Trowel (Garden Anon) Pt. 8 (Finale)

>Morning.
>Well, the sun isn’t even up yet, but it’s morning.
>You decide to go out for an early morning walk to do some thinking; trying to make a decision about what to do.
>At least you can go home without the risk of Fluttershy being there.
>You exit the hospital, only to be greeted with a light rain.
>Oh well…you haven’t showered in a couple of days.
>You stroll through the early morning rain towards your house.
>Everyone in Ponyville is asleep still; the town has a gentle calm to it.
>Little do they know that a harsh brand of justice is about to unfold in Canterlot later in the day.
>As you reach the awning of your home, you see a soaked note taped to your door.
>You quickly grab it and head inside.
>The house is gentle and still. You are at peace knowing that there aren’t any ponys waiting to surprise you.
>You try to read the wet piece of paper, but the rain has smeared the ink into a barely cipherable mess.
Ugh. Whatever.
>You throw it on the table and change out of your wet clothes in the bathroom.
>It’s nice to be able to take a shower and release some tension.
>The hot water runs off your back as you prop yourself against the tiled wall.
>The calming water does nothing for your thoughts.
>You close your eyes and try to tap into your deepest feelings.
I don’t know what to do…
>Do you really want to watch Fluttershy die?
>No. That’s despicable.
>Do you want concrete evidence of justice and reparations for what she has done to your beloved Twilight?
>Deep down, in the darkest pit of your stomach…
>Yes. You do.
>You stand aimlessly as the hot water sprays onto your grizzled face.
I guess that’s it then…I’m going.
>You get out of the shower and put on your clothes and jacket and head for the front door.
>But then…
>The note. It’s dried up a little now, and much easier to read.
>”Dear Anonymous, I would really like it if you could come trim my hedges again one last time. If that’s not too much trouble… -Fluttershy.”
>The note is smeared with what looked like lipstick-soaked kisses.
>But wait, this wasn’t there before when you came to get your wheelbarrow. Fluttershy must have posted this while she was on the run from the guards.
>Which means…
>It isn’t lipstick.
>It’s Twilight’s blood.
>Even a hundred miles away, alone in your own home, she makes your skin crawl.
>You shudder and wad the paper up and throw it in the corner.
Good riddance.
>You huddle under your collar and head into the rain.
>You hope the rain settles down; you don’t want Twilight to wake up to a dreary world.
>The water falls onto your hair and starts to flatten it.
Yay…
>You reach town and decide to head straight to Canterlot. Might as well get this over with before you change your mind.
>You get your ticket and stand near the tracks.
>The rain patters on the metal awnings.
>You sigh and look at the ticket. You still have a while before the train arrives.
>Might as well sit and sulk.
>You rest on the bench and rest your chin on your hand.
This sucks…
>You look around. No other pony seems to be here this early.
>You look to your right and in the distance you see a faint lump plopped on a bench.
>It waves at you.
>You give a little wave back back.
>It’s Lyra.
>You get up and sit next to her.
>The two of you stare off into the distance, the rain making the silence between the two of you less awkward.
>She sits upright like you…it’s an odd sight.
>You don’t want to stare though…
>”So. Are you going?”
“Going”…?
>She looks at you.
>”Yeah. Remember? They’re killing Fluttershy today.”
>Lyra’s bluntness stuns you.
Oh…y-yeah…I know.
>”So…you’re going?”
>Obviously. You’re waiting here just like her.
>Lyra kicks her feet through the air.
>”Yeah. Me too. It’s not every day this happens…so I figure I might as well go while I can.”
>What’s with these ponys? You always pictured them being so friendly and loving; obviously you were wrong.
I don’t really know why I’m going…
>You’re not one to revel in the pain and suffering of others, no matter what they’ve done.
>Lyra pipes up.
>”I know why.”
>You’re confused.
Y-you do…?
>”Mhmm.”
>Silence.
So…are you going to tell me? Because I don’t think I know the reason myself…
>Lyra looks dully at you and blows some air out of the corner of her mouth to puff a lock of her minty mane.
>”You want to watch Fluttershy die. You won’t admit it to yourself, but deep down inside, you want to watch her pay for what she did to Twilight.”
>You blurt out,
That’s INSANE! I’m not like that! I don’t see why you would be either!
>She looks away again.
>”That’s why I’m going.”
>Her words are like ice to your ears.
W-what?
>Lyra huffs.
>”I know it’s probably weird for you to hear, but…I kinda want to see Fluttershy die.”
>You are beyond puzzled at this point.
>And a little creeped out.
I don’t understand you ponys at all…
>”No. You just don’t understand me.”
>You’re a little offended, but intrigued.
Then…explain yourself to me.
>Lyra crosses her legs and looks at you.
>”Y’know, when you were doing your little plant thing with your…hands…”
>She stares at them but snaps back to attention.
>”I was pretty enthralled. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I don’t really know why, but I liked it...more than anyone else.”
>As if you didn’t already notice.
>”I don’t know, it kinda turned me on.”
O-oh…
>Well that threw you off.
>Lyra continues without missing a beat.
>”Anyways, while I was watching you and trying to sneak off to go home…Bon Bon was out doing something and I could get a good view of you working from my bedroom window and..”
>She quickly loses steam in her conversation and trails off.
>”Before I could leave, I heard Fluttershy talking to herself. She kept going on and on about how you were so attractive and talented and how she was in love with you.”
So…she just “fell in love” with me? Just like that?
>You hear the train arriving in the distance.
>”Pretty much.”
>The tracks start clacking as it draws nearer.
>”She was always a little strange, even before she met you. Always hanging out alone, never talking to anybody…she never really had any experience with ‘love’, if that’s what you want to call it.”
>You could easily believe that.
>”After I heard what she did to Twilight, though, I knew she truly was crazy. Sure, some of us have our little problems, our secrets…our…fantasies…”
>She stares at your hands once more.
>”But what Fluttershy did? That’s unforgivable in my eyes. Everyone could tell you and Twilight were in love. At Fluttershy’s birthday, the way the two of you danced, it was obvious.”
>You remember that. You looked like such an ass.
>You also remember Lyra’s jealousy.
>”Maybe I’m like you. Maybe I want some closure too.”
>The train stops with a screech in front of you. Lyra hops up on her hooves and prepares to climb aboard.
>You follow her closely behind.
>It looks like the two of you are heading to Canterlot together; the train is empty.
>You and Lyra return to your paired seating together.
>You stare out the window at the pegasi moving more gray clouds into position for more rain.
>Thinking about it, the weather was almost foreboding this moment; it’s bleak, depressing, and cold.
>You talk to Lyra while staring outside.
So…what’s going to happen? To Fluttershy, I mean.
>Her voice is vague.
>”Gee, Anon, I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure Celestia is going to bend Fluttershy over her knee and spank the crap out of her and then everyone is going have cake.”
Ha-ha…
>”They’re going to kill her. I don’t know how, no one has witnessed an execution in anyone’s lifetime.”
Celestia told me they were going to behead her…
>”Pfft, well there ya go; why did you even ask me for?”
>Lyra is strange…
I don’t know…
>She’s rude, but kind. She’s very upfront and doesn’t sugarcoat things. But, in her own gruff way, you can tell she cares about things…albeit she expresses it differently.
>As you arrive at your destination, you and Lyra follow a pair of guards to the outside courtyard where the execution is going to take place.
>There’s a small crowd of twenty or so ponys. You don’t recognize any of them.
>Thank god.
So…wh-when’s this thing supposed to start?
>Lyra is too busy looking around.
>”Jeeze, can you believe there’s no peanut vendors? I mean, really?”
>You try to just keep to yourself. You already stick out.
>All the pony’s are bustling in anticipation to get a good view.
>You and Lyra are about 10’ from the stage containing the apparatus.
>It appears to be a makeshift guillotine, embossed with decorative writing on the blade and ornate wood inlays.
>Certainly, this is a special occasion, no matter how macabre it may seem.
>You hear others chatting away; gossip about Fluttershy mostly.
>They all know she tried to kill Twilight, but the details are all over the place.
>You certainly don’t remember aiding Applejack in hunting down Fluttershy with a knife.
>That’s much too exciting to be you…
>”Anon? HEY!”
>Lyra’s been trying to get you attention.
Oh…yeah?
>”This guard wants you.”
>A gruff white armor-clad unicorn comes up to you.
>”The prisoner has requested that she have a final word with you. It’s her final wish.”
>How did Fluttershy know you’d be here? She knows you’d come to watch her die, and yet she’s convince you’re in love with her?
Uh…I’m sorry…you must have me confused with someone else; I’ve never met her.
>A puzzled guard looks back at you, but you can tell he’s eager to see the show.
>”Right. I’ll inform my superiors I was unable to locate her. Enjoy the show, sir.”
>He walks off.
>”Jeeze, Anon…nice moves. Maybe you can trick the executioner to trade places with you.”
>Lyra nudges your leg.
>Everyone is so casual about the events about to unfold.
>It’s chills your blood.
>Everyone around you starts shushing as Princess Celestia takes to the stage.
>This is it.
>Thunder in the background echoes Celestia’s booming voice.
>”Ponys of Canterlot!”
>It’s a little scary. She looks less and less like a peace-loving princess and more like a fascist dictator with each word escaping her mouth.
>”We are gathered here today to witness one of our most valued ceremonies...”
>Everyone gears up for her next sentence.
>”…bring out the condemned!”
>Everyone around you cheers. Even Lyra lets out a loud “woo!”
>It’s terrifying.
>You look to the guards escorting a chained Fluttershy.
>She stares through the ground as she walks, shackles clanking with each step.
>The rain starts to trickle down you face as you look upward to the stage.
>Fluttershy’s steps are stopped as she bows before the Princess to receive her judgment, just as you did.
>Celestia says a small prayer to the pegasus, showing a little humanity before her royal voice returns.
>”Fluttershy Berkowitz…”
>Wait. Fluttershy is Jewish?
>Ponys can be Jewish?
>Pewish?
>”…You have been charged with the heinous crime of murder, in addition to attempted murder of Twilight Sparkle. These are acts against the laws of Equestria and are treasonous. As such, you will face the fullest extent of Equestrian law: public execution.”
>All the ponys cheer at the sound of the word.
>This is a twisted side of this world you never wanted to see.
>Fluttershy is walked over to the blade and slowly puts her head into it.
This is it…
>You are dumbstruck. You watch the guards prepare her for death.
>Fluttershy just seems to accept that this is happening.
>The rain falls harder now; the cracks of thunder are clearer and the lightning illuminates the dim scene before you.
>Fluttershy’s head is still injured from banging her head on her cell door.
>Celestia uses her magic to slowly lift the metal blade the highest point in its track.
>Fluttershy finally takes a look around at the captivated audience before her.
>Her tears are streaming down her face, but she doesn’t make a sound.
>She looks hollow; out of fight.
>She knows there’s no escaping this.
>Somehow you feel the same way. Is this what you wanted?
>It doesn’t matter now. It’s happening.
>You watch her scan all the ponys that attended.
>In a flash of lighting she comes to you.
>The two of your stare at one another in a locked gaze for what feels like an eternity.
>She knows you lied. You can tell the both of you knew you would.
>Celestia announces more things, but it all blurs to you as you and Fluttershy continue looking into each others’ eyes for the last time.
>The crowd around you cheers and chants.
>You are reflecting on all that the two of you have been through together in the past months.
>The raping. The lying. The murder.
>Fluttershy seems to be doing the same thing.
>You can feel tears welling up in your eyes.
>You wish things could have ended up differently for the both of you.
>Dammit, Anon…don’t let her see you cry.
>You open your eyes after forcing away your sorrow to look at Fluttershy again.
>She smiles through her sadness and steady stream of tears.
>She looks like she wants to say something.
>You look at her expectantly…like she’s confessing the secret to true happiness.
>You’re all ears as she quietly speaks to you amongst the crowd of people.
>”Anonymous…i-is…is this your f-feti-“
>In that very instant, her eyes that you were staring into are replaced by a gleaming piece of metal, with a vertical spat of fresh blood with a loud metallic “SHINK”.
Flu…Fluttershy…
>The crowd around you cheers as you drop to your knees in shock.
>Your mouth is locked open and your tears flow like the water from the sky.
>Fluttershy’s dead. Finally.
>You don’t feel any relief though.
>You clutch Lyra and bury your face into her sweet minty mane.
>She’s shocked by the action, but pats your back with her hoof to comfort you anyways.
>”It’s okay, Anon…it’s all over now…”
>Yes. It’s over.
>On the train ride home you and Lyra are silent.
>You sit across from her and stare out the window watching the scenery pass you by.
>You’re hollow. You feel nothing.
>Lyra hops up and sits next to you.
>You don’t react.
>”I’m sorry you had to see that, Anonymous…”
>Lyra snuggles up to you, forcing her head under your arm.
>You can sense she’s staring up at you, but you ignore her.
>You listen to the gentle clack of the train.
>A few moments later, something clicks inside of you…releasing built up feelings from the first awkward moment Fluttershy came onto you in her cottage.
>You hold Lyra in your arms and weep into her just as hard as earlier.
>You release it all into her as you cry into her mane again in the silent train car.
>”It’s okay, Anonymous…it’s all over. Be at peace.”
I-it’s so hard…I-I-I don’t know what to do now…
>Lyra breaks your embrace with her and stares into your watery eyes.
>”Anon. I’ll tell you what you do.”
>You wipe your eyes and look at Lyra.
>”You get off this train, get to the hospital, and don’t say a thing about what happened to Twilight when she wakes up. Got that?”
>She gives you a stern look that snaps you back to reality.
>As soon as you do, the train arrives back in Ponyville.
>You and the green pony exit the train. You look at each other.
>”Well…good luck, lover boy.”
>She walks away into the night.
>Maybe through all of this craziness, you gained a new friend.
>The thought makes you feel better.
>Now to follow her advice.
>You enter Twilight’s hospital room. The beeps of her machines welcome you.
>There’s some balloons and an apple basket waiting for her.
>Pinkie and Applejack were here.
>You remove you wet jacket and take a seat.
>The room is filled with the rhythmic beat.
Hey, Twilight. Sorry I was gone today. I had some…something to do; I didn’t mean to be gone so long.
>Beeps.
I missed you a lot. Things are so crazy when you aren’t here. I’ve lost my way.
>You walk over to her and kneel down to kiss her cheek.
>Before you do, you whisper into her ear.
I just wish you could hear me….so you could hear me tell you I love one more time…
>You place your lips on the side of her face.
>There’s a rustle…you almost don’t even hear it.
>You move your face back a little, only to feel warm lips against yours, bringing you in for a long awaited embrace.
>It’s Twilight; she’s alive and awake.
>You kiss her lips back and release sighs of joy into her mouth.
>After a few moments, you look into her teary eyes.
>”I…I missed you, Anon.”
>Hearing her voice makes your heart flutter with joy.
>You hold back your happy cries.
I missed you too, Twilight…so much.
>You crawl into bed with her and try to cuddle without hurting her stitches.
>You’re finally in bed with her…with your true love.
>You don’t tell her where you were, no need to.
>All that matters is being with Twilight.
>”I-I’ve been awake for a while…I was so worried when you weren’t here…”
>You clutch her.
Heh…I’m so sorry…I promise you I’ll never leave you again…ever…
>Now you can enjoy your life with her; your soul mate.
>She’s everything you could ever ask for.
>And now she’s finally safe in your arms.
>Safe forever.
I love you, Twilight.
>She snuggles you.
>”I love you too, Anonymous.”
>You and Twilight fall asleep in the bed; together at last.