Barren Kindness -Chapter 9-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9bh66UmOik

 

>Fog.

>There was more fog out today than you've ever seen before.

>The inability to really see what was in front of you worried your instincts, but the calm and collected nature of Fluttershy put them to ease fairly easy.

>The misty white fog swirled around your ankles with every step that you took, while Fluttershy occasionally flaps her wings, getting her injured one used to movement once more.

>You can barely see ten feet in front of you, and as such the two of you continue to rely on the pavement at your feet as a guide.

>Just stay on the roads, was your thought.

>Fluttershy looks up to you with a happy light in her eyes.

>"I think it's getting better!"

>She flaps her wings a few times, hovering in the air while wincing slightly.

>"Well it's a start, anyway."

>You give her a smile and a pat on the head from where she hovers, and she plops back to the ground softly.

>It's funny, you've been smiling a lot more than usual ever since you took in Fluttershy.

>It felt nice.

>The small yellow flower in Fluttershy's mane popped out at you with it's bright petals, along with everything else that was this yellow pony.

>She had even asked you if you'd go with her.

>Back to that "Equestria" place she talks about.

>You'd given it some thought. More that you thought you would, actually.

>A chance to get away from all... this.

>The running.

>The fighting.

>The bitter cold and lonely nights.

>You'd given it some thought.

 

"Fluttershy?"

>She looks back up at you, those teal eyes shining bright in the backdrop of the fog and mist around you.

"About what you said earlier... when you asked if I would come back with you..."

>You can see a hopeful grin on her face.

"If you get the chance to go back, I'd go with you."

>Her smile widens and she lets out a small gasp.

"IF is the key word there, Fluttershy. I'm still skeptical, but IF it were to be real, I'd go with you."

>"Oh my goodness! Really? You really would?"

>You give a nod, and she prances around you in delight, crying out a small, quiet "yay."

>"When we go home, I'll show you all of my animal friends! Oh, I just know you're going to love the otters near my stream, what with their cute little whiskers and tiny ears! Oh, and you'll get to meet my friends in town, and maybe when-"

"Home?"

>"I-... yes, home."

"You said we... when 'we' get home."

>"Well, if you're coming to Equestria with me, I'd be more than happy to have you live where I live."

"...you'd do that for me?"

>"Mmhmm!"

 

>A warmth catches in your heart that you haven't felt in a long time.

>She was kindness incarnate.

>Asking nothing in return, yet giving everything.

>The first day you met her, you treated her like some sort of pest that irritated you.

>Now she was something to protect out here. To make sure no one hurt her.

>To keep her safe.

>You must have smiled back at her, because she hovers up to you and plants a kiss on your nose.

>Her attention gets drawn away from you for a second when she spots something.

>"Oh my, what is that?"

>You look to where she's staring, and you can see a faint light ahead of you.

>Multiple, tiny, red lights all along the ground before you.

>Fluttershy carefully trots closer to them all.

"Wait, no, come back."

>"Wha-"

"Those are mines."

>"What are mines?"

"They're bad. That's all I can say right now. C'mon let's-"

>Footsteps.

>Those were footsteps behind you.

>You spin around, but you're only met with more fog.

>Yet you could hear the footsteps nearing you.

>You look to Fluttershy, and she nods, a determined look in her eye.

>You turn and run to your right with Fluttershy, but as soon as you pick up your pace the footsteps you heard walking towards you turn into the stomp of running feet.

>They were chasing you through fog and field of mines.

>This was worse than the deathclaw so far.

 

>Stumbling over debris and loose bricks, you and Fluttershy make a mad dash through the fog.

>You didn't know where you were going.

>You had no idea how many of them there were.

>But what you did know, was that there was more than one person chasing after you.

>In this fog though, you hadn't a clue where they were.

>Objects come into focus as you run through the mist, Fluttershy at your side.

>White fences, stained gray and brown in decay.

>The crumbling remains of suburban houses, caving in on themselves and each other.

>A lone tricycle, stone still to the side of the road.

>Was this a neighborhood?

>Fluttershy stumbles to the ground and you turn to help her up.

>They're getting closer.

>Among the rapidly approaching footsteps, you hear another sound.

>A very distinctive sound.

>The click and catch of a magazine being loaded into a rifle.

>The thunk of a baseball bat as it was dragged along the ground.

>But worst of all?

>The low whine and hum of a slave collar being activated.

>No.

>Not now.

>Anything but them, not now.

>You pick Fluttershy up and you two start running once more.

>Only now, there are gunshots following you as well.

>As a round whizzes past your head, you cut to the left and make a bee-line for... something.

>It was hard to tell in all this fog.

>You both run, bullets flying past you as your pursuers made chase.

>You leap over the carcass of an old car and take cover, Fluttershy bounding past it and sitting beside you.

>You draw your revolver, and stand up with weapon raised.

>You don't even get a chance to get a shot off.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33WotwmQnb0&feature=relmfu

 

>You hit the ground, the bullet in your chest knocking the wind out of you, leaving you speechless.

>This was bad.

>You clutch at your wound, but then remember what you need to protect.

>You turn to Fluttershy, a shocked look in her eyes.

>You try to say the words, but the pain causes you to yelp instead.

>As you begin sucking on air, your breathing returning slowly, you mouth the words to her.

>Fly.

>She shakes her head, moving to help you.

>You bat her hoof away, and croak out the words again.

"Fly."

>Small tears form in the corners of her eyes, her head shaking "no" once more.

"FLY AWAY."

>Another gunshot rings out, causing you and Fluttershy to flinch, as she takes off into the air, disappearing into the fog.

>You raise yourself up as best you can, and fire your pistol with wanton abandon towards your attackers.

>They wouldn't have her.

>You'd kill them first.

>A second shot slams into your shoulder, sending you back into the hard concrete below.

>And before you get a chance to look back into the sky for a sign of Fluttershy, you feel a cold, metallic vice latch across your throat.

 

Meanwhile...

 

>Why did you fly?!

>Stupid!

>You should have stayed!

>You should have HELPED him.

>But... what could you have done?...

>It still hurts to fly like this, but you fight through it.

>You would have to.

>They got him.

>Slavers.

>The ones he had told you about.

>The ones that had tried to take you, once before.

>They took him.

>He told you to fly. To leave him behind so that you could get away.

>So you could be safe.

>...

>No.

>No, they would not have him.

>You land, opening your pack and taking out the small map within.

>On it were hand drawn notes on the area around you.

>You searched, and then found one written in red ink.

>Paradise Falls.

>That's where they would take him.

>And so, that's where you would go.

 

~END~