Soldiers Remnants of Us

by Ribe_FireRain


The Past Hurts (Sequel/Additional Chapter)

A Week After The Funeral....

Ann walked through the town of Ponyville, on his way to the graveyard, the last resting place of many loved ponies, but for him, it was the ones he spent most of his army-life with and whom he loved like brothers dearly. Snow had started to fall, and the temperature outside was just off bearable. His skin was red with the cold, but he didn't care. He was in no state of mind to bother in the slightest how warm or cold he was. As he walked, he kept his head hung low, staring at the frosted ground below as he went along his way. To say the least, he already felt like he'd lost everything he cared about, but the one thing he didn't know is the fact that he did have something he cared about.

The snow got slightly heavier and faster, the cold now becoming uncomfortably low, and Ann barely wore much clothing, but he didn't care at the moment. All he wanted to do was walk and try to free his mind. On his way to the graveyard, he noticed some ponies watching him from the corners of his eyes, seeing them whispering things, probably about him being different from them and looking more of an alien. He pushed the feeling off, not bothering to look up or even pay no mind to it.
When he got to the graveyard, he passed several graves that he had seen before, but right now, his mind was set onto the four in front of him, all made from a white marble and shining like they were polished not long ago. On their fronts, small, rectangle signs were attached with the names of the graves occupant enscribed on them in a bold black font.

Seeing them before him, he took his time paying his respects to them separately. At each grave, he found himself shedding cold tears as he lay down poppies on the burials. Moving on to Ryan's grave, Ann felt himself shiver and feel like he was going to break. Out of all the friends he had in the army, the one he was most close to was Ryan. Everything about him just made him feel like family when he was near him. He didn't make him feel like an outcast nor a burden nor a failure, he made him feel warmer inside.
Kneeling down in front of Ryan's grave, Ann placed a poppy down and got himself back to his feet, saluting.

''Ryan...first, let me just say I'm sorry. I should of been there for you, like you've always been there for me when I needed you. If I were with you, then maybe Curtis maybe wouldn't of killed you. I know I'll never get another chance to set things right, so for now, all I can say to you is goodbye. You were always like a brother to me. I love you, bro.''

Wiping his arm across his face, Ann realized he was crying openly and heavily, and he didn't even know. Turning around, he was about to leave when he stopped just near the graveyard entrance. Standing there, looking right at him was Fluttershy, a sad and concerned expression on her face as she met eyes with him.

''Hey.'' She said softly, still looking at him as she came a little closer to him. ''Are you alright?''

''Oh, hi, Fluttershy.'' Ann greeted her in a dull, sad tone, his voice sounding a little cracked. ''Howcome you're outside? You're bound to get a cold if you stay out her for a while.''

''Don't worry about me, Ann. But, is something wrong? Have you been crying?''

''Hmm. Yeah. I just came here to say my final goodbyes to my friends, is all.''

''Oh. Its just that you don't look too good.'' Fluttershy said as she put her hoof to his shoulder, looking at his pale and cold figure.

''I don't feel too good, either, but I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me.''

''But I do, Ann. Look at you. You're cold and pale, you've been acting different ever since the funeral!''

''Fluttershy...'' Ann said slowly and quietly, looking into her sweet eyes.

''No, don't ''Fluttershy'' me. Just come with me back to my cottage. You need help. Now.''

Sighing in defeat of reasoning with the butter Pegasus, Ann eventually gave in.

''Alright.''


At Fluttershy's cottage, Ann found himself feeling somehow cozy at the warmth of her home. He was sat on the couch, waiting for Fluttershy to come back from the kitchen. He didn't really know what there was to talk about, but it was evadable enough that she was worried about him and just wanted to help him. True, he did feel terrible, but the only thing at this point that could make him feel better was having his team back. He couldn't help but feel responsible for their deaths. Soldiers were meant to work in teams and together, but in Ann's case, he wasn't there when they needed him by their side. Silently, he slouched in his seat, planting a palm across his face as he felt tears tears well up in his eyes.

Moments later, Fluttershy came into the room, balancing two mugs of steaming, frothy cider on her back. Carefully, she let one slip off her back and down her wing to land on the table, the other being slid into her hoof as she took a seat across from Ann. She took a sip of her own cider, enjoying the taste as it caressed her taste buds. Then she looked at Ann, noticing that he was silently crying. To say the least, it kinda of hurt her to know that one of her friends was hurting even more because they lost their friends. Quietly, Fluttershy got up from her seat and walked over to the couch, sitting next to Ann and carefully wrapped a hoof around his neck and hugged him.

As she hugged him tightly, she could hear and feel his heartbeat, that soothing, soft feeling that was rather comforting. Ann gently returned the hug, and Fluttershy saw his tears, flowing down his face like a fountain. Right now, all he wanted was to be with someone. Anyone. Anypony.

''Shh. Shh. Its alright, Ann. Everything going to be alright.'' Fluttershy told him in a motherly tone, and surprisingly, Ann did indeed calm down a little and later settle down into her hooves, cuddling with her mane, enjoying its soft, silky feeling.

''Fluttershy...I'm sorry...'' Ann whimpered, trying to hold back sobs but to no avail.

''Ann, you don't have anything to be sorry for. I know you're hurting, but we'll always be there for you.''

''Thank you, Fluttershy. I'm just sorry you have to see me like this...''

''Well, you don't need to be, Ann. It hurts to lose something or somebody you love, and I know that for a fact.''

''*sniffle* You do? How so?''

''I...um...lost my parents to an incurable illness when I was younger. It was cancer...'' Fluttershy told him, tears starting to invade her own eyes.

Saying nothing, Ann hugged Fluttershy closely, not wanting to let go of her. Fluttershy didn't resist it either, she just clung onto Ann's shoulders like she was glued there. After a while of the warm embrace him and Fluttershy shared, Ann let her go, and looked into her eyes. But that wasn't all, she was smiling, and it also made Ann smile, too.

The rest of the night, they both stayed together, telling some stories of the past and they even learned a bit more about each other. Such as how Fluttershy got her cutie mark as a filly and finding what her special talent was, and how Ann lived back where he came from, mostly about his life in the army and as a child. To say the least about that night, Ann already felt warmer inside as he spent time with Fluttershy.

Maybe things weren't so bad, after all.