across the way.

>You would find him there.

>As you make your way up the hill, you see it. A simple headstone, alongside two others.

>And standing over them, a cane in his hand, was the man you had cared for the most in your life.

>Anon turns to you and gives a soft smile, his eyes shining softly in the morning sun.

>ANON: "I didn't know you'd come."

"They were your friends. Ah thought it only fair to come with you this year."

>You trot over to the grave Anon stands in front of and place the roses at the foot of the headstone.

>ANON: "He wanted me to say hi to you, you know... before he died, I mean."

>You lean your head against his hip, breathing softly as the two of you payed your respects to Soarin', Fido, and Clockwork.

>ANON: "...AJ?.."

"Hmm?"

>ANON: "Sometimes I wonder... should it have been me, and not them?... I just..."

"Shhh."

>You stand on your hind legs and give him a soft peck on the cheek.

"It's over now, Anon. All we can do is honor them. Remember them."

>ANON: "Yeah... yeah I guess you're right."

>He puts a hand to your head and strokes your mane softly, lightly scratching at your ear as he does so.

>He had promised he would come back safe.

>He kept that promise.

>He always did, after all.

 

~End~

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2s2tPORlW4