Aftercase part 3

>You walk along with your companions through farm lands.
>After a few miles you got used to the pain from your ribs.
>You guess it’s more of a numbing pain now.
>The sun has fully risen, indicating it has to be roughly late morning by now.
>You walk ahead with Hammer Fell with Major and Skipper a little bit behind.

>”Well that makes four of us now. If we gain another, it’ll make a full unit.”
>Hammer Fell chuckles to himself.
>You join him in a small laugh.

“So were you a lieutenant?”

>”Correct…”
>The smile from Hammer Fells face disappears

“Do you miss them? I mean your soldiers?”

>”That I do boy. Me and that platoon went to Tartarus and back.”
>The unicorn look back over his shoulder and glares at Major who is chatting away with Skipper.
>Facing front again Hammer Fell sighs, slowly shaking his head.
>”I bet the rest of my bits that you going to ask about me and Major.”

“Yeah I was going to ask that.”

>”Well almost two decades ago, I was stationed in Canterlot, in preparation for the siege. I was my platoons job to to defend the remains of the vaults. How the battle played out, I can safely say it was the Majors job to secure it.”

“I guess him being a Major, he outnumber you?”

>”You been reading those military books again?”
>The small smile grows on Hammers face.
>”You are correct though, My platoon defended that place for three days straight. Even when the walls fell and the rest of the army retreated to the castle, we stayed.”

“How did you hold out for that long?”

>”We retreated into the remains of the tunnels so the griffins didn’t have an aerial advantage.”

>The unicorn gave the same thousand yard stare as your lecturer did when you asked him about the Vaults.
>”That place quickly went south. I can still remember the stench of rotting bodies and the floor being turned to a river of blood.”
>Hammer Fells shakes in images from his mind.
>”Ugh...sorry boy. Same scars never heal. Can we talk about something else.”
“Yeah...sure.”

>You look to the side and admire a quaint farm cottage and the stone wall that marks the garden's edge.
>You hear two gunshots following by screams from the cottage.
>Hammer Fell grabs you by your collar with his magic and pulls you behind the wall.
>Major and Skipper quickly join you.
>”Boy, get your gun ready.”
>Everyone primes their guns, bar from Skipper who readies his spear.

>The door of the cottage burst open.
>A sobbing mare and a terrified male satyr makes their way outside followed by two griffins.
>The four of you peek over the walls edge to observe.
>You notice the satyr looks roughly the same age as you.

>”Please don't hurt us!”
>The mare sobs as she holds on to her satyr.

>”Mam, you have been found guilty under the new law of birthrights.”
>A griffin spoke up wearing an officer's hat while he loads his flintlock pistol.
>”By giving birth of a satyr you have committed the crime of treason.”

>”But that was nineteen years ag-”
>BANG!
>The mare falls to the floor with a hole in her head.

>”Mother!”
>BANG!
>Another gunshot fires, but this time from the other griffin.
>The satyr gurgles on his own blood after being shot in the throat.

“NO!”
>You call out as you leap over the stone wall.
>In one slick motion you lift the stock to your shoulder aim and pull the trigger.
>The Hammer Field Rifle recoils causing you to stumble back.
>The bullet slices through the air and impacts the second griffins skull.
>Chunks of flesh and scalp flies everywhere as the body slumps to the floor.

>You immediately load another round in the chamber by pull back the bolt of your gun.

>The officer griffin, turns towards you, unfazed by the death of his comrade as you realise what you have done.
>You have taken a life.
>You feel a lead weight form in your stomach.

>”You fool.”
>He pulls a second flintlock from under his wing and aims it at you.
>”Was that your first kill? I recognize that look from anywhere. Anyway since you're new to this I’ll give you a short lesson. If there's two enemies make sure you have a side arm ready.”
>The officer laughs slyly.
>”And to top it all off I go the extra mile and give you a chance to reload.”
>You hesitate.
>Does this griffin really think I’m carrying a musket?
>You take a deep breath in as you know what you're going to do.
>No. What you have to do.
>You aim your gun at the griffin and fire another round.
>The bullet takes a chunk from his talon and straight zips straight into his chest.
>The officer rolls on the floor in agony.

>”What in the name of the emperor is that gun! You didn’t reload!”
>You feel a fire surge through your veins as you walk towards the griffin and kick his pistol away from him.
>You pull back the bolt handle of your rifle again.
>Slamming a hoof on his chest, you push the barrel of your rifle between its pleading eyes.
>You hear the magic crackle as two rounds manifests at the bottom of your magazine.
>”I just did.”
>CRACK!
>The officers scalp and blood flies back up at you covering you.
>You feel the fire in you subside and the led weight in your stomach returns.
>You look at the carnage of the griffins head.
>You scream and stumble over onto your back and scuffle away.

>Hammer Fell and the others race over from the wall.
>”Boy!....its ok….shhh...its ok.”
>He wraps a foreleg around you.
>”Skipper! help me get him inside the cottage. Major scout the area for more guards.”

>You don’t know what came over you.
>How could you take a life so easily.
>Your mind flashes back to those eyes.
“He was scared.”
>You mutter.
>”He was scared because you showed him a glimpse of humanity.”
>Skipper spoke up as he check the cupboards and pulls out an ale bottle.

>”You’re not helping Skipper! Go and make yourself useful and check the upstairs.”

“What does he mean by that?”
>Tears run down your cheeks.

>”Boy...Like the griffins, taking a life for a human is easy. It’s embedded in you. but to complicate things your half pony. Killing is extremely hard for us, being herbivores is the biggest player for that.

“I don’t understand.”

>”The best way I can put it, is that you got a mind of a human but a heart of the pony. Tell me boy, did you feel a lead weight in your gut?”

>You nod.
>”That's your heart talking.”

“But I also felt this surge of energy, it was like there was fire going through my veins.”

>”That was your mind taking over. Do you see where I’m coming from now?”

>You nod again.
“But why didn’t you help me?”

>”Boy. If I did you would be dead right now. He would of killed you first, as you were the closest potential threat.”

>”Hammer Fell, I think you should see this…”
>Major stand in the doorway the cottage carrying a letter in one talon and the other tucking the officer's flintlock pistol in a holster under his wing.
>”I found it while searching the officers body.”

>Hammer Fell snatches the letter with his magic and opens it.
>”It’s orders, straight from the emperor himself.”

>”Well what does it say?”

>”The year trail of Project Human have been cut short. After six months in education and funding the satyr abomination has failed to produce any progress on human technologies. The courts have deemed satyrs a threat to national security. Officers are now granted the rights to trial and execution…”

>A feeling of dread settles in you body.
>Major looks at Hammer Fell, with an emotion that indicated betrayal.

>”I bet your well happy now, knowing you fought for this!”
>Hammer Fell spoke with anger.

>In half expecting a fight between them, Major just turns and walks away.
>You look out the doorway to see him slouch against the stone wall.

>”Boy go upstairs with Skipper and tell him to look for anything that's useful for supplies. I’ll check the kitchen for food and bits.”

>You climb the stairs to find Skipper.
>You can hear him talking softly to somepony.
>”Come on, I ain’t going to hurt you.”

>You walk along the hallway.
>You side step over a dead stallion, with a bullet wound to the chest.
>You can see where a struggle has taken place.
>A short sword lay next to his hoof.
>He was defending his family.
>You guess he must of been a step father of the satyr.

>You peer into a bedroom to find Skipper.
“Skipper?”

>”Ah Jax, there’s a filly under the bed. Poor thing terrified. Do you reckon you can talk her out from under the bed.”

“Sure”

>As you step up to Skipper you whisper in his ear to cover the stallion outside with a sheet or anything he can find.
>Skipper grabs the sheet off the fillies bed and heads out.

“Hey…”
>Darn…
>You're not sure what to say.
>You're still shaken up yourself from what happened.
>You decide on starting simple.
“Hey...can you tell me your name?”

>You hear shuffling under the bed.
>”Brother?”
>Brother?
>You look at your hooves.
>They are the same color of the satyrs outside.

“No, Im not your brother, you get down and show your face.
>You see a light yellow filly under the bed.
>Her cheeks are stained with tears.
>She shuffles back further.
>As she shuffles you notice a lack of cutie mark on her thigh.

>You try a different approach.
“My name’s Jax, I’m from Manehatten.”
>You smile at her.

>A long silence come from under the bed.
>You open you mouth to speak.
>Instead the young filly cuts you off.

>“My name is Little Bale.”
>The young filly whimpers.
>”Have you seen my mom and dad?”

“...”
>You look towards the bedroom door as Skipper returns.
>You gave him a pleaing look.
>In which he returns with a shrug.
>Looking back round the filly start bawling her little heart out.

>”I think she got the hint Jax.”
>Skipper makes his way to the filly and lays on the floor.
>”Hey it’s me again. The mean griffins are gone now. It’s safe to come out.”

>”but...but…”

>”Come on. You can’t stay here and we got to go.”
>The filly slowly pokes her head from under the bed.

>You and Skipper both gave a kind smile.
>”Lets go, and stay close to me.”
>Skipper lead the way out the room.
>One the way out you grab a small teddy bear and a little wooly coat that's hung on the door.
>She’s going to need it.

>The three of you make your way along the hallway.
>The body is now gone.
>The only thing left is a pool of drying blood.
>You nod to Skipper for his quick thinking.
>As you walk down the stairs you see Hammer Fell watching Major digging in the garden.
>The unicorn looks back around.

>”Oh great…. I was fearing this would happen.”
>He looks at the young filly.

“Well you got your unit now…”

>The unicorn just smiles and shakes his head.
>”Boy, I worked with worse.”

>After Major finished burying the dead, a few words were spoken in their memory.
>Shortly after you and your companions continues heading north.
>The thought of killing still sits heavy on your mind.

>The whole group walks in silence.
>The only noise was a gentle wind and birds tweeting in the afternoon sun.
>The young filly is now laying on Skippers back as he hums a song as he walks.
>You are surprised of the strength of the old earth pony.
>It must be heavy carrying his spear, saddlebags and a filly on his back.
>He isn’t even breaking a sweat.

>”Mr Skipper?”
>Little Bale speaks up.

>”Hmm?”
>He cuts of his humming.

>”Do you know the song...oh I forgot the name of it.”
>The filly starts to look upset as she couldn’t remember the name.
>”My mom used to sing it to me and my brother.”

>”Well, can you sing a bit?”

>”There's a rhythm in rush these days…”
>The filly sings a little out of tune.

>”Your in luck, that's a human song and I do recognize it.”

>”Really? My mom told me my brothers real dad use to sing it to him”

>Skipper clears his throat and starts to sing as he trots to a beat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZnu7fVRPIc [Embed]

#~There's a rhythm in rush these days
#~Where the lights don't move and the colors don't fade
#~Leaves you empty with nothing but dreams
#~In a world gone shallow
#~In a world gone lean…

>You look over to Hammer Fell who is listening with a thoughtful expression on his face…
>You start to hear music.
>You look around but you couldn’t see any band anywhere.
>You realize the music is in your head.

#~Sometimes there's things a man cannot know
#~Gears won't turn and the leaves won't grow
#~There's no place to run and no gasoline
#~Engine won't turn
#~And the train won't leave…

>Hammer Fell joins in and sings with a gravely voice.
>”#~Engines won't turn and the train won't leave”

>All eyes lay on Hammer Fell.
>”What? I know this song too.”
>He continues singing with Skipper.

#~I will stay with you tonight
#~Hold you close 'til the morning light
#~In the morning watch a new day rise
#~We'll do whatever just to stay alive
#~We'll do whatever just to stay alive

“Whats happening? You hear the music too?”
>You ask Major.

>”Well I be damned, It’s the music of harmony. Ponies used to sing like this all the time before the war.”

“How come I never knew about it?”

>”It’s against the law for ponies to trigger the music of harmony so it was never passed to your generation.”

#~And I will wait for you tonight
#~You're here forever and you're by my side
#~I've been waiting all my life
#~To feel your heart as it's keeping time
#~We'll do whatever just to stay alive

>You speak over the music in you head.
“How do they trigger it?”

>”It’s when they sing from the heart and the song means something to them.”


#~Dawn is coming
#~Open your eyes
#~Dawn is coming
#~Open your eyes…

>You look back at the filly who is fast asleep on Skippers back.
>You smile to yourself.

>The sun is now making its descent towards the horizon.
>Not much really happened as you were walking alone.
>Hammer Fell would just stare out over the scenery.
>Skipper hummed random tunes with the filly still sleeping on his back
>And Major, just flew up into the sky every few miles or so to scout ahead for any NU patrols.

>”We should call it a day and find somewhere to set up camp”
>Hammer Fell says while looking for the best place to rest.

>”There’s a farm a mile up the road, I think I saw a barn as I scouted ahead.”
>Major speaks up.

>”Very well.”
>The old unicorn picks up the pace.
>The farm came into view.
>Another cottage sits along the roadside.
>Everyone knew what each other where thinking.
>We all stop and listen for any commotion.
>An young farmer mare, steps out into her garden and starts watering her plants.

>”Excuse me ma’am..”
>Hammer catches her attention.

>”Oh...hello..”
>The mare is startled by the weapons everyone is carrying.

>Hammer Fell give a reassuring smile.
>”No need to worry. We mean no harm. We are looking for a safe place to camp for the night.”

>The mare looks over us, not sure to make of us.
>”You do not look like the normal patrol. Well I guess he does.”
>She points a hoof at major, who just rolls his eyes.

>”No...no we are not the New Union I promise you.”
>The unicorn lets out a nervous chuckle.

>The mare gives us the once over again then gasps.
>”Your revolutionaries!”
>She lets out a small squeal.
>”I knew this day would come, sure sure, I got a barn across the field, feel free to use it.”

>”Err...yeah, sure.”

>”Good! I’ll lead you there!”
>The mare put down her watering can and motions you to follow.

>The next five minutes consisted of her fangirling over the idea of a revolution and why the NU should fall.

>You couldn’t wait to get to the barn so she can go away.
>You act you're not interested in the conversation.
>”So you’re a satyr then?”

>What kind of question is that.
“I was the last time I checked.”

>The mare giggles.
>”Oh you satyrs all have such a weird sense of humor. Like there's a really nice satyr that lives a fair few miles south. Oh he’s so dreamy... You guys must of saw him?”

“Uh…”
>You look at the rest of your group who were all shaking their heads with a worried expression.
“No, no I must of missed him.”

>”Oh that's a shame, he looked a bit like you...his family...”
>The mare looks at the sleeping filly on Skippers back.
>Seriously how didn’t she notice her?
>”Little Bale? What are you doing with her?”

>”Let me handle this.”
>Hammer Fell quickly chimes in before any of us could speak.
>Going into his bag he pulls out the letter that was found on the letter and hands it to the mare.
>He waits a little bit so she can read it.
>”The griffins orders, I'm so sorry but Little Bale here was the only survivor.”

>The mare looks up from the letter with tears in her eyes.
>”So...what will happen to Little Bale?”

>”I was hoping we can leave the filly with you.”
>Major speaks up with much of Skippers dismay.

>”I have to get my father.”
>The mare runs off into the fields.

>”No...I...I”
>Skipper starts dropping his lip.

>”Skipper, where we are going is no place for a little filly. She would be safer here.”
>Major put a talon on his shoulder, then slaps him at the back of his head.
>”You only known her for a few hours, and she’s been asleep for most of them!”

>”I know, but she reminded me of-”

”Ok, ok. Everyone lets get camp set up for tonight.”
>You but in before an argument broke out once again.
>You seem to be doing a lot of this recently.

>You all enter the barn and drop everything you’re carrying.
>You put your hand on you back and stretched.
>A few pops and cracks came from your spine.
>A sharp pain shoots through your chest.
>Dammit, you keep forgetting about your ribs.

>Skipper gently nudges the filly.
>”Hey wake up.”

>Little Bale stirs then slowly wakes up.
>”Where are we?”
>The filly jumps off Skippers back.

>”Where setting up camp here. Little one.”
>Skipper slumps down on the floor and pulls out the bottle of ale from his saddlebags.
>Pulling the lid off with his teeth and takes a big gulp.

>”You know it’s irresponsible to drink like that in front of young ones..."
>Major tries to snatch the bottle but Skipper pulled away.

>”My parents used to do it.”

>”Yeah and look how you turned out.”

>”It’s nothing to do with that.”
>Skipper takes another swig.
>”You mentioned you took up teaching after the war and Hammer Fell took up smithing. And me?”
>Skipper takes a bigger gulp.
>”I took up drinking.”

>”Leave him be, Major.”
>Hammer Fell speaks up.
>”We veterans all have coping mechanisms to deal with our past. I’m sure you do too.”
>He turns to you and smiles.
>”Boy, I'm sure yours will come shortly.”

>You didn’t reply.
>He’s right. Where things are heading it only a matter of time before you have to kill again.
>You sit down on the floor and lean back against a hay bale.

>Hammer Fell goes outside to look at the scenery again you guess.
>Major makes his way to a pile of hay, lays down and shuts his eyes.
>You watch Skipper and the filly from across the barn.


>”Mr Skipper? Sir?”

>”Yes Little Bale?”
>He replies in between swigs from the bottle.
>”And just call me Skipper. None of that Mr stuff.”

>”Oh, ok. What did you do in the war?”

>”I fought and I sailed.”
>Skipper purposely kept his answers short.

>The filly goes quiet.
>”What happened to your parents?”

>”My parents? Well I lost them, like you.”

>”By the big mean griffins? Like that one over there?”
>She point a small hoof towards the griffin.
>You look over to Major who just glared at the both of them.

>”Kinda, like that one. But he’s ok. He’s just grumpy.”
>Skipper chuckles to himself.
>”Hey do you want to hear a funny story about him?”

>The filly nods.

>”Well when we were sailing from Manehatten…”

>”Continue that story Skipper and I’ll break you.”
>Major snaps at Skipper before turning his back to him.

>”I guess I have to tell you another time.”

>You start to worry about Major.
>Ever since the first cottage, he hasn’t been right.
>You get up and sit on a hay bale near him.

“Sir?”
>You fall back on old habits.
>He isn’t your lecturer anymore.

>The griffin just smiles from his beak.
>You were never sure how he does that.
>”What is it?”

“Don’t snap like you have been doing but are you okay?”

>”I killed an officer . I’ve been shoved on a boat with an old enemy, and to top things off I just found out everything I fought for is leading to a genocide. I'm definitely not okay.”

“What did you think you were fighting for?”

>”King and country I think. I was young and stupid. I fell for the propaganda against Equestria. But this, killing young lives because the Emperor thinks satyrs don’t belong here...There's no honor in that.”

“I can’t imagine how you feel now, with everything else that happened.”

>”Jax, don't let me ever catch you telling Hammer Fell this, but fighting in those tunnel with his soldiers still haunts me to this day. Not because of the bloodshed, it because that day when I finally captured Lieutenant Lock I realized what I monster I have became.”

“What you mean?”

>”There’s one thing killing another, but taking everything one’s got, breaks them. When me and my soldiers had him surrounded he was standing all alone with his comrades butchered around him. It was the look he gave me that spared his life and I was a look I’ll never forget.”
>Major rubs his eyes with his talons being careful of his claws.
“What stood in front of me was a broken stallion. I took everything from him that day.”

“Does he know you spared his life?”

>”Yes. He does, that's why he hates me. Take a look out the door there.”
>He points a claw towards Hammer Fell who was pacing.
>”He’s now worrying it’ll happen again.”