Just (Be)Cause - Chapter 8

9

 

>A quick patter of hooves run through the white road.

>Ever since winter came suddenly few weeks ago, prey has been rare.

>Their shields kept their towns safe, but the influence does not reach far back here.

>Brushing snow off her sickly green mane, she searches for any ponies.

>Some wander about in the snow.

>They never saw what was coming to them.

>But now, nothing.

>Suddenly, a strong whiff catches her attention.

>Something very powerful.

>Love.

 

>Your lifeless body lies peacefully in the snow, spread over the shore of the frozen lake.

>You turn your back on the sky, it has forsaken you long time ago.

>You hold on to whatever that wiggles in your hands, clutching it weakly.

>A single hole runs through your torso, leaving a noticeable puncture in your back.

>Your mind keeps on replaying the same scene over and over again.

>Of your previous love killing you.

>If you weren’t so sane, you would have sworn your entire being to revenge.

>But you were too sane.

 

>She trots wearily across the shore, noticing the strange creature that lays on it.

>She noticed all of the other animals stay the fuck away.

>The cold seemed to preserve this creature finely.

>She could taste the love leaking out of the body.

>His mind was still very much alive.

>He was a prey.

 

>You watch the part you die for the hundredth time.

>You’re getting used to it now.

>Suddenly, the image stops.

>Darkness.

>You start to hear again.

>And-

>FUCK it’s cold.

>You cough, and look around.

>How long were you out?

>As you decide to drag your sorry ass out, you are hit back with memories.

>One single pony comes to your mind.

>Applebloom.

 

>On the day of your death, the little filly had a nightmare.

>She quietly snuck out of the house, and had a simple walk.

>That’s what Anon used to do, if he had a bad dream.

>By some curiosity, she goes over to her spot.

>It’s a small platform Anon built it a little while ago, for her to see all of Ponyville.

>It was just enough for one filly, as the branches supporting it wasn’t that strong.

>It was her special spot.

 

>And so a month passed.

>Applejack was back few days before the 30-day mark, looking grim as ever.

>The town decided to throw a party, to the returning heroines.

>Hero-Equines?

>They weren’t very… perky, after Anon’s disappearance.

>Everyone were.

>Applebloom refused to believe her brother would leave her, he promised.

>He even hoped to die.

>So she waited, every day, every second she got for free.

>And hours soon turns to days, and they later became weeks, until it was another month.

>With the snow, the Apple family had to take some extra precautions, with unicorn magic.

>Deep down inside, Applebloom felt Anon was very much alive, and he was heading this way.

 

>You roll up your left fingers into a fist.

>You groan, as you feel nothing.

>Your hands are cold and dead.

>You, are dead.

>Maybe you’re a zombie?

>That would explain a lot.

>You slowly drag yourself through the snow.

>You had to at least get out of this frozen shore.

>Then you hear a crackle.

>There was a fire nearby.

>A source of warmth-

>And life.

>You, gifted with a new purpose, albeit short,

>Proceeded to move.

>As you got out of the shore, you still couldn’t stand.

>You saw the fire, and a figure by it…

>No, it wasn’t a pony.

>Something very familiar.

 

>Every morning you had in Equestria, you woke up, cleaned yourself, and looked in the mirror.

>As much as you admitted you were too damn good-looking, you always realized one thing.

>There could never be another human with you.

>But, as of now, in the snow, half-dead as you are, you see one figure.

 

>Another human.

 

>You try to call out, but your lungs are empty.

>You only let out a small wheeze, which startles the person.

>Person. Oh lord, how you longed to use that word.

>With her hood drawn up to protect her head, you couldn’t take in any special note on the person, but with your wheeze, you can see it now.

>She had a pale skin, akin to the snow around her.

>She had deep green eyes, and brown hair to compliment it.

>She gasps as she looks at you, coming to you immediately.

>She takes her gloves off, and offers her hand to you.

>You gladly take it, surprising her with your cold touch.

>Her pink hand seems like the warmest thing right now.

>She carefully leads you to the fire, where she lays you down comfortably.

>Sleep soon overtakes you.

>Funny, doesn’t dying count as sleeping?

 

>When you awake, you jump to your feet.

>You had to get to Applebloom.

>You freaking promised.

>A warm hand lands on your cheek.

>”Are you alright?” She asks.

>You nod in surprise.

>She motions you to come closer to the fire.

>She hands you a small bowl of stew, which you down almost immediately.

>Not exactly your cup of tea, but it is alright, nonetheless.

 

>”Where are you from?” She asks.

>”I was going to ask you the same question.”

>”You first.” She gives you a shy smile.

>”I’m from- up there.” You point up to the frozen waterfall.

>”You?”

>”I’m from a settlement nearby.”

>You almost cry at those words.

>”Settlement? As in, with humans?”

>”Well, what else?”

>You give her a massive hug.

>”Oh god, I’m alive!”

 

>After your completely normal talk, you find yourself following this girl you’ve just met.

>”Say, what’s your name?”

>She stops and turns to give you another smile.

>”It’s Christie.” She says.

>You extend your hand.

>”Well, good to meet you, Christie.”

>She takes your hand, shaking it.

>”I’m Anonymous.”

>After the introduction, silence sets on the two of you once again.

>You are now high up in some mountain side, looking over Equestria.

>You give an impressed whistle, and crouch down.

>The entire land is covered in snow.

>There were pockets of magical shields in some settlements, but the rest of the land was covered in snow.

>How long were you out?

 

>”Say, Christie.”

>”Yes, Anon?” She takes a seat next to you.

>”When did the snow start?”

>She stops, trying to fish out an answer.

>”I think it was few weeks ago, I guess.”

>”How long was I out?”

>”Not long, I suppose. The snow came pretty quickly.”

>You look around once more.

>This is definitely Equestria.

>You could see Ponyville from here, and if you’re not mistaken, you can find the Apple orchard right over-

>There.

>You take a mental image; this will be your path soon.

>You feel a tug on your back.

>”Well, Anonymous, are we heading, or what?”

>You nod like an idiot.

>”Oh yeah, let’s go.”

>You continue your path, still eyeing the orchard, just a speck in the distance.

 

>Eventually, you come across a small cave.

>You can see lights coming from it.

>The two of you, with your new-found enthusiasm, run up to the cave.

>Looks like you got your second wind after all.

>You head in first, expecting to see people.

>But there’s no noise, nothing.

>It’s just a small camp.

>There is a small fire burning in the middle, and a tent set near it.

>You turn to your companion.

>”Where’s the others?”

>”They’re out now, they’ll be back.”

>She says, looking away.

>You figure there is no point in arguing, and you make yourself comfortable.

>You sit by the fire, basking in its radiant warmth.

>Once again, the tiredness and the warmth bring you to sleep.

 

>When you awake, you find it harder to breathe.

>You glance over to the fire, still burning ever so nicely.

>You then search for what is killing you.

>There is constant breeze coming in, so it can’t be the lack of oxygen.

>You try to get up and survey the scene, but you can’t.

>Not that you’re a lazy bastard.

>Well, that too,

>But there was something crushing you.

>Turn to your side to see your female companion, lying on your shoulder.

>It looks like she tried giving you a hug, but she fell asleep in the midst of it.

>What is with you and weird girls?

>You try to push Christie off, but she latched onto you.

>”Christie.” You mutter.

>”Get off.”

>”Christie, you up?” You prod her head, getting no response.

>Seeing that there is no escape, you just accept it.

>”Jesus Christ, Christie.” You whisper.

>You suppose you’re just going to hang there.

>Soon, you feel a stir on your sleeping companion, as she groans and tries to get up.

>”Anon, I’m sorry.”

>You roll your eyes.

>”It’s fine, Christie.”

>She gives you the deepest green stare with her eyes.

>Your heart skipped a beat.

>”No, not that- I lied to you.” She looks away, burying her face into your chest again.

>”Lied about the settlement?” You ask.

>”Yeah.”

>You’re not really surprised.

>”It’s okay, Christie.”

>You give her a light pat in the back.

>She faces you once again, with her puppy eyes.

>”Really, Anon?” She smiles softly.

>Well, shit.

>”Yeah, really.” You try to defuse the awkwardice.

>”Uhm, can you- get off me?”

>She keeps her gaze.

>”But- you’re so warm.” She buries her face again.

>Well, you lost it, lad.

>You sigh and lay back in defeat.

>Just as long as she doesn’t try to rape you or something.

>That’s just silly.

 

>After a while of awkward session that can be described as the metaphorical ‘Hugging a corpse’, she finally lets go.

>She seems cute when-

>NO

>What the fuck, man.

>Well, she is the only human around.

>Procreation and shit, mate.

 

>”Are you alright, Anon?”

>You wake from your inner dialogue.

>”Oh yeah, I’m fine- just thinking about things.”

>”Well, you do your ‘thinking’ while I get something for us to eat.”

>She walks inside her tent.

>You look around, the cave isn’t that deep.

>It’s more of a puncture on the mountain side.

>Outside, you can see the Everfree, blanketed in cold.

>”There we go.” You hear Christie behind you.

>She sets up a small pot over the fire, pouring in random edibles.

>”I’ll get some stew ready.”

>She produces a spoon and starts mixing the food.

>To you, anything will do.

 

>After your ‘meal’, you set back on your cave wall, satisfied.

>Christie sits next to you, lying on your shoulders once again.

>And you thought you were attention-deprived.

 

>”So.” You start the conversation. “How’d you get here, Christie?”

>She bites her lip, thinking.

>”I’m not sure.” She replies.

>”You?”

>”Same.”

 

>That was a great line, Einstein.

>She wraps herself around your arms.

>”So, what now, Anon?”

>You don’t hesitate.

>”I need to get to Ponyville.”

>”Ponyville? What for?”

>”To keep an old promise, Christie.”

>She pouts at you.

>”Will you be leaving soon?”

>You had to know what the fuck happened.

>”I think so.”

>Actually, now will the best time.

>You stand, making Christie mimicking you in surprise.

>”Now?” She looks to you with pleading eyes.

>”Yeah, thanks for everything, Christie. I promise I’ll be back- or-“

>”We could go together.”

>She is silent.

>You take that as a no and start to head out.

>Christie suddenly grabs your hand, unwilling to let go.

>”Anon, please stay a little longer.” She whispers.

>You turn to see her pleading green eyes.

>You can’t help to stop.

>Something in you won’t allow it.”

>You are silently led back into the cave, one hand in Christie’s.

>Once you’re back inside, she draws close to you.

>For some reason, you won’t do anything.

>She places her arms around you, and you do the same.

>”Stay with me, Anon.”

>”I’ll stay with you, Christie.” You echo.

>She looms closer, and goes to give you a kiss.

>You take it all in, going further.

>She stops you, and leads you inside the tent.

>Your rational side keeps screaming to leave, but you can’t remember why.

>Besides, everything could be alright for now…