//------------------------------// // O Death // Story: Short Hand // by Andrew Joshua Talon //------------------------------// Just a brief interlude from the main story, again. Written with help from Typhonis and set during "Over a Barrel" - - - I sighed as I laid against the trunk of a cotton tree, my broad Stetson hat over my eyes. Appleloosa was hot and dry and dusty. Currently, I was sitting in the shade near a small stream as Twilight and the girls dealt with some problem or other. Something to do with buffalo and property rights and other junk. I’d only come along because hey, frontier town? Sign me up! I loved cowboys and westerns and all that jazz, and seeing a frontier town had seemed like a good idea at the time. Again, at the time. It was a nice place, Appleloosa, but just way too damn hot. I leaned back, listening to the burbling of the stream... then my eyes snapped open. I could feel someone or something watching me. A useful skill to develop, given how Equestria is (and how Chewie liked to pounce on me.) I heard a startled squeak, and soon locked onto the source: It was a buffalo, a young one, and if the voice was anything to go by, a girl. Or, I suppose, a cow. She darted off, galloping like her life depended on it. I sighed and tried to get comfortable again. Ever since I had gotten here, the local buffalo had been cagey as hell around me. The very first day they had seen me, they had stampeded out of town. I still had no clue why, and the locals were puzzled by it as well. Twilight said something about ancient legends of humans or something, but nothing specific. A rustle of leaves told me she was back. I opened my eyes and… Okay, that was a lot of Buffalo. The whole herd surrounded me. Fear and apprehension were on their faces as the young cow stepped forwards. Her steps were meek and timid as she walked up to me. It reminded me of the times when Fluttershy had been frightened, but that made no sense. They outnumbered me, they were bigger and stronger. Even with my guns, they would overwhelm and trample me if they really wanted to. What could they possibly have to fear from me? The young cow stopped a yard away and opened her mouth to speak. "G-great D-Dread Lord of D-Death,” she managed in a stutter, “I-I humbly offer-" I slapped the ground with my hand and glared at her. Her eyes shrank to tiny pinpricks of fear as I stood up. I glared at all of them and said one word. "No." "But Dread One-!” Oh God, not more of this! "I said no! Non! Nein! Nyet! NO!” I shouted. “I have no clue what is going on but it stops NOW." My anger was up as I walked into the sunlight. First they attack us and now they act like I’m some kind of god? Fuck that noise! The herd slowly backed up. All of them were terrified of me, and the young girl buffalo was ready to pass out. I shook my head and swept my gaze across the herd. That's when I saw him. The buffalo was old. Ancient even. He was grey, his skin wrinkly and hanging loose. His fur was thinning. He was barely holding it together, panting hard as saliva dripped from his lips. I was no rancher, but I knew an animal that was suffering from the heat well enough. The poor guy… I felt my anger grow. Goddamnit, whatever bullshit (literally) they were pushing, they shouldn’t bring old guys out into this heat! He was just going to get sick and die! I took some deep breaths and got my anger under control. I looked directly at the old buffalo. I then pointed right at him. "Hey old timer, come over here!" The herd parted like the Red Sea did for Moses, leaving the old buffalo alone. He stared back at me, let out a weary sigh and slowly trotted up to me through the dusty dirt. The young buffalo girl stared, then yelled at me in terror. "No, not my great grandfather! Take me in his place!” She galloped in front of me, her eyes wide and anxious. “I am young and fit and-!" I ignored her and smiled at the old buffalo. I held my hand out to the bit of shade, gesturing the old guy towards it. "Go have a rest old timer. You look like you could use it. Go ahead and take a nap if you want, you look like you need the energy. It's too damn hot to be running around at this time of day." The old buffalo stared at me for a long moment. Then a small smile crossed his face. He looked up at me in respect as he trotted for the shade. "Thank you m'lord. I am a bit tired. My age you know…” I nodded. I again pointed out the spot. "Then go rest,” I said gently, “someone your age has earned it. I'll make sure no one interrupts your nap." I just glared at the other buffalo, who all looked fearful. Looking at them, I spoke loud and clear in the hot, dry air. "I have no clue what’s going on here, but bringing an old person like that out here?! Look I'll help you with what’s going on, but leave the old out of it, huh? He’s done his time!” An hour passed in silence, and the buffalo didn't speak to me. I sighed. Poor guy really needed the rest, but it hadn’t made any of the other buffalo more kindly disposed towards me. They just waited around, as though unsure what to do. I then saw the young female walk up to the old one. He had a smile on his face when she nudged him. Fear etched her features again. She nudged him harder. This however caused him to fall over unmoving. I stared, my jaw dropping. It couldn't be…! The young buffalo began to cry in earnest when I felt a snort of air at my arm. I spun around to see the chief buffalo looking right at me. "We were wrong, dread one,” he spoke in a deep, gentle tone, “wrong about you. Unlike the humans we have been taught about, you are far gentler. You are more like the turn of the sun and moon than the merciless wolf. You invited him to rest and offered him shade. You gave him comfort at the end.” Every buffalo bowed their great heads low to me. The girl buffalo kept crying. The chief’s final words seemed to come from as far away as my homeworld, yet rang terribly in my ears. “We will remember this… Dread One." - - - Hours later, Applejack later found me in a barn, drinking hard apple cider and trying not to cry. I was failing miserably at the latter part. The farmer trotted up to me, and just sat next to the dumb, stupid, crying human I was. The cider was hitting me hard, but just not hard enough. "I'm... I'm not an avatar of death," I muttered. "I'm not. I'm not." "Ah know that," Applejack said gently. "We know that. But t' the Buffalo, you did something good." "I killed an old buffalo," I almost sobbed, but the alcohol slurred my words. Applejack leaned up against me. "No ya didn't, ya dern fool," she murmured. "You jest offered him peace. He went on t' the next world with a smile, cause you were kind t' him. And they saw yer kindness and had some peace 'n closure." I looked down at the swept dirt floor. Covered in straw bits from dozens of hale bales moved to and fro. "I thought I'd killed my mom for years," I admitted. "It was stupid, yeah. A kid trying to... To rationalize... What had happened... But then this..." Applejack took a hoof and took hold of my chin. She turned my face to look her dead in the eyes. "Ah felt the same way when mah parents were killed," she said firmly. "It don't make it the truth, no matter what. You didn't do anythin' wrong. It'll hurt, but you gotta let it hurt an' not let it turn you the wrong way." She took a swig off the bottle of hard cider. "That's what friend are for." I sighed and wrapped an arm around her. She leaned into me. "When did you get so wise?" I muttered. Applejack chuckled, and nuzzled up against me. "Well, ah ain't the silly pony ah used t' be..."