Autumn story

>You're walking through the woods.
>Soft amber glow through the trees gives you a sense that there is something special beyond this world.
>Old rotting leaves amidst trash.
>Teenagers are known to party out here.
>You can't fault them for wanting to get away to somewhere like here though, this location is beautiful.
>The cold air nipping at your nose and fingertips reminding you it'll be dark soon.
>Glancing down at the ground again you see something shine.
>You bend down and pick it up.
>It's round, red and has a smooth marble like surface.
>What the hell was this?
>Rubbing the dust off with your thumb a bit the thing glows brightly shaking itself in your hand.
>You release it instinctively not knowing what to expect.
>It shines so bright it hurts to look at and then fades back to it's red color floating it's way slowly to the ground.
>You watch in awe.
>As it touches the ground you lean down attempting to pick it up again.
>As you do the object fades sparkling like stars into nothingness.
>The object gone you drop to your knees rummaging through the leaf litter like a mad man.
>You have absolutely fuck all of a clue about what has just happened.
>And with it gone telling people about it would be tricky.
>Magical phenomenon that you can't prove tends to make people think you're crazy.
>But hey, at least you saw it, whatever "it" was.
>Heading home you walked out to the bus stop.
>You looked at the sign with the bus times.
>You breathed a sigh of relief.
>There was one bus left coming out this way.
>Wind blew past you.
>Man, it would've been a hell of a long walk back, 20 miles or so, on a Thursday.
>The sky burning a bright orange hue.
>You'd only come out here to revisit these woods you played in as a kid.
>Something about their memory drew you back.
>With nothing else to do you had headed out here.
>That red object you'd seen and held, what could it have possibly been?
>The bus rolled its way up the hill.
>It drove toward you.
>It hissed to a stop, the doors opened and you got on.
>The heat of it warming you immediately.
>You went immediately to your favorite spot.
>Back of the bus.
>Someone was already sitting on one side.
>It was a bespectacled mothmare, with auburn hair, orange skin, and wings like autumn.
>You sat next to her.
>She looks at you.
>She doesn't say anything.
>The bus takes off.
>Driving some ways down the road you ponder how to begin.
"Hi there I'm Anonymous."
>"Hello, I'm Autumn."
>Her hoofs neatly folded in her lap.
>A saddlebag sits next to her.
"What are you doing on this bus? I mean, you're not human."
>"I don't know."
>She rubs her hoof against her forehead.
>"One minute, I'm in the forest studying herbs, the next I'm passed out."
"You, study herbs?"
>"Yes, I've taken many notes on them, I also know a fair bit about animals and their behaviors as well."
"Heh, that's neat. So you just woke up here on this bus?"
>"Yes, I can't seem to remember how I got here."
"Weird. So, uh, you don't have any place to stay do you?"
>"I guess this isn't a dream is it? No I don't have anywhere to go I suppose."
>Her eyes unfocused with a distant empty glare.
"H-hey, well, I mean, you're welcome to stay with me."
>"Sure."
>Her voice has a flat inexpressive tone.
>It's almost rude.
>But, given her situation she doesn't seem to have any control over.
>Not to mention her just walking around as she is will cause problems.
>She does look pretty as the last of the twilight shines through the bus.
>The ride remains quiet.
>Her expression isn't giving you clues either.
>She'd just agreed without any hesitance.
>You could be some strange molester and she could just be walking right in.
>A part of you feels bad for even thinking that.
>But you would never do that.
>Eyes dark magenta, her mane an untamed auburn.
>She's looking right at you now.
>It's hard to tell what she's thinking.
>Shes smiling.
>"I appreciate you letting me stay with you. It's just, I thought this was all a dream for a moment, or, at least I wanted to."
"It must be hard waking up in an unfamiliar place."
>"I guess I just don't know what to expect, I'm nervous to say the least."
>You reach out and grab her hoof.
"It'll be alright, I'll do my best to make you feel comfortable."
>She chuckles.
>"I appreciate that."
>You pull your hand away but she grabs it pulling it back.
>She's blushing as your hand rests on hers just above her lap.
>You smile holding her hoof like that.
>Night goes on, lights from street lamps and cars as you pass by.
>It was so tranquil.

>Sometime later after transferring to another bus you and Autumn arrived at your apartment.
>You led her up the stairs thankful that everyone in the complex was asleep.
>Opening the door you allowed her to enter first.
>She walked inside as you shut the door behind her.
>She walks to the couch placing her saddlebag there.
"So uh, what do you eat uh.."
>You open your fridge peering inside.
>Autumn gets up peering in behind you.
"The honey, if I may.."
>You grab it raising an eyebrow toward her before flicking the lid and handing it to her.
>She walks back to the couch and begins drizzling it into her mouth.
>It was, borderline erotic, or maybe it was just your dirty mind.
>Before you knew it though she had polished off the bottle.
"The whole thing?"
>Her eyes widen a little.
>"I wasn't supposed to drink it all was I?"
"N-no, it's fine, I'll just get more haha.."
>She smiles a little tossing the bottle into the garbage.
"So tell me about yourself Autumn you said you, studied herbs or something?"
>"Well, I live in a forest, and finding new life always fascinates me. Studying how it works, learning its biological processes. I've written many notes, in fact.."
>She pulls out a book from her saddlebag.
>"T-this is just one but.."
>She hands you the old looking book.
>You open it up in the middle.
>There are small illustrations and detailed notes about plants.
>As you thumb through it you can't help but be impressed.
"You.. Wrote all of this?"
>You can see she's blushing a little.
>"Yes.."
"This is really cool Autumn."
>Her neck disappearing into her shoulders as her face reddens more.
>"Thanks."
"I mean it, you must've worked very hard on this."
>"W-well, it's, just what I do, I mean.."
"Are you a published author? Do you make any money selling these?"
>"I've thought about it. Sometimes I feel like my research is incomplete though. There are so many plants and animals to study, I'm not sure if I'll ever really finish."
"Hahah, but I mean, you could just do it book by book like this, I'm sure someone over there would love to have something like this."
>"It's been a while since I've really taken a break from my research.."
"Well, maybe this could be your break, if you spend all your time in some forest, how do you have time to make any friends?"
>"Friends.. I.. I have friends."
>Her voice trailing off toward the end there.
"Autumn, you, have friends right?"
>"I.. I have, acquaintances.."
"But you don't actually have any..."
>"I don't really have time to make real friends."
>You walk over sitting next to her.
"I can be your friend if you want."
>She smiles.
"Heh, I'd like that."
>You bite your lower lip as you slowly move your arms around her.
>You watch carefully for her ques.
>Your arms wrap gently around her.
>She seems nervous.
>"I'm sorry, I'm not used to being held like this."
"D-do you want me to stop?"
>"No.. But, lets just keep it at this for now ok?"
"Of course! I'm not a beast.."
>"Good."
>You feel her lean up against you.
>Her eyes are closed.
>Her soft fluffy warmth.
>She felt plush.
>She smelt a bit like dirt and parchment, but it wasn't unpleasant.
>She peers her eyes up at you.
>Her gentle gaze.
>You were in awe.
>You sat there holding her in your arms for quite a while.
>It was quiet but peaceful.
>After it ended you got her some bedding and let her sleep on the couch.
>A part of you wanted to ask her to bed, but you knew that wasn't fair, and it was impolite even if she would've said yes.
>You went to bed alone, but, you were still happy.
>Happy that you met a pretty cool mare, and you couldn't wait to spend more time with her tomorrow.


>The next day you got up, you stumbled out into the living room.
>You were surprised to see Autumn was already awake.
>"Good morning Anon."
"Haha, Good morning Autumn."
>Her hair a bit messy from having just woken up.
>It was kinda cute.
>You grabbed the remote flicking on the T.v
>Autumn was a bit startled by it.
>"And the forecast calls for a Blizzard! Oh yes, temperatures are dropping like crazy and we expect to see at least several inches of snowfall in the next few hours!"
"That's weird, it almost never snows around here."
>"So does the magic box predict the future or something?"
"Hehe, I'll explain later, for now, you want some breakfast? How about I make you pancakes, do you eat pancakes?"
>"I like pancakes."
>You go and make pancakes.
>Once they're all ready you spread butter on them and drizzle syrup over the top.
>You hand Autumn a plate of pancakes and a fork.
>She bites into them.
>She has a pleased expression.
>She seems to especially like the syrup.
"Say Autumn, did you say you appeared on the bus just a few minutes before I got there?"
>"Yes. I was walking through the woods toward an herb I'd found when all of a sudden I felt like I just passed out. The next thing I know I'm on the back of a moving bus."
"Huh, well, something weird happened I think around that time."
>"What do you mean?"
"Well, you said you were in the woods, and funny enough so was I, and I found this weird red marble thing, and then it floated up and glowed and disappeared."
>"Interesting."
"Maybe if we look around we'll be able to find a way to get you home. We might wanna hurry though, if the snow builds up, I'm not sure the buses will run that way."
>Autumn takes the final bite of her pancake and takes the empty plate to the sink.
>"Well, what're we waiting for?"
>Autumn gathers her things.
>You put on some winter clothes.
>While you're digging through your closet you decide to grab a hat and scarf for Autumn.
"Here, it'll probably get pretty cold while we're up there looking around."
>Autumn has a hesitant look but sighs and takes the scarf and hat putting them in her bag.
>Once you're ready you head out the door to the bus stop.

>Snow has piled up quickly, flurries rage covering the ground.
>The bus comes to a halt at your destination hissing as the doors open.
>You hop off and take a look at the sign.
"Well, I guess we have plenty of time to search, next bus doesn't come around here till 5:00 and it's 12:56 right now."
>"What time does the latest bus get here?"
"Uh, 6:30 looks like."
>"Good, that gives us more time to look."
>She sure wants to get home.
>You lead her through a field across the street from the bus stop.
>The field has tall yellow grass and uneven marshy ground.
"This field is filled with potholes so be sure to watch your-"
>Splash
>Her hoof slams into a pothole jetting icy cold water all up the front of her.
>She shivers with a wide eyed look.
"I-i tried to warn you."
>"Very well."
>She flaps her wings and flies aloft next to you.
"Hey no fair!"
>She chuckles putting a hoof to her mouth.
>You travel some distance along the uneven ground till you reach the forest entrance.
>Snow has fallen coating the ground some 5 inches already.
>Autumn descends to the ground gracefully curiously observing her surroundings.
>You lead her through some stickerbushes and over a river.
"This must be familiar territory to you huh? Nothing new here."
>"Not exactly, every forest is different, I've already seen one or two plants I can't identify by name. On that note, why were you in the forest to begin with?"
"Well, I used play and explore these woods a long time ago. I guess I just wanted to relive that old nostalgia."
>"You don't go to the forest often I take it?"
"No, I've actually lived mostly in urban areas, rarely do I get the chance to go for a walk in the woods."
>"I suppose I'm the opposite then. Growing up I've only very rarely been to other towns or cities. I can sometimes remember those places when I go walking in the forest, I guess you could call that nostalgia."
"I guess there's something new then for both of us huh?"
>"Maybe."
>Shes smiling as she helps you up a muddy incline
>You walk crunching over snow covered leaves as you make your way through a clearing.
>Eventually you reach the point you were at the other day.
>It's on sort of an incline but there are some trees on it.
>"It was around here somewhere."
>"And it's a marble or something?"
"Just look for something red and round."
>"Got it."
>You look around trees and shrubs kicking through leaf litter.
>Autumn seems to be making her way around slower, probably so she doesn't disturb the habitat of the woods.
>Following suit you decide to slow your roll as well.
>Hours go by with no results.
>You ask Autumn to fly up and see if she can see anything from up there.
>A different perspective might produce better results.
>But even with this noting is found.
>You try expanding the search area to all around the place you'd found it.
>It was beginning to look like a hopeless cause.
"It's 4:30 already and we still haven't found anything, maybe we should call it a day?"
>"You said the latest bus doesn't get here till 6:30 right? That gives us another two hours or so, we can't give up just yet."
>You sigh resuming the search.
>More time passes.
>Your body is numb from the cold.
>Even Autumn wearing the hat and scarf you gave her now, is starting to look like she's had enough.
>"Are you sure it's around here?"
"I'm positive, I grabbed the red thing, it glowed, and then it just disappeared!"
>"Are you, sure you weren't just.. Seeing things?"
"I-i swear it's the truth! I know what I saw!"
>She sighs and continues looking around.
>You haggardly resume the search as well.
>Time rolls on.
>Suddenly you see a red glow in the snow.
"Hey, I think I found it!"
>Autumn rushes over to see.
>You reach down and grab it out of the snow and leaves.
>You hold it up for her to see as she stares curiously at it.
>The polished marble like surface swirls like a red Jupiter.
>Rubbing your thumb along it you try and clear a bit of dirt off it.
>Suddenly the color from everything around you and Autumn drains out and fades to white.
>Then it fades to black.

>Darkness.
>The sharp screech of a bat.
>You open your eyes.
>Autumn and you are standing in the middle of a street.
>Everything looks weathered and decrepit.
"What the hell.."
>"W-where are we?"
"Beats me, Autumn this isn't where you're from is it?"
>"I.. I don't think so."
>Suddenly a moan from behind you.
>You wheel around as cold grimy hands grip your shoulders.
>You stare into a man with lifeless eyes and a marred rotten face.
>He pushes into you making you fall backward onto the ground.
>He mouthes wildly seemingly in an attempt to bite you.
>You instinctively punch him as hard as you can in the jaw.
>His head flies off leaving his body to flail on top of you.
>You roll his smelly body off of you.
>You feel his putrid stench seeping into your clothes.
"Ugh!!"
>As you stand up you see more people like that man encroach upon you and Autumn.
>All with lifeless eyes walking toward you.
>"A-anon what's going on?"
"I-i think we're being surrounded by zombies.."
>"S-should we-"
"Y-yeah, run!"
>You make a break through the crowd on the street into the forest on the side of the road.
>As you enter zombies turn toward you noticing you and move toward you.
"Shit shit shit!"
>You keep running.
>Zombies from both sides coming from places you didn't even see.
>Their hands almost groping you as you and Autumn book it through the forest.
>Eventually you and her reach something of a clearing where there aren't zombies around.
>"So, what's going on, we touch the thing and now everyone is zombies?"
"No, I'm sure its more like, we got sucked into another dimension or something, I'm sure all we have to do is just find that thing again and we can get out of here!"
>"What'll we do about.. Them? Theres no way we can search the area if they're all over the place!"
"Well, we'll need to find a weapon."
>"So, you plan to fight them?"
"We don't have much of a choice if we wanna get home."
>She sighs.
>You hear moaning from behind you and decide to head deeper into the woods.
>You travel some distance and passing and avoiding more zombies.
>Through the eerie mist of the forest you spot a yellow light illuminating some kind of building.
>You and Autumn head hurriedly toward it.
>Through the trees you spot a sign reading "Rest Area"
>You see a vending machine and rush toward it.
>Your stomach growls.
>You leave it for now having a look around the building with Autumn.
>Fortune smiles on you when you find an axe in a glass case.
>"Oh hell yeah."
>You wrap your hand in your sleeve and punch the glass grabbing the axe.
>You and Autumn walk back around to the vending machine.
>You hack into the vending machine glass with the axe breaking it open.
>Dropping the axe you grab an armful of snacks handing them to Autumn.
"Here you go."
>She looks at you with an almost confused look as the candybars and chips slip through her hooves and onto the ground.
>You decide to sit down where she is and eat a bag of chips.
>Autumn sorts through her snacks as well.
>A chill wind blows past you both.
>Autumn tears into a payday bar wrapper with her teeth and ripping it off.
>Wrapper removed she takes a bite.
>She has a pleased expression as she savors her treat.
>You and Autumn sit in front of the broken vending machine gorging on junk for a while as you look up at the stars.

>You stuff some snacks into Autumns saddlebags.
>With those and the Axe in tow you make your way back into the woods.
>Seeing a zombie you decide to test things out.
>You make noise till he notices you drawing him close.
>He lumbers slowly toward you hands outstretched with cold lifeless eyes.
>It's more daunting here than it is in the movies.
>You pull the axe back, zombie nearly in arms reach.
>You bring the axe down hard cleaving his skull clean in half.
>Autumn winces as the zombies body falls to the ground in front of you.
>Keeping the pace you repeat the process.
>Slowly luring the zombies one at a time toward you.
>Using the trees as a definitive gauge of distance making sure they don't come too close.
>Its a tedious and harrowing process, but it's also exhilarating.
>After some gruesome hack and slash you've managed to meander your way back to around the place you started.
>Zombies visibly looming in the shows of the trees you brace yourself for more combat.
>Your body feeling the wear.
>But a break comes to you in the form of a red glow in some shrubs.
>Autumn sees it too as you and her make a mad dash for it.
>You grab the thing out of the brush as zombies begin to close the distance toward you.
>Nothing happens for a moment.
>Zombies encroach as you recall what needs to be done.
>You rub your thumb along the surface polishing it.
>It shakes and shines with a blinding light.
>Everything goes white, and then black again.

>You're back in the woods you started in.
>Hand still gripping the axe with the filthy blood dripping from it.
>You drop it in the snow as you and Autumn head back.
>Sighing you look at your watch.
"6:15, we'd better hurry if we want to make the bus back."
>"Anon!"
"Hmm?"
>"Thanks, for that back there.."
"D-don't worry about it, come on, we need to hurry."
>You and Autumn rush through the woods as quickly as you can.
>Your bodies aching and tired.
>Numb from cold and exhaustion.
>You and Autumn are breathing heavy as you make your way through.
"W-we gotta keep going, we miss it and it'll be a 20 mile hike back to the apartment.."
>You both pick up the pace and rush through the field.
>Minutes later you make it to the bus stop.
>You check your watch reading 6:28.
>You and Autumn catch your breaths.
>The bus arrives minutes later.
>You get on swiping the card and dropping change in for Autumn as you and her make your way toward the back of the bus.
>You plop into the seat.
>Autumn sits in the seat next to you.
>You feel her body lightly fall onto you exhaling with a sigh of relief.
>The bus takes off.
>You feel the first sense of security you've had since you got off.
"Well, that was a thing.. We fought zombies Autumn."
>She sighs.
>"Yep."
"Who's all for never touching the red gem thingy again?"
>"W-well, I mean, if it's some kind of portal, maybe it can get me home.."
"Autumn.."
>"I know! I.. We can wait a while, but, I would like to try it again sometime.."
>You feel comfortable now with her laying on you.
>But you know she really wants to go home.
"I uh.."
>"Huh?"
"Nothing!"
>Eventually, she'd have to go, leaving you behind..
>But, at least for now, she rests lightly on your side.
>And for now, that's all that matters.

>You and Autumn get back into the Apartment shutting the door behind you.
>You stink like crud, Autumn looks like she needs to get cleaned up too.
"Go ahead Autumn, you use the shower first."
>She smiles slightly.
>"Thanks."
>You sit and wait on the couch for her to get finished.
>It's been a rough day, your body feels like it's been run over by a steam roller.
>Your clothes are smelly and have zombie gore all over them.
>Maybe if you ever direct a zombie film you can put in the opening sequence that it's based on a true story.
>Not that anyone would believe you.
>Only now do you realize that this whole thing was your idea.
>And your fault to some extent.
>You did find the red gem in the woods and you did pick it up.
>Unwittingly transporting some poor soul to this dimension.
>But, at the very least, you've gotten to meet Autumn, and..
>For the most part, she seems pretty nice.
>Autumn suddenly emerges with a towel on her head as steam rolls out of the bathroom.
>"It's all yours now."
>You smile.
"Alright."
>You walk past her.
>A part of you wanted to just pick her up and hug her.
>But, you're covered in grossness, and she just got cleaned up.
>You make your way into the bathroom closing the door and stripping down.
>You get in the shower turning on the faucet and letting the hot water hit your back as you lather up with soap.
>Some of Autumns mane is in the drain.
>Gross, but she did have pretty hair at least.
>You'd seen far worse things today anyhow.
>Flashes of those zombies stumbling toward you.
>You'd cleaved through so many..
>You wash the gross hardened blood and mud off your hands and face.
>The water the most putrid looking brownish color.
>Once you're all cleaned up you get out of the shower peering around the corner and stealthily with a towel grab fresh clothes and put them on.
>You take your dirty clothes tossing them in the basket.
>Looking around the corner now you see Autumn is fast asleep.
>Her glasses set upon the stand next to the couch.
>Even as she sleeps shes beautiful.
>You resist the urge to touch her as you make your way to your bed.
>Slipping under the cover you let your mind drift to sleep.

>You wake up the next morning.
>Your stomach growls.
>Autumn is still asleep.
>You get an idea.
>You find Autumns saddlebag.
>Jackpot!
>Snacks are still there.
>Maybe it was worth getting sent there after all.
>You take some of the candy and chips back into your room and shut the door.
>You peel back the wrapper on a snickers bar and take a bite.
>As you're chewing more and more you realize it doesn't taste much like a snickers bar.
>Although you can't quite describe this taste.
>You take another bite though..
>Rainbow colored fluid begins to flow down the walls.
>The shape of the stuff in your bedroom looks a bit funny.
>Blurry.
>A bright flash of prismatic colors streaks across your room
>Suddenly your bed becomes a car.
>And the form of your room disappears entirely as you drive into an infinite void of kaleidoscopic shapes and colors.
>Some of the shapeless colors become a field of blooming flowers
>The sky is flashing bright pastel hues of random colors.
>Big trees sprout up through the flowers everywhere with flashing rainbow bark.
>This car is driving fast.
>The road is a yellow and black checkerboard that dips up and down twisting and turning.
>Clouds above you now and past them a giant spinning mirror showing starry constellations.
>Colors on the road all melting off behind you turning back.
>Now you're driving through a swirling rainbow tunnel.
>The road twisting and swerving left and right though it as it runs along straight through.
>The rainbow tunnel is now a bunch of television screens showing a lady singing.
>Your car becomes a train as the steam horn blows loudly.
>You feel so strange and woozy and yet so wonderful.
>Your feet feel like they have wings and they want to fly, fly fly away into the endless checkered railway tunnel.
>Spinning and moving and twirling endlessly.

>Sometime later you feel someone shaking you.
>"Anon, Anon come on, wake up!"
>"W-what?"
"A-anon! Are you, are you awake now?"
"Uh, I.. What?"
>You feel drool dribbling down your mouth.
>Shirt soaked with spit all down your chest.
"You've been staring into nothing muttering random gibberish for the past few hours now."
>Empty wrappers are all around you.
"W-what the hell was in those snacks?"
>"I see, so, the snacks did this?"
"That doesn't make sense though, we ate em back there and nothing happened!"
>"Well.. It's possible that once we passed back into this dimension the composition of the snacks changed into.. Well, something else."
"That was one hell of a trip though.."
>"Trip? Did you, get high or something?"
"I guess, so, I was just sitting on the bed zoned out the whole time?"
>"Yeah, it.. Kinda freaked me out a little."
"I think we should get rid of those snacks then."
>"Yeah."
>You and Autumn toss the snacks into the garbage.
>Lesson learned don't eat snacks from another dimension.

>You decide to sit around and play on your computer.
>Autumn sits next to you and watches.
>"So, how does this work?"
>"Well, it's complicated, and it'd probably take a long time to explain."
>"I've got the time if you want to teach me.."
>Her eyes so curious.
>You try your best to explain how it works.
>Letting Autumn sit at the helm hitting some keys and moving the mouse around.
>You tell her about all the basic functions.
>Something about her curiosity is cute to you
>You show her google and how you can find anything you want here, almost any kind of information you want via google and wikipedia.
>By night shes able to move the mouse around somewhat well and at least use the search engine.
>Her pace is slow though like a child.
>You decide to just let her play around with it as you switch to playing some console games.
>You stayed up playing late into the night.
>Autumn up all this time too.
>Almost every time you looked she was over there carefully scanning over a wikipedia article about plants.
>Soon you begin to get tired.
"Alright Autumn, I'm gonna head to bed, don't stay up too late ok?"
>"Don't worry, I'll go to bed in a little while Anon, goodnight."
>You sighed retiring to your room.
>You drift off to a peaceful sleep.

>You wake up hearing some kind of noise.
>A voice.
>You walk out into the living room.
>Autumn is haunched over watching a nature documentary.
>"Anon, you're never gonna believe this! This computer thing has so much information! Hahaha, I couldn't sleep, my curiosity led me from one article to the next! AND THEN, I learned about these videos! They're motion displays of actual things that take place!"
"Um.. Yeah, imagine that.."
>Autumn has a crazed look in her eye.
>You feel a bit uncomfortable as you go and make yourself some breakfast.
>You make you and Autumn some pancakes with butter and syrup, this time adding blueberries over the top.
>Autumn takes the plate and eats in front of the computer.
>You can already tell it's going to be a LONG while before you get to use the computer again.
>Sighing you once again pick up the controller.
>As the day goes on you hear all sorts of nature documentaries about all kinds of plants and animals.
>You see dozens of wikipedia pages being scrolled through.
>All the while Autumn is glued, to the screen.
>At one point you stop getting up to ask.
"Hey Autumn, isn't it time you, take a break?"
>She turns to you.
>"I-i'm almost done! I swear, just a few more things, and I might even NEED to use it for a while!"
"Really?"
>"Yeah, I.. Just a few more minutes ok?"
"Uh.. Alright."
>10 minutes later you check back.
>"But this is so interesting! I never knew all these things, at LEAST wait until I read this page!"
"Autumn come on, you said you'd be done!"
>"I know, but I'm learning so much! All this info, I.. I could write pages and pages!"
>She has a desperate look in her eye.
>Like an addict just asking for one more hit.
>But it is just information..
>All she wants is to learn a little bit more about the world.
>That's not bad.
>You give in for now returning to your game.
>Autumn doesn't budge but once for a bathroom break before quickly returning to the desk.


>It's been two weeks.
>Autumn has barely slept a wink.
>She refuses to clean up after her messes.
>She has pages and pages of notes strewn about the desk.
>Her eyes have dark bags under them.
>Her mane unkempt, and her odor, ugh..
"Autumn, we need to talk.."
>"I already told you, I'll be done in a minute!"
"Autumn please.. You've got a problem, really, you've been at this for over a week now.. I know the computer is a marvelous invention. I know you have a feverish desire to keep learning about everything there is to learn.. But, you have to at least take a break, get some sleep? You haven't slept in like three days now!"
>"I can't sleep, I need to know more!"
"Autumn.."
>"C-come on, I'm, *yawn* not even tired!"
>You sigh picking her up out of the seat.
>"H-hey come on!"
>Shes flailing around a little.
"Shhh..."
>"We're gonna get you cleaned up, and then we'll get you tucked into bed ok?"
>"But my research!"
"Ah ah ah!"
>You put your finger to her lips.
>She makes a pouty face.
>You ignore her taking to the bathroom.
>You remove her glasses and plaid shirt.
>It's weird seeing her without it.
>You need to wash it though cause it reeks.
>You take the soap lathering her up and bathing her.
>"A-anon, come on.. I can bathe myself!"
"I can't trust you to do this on your own without running back to the computer."
>She sighs.
>"If you'd just let me finish my research.."
>You turn on the faucet watching the dirty suds get washed down the drain.
>You take the towel carefully drying her off.
>Picking her up in your arms you let her look at herself in the mirror.
"See how much better you look?"
>"I look naked without my shirt.."
>She looks a little embarrassed.
"Hold on, I'll let you pick one of mine ok, it'll be a little big, but it'll be something clean to wear till we wash yours ok?"
>You put her town and she picks one of your plaid shirts.
>She buttons it up.
>She looks cute in it.
>"Now can I get back to my research Anon?"
"No, now its time for a certain little moth to get some rest."
>"B-but-"
>You pick her up and take her to your bed.
>"I-i'm sleeping with you tonight?"
"I need to keep an eye on you in case you try to get on the computer again."
>She sighs.
>"Ok.."
>Autumn is laying down on the pillow next to you.
>It's dark, and quiet.
>Then suddenly.
>A soft noise.
>You turn and see shes already asleep lightly snoring.
>You smile.
"Sweet dreams."
>You drift to sleep knowing at least for tonight shes right here next to you.