//------------------------------// // And Then She Exploded // Story: A Walk in the Park... or not // by Gearshed //------------------------------// Row after row of trees lined up to either side of me, all of which meshed together at the top forming a natural tunnel. The icy cold railing groaned wearily as I leaned on it. Traversing the pathway was considerably more difficult than I remembered it being. It made sense though, it had been quite a while since I had been here and I had grown thankfully much taller since then. Even as a kid there was never a time when I hadn't hit my head on one branch or another though. This place wasn’t the safest to begin with looking back. I took a deep breath and then continued down the serpentine path. It was like walking down memory lane, so many times me and my few friends shared our adventures here. Some days we were bandits, others we were space pirates. This place seemed more like a jungle back then. I guess that's just what happens when you grow up. The small opening at the end of the tree locked tunnel began to grow into visibility. Tiny rays of sunlight began to filter in, casting a heavenly glow on the otherwise dimly lit area. The light at the end of the tunnel. If only that's how it all really worked. If only... I ducked under another branch and made my way out into the small grassy field beyond. Having been neglected for what looked like years, patches of weeds and wildflowers reclaimed the old park. It was exactly the way I left it otherwise: the swing set, the hopscotch tiles, even the old tractor tire still sat next to the swing so we could hop up when our chins barely reached the seat. I definitely wouldn’t be needing that anymore. The rickety swing groaned as I cautiously put my weight onto it. To my luck, it holds. I spent some time wistfully recalling the many adventures I once held close to my heart. The Autumn breeze wrapped its cool tendrils around me in a tender embrace. When did life get so complicated? It had been so long since I felt this at peace. The ground began to rumble for a brief moment. Was it an earthquake? I don’t recall there ever being seismic activity in this area. It sounded like some huge drum beat. Curiosity getting the best of me I decided to go and investigate. From what I could tell, the noise was close. Maybe just beyond the treeline. What could it be? Visions of an extremely valuable meteoroid or crashed spaceship that I’d sell to move out of my modest apartment filled my thoughts. Another rumble goes off, this time accompanied with a brilliant flash of pyrotechnics. Dirt and shrapnel flew out in every direction as a visible shock wave nearly took me off my feet. If whoever is doing this kept it up, they would no doubt burn this park down, whether intentional or not. A high pitched scream of terror pierces the still air from the blast site. "Oh no." I muttered as felt the color drain from my face. Did they get caught up in their own blast? Are they hurt? Before my mind can process what I was hearing, my body had already sprang into action, dodging the thick underbrush in my way while keeping coffee cup upright as best I could. As I neared where the scream came from a root reaches out and grabs at my ankle, dropping me flat on my face. The remainder of my coffee splashed out and  immediately began to soak though my white shirt. I stumbled back to my feet and wiped off the fresh stream of blood oozing from my nose. It stung but my adrenaline was in full swing and there were more pressing matters. I abandoned the cup and continued pressing though the heavy brush. Forcing though a stubborn branch I enter the opening the explosion made. Whatever it was, it was powerful. Full sized trees lay in shreds and the crater was big enough to fit a full school bus inside. The ground visibly steamed, heavy dust filled the air, and a barely visible lump lay quivering in the center. It seemed to be murmuring something. The dust cloud was too thick for me to make any kind of judgment as to who or what was down there. How they survived is beyond me, but they were alive and that was something I could work with. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I called down. "Mmrrmph..." the noise barely louder than a whisper. "Do you need help out of there?" I looked around lip of the crater trying to find some decent footing to get down. "Dirt..." That voice sounded so oddly familiar. "Excuse me?" "D-D-DIRT!!!" They screamed in the same high pitch voice I heard earlier. I can rule out that they aren't male, that's for sure. The mysterious woman got up and began brushing herself off frantically. The way she stood wasn't normal but at the same time it seemed completely natural. I know I recognize who's down there but I can't put a name to her. The dust started to thin out. "No, that can't be." My brain wouldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. She looked up at me from the pit; the dust settling making her completely visible. I'm sure I was too. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" She screamed, backing up against the wall farthest away from me. "How are you alive after that explosion? How are you even possible?" There was no reasonable explanation for what was happening. "Stay away from me you.. you.. you hairless beast!!!" flapping her arms defensively, or legs as they were. "Hey, just calm down, there’s no need to scream so loud." "This isn't how I wanted to die, I have so much left to accomplish in life." stage tears welled in her eyes as she swooned dramatically. "I don't have any intention to kill you. Will you stop being so melodramatic please? I only want to help.” I give up trying to find any purchase and slide down the edge of the crater instead. "I'm sure that's what you told your last victim." "What in the world are you talking about?" Just after asking the realization hit me. I looked down at my shirt, it was stained a dirty brown from the coffee with bloody splotches from my nose. It’s easy to see how she could make that connection. "No no no, it's not what it looks like. It's just coffee and the blood from falling on my nose." "Tell my family I love them." She said collapsing on the ground. I’m not getting anywhere with her. "Get a hold of yourself Rarity!" I ordered sternly. She stopped her act dead it's tracks. Our eyes lock. The intensity of her accusing stare stabbing through me like daggers. "How do you know my name?" Busted.