Barren Kindness -Chapter 8-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=qAGNO1NIwzA

 

>Every step you took sent a shot of pain up your left side, but you bore it for the time being.

>The cracked earth and stone beneath your feet was dusty, sending small clouds of dirt rising from your steps.

>The only sounds you could hear out here were that of a light breeze echoing through empty void that was this wasteland.

>That, and the click-clack of Fluttershy's hooves along the old, worn out pavement.

>It was good to have her by your side out here.

>It made finding the light in all this darkness that much easier, when it all came down to it.

>It was starting to look like rain, and a heavy fog clung to the ground around you and seemed to stretch for miles.

>The only thing keeping your mood in check at the moment was Fluttershy talking about her home.

>"...and then some of them changed to look like me, too!"

"So what did you do to fight back? Did you have a knife on you?"

>"What? Oh no, I couldn't possibly hurt another pony, especially one that looks like my friends!"

"So what did you do?"

>"I... pretended to fight. And I dodged."

"You won by just avoiding it all together?"

>She nods, giggling softly.

>"It's all very funny when you think about it."

>You laugh. She was right.

>Defeating conflict by refusing to fight back.

>God how that sounded appealing.

>"Wait, you're asking me questions!"

"So?"

>"Does that mean you finally believe me? About where I came from?"

 

>She was eager to gain your approval on the subject of her origins.

>But the more and more she told you about this "Equestria" the more and more you found it hard to swallow.

>A world of peace and harmony, one filled with whimsy and magic?

>Where mythical beasts were reality, where there wasn't rampant hunger or despair?

>A world with real trees, who's bark was brown and leaves green in the spring?

>It sounded idyllic and perfect.

>And that's why you had such difficulty believing it.

"I think I'd need more convincing, actually."

>Fluttershy frowns, but tilts her head.

>"Anon?"

"Yes?"

>"If... if you could come with me, would you?"

"I...don't quite follow..."

>"Well I'm sure my friends are working hard to try and find me to bring me back home. I bet Twilight has even gotten the princesses to help."

"And?"

>She lightly scuffs a hoof on the ground, looking down from you.

>"Well... you seem lonely out here all by yourself. I was just hoping that... if I got back home, that you wouldn't mind coming with me..."

"You mean leave the wasteland and live in your world?"

>She nods, a tiny smile on her lips.

>...

>It was funny.

>You never considered that.

>Living in a place that seemed like paradise.

>Certainly would be a good change of scenery.

>But...

"I don't know."

 

>She perks her ears in confusion and stares at you.

>"You don't know?"

"I mean, I don't even know if you're from where you say you're from."

>"But... I thought you trust me?"

"I do. It's just... you live in a place like this for so long, and your hope sort of... dwindles just a bit."

>"But-... I understand."

"Just know this: If you were going somewhere, I'd tag along. I still owe you for saving my life all those times, after all."

>Her shift into sadness disappears when you tell her this, and she rubs up into your leg.

>"Okay. Thank you."

>A low growl emanates close from you, and Fluttershy squeaks.

>"What was that?"

"Your stomach."

>"I-...really?"

>Nodding, you wait and sure enough her stomach growls once more.

>"Oh, I'm sorry."

>Scratching behind her ear a bit, you pat her on the head and motion to keep walking.

>You two would find some food eventually, and then you'd rest up for the night.

>As the two of you stride slowly through the law fog and mist that clings to your ankles and her hooves, you spot a small sliver of color nearby.

>You break away from Fluttershy, who at first is worried at your sudden change in direction but soon realizes that there's nothing wrong.

>"Anon?"

"Just stay there for a bit. I thought I saw something.

>You squint as you try to find whatever you saw.

>Could have sworn it was some shade of yellow, like Fluttershy.

>As you peer past the mist, you finally find it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=fDRf8MSJMug

 

"...wow.."

>You're stunned and slightly in awe at the tiny thing at your feet.

>You'd never seen one of these before. You only heard about them in books and seen them in old movies and pictures.

>But sure enough, here one was, standing amongst the gray, bleak backdrop in defiance to all.

>A flower.

>A very small, very yellow flower.

>You don't know what kind it is. Hell, you don't know what any flower names were.

>You just knew that this was one of them.

>Softly prodding it with your finger, you find that it's soft, and fragile.

>It was remarkably similar to Fluttershy's fur color as well.

>She's told you about her "gardens" back in Equestria.

>She had a bunch of these apparently.

>...

>Plucking the flower from the ground, you go to Fluttershy and kneel, getting to her level.

>"What was it? Is something wrong?"

>You shake your head, only smiling, as you place the flower between one of her ears.

>"Oh my, you found... but I thought that-... thank you."

>She smiles as best as she can, giving your nose a rub with hers as she admires her flower.

>She seemed genuinely happy.

>You are too, for once.

>There was finally something to brighten this world besides Fluttershy, and you gave it to her.

>But to the small cluster of men on the ridge ahead of you, fleeting joy was the last thing on their minds.

>The cold, metallic collars in their hands confirmed that.

 

~END~