Autumns World

>It's quiet.
>Autumn is resting quietly against you.
>You couldn't be happier.
>But..
>Autumn herself.
>She'd been staring at the papers scattered around the computer desk.
>Eyes filled with solemn longing.
"You, want to go home don't you?"
>"Mmm.."
>You stroke your hand gently through her mane.
"Alright.."
>You breathe deeply.
"Let's go."
>You get up and get ready..
>"Anon, what are you doing?"
"Pack your things, and, gather your notes."
>"Anon-"
"I wanna try and get you home."
>"Do you mean-"
"Yeah, we're gonna touch the gem thing again."
>Autumn gets up putting her papers in her saddlebag.
>"Anon.. Thank you.."
"Well, I don't know if it'll take us to the right place."
>"R-right, but, you're saying we should take that chance?"
"We won't get anywhere just sitting around."
>"Action is better than inaction I suppose."
>With yours and Autumns stuff now packed you head out to the bus stop.

>"By the way Anon, wasn't this the least bus out here? If we end up getting sent back-"
"We'll call a cab."
>"A-alright.."
>The bus halts.
>You both get off at your stop.
>The air is nippy.
>The bus drives away as you walk across the street into the field.
>Snow hardened to ice still on the ground as you make your way along the uneven ground.
>Autumn has ascended into the air having learned her lesson last time with the potholes.
>You'd washed her pink plaid shirt, and she seemed to be happy wearing it again.
"So, Autumn, what's your obsession with plaid huh?"
>"What?"
"I mean, that shirt is kinda all you wear."
>Her cheeks redden a little.
>"I have more shirts back home! But I only got to come here with the one."
"Oh that's right, but, when I asked you to pick one of my shirts, you went and chose the plaid one, why is that?"
>She grits her teeth a bit looking flustered.
>"It looked nice ok!? So what if I like plaid?"
"Well, plaid does seem to be the hip thing with all the youngsters these days. Also are those glasses prescription?"
>You can barely contain your shit eating grin.
>Autumn looks annoyed.
>"I'm not sure what you're trying to imply, but, yes, I need my glasses to help me see."
"Why not wear contacts? Do you have any?"
>"I did, back home, I just.. Well, they're kind of a nuisance to shove into your eyes."
"Wouldn't it be more of a 'nuisance' if your glasses fell into the dirt while you were in the woods?"
>"Hnmph, well, it hasn't happened yet. I think I'm just fine.."
"Sure, alright, well, whatever works I guess."
>Silence from her as you make your way into the woods.
>She descends to the ground.
>It's dark outside, moonlight peeks through scattered clouds and trees.
>"W-why did you ask anyway? You don't think my glasses look weird do you?"
>Dammit, its not fair that she can look at you like that with such a disheartened expression.
"N-no, they look nice, really, I was just messing with you.."
>You smile trying to get her to smile too.
>She notices and forces a grin.
>You continue toward the area you'd found the gem originally.
>It's an awkward silence.
>Eventually you came upon the gem shining brightly in the night.
"There it is Autumn."
>"I see it."
>She takes a deep breath.
"I think you should touch it this time."
>"What? But why?"
"Well, I've already touched it twice, maybe it depends on who actually touches the thing that decides where you go."
>"It's worth a shot I guess."
>You and her approach.
>She walks up pulling it out of the leaf litter.
>She carefully examines it.
"You have to brush the dust off of it for it to work I think."
>"Anon are you sure about this?"
"Let's do it."
>She sits rubbing both hooves against the gem.
>The gem vibrates and floats into the air.
>In a bright flash all the colors fade away from the world.
>Then, the white fades to black.

>Wind through the trees.
>You feel soft grass.
>You open your eyes.
>It's dark here.
>Drops of rain hit your skin.
>There is a light drizzle.
>An old fashioned home sits on the top of a hill with a winding dirt road downward.
>It looks like the home was carved out of a tree, or, rather is a tree fashioned into a home.
>"I can't believe it, I'm finally home!"
>The sound of Autumn being ecstatic with the situation from somewhere.
>"Anon, is that you?"
>A thin Auburn haired girl is curiously staring at you.
"W-woah, Autumn, is that.."
>You both look down.
>The shouting from both of you is near simultaneous.
"You're a human, a girl!"
>"And you, you're a Mothstallion!"
>You hadn't noticed but you do have some lovely new flight appendages.
>You flap your wings.
"Woah, so cool!"
>You look over at Autumn.
>She seems to be looking at her now human hands.
>Spreading the fingers apart staring intently at them.
>Shes wearing her pink flannel with some dark gray jeans and slip on sneakers.
"A-autumn.."
>"Yeah?"
"You look, beautiful."
>Her cheeks redden.
>"Y-you.. Look pretty nice too."
"So then, this house is really yours?"
>"That's right. I had been looking for something close to the forest edge here."
"What do you mean?"
>You look up unable to even see the sky through the thick tree canopy above. It looked like you were pretty much surrounded by trees
>"Oh, I guess that doesn't make much sense from your perspective does it? Come inside, I'll put on some coffee and tell you all about it."
>You feel blood rush to your cheeks.
"T-thanks.."
>You and Autumn stumble a bit as you make your way toward the home.
>She pushes the wood door open holding it open for you.
>You walk inside.
>Your hooves click upon the wood floor.
"Thanks again."
>She shuts the door.
>The room looks dusty and dark.
>She opens a drawer striking a match to a candle.
>It lights illuminating the room some.
>She shakes the match.
>"Just have a seat on the couch, I'll be back with some coffee quickly."
>The couch is made of wood with a soft dusty looking quilt draped over cushions.
>You sit into it.
>You sink into it, an old scent rise up from it.
>Your pony body sinking into a groove this couch has worn into it.
>Its easy to tell this couch is somewhat old.
>The room is almost eerily dark only the candle drawing shadows from the sort of vintage looking surroundings.
>On a desk sits an old photo of Autumn with whom you can assume to be her parents.
>From what you can gather, this probably isn't an area Autumn spends much time in.
>The room here is also quite dirty.
>The floor trailed with soil and cobwebs in the corner, bits of withered plant material.
>"Here you are."
>She hands you a big mug with coffee in it.
>You expect to drop it nearly immediately as she hands it to you, but it seems your hooves are more dextrous than you'd have given them credit for.
>You get a sip of it.
>It's strong and dark.
>Autumn sits next to you with her mug.
>The only sound her sipping coffee next to you.
"So uh.. Nice place you got here."
>"Well, it's got all the basics, I'm sure you find it a bit rustic though."
"J-just a bit.. But, it's nice! Quaint!"
>She chuckles.
>"It's alright.. I got this place for a steal really. The owner had passed on, and most moths in town couldn't picture themselves living out here so close to the edge."
"You said something like that earlier, but.. What does living on the edge mean?"
>"Well, other than living dangerously, it means living out toward the end of where this town ends and near the deeper areas of the woods called Falls Hollow."
"Wait what? Falls Hollow?"
>"Yes, the area is divvied up into Evening town, which encompasses the entire living area for the moths here, further out past that is Falls Hollow, which is sort of the wild untamed parts of the woods that you have very little protections in."
"So then, right next to this house is-"
>"Correct, Falls Hollow, that extends all the way out for miles and miles till you get into deeper territories which have different names."
"Uh, so what is this place? Like, how big is the forest then?"
>"If you're talking locations, you're actually around the middle of a tremendously huge forest which stretches on for thousands of miles.. The only real way anyone can even get here safely is by train where this small safe zone for moths and occasionally other visitors is secured."
"Wow, that's crazy."
>"Crazy is the spice of life around here."
"Sounds like it. You sure seem to know a lot."
>"I've.. Lived out here most of my life, it's only natural for me to know the area."
"Wait, wait a minute. You said, you studied herbs out in the woods! Does that mean you go out into that, Falls Hollow or whatever?"
>"Well, yes. But I'm experienced in knowing what to expect out there."
"Um.. Would it be too much to ask if.. I could accompany you sometime out there?"
>"Somehow I knew you'd ask. Promise me when I do you'll listen and do exactly what I say alright? One careless move can easily cost you your life, especially in the deeper areas."
"I promise, heh, you can be like, my tour guide huh?"
>"Y-yeah.. Maybe, you'll get to understand why I find what I do so important."
"Oh I know, it sounds like your lifes work.."
>"It is, I'm really glad you understand."
"Of course.."
>She was smiling.
>Her eyes seemed to almost sparkle in the candlelight.
>You wanted to wrap her in your arms.
>Suddenly you feel her almost tackle you in a hug.
>Her hand brushing along your mane petting you a bit.
>"Hehehe, you're so cute as a moth Anon."
"T-thanks Autumn.."
>She nuzzles her face into you wrapping you in her human arms.
>You feel so warm and comfy here.
>Your body feels tired.
>So dark, and, warm and, dusty..
>You feel yourself drifting to sleep in her arms.