My Little Airman pt 32 The Fallout

Part 32 The Fallout

 

>http://vimeo.com/27358836

>The shock of waking from that...

>Was it a hallucination? It felt so real

>Your mind is empty, heart hollow

>Staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes, you barely see anything despite the lighting

>You can feel a sore lump on the back of your head

>Somehow, you're in your tigerstripes instead of your blues, though you have no recollection of changing uniforms from the graduation ceremony

>What all happened today?

>The graduation...the date...no, Twi-

>...

>She...

>...

>The bar...Doctor Hooves...the band playing metal...And then...

>Caroline.

>Breaking from your shock, emotion floods through the course of your being

>You were there for an hour. You were really there.

>You hugged your little sister, and she was alive

>Up until...

>You had fought your hardest, but that wasn't enough. She needed you, but you couldn't...not then, not now

>Crying had never been a habit of yours, but since coming to Equestria, you had shed more tears than in your previous life on Earth. That familiar sting in your eyes...

>Caroline had been so full of life, up until the end. She hadn't really understood what had happened.

>It's your fault.

>If you hadn't taken a wrong turn...

>There's not much holding you back from screaming in pain

>All your fault

>"I said SILENCE!"

>That woke you from your pitiful daze

>There's nothing you can say. Tears continue to flow down your face, and there's no sign of letting up

>A door opens, and the guard stands at attention. "Sir!"

>"Give me ten minutes with him. Alone."

>"Yes sir!"

>That voice...is it?

>"Get up, Anon."

>With great effort, you turn your head, and see Shining Armor

>"I said get up NOW!"

>Taking your time, he loses his patience and nearly throws you onto your feet with his magic

>"Look me in the eyes."

>You comply, with an empty stare

>"What the hell happened last night?"

>You cannot answer

>"WHAT HAPPENED?"

>Softly, you speak

I don't know. Why am I here?

>He magically pulls you close to the bars, inches away from his face

>Staring into your eyes, he has nothing but hatred for you

>"How does a hero go from going on a date to ...at a bar?"

>It seems you missed some of his words, but fuck it. You'll tell him what he wants to know

She never arrived to the rendezvous. I had to look for Twilight Sparkle, and when I found her...

>You look away, trying to be tactful

I found her...being unfaithful to me. So is it wrong that I went to a bar to drown my sorrows?

>A "what the fuck" look appears on his face

>"My sister would never cheat on the one she loves!"

But she did...

>He glares at you

>"No, she didn't. In fact, you stood her up! I thought you were a hero who earned my sister's love. Apparently not, as you leave her waiting all night and speak bold-faced lies to justify killing several ponies in the local bar!"

>...?

>What?

No, what are you talking about?

>He only continues to glare at you

>Sweat runs down your body

Shining Armor, what kind of sick joke is this?

>Magically, he throws you back down on your ass

>" When I heard what happened, I didn't believe it at all! But then I come here and see your guilt. There's nothing I can do for you. Princess Celestia will decide your fate."

>He turns to leave

Hey! Wait! What do you mean I...

>He ignores you and leaves your view

>You didn't kill anyone! Hell, you passed out and...

>...

>...

>Caroline...

>Tears threaten to down

>Quickly, you stifle them. You'll mourn later. First, you have to figure out what Shining Armor was talking about

>...

>...

>Shit

>You can't focus on the task at hand

>Your mind keeps wandering back to...

>All thoughts are interrupted when you hear the door slam open

>"Captain Anonymous!"

>That voice makes you jump up. There's no mistaking the princess' voice

>Snapping to attention, your training kicks in as you render a salute

"Ma'am, Captain-"

>"Enough!"

>Well, ok. You continue to stand, but semi-relaxed

>Hatred is in her eyes..and maybe a little fear?

>It's odd, and you cannot say for sure

>"Do you have ANYthing to say for yourself?"

I...didn't kill anybody. Not at that bar. How did I end up here?

>She sighs

>"I saw you with my own eyes. There was a commotion in the street, and I walked in to see you...brutally murdering no less than ten of my citizens."

>Your heart sinks

But I couldn't have! I don't have any recollection of that! I blacked out, and then...

>You stop

>"What did you do then?"

>Guilt builds up, but you can't bring yourself to admit that you watched your sister's brutal murder

>"I see."

>She turns away

>"I should have known better than to trust you, especially after I saw you with your black magical aura."

>She's paused, waiting for something

>Waiting on you to say something.

>Come on! Say what was really going on

I...I saw...

>"What did you see?"

>A tear runs down your face, and you lose your voice

>She frowns, convinced of your guilt. At the same time, she sheds a few tears

>"In light of your prior service, you will not be executed. You will instead be banished from Equestria. Only I and Shining Armor know of what happened last night, and your absence will be explained as an ongoing mission to ensure the safety of Equestria."

>Come on, say something!

>You're completely frozen.

>"If you do come back, I will know instantly, and my guards will bring you to me. I will then reveal the monster that you are, and you will be executed."

>She's going to punish you for something you didn't consciously do! SNAP OUT OF IT!

>You can't. The shock and pain of Twilight's infidelity, the revelation of Caroline's death, and your apparent killing spree at the bar keep you frozen

>"If you have any decency, you will stay away from my country. I don't want to hurt my most faithful student more than I'm about to."

>She lowers her head, her horn pointing right at you, as you try to snap out it

Please...don't...

>Her horn begins to glow

I'm innocent...I..

>"Goodbye Captain Anonymous."

I saw...

>You choke

>A burst of magic hits you

>Instinctively, you close your eyes as air slaps your face

>It's a weird feeling that lasts only a few seconds, but you feel almost like you're flying at supersonic speeds

>All at once, you stop and feel instantly cold

>Wind still blowing in your face, you force your eyes open, and see a familiar terrain

>Freezing wind blows snow against the white landscape, and you realize you're on a mountain range

>A sense of anger falls over you

>That bitch! She didn't care. She didn't even try to understand you!

>You had just come out of a traumatizing event, and she didn't even attempt to get YOUR side of the story

>After all that you've done for Equestria, not a second chance to explain what happened!

>No inquiry as to what really happened!

>Rage filled your heart.

>If you ran into her again...

>The wind picks up, and snow brushes your face

>Whoa, where'd all that anger come from?

>Even worse, you realize you're on a mountain with only your tigerstripe uniform and no supplies or provisions

>It's so tempting... You could die here quite easily...All you have to do is nothing

>Slowly, you lower yourself onto the snow, feeling colder every second

>Lying on your back, some of the snow melts and your uniform is quickly soaked with freezing water

>Closing your eyes, visions of Twilight fill your sight

>No brain, quit it. She hurt me so bad.

>Caroline floods your mind     

>Please...no...

>Let my final moments be happy...

>You see your friends, even Twilight. You're all having fun, in the early days...before the shit hit the fan.

>The freezing wind slaps you

>Those were the days...And then the diamond dogs fill your mind

>Those fuckers...They were going to wreck Ponyville, but you were there...

>And the griffons... you shudder against the snow

>It had been a while since the torture had crossed your mind...but you had stopped them with your F-22

>Why did they start the war? You never did find out...

>Sometime you were commissioned... when was that? A little while after the griffons were stopped...?

>Things are getting hazy, as snow is starting to cover you. A few minutes left remain in your life

>The swearing in ceremony was right after the funeral service...an event you promised yourself you wouldn't allow to happen again

>So far, it hasn't...but now that you're gone...

>The world is so very cold right now...and you're so very tired...

>Your swearing-in ceremony... You swore allegiance to Equestria...

>The Beast of Sparta...that's what you were... and now you're considered a monster

> You swore...And with Trixie's strange power...it's not your problem

>It is. You still swore... And the trouble can't be over...

>Suddenly, you open your eyes and jump up

>You are not about to let yourself die uselessly

>A hero's death is what you deserve. You deserve death in the passion of battle

>Still freezing, you start walking forward.

>You have no idea where you're going, but you're going to survive this and die defending Equestria, despite your banishment.

>While you're moving, you know you won't freeze, but you need to find some shelter to rest eventually

>You mentally throw almost everything away: Your life on Earth, your relationship with Twilight Sparkle, your friendships with the citizens of Ponyville

>The one thing that you keep is your sense of duty: your oath now drives you

>Walking through the mountain in a snowstorm, a soldier banished by those he protects for something he cannot recall

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMqNFAU0tOw

>The clouds in the sky indicate heavier snow

>Defiantly, you brace yourself for the wind

Bring it on.