Chapter 16
The Good
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I don't remember what happened during the time I was ill. The last thing I remembered before the blackout was that I was sitting with Butterfly outside. Then the next thing I knew I woke up in my bed and Velvet was reading a book in my room. When she saw me wake up she asked how I was doing. I told her I felt sleepy.
She chuckled and said she would be right back. After a few seconds she returned with diamond and Melody. They were both very happy to see me. Diamond hugged me and kissed me on the cheek. I could tell she was very happy. As for Melody though she looked different. Subdued maybe? She just looked calm. She did smile saying that she had to help me at my worst. That was when I noticed that my shoulder and my upper arm was wrapped in bandages. Melody took a sea and told me what had happened when I first got ill. I was quite surprised by her story.
Diamond told me that after my fever broke I was asleep for a long time. At least two weeks without waking up. This worried everyone onto calling a priest and the only priest that was here was the one that also hated me. I bet Minister Tempe wasn’t too happy in coming to see me and pray for my return. Melody noticed my look and said it was very uncomfortable on both sides.
Soon after I had more visitors, Ace came in smiling saying he was happy to see me back in the living. I even got to see Butterfly and she was so happy to see me, Tinker came in after her smiling saying she knew I would be back. I then asked about Dash. The group looked worried. Melody answered that he had been gone since my fever broke. That got me worried.
After a while Butterfly was alone with me. She sat at the foot of my bed drawing on paper with charcoal as I was watching her. She didn't want to leave the room when the others did. She turned to me with a drawing and shown it to me pointing at the figures she drew. Then she stopped at a stick figure I could tell was some cowboy or something.
"Annie!" I blinked hearing the voice and looked over to see Butterfly smiling at me and pointing at the drawing. "Annie," She said again smiling with a light blush. Butterfly said my name for the first time and I couldn’t help but smile.
"Wow," I said taking the drawing and nodding. "Very nice." Butterfly crawled over to me and sat next to me. I wrapped my arm around her hugging her close. For a while she tied to talk to me with words she was taught. I even quizzed her by drawing drawings on her paper and pointed at them, she would answer with an Equestrian word. She’s a fast learner.
The next few days were of me sleeping at odd times and waking up for only an hour or so. When I do wake up I would either be alone or someone would be in my room. What suspired me was that one of my visitor was Dash. He was sitting in the chair in the corner just staring at the wall as if in deep thought.
"Hey Dash," I said which surprised him. He looked up and smiled. He didn't say anything which surprised me. After a while he sighed and said he was sorry.
"Sorry for what?" I asked. He shrugged.
"I should have known about Kim and all." I was confused by this and asked why this would have something to do with Kim. Dash answered guiltily. "She didn't do a good patch job on you and in turn got you sick. If only I should have noticed the trouble and stopped it from happening."
I tried to tell him that it wasn't his fault that I got sick. But Dash left the room after that saying that he was glad I'm doing better. Poor man.
The next day I woke up and decided to get myself to move around. It was hard to walk at first and I stumbled a few times. While I was trying to regain my movement when Diamond came into the room. She set down the tray with my food and helped me sit back down. She scolded me that I was still weak and need to regain my strength. I was a bit annoyed with that. I wasn't weak ... was I? After Diamond said that I looked at my hands then my feet and sure enough I had lost some strength from laying in bed for two weeks. Diamond seemed to notice my mood and sat next to me hugging me close to her.
"It'll take time, but you'll get you strength back, sugar." She whispered before kissing me. I blushed at that and said I'll try.
After that day I made it my mission to regain my lost strength. First by walking around my room then I was able to walk up the stairs. It took some time but I reached the top and into the tavern proper. I was greeted with smiles and cheers from the patrons and the working girls around. Berry quickly made a drink for me saying that she was happy to see me up and around. I took the drink and looked around to see the happiness around the people.
"Why is everyone so happy and festive?" I asked as I looked around. I could see everyone cheering and dancing and some are laughing in higher spirits than before.
"Don't you remember?" Berry asked. I shook my head. "Next week is the Summer Sun Celebration."
That took me by surprise. The Summer Sun Celebration is coming? The Summer Sun Celebration here in Frontier City is sort of a mixed affair. It was either an exciting time or a not so exciting time. Since we're in the Griffin Kingdom, Equestria holidays aren’t so much celebrated here. But for some reason the Sweetie Belle has a special party during the Summer Sun Celebration.
So hearing about it being next week is exciting. I remembered back in Manhattan that the city folk would have a huge party in the city while the rest of us in the farmlands would go to a field and have an outdoor picnic dinner then a bonfire would be set up for everyone to dance and tell stories all night long awaiting the sun to rise. I started to smile remembering that happy time there.
Berry noticed my smile. "What?" She asked. I looked up curiously. "You were thinking about something. What was it?"
I shrugged. "Just thinking about the Summer Sun Celebration I attended back at Manehattan."
Berry got interested. "Like what?" she asked as I leaned forward against the bar counter.
"Like we would have a bonfire and dance and sing and tell stories all night until the sun rises. It was a huge deal where I was from."
Berry nodded. "I remember my time in the celebration too. A lot of drinking, storytelling, dancing. Yep, it was a great time." I only nodded at that thinking. "What's on your mind?" Berry asked causing me to look up.
I shrugged my shoulders with a wince feeling the bite in my shoulder. "I wouldn't mind trying to do that again."
"Doing what again?" Ace asked walking over to us. I smiled at him.
"We were discussing the Summer Sun Celebration." Berry said smiling. Ace sighed with longing.
"Aw yes, the Summer Sun Celebration. I missed that holiday." He said shaking his head. "Before I was married, I would often times bed with a few women during the night." He said chuckling. I felt my face go hot from that but I shrugged. "So what were you thinking about?" He asked.
"I don't know." I answered. "I wouldn’t mind trying to do that again. Celebrating all night and wait for the sun to come up in the morning."
Ace thought for a moment then smirked. "Why not?"
"Huh?" Berry and I asked seeing Ace smirk.
"Why not we celebrate the Summer Sun Celebration? There is no law here that prevents us from doing it."
"Really?" Berry asked. "You mean we can do that?"
Ace smiled. "I don’t see why not, and I'm a deputy of the law. So I don’t see any trouble with us having a Summer Sun Celebration. Maybe outside of town in the field? That has plenty of room to make a bonfire."
The more we talked the more excited I became. Preparing a Summer Sun celebration here far from home? I would never thought such a thing can happen. So for most of the day the three of us planned Frontier City's first Summer Sun Celebration.
I'm actually very excited for this.
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Melody stopped by the boulder patting the giant rock turning to see Rose standing behind her staring at the rock. After Annie broke her fever Melody was able to talk to Rose alone outside and during that time Melody let it all out. The whole truth. Who she was, where she came from, who she worked for, and what she stole.
Rose was, to say the least shocked. Shocked by Melody's story and afraid after Melody mention her brother. Rose was very distraught about it until Melody produced the silver pocket watch holding it out to her. Rose took the watch looking at it for the first time up close.
After a long moment Rose wrapped her arms around Melody and hugged her tight. Melody felt Rose shake and heard her sniffling. Melody tightened her embrace as Rose cried on her shoulder.
"Thank you for telling me." Rose whispered. Melody felt more weights lift off her shoulders hearing that.
"So are we alright?" Melody asked worriedly. Rose was silent for a long moment then surprisingly she kissed her. Melody kissed back happy to have that confirmation.
"But," Rose whispered pulling back. "I want to see this secret gold place you talked about."
Melody at first was apprehensive with such an idea. Until Melody had an idea. "Just for safety purposes for both of us, I want you to be blindfolded."
Rose was annoyed as Melody was rubbing the back of her head. "It's better that way."
"Alright fine, I'll do it."
Now several weeks later they stood by the boulder blocking the entrance to the cavern. Rose messed with the handkerchief that was used to blind fold her eyes. She watched as Melody used her magi to lift the boulder and pushed on it hard to move it to the side to reveal the hole. Rose peeked into the hole as Melody walked to the log to grab her rope and tie it to the tree.
"Do you want to go first?" Melody asked tossing the line of rope into the hole. Rose gulped.
"Uh, you can go first."
Melody shrugged. "Alright," Melody leaped into the hole sliding down the rope to the cavern floor. "Just a sec, I’m going to light up the place." Rose waited a few moments until Melody called for her to come down. Rose took in a breath grabbing the rope then slid down into the hole with a small scream holding on tight to the rope.
"It's okay, just slide down." Melody said as Rose slowly slid down the rope to the ground. Melody caught her before she tripped over the uneven ground. "You okay?" Melody asked. Rose smiled with a light blush on her face.
"Yes, thank you." Rose released the rope getting better footing on the ground as she looked around the cavern to see much of it. "Wow, it's mysterious down here."
"Mysterious?" Melody chuckled as she walked over to her dusty table. "Meh, I don’t think so."
Rose smiled a touch as she watched Melody lift up one of the buckets with a grunt. "Take a look." She said waving her over. Rose walked over as Melody pulled off the hide covering of the bucket to reveal the rock with a shine to them. Rose was unimpressed as she took one of the rocks to examine it.
"And these are?"
"Gold," Melody whispered.
"These rocks are gold? Aren’t they gold in color or something?" Rose asked confused. Melody chuckled.
"Well first I have to break them up and then wash them. And with all the gold bits I find I will melt them into small gold bars." Rose blinked looking at her.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Melody smiled seeing Rose's mouth dropped open with shock.
"Wow, I'm guessing you have done a bit already?" Melody smirked as she walked over o the side and reached into a hole in the wall. She pulled out a small sack and shook it. Rose could hear the sounds of items inside the sack. She walked over taking the sack. Rose opened the sack and gasped to see skinny gold bars. She reached inside to pull out a gold bar and smiled. It was about five inches long and two inches wide, to her estimate, about six ounces of pure gold in her hand.
"Wow," She whispered. "Is this a brick of gold?”
"Yep," Melody said with pride. "I'm planning on making a bunch of these."
Rose was in shock. "How long did it take you to get just one of these?" She asked counting at least five of them so far.
Melody shrugged. "About maybe two months of hard work." Melody answered taking one of the small bricks from Rose and examine it. She sat down on a rock ledge. "But I hardly had any time to do any more work." Rose sat down next to her taking her hand.
"So you really think my brother will kill you if he found you?" Rose asked with worry.
Melody sighed leaning back into the wall. "No doubt about it. I left at a pretty bitchy manner. I made sure to make him miserable when I left." Melody turned to see Rose giving her a look. Melody shrugged. "I was a bitch before. It wasn't my fault… or wait, it is."
Roe sighed shaking her head. "Knowing my brother, I never thought he would go to murder."
Melody shrugged. "Well you don’t know your brother’s business side. He will do anythin to keep up the image that he’s dominant and the king of industry. Even getting rid of a cross dressing girl." Melody chuckled. Rose smiled but then frowned turning away. Melody turned to her to see her worry.
"Hey, everything will be alright. He might not even make the trip to find me." Melody said quickly smiling. "But I won't take any chances."
Rose looked at the sack and reached inside to pull out a second bar. "What will happen when you get the gold you wanted?" Rose asked bitterly. Melody blinked hearing that tone and turned back to her. "You're going to leave us all behind?"
Melody thought for a moment before she answered. "Two year ago Rose," She started getting her attention. "That's what I wanted to do. But living here, fighting tooth and nail to survive made me realize that I needed Annie and any ally I have. When I was a kid I had to protect myself and watch myself. The strongest survive in the city, same in industry." Melody said sadly shaking her head.
"It's a shit load of drama but that's the way the world is no matter which side of the tracks you’re on."
Rose turned away rubbing the gold lumps on the bar. "What changed your thinking?"
Melody smiled a touch. "You,"
"Me?" Rose asked looking at her.
Melody nodded walking up to her. "Yes, you." She whispered wrapping her arms around her waist pulling her closer to her. "Like I said I had to look out for myself, I never had friends or family that I had to care for or they care for me. For me to get through my impulses," Rose chuckled at that as Melody leaned forward to nuzzle her cheek.
"Amway to get through my urges I had to go into brothels and whore nests, but I never had a real love before." She whispered into her ear kissing her on the head. Rose smiled setting the gold bar on the table to place her hands over Melody’s hands resting around her middle.
"At first I thought I could take you without a second thought but you changed that. You made me wait and then we became friends."
"Close friends," Rose added.
"Very close." Melody whispered huskily causing Rose to chuckle. "Anyway, when I finally got that chance to know who you were and ... I guess I changed. I didn’t want to hurt you and I didn't want to hurt everyone I know because of my actions."
Rose nodded. "You do sound older compared to the first moment I met you."
Melody chuckled. "Hey, I'm not old." She joked. Melody pulled away, she stood up with her hands in her pockets, thinking. Rose turned away frowning slightly.
"I didn’t mean it like that."
"No, not that." Melody whispered smiling then she frowned again thinking. After a moment of tense silence for Rose, Melody pulled out her hands from her pockets to wrap them behind her head looking up through the hole to the sky.
"When I get at least maybe fifteen bars, I'm leaving town." She said sadly turning back to Rose. "If Reginald is still gunning for me, he'll use everything in his power to get me and he'll hurt everyone in town for it."
"Melody-" Rose started but Melody looked at her.
"I've made up my mind. I stayed here for far too long. The longer I stay the harder it will be to leave." Melody walked over to her taking Rose's hands. "I want to take you with me."
Rose blinked in surprise. "Really?"
Melody had a firm look in her eyes as she stroked Rose's face. "I know what Reginald did to you. I don’t know why he forced you to stay here but I will get you out of here. With the gold I have and this," Melody patted her pocket where the watch sat. "We can live a new life here or in Equestria again, change our names, live together in some small village, or something like that. No one will hurt us again."
Rose bit he lip looking down thinking. This was a huge proposal Melody gave her. She could leave this hell town forever and be a mare she wanted to be, not known to all as her brother’s bastard sister. She would love to escape and be with Melody but this place was her real true home. She belonged here, Diamond was like her favorite aunt, Ace was like a silly brother, Berry, Wendy and the other working girls were her sisters, and her piano was her from of escape.
Rose squeezed Melody's hands feeling tears. "I don’t know." She whispered looking up at her. Melody's face fell at that.
"What do you mean? This place... It's your prison."
"I don’t see it as such." Rose argued stepping away for her. "Reginald hardly came here. He started this town eight years ago then he left me here. He never hurt me here."
"But he will," Melody argued strongly taking her arm. "People talk for money Rose, even here. If the right person tells him I was with you ... He'll hurt you to get answers about me. I can't bear knowing that I left you here to be beaten by him because of me in your life."
Rose turned away thinking. "Can’t I have time to think about this?"
Melody sighed releasing her arm. She turned away, rubbing her face with her hand. "Sure, whatever." She said sourly. Rose looked at the rope then at Melody as she was scratching her head thinking.
"Can we go back home? I'm sure everyone is wondering where I am." Rose said softly. Melody nodded.
"Yeah, let's go."
Rose and Melody climbed back out of the cavern and stood in the forest. Rose watched Melody make sure everything was hidden and undisturbed. Melody pulled out her handkerchief she used for Rose's blindfold and placed it over her eyes. With her hand around Rose’s elbow she led Rose back to Fair Breeze.
Once the two mounted the horse they started in a slow walk back to town. When Melody knew it was best to pull off the blindfold, she used her magic to pull off the rag to let Rose see. Rose looked around to find them entering town.
Rose felt awful for saying those things to Melody. She knew this was a huge deal to her but Melody didn't realize that Frontier City was Rose's home and she doesn't want to leave the place that gave her so much when she had so little before.
Rose wrapped her arms tightly around Melody middle and leaned into her back. Melody turned slightly feeling Rose let out a sigh. She placed her hand on hers feeling a touch resentful of Rose's decision.
"Hey Melody! Rose!" Melody and Rose turned to see Tinker running over to them waving her arm in the air. Melody pulled on the reins to stop Fair Breeze as Tinker ran over to them beaming a huge smile.
"Hello Tinker." Rose said smiling. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing’s wrong!" Tinker said jumping up and down. "I made a new invention and I was looking for Kickie but I haven’t seen him in like ever!"
Melody quirked her brow. "He might be with Velvet. Did you try Velvet’s shop?
Tinker shook her head. "I did but the doors were locked. Weird."
Melody blushed realizing the real reason for the shop being closed at this time of day. She chuckled. "Ah I see."
"Hmm, I hope Velvet's, alright." Rose said clueless to what Melody thought.
"Anyway, are you two busy?" Tinker asked smiling.
"Um no not really." Melody lied clenching the reins a touch tighter. She really wanted to work on her gold today.
"Great! Come on to my workshop! You’re gonna love it!" Tinker grabbed Fair Breeze by her halter and pulled the horse to follow her. Melody sighed in defeat releasing the reins letting Tinker lead them to the other side of town.
"I wonder what Tinker made this time? It's been a long time since she made anything." Rose said a touch excited.
"Yeah?" Melody asked.
"Oh yeah!" Tinker said nodding. "The last thing I made was this awesome revolver. I'm going to give it to Annie as a present."
"Really?" Melody asked interested. "What's the occasion?"
"Didn’t you know? The Summer Sun Celebration coming up." Tinker said. Melody blinked.
"Um you don’t give gifts on the Summer Sun Celebration."
"I know that silly! But Annie's gun was gone, you know from her accident."
Melody nodded. "Oh right that." Melody said with a groan. After Annie’s event with Darius and Mac, she lost her revolver during her trip back and hadn't had a firearm since.
Tinker giggled as they neared the barn. "Also not only do I have that gift but I got a new invention. A new gun!"
"Early?" Rose asked seeing Tinker grin.
"Yep also the new invention to go with it."
Melody blinked a touch fearful of what the girl ideas were. Once they reached the barn Melody leaped off her horse then helped Rose off after her. Tinker tied Fair Breeze to the post and led the two into the barn.
Rose never been inside Tinker's barn before. She held onto Melody's hand tightly as Melody walked around the many junk heaps of metal and wood. Tinker halted them and told them to stay as she ran into one of the closets in the barn. Tinker then pulled out a small wooden box.
"This is for Annie. What do you think?" She asked handing the polished wooden box to Melody. Melody looked it over rubbing her hand over the stained box and whistled.
"Looks nice."
"Open it silly!" Tinker said hopping on the balls of her feet grinning. Melody released Rose's hand then saw a small golden latch. She flipped the latch to open the box and inside made both women gasp. It was a polished revolver but what made this one different was its size.
"Damn, this is the biggest revolver I've ever seen!" Melody whispered reaching in to the handle and pulled out the large heavy revolver. "What is it?"
Tinker smiled. "I built that model a while back and so far it's gaining popularity. It's a Colt Walker. A very big revolver with a big punch." Tinker said punching her fist into her opened hand. "Also I think Annie would want a larger caliber."
Melody gulped at that. And what's under the revolver?" Melody asked.
"Take a look. I made it myself for her." Tinker said smiling. Melody handed the heavy gun to Rose. She gasped at the weight lifting it up and down in eh hands.
"This is heavy."
Melody lifted up the green felt flap and under it was a gun cleaning kit. With gunpowder, caps, lead balls, and a cloth. There was a mini gunpowder horn with a written message on a piece of paper attached to it. Don't get powered wet, or no Ka-Boom. ~Tinker.
"Wow, Tink. I bet Annie will love this." Melody said placing the felt flap back over the gun kit then set the heavy revolver back into the box and closing the lid. Tinker smiled.
"I hope so. I hope this puts a smile on her face since she's been down and all."
Melody nodded. "Yeah she'll be happy."
Rose stood by Melody looking around the workshop. "So what was this invention you were wanting us to see?" She asked.
Tinker chuckled. "Well I've been noticing that people were having some trouble with their shooting. Well it turns out the Griffin Kingdom weapon inventors are trying to make an easier way to load a rifle or revolver."
"Yeah? So what?" Melody asked curious.
"Think about it!" Tinker said excitedly. "Now when you are under fire how many shots do you let out with a rifle?" Tinker asked crossing her arms across her chest, waiting. Melody thought for a long moment.
"Um I saw this fellow shooting four shots under two minutes."
"Exactly!" Tinker exclaimed pointing at her. What if there was a type of weapon that you don’t have to do that process of loading the gunpowder and pushing it down with a rod? How many shots you think your can let out before the end of a minute?"
Rose banked looking to Melody to see her look to her equally shocked.
"Exactly." Tinker said again smiling.
"Wait, wait, wait," Melody said shaking her head. "So this theory that's spreading in the kingdom ... you made something?"
Tinker giggled as she skipped away from them to grab something. Rose took Melody's hand. "This is... surprising." Rose said with worry.
"Yeah but it will be highly effective if Tinker actually made something like that."
"I'm back! Catch!" Tinker called out surprising the couple. Melody caught the object that was tossed to them. It was a rifle, a strangely designed one.
"What is this?" Melody asked holding the rifle in her hand. The barrel was shorter than the average rifle she had seen. Melody moved her hand only to feel part of the rifle go down. She looked down to hear a snap. Tinker was grinning as Melody pulled her hand back placing the strange lever back in place. "Seriously, what is this?"
Tinker giggled. "Well it was a later design, but I called this baby, Henry."
Rose blinked. "Um Henry?"
"Oh yeah Henry. Named after the little bird that lived here in the barn when I first moved in."
Rose opened her mouth to question it when Melody placed her hand over her mouth. "Don't ask." She grumbled. Rose glared at her as Melody retuned her hand to the rifle barrel.
"So this is a new line of rifles you made?"
"Yep, I learned from this guy that he was trying to build a mechanism for a new design of rifle and bullets. He left me with the designs and they were horrible!" Tinker said shaking her head as she reached into her pocket. "But he had this drawing of a new ammunition round."
"A what?" Rose and Melody asked confused.
"That’s what he called it. You know that rifles and revolvers can only fire balls right?"
The two nodded. Tinker grinned. "Well this same guy had an idea in his notes. I think he died since he didn't come back the next week. Well anyway, he had this drawing putting a ball on a tip of a brass container with the amount of powder and stuff."
Tinker pulled out something from her pocket and tossed it to them. Rose caught the object and looked at it. It was a brass tube with a lead ball that was shaped as a large triangle shape with lines on the side.
"Oh that ball on the tip is a very popular bullet ball form the griffin army. They say the bullet deals with more damage and highly effective on the targets.” Melody and Rose stared at the round then at the gun in Melody’s hands.
"So how does this thing fire?" Melody asked looking down the sites then pulled the trigger hearing the snap sound.
"Here," Tinker said reaching into her pocket to pull out more of the rounds, some have a white casing while the rest of them were brass. "Careful with the white casings they’re made of paper." She said rubbing the back of her head. "I decided to make the brass ones because it's stronger and a bit better to fire."
"How do I load this?" Melody asked looking over the rifle even flipping it over to see a slit in the barrel.
“Gimmie!" Tinker ordered. Melody nodded handing the rifle back to the inventor as she flipped the rifle over upside down. Tinker tapped what looked to be a gold pin. "See this thingy?"
"Yes," Rose answered as Melody nodded watching her.
"Well here's the trick. This here helps in making rapid fire actions."
"What?" Melody gasped staring at her in shock.
"Oh yeah, you can fire multiple rounds, even more than six."
Melody was now very fascinated as she watched Tinker pull the brass pin up the barrel causing the two women to gasp at such an idea.
"Is that a spring?" Rose asked intrigued.
"Yep, now watch and learn." Tinker pulled the brass nob with the spring up to the end of the barrel. "And to load it you do this." Tinker said smiling as she twisted the last five inches of the barrel to the side. Melody and Rose gasped seeing that.
"Did you just broke that?"
"Oh no, it's still attached, it swivels." Tinker said moving the top part back in place and the brass pin with the tight spring slammed back to the back of the rifle. Tinker reached back down to pull the brass pin and the spring back up and swivel the end away to open the barrel again. Tinker grabbed a round and set it at the end and let the round with brass casing slide into the barrel to the end. Melody and Rose watched as Tinker stuck twelve of these rounds into the barrel. Once she was done she swiveled the end of the barrel back into place.
"You want to hold it?" She asked.
"Yeah," Melody whispered with awe as she held the fully loaded rifle in her hand counting the rounds. She whistled. "Twelve rounds? That’s double than my own revolver."
"Yep, that's the best part." Tinker said excited. "Try it out for me would you?"
"Of course Tinker!" Melody said getting excited.
"Just shoot at Sandman over there." Tinker said opting to the hanging metal target of a cowboy. "Let's see how it works."
Tinker grabbed Rose and pulled her way from Melody.
"Um Tinker?"
"Yeah?"
"How do I work this think?"
"Oh silly me!" Tinker said giggling running over. "Alright just hold it like you do a rifle." Melody nodded as she stood ready with her cheek pressed agent the stock, aiming down the sights at the metal target.
"Good, now you push down the lever here." Tinker said patting Melody’s hand over the lever hold. Melody felt Tinker push her hand down pushing the lever down with it. "Okay after that you pull the lever back up." Melody did that hearing one of the rounds get into the chamber by her nose.
"Okay after that you pull back the hammer." Melody nodded pulling back the lever with her finger then paced her hand back onto the barrel.
"Good and then you fire." Tinker said as Melody nodded. Tinker took a few steps back as Melody took in a deep breath then pulled the trigger. The bang was loud not as loud as the high pitched “Ding!” when the bullet hit the metal target.
"Wow!" Rose yelled out rubbing her ears. "That's loud." Melody rubbed her ears but couldn't contain the excitement of this world changing weapon.
"That was amazing!" She exclaimed.
Tinker beamed. "I'm actually making a couple more. That one is yours if you want it." Tinker said smiling. Melody frowned curious.
"Really?"
"Sure, you and Annie can use that." Tinker said smiling. "I'm making another one for Kickie and one for Dash. He's been down in the dumbs too."
Rose nodded. "He has. We hardly ever see him since Annie was sick."
Melody shrugged as she looked at her new rifle with curiosity. "He's been kicking himself over the fact that he didn't do anything to stop Kim from making things worse."
Rose and Tinker watched Melody for a moment.
"Um Tink, how do I reload?"
Tinker walked over to take the rifle to hold it. "Watch this. To reload you push down the lever like this." Tinker demonstrated by pushing down the lever and the brass casing flew out of the top part of the brass stock with smoke flying out. Rose and Melody watched the brass cartridge bounce on the floor.
"Then you pull the lever back to place and a new round is inside." Tinker pulled the lever back and there was a sound of another bullet into the chamber. "And then you can fire again even rapidly, watch this!" She said grinning aiming at the Sandman and started firing. She shot once then pushed down the lever letting the brass fly and then back into place. Then she started going faster and faster until the last bullet hit the target.
Melody and Rose had their hands up to their ears watching in awe as Tinker grinned.
"SEE! AIN'T THAT NEAT?!" She shouted. Melody and Rose chuckled lowering their hands from their ear as Tinker stuck her finger into her ear, wiggling her finger around. "MY EARS ARE RINGING!" Melody took the rifle from Tinker's hands to look it over and whistled.
"Thanks a lot Tinker, this is amazing."
Tinker nodded rubbing both her ears. "Yep! Oh and um come back later this week, I'll have more bullets for you by then. A whole bag full."
"Wow, thanks Tinker." Meld said smiling. "Um do you have any bullets with you, I'll like to show this off to Annie and have her try it."
Tinker nodded. "Um sure, just a second." Tinker went to her bench looking into buckets and chests. Rose looked at the rifle in Melody’s hands fascinated.
"Wow, who would have thought? This will change so much! Can you imagine how this will protect us?" Rose asked. Melody looked to her and smiled.
"Yeah I know what you mean." Melody whispered leaning in to kiss Rose on the cheek. "I might keep this for myself." Melody chuckled at the thought.
"Here you go." Tinker said walking over with a small sack filled with the ammunition for the rifle. "Have fun."
"Thanks Tink." Melody called before stopping at the door turning to her. "Hey um Tink?"
"Yes?" Tinker called back in a singsong voice.
"Can I ask if you could make a third one?"
“A third one of what?" Tinker asked curiously.
"A third rifle for me?" Tinker through for a moment looking at Melody with a frown.
"Um well I can try. If I have enough supplies after I'm done with the other two, I can try and see if I can scrounge up a third one for you." Tinker said with a small smile. Melody smiled in return.
"Thanks Tink that'll be great. See you around?"
Tinker nodded watching Melody and Rose leave. She sighed a little worriedly as she went to get back to work. For some reason she hadn’t been enjoying building weapons like she used to. Where’s the fun of making weapons that will hurt people?
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"Hmm this seems like the perfect spot." Annie said as she slid off her horse. Ace joined her on the ground as they surveyed the large field. Ace turned with his hand up to his forehead to see the edge of town a mile away.
"Perfect to keep everyone at bay that don't want to attend and cause trouble." Ace said smiling. "So?" He asked placing his hands on his hips looking around him. "How big of a fire are we talking about?" He asked as Annie looked around scratching her head.
"Well we have to make it around there somewhere. We need a lot of dust and the river is close to here, right?" She asked looking over to see the sparkling water of the Celestia River and some tents from the Prospector Village.
"Yep," Ace said nodding.
"Then we're set." Annie said smiling until a thought came up. "What about food?"
"Well we could make a big picnic. Invite the whole town to make their own stuff."
"I don't think everyone will do that. It's too late."
"We could ask Diamond for help." Ace suggested. "She makes a mean gumbo and she makes a bunch all the time for large crowds. Everyone in town goes there at least once a day to have some of her gumbo."
Annie nodded. "Sounds like the perfect idea. But now we have to figure out how many people are going to be here. There is no guarantee that we'll know exactly how many people are coming. So how many fire pits should we build?"
Ace thought for a moment looking around the field. "Well first off, where is the bonfire gonna be?"
Annie nodded thinking as Ace continued to walk around. He scuffed his boot on the dirt ground looking around with his hands in his pockets.
"Here," He said at least using the heel of his boot to mark a large X on the dirt ground. "We'll put the bon fire here and we’ll work on the rest later. We still have a few days anyway."
Annie nodded thinking as she turned to the east smiling a touch. Ace smiled seeing her smile. "You alright Annie?"
Annie shrugged chuckling. "I don’t know why but I'm anxious right now."
Ace chuckled. "I bet, I’m excited too. Come on, let’s go on home and tell Diamond the good news." Annie blushed a touch as she leaped up on Twilight and followed Ace back to town.
Once they returned they immediately went to the Sweetie Belle to find the place empty. Annie and Ace looked at one another confused. Then they heard a gunshot out back. Annie reached for her empty holster and cursed. Ace winked at her and held up his revolver as he and Annie reached the back door.
Annie nodded to Ace as she clenched her hands into fists ready to fight. Ace nodded in return before they ran outside ready to fight but instead they hear cheering and another gunshot. Annie and Ace looked at one another as they pushed through the crowd to see Melody and Rose standing in the center of the crowd holding some strange rifle pointing at the target, a haystack with a picture of the Griffin King on it.
"Ready?" Melody said out loud as Rose was holding the rifle with difficulty.
"I don’t know," Rose said fearfully.
"Go on sugar," Diamond said laughing. "I could shoot it so can you."
Rose gulped then pulled the trigger as the bullet hit the paper as the crowd cheered. Rose smiled at Melody seeing her beam with pride. Melody then noticed Annie and Ace standing there dumbfounded.
"Annie, Ace, good to see you guys."
"What’s going on here?" Ace asked curiously.
"Tinker made a new rifle, and it shoots automatically without having to do all that stuff with the revolvers." Melody said taking the rifle from Rose’s trembling hands. "Here, we have like five shots left." She said tossing the rifle to Annie who caught it.
Annie looked at the new rifle seeing the brass inside the bottom barrel. "And how does this work?" Annie asked pushing down the lever experimentally as the brass flew out causing her and Ace to yelp with shock. Ace knelt down picking up the brass and smelt the inside.
"Powder inside the brass?" He asked interested. "Tink did this?"
"She had help in designing but she made that bullet and this rifle. She calls it a Henry Rifle. It uses a lever to reload the gun. See?" Melody then shown Ace and Annie how to use it.
"Now shoot it," Melody said smiling. Annie shrugged holding the rifle up aiming at the Griffin king, she pulled the trigger hearing the loud bang! Annie and Ace were surprised. Melody then taught Annie how to reload by pushing the lever and the brass flew out like before and a new one was pulled into place. Then Ace was given a chance to use it and he was very happy with the results.
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After the demonstration the friends sat at the bar eating their dinner and talking about the Summer Sun Celebration, even the idea of celebrating it in Frontier City.
"What?" Melody asked surprised.
"Yeah, Like Annie said." Ace said smiling. "We’re going to have a Summer Sun Celebration here in town just in the field with a bon fire and everything. There will be dancing, singing, warm picnic dinner, everyone's invited!" Ace called out hearing the cheers of the patrons. "We just need some musical people that can play a Do-see-do and we need some of Diamond's famous gumbo outside and we'll have fun."
"We’ll see." Melody said sourly dunking back her drink into her throat then left the counter placing two silver coins on the counter. "I'm off to bed." The group watched her leave for the stairs heading down to ear room.
"What's up with her?" Berry asked taking the coins and used glass. Annie shrugged as Diamond leaned against her.
"For the first time in a while, I have no idea." Annie said truthfully. "Maybe it had something to do with her parents." She said worriedly. Diamond nuzzled into Annie's neck with her hand reaching into Annie's trousers. Annie blushed a touch turned to her seeing her sly smile and wink.
Ace sighed slipping off the stool. "Well I’m off to bed myself. I'll go find Dash and we'll do the fire pits and get the wood cut up for the fires. g'night ladies." He said tipping his hat. The women said their farewells to the deputy as he left the tavern.
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The next few days were busy to most. Annie was always gone during the day with Ace to get the field ready for the celebration. Diamond, Berry, and Wendy were hard at work gathering ingredients for the gumbo they will use for the party.
Melody was sitting on a stump by the barn where the Roses were kept in. She sighed shaking her head thinking about the summer sun Celebration. She snorted glaring at the ground.
Hey," Melody turned to see Berry walking over to her. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be helping Rose with the music stuff."
Melody snorted. "I don’t want any part of the celebration, got it?"
"Why?" Berry asked a touch shocked. "It's one of the best holidays around. Not counting Hearths Warming."
Melody smirked at that as she shook her head. "It's just personal alright." Melody snapped turning away. Berry shrugged.
"You don’t mind helping us through right?"
Melody stayed silent.
"We could use the help Melody. You don’t have to join the festivities I guess but we could use your help in getting everything prepared. The celebration is tonight after all."
Melody sighed in defeat. "Fine I'll help but I won’t stay."
Berry smiled. "That's all I ask, thank you."
"Sure." Melody sniffed turning away as Berry returned into the tavern.
When night finally approached, Melody helped Berry and Wendy with delivering the Gumbo cauldrons to the field where the three gasped in shock. The area was set up for a full night party. Fire pits surround a giant fire pit where the bonfire was set to be. There was a makeshift stage for a band to play, a large wooden table for food and drinks set up on the other side.
Melody was impressed with the set up that she had forgotten what she was there for in the first place. She shook her head and helped push the cauldron to the table area. Diamond was already there setting stacks of bowls on the table with spoons and forks and cups for drinks.
Melody found a seat and sat down as everyone continued their work as she just sat there. She closed her eyes thinking about the salt time she attended the Summer Sun Celebration as a little girl. It was the last time she had seen her parents and the last time she truly smiled and be a kid. It was also the last time she saw her parents.
She groaned covering her face with her hands rubbing her forehead hard with her fingertips. Before she knew it, the sun was setting and Ace and Annie were setting up the fire pits with firewood and tinder. She suddenly felt arms wrap around her surprising her. Melody turned just as she felt a pair of lips one her cheek. She blushed with a smile seeing Rose dressed in an outing dress for the occasion.
"I thought you didn't want to attend?" Rose asked smiling with a bush.
"I ... wasn't. I was just leaving." Melody snarled standing up fixing her shirt and suspenders. She turned to see Rose giving her a pout look. "No," Melody snarled. Rose held up her hands to her chin sticking her pouting lip out farther blinking her eyes. Melody stared at her blushing then turned away thinking. She could see more people coming over, curious to see what the large set of logs were being used for.
Melody sighed turning back to Rose then smirked. "Fine I'll stay. It breaks my heart seeing that cute look." Melody said placing her hands on Rose's shoulders. Rose smiled and hugged Melody tight kissing her on the cheek.
"Thank you." She took Melody’s hand and pulled her along with her to the bonfire pit.
After some words from Ace everyone started the party. Everyone got to eat some fresh gumbo and got drinks from Berry at her table. A small band of prospectors and townsfolk started playing on the makeshift stage. When the sky was darkening enough, Diamond used her magic to start the bonfire for everyone to see.
Son people started grabbing sticks from their pits and let the bonfire ignite their sticks so they could light their own fires. Just like the way Melody remembered this festival being, a time of enjoyment and dance as they danced under the moon of the shortest night of the year. Everyone danced and sang with the band around the bonfire.
Melody smiled watching Diamond grabbing Annie by her arm and forced her off her seat. Melody and their friends cheered as Diamond got Annie to dance with her with the other dancers around the bonfire. Melody chuckled looking over to see Butterfly pouting a touch. Melody chuckled as she turned to see Dash seeing Melody's look. Melody pointed to Butterfly. Dash nodded placing his hat on his head as he walked over to the young girl.
She looked up to see him wink. "May I have this dance?" He asked.
Butterfly slowly connected the meaning of the words then nodded taking Dash's hand. Dash lifted her up into his arms as he danced with her in his embrace. Melody couldn’t help but laugh at that.
"Shall we?" Rose asked suddenly beside Melody. Melody blinked turning to Rose and blushed seeing her blush as well. "Dance I mean?" Melody thought for a moment then looked over to see Annie and Diamond laughing as they were walking back to their fire pit exhausted form the dance. Melody thought a little longer turning to Rose. Melody took Rose's hand then stood up.
"Sure, why not?"
Rose smiled as she and Melody ran to the bonfire and start dancing with the music being played. Melody took Rose's hands and the two dancing with the beat of the clapping hands and stomping feet. Melody was shocked to hear a high whistle and saw Annie and her friends all cheering. Melody chuckled as Rose was smiling at back at her.
"What?" Rose called over the noise.
"I'm enjoying myself for the first time in years." Melody admitted happily seeing Rose smile. To Rose this was the first time she has seen a genuine smile on her lover's face since she met her. Melody was always so guarded and mysterious but very rarely had Rose seen Melody loosen up and actually have fun.
Melody stopped dancing listening to something that wasn’t made from the music. "Melody?" Rose asked surprised. Melody turned to the town. Annie blinked hearing the sound too as she stood up.
"Annie?" Diamond asked curiously.
Soon the sounds were getting louder and people stopped dancing and clapping as a group of horses barged into the festivities. Ace stood up glaring, seeing it was Yelana Skytalon, along with Maxine Dust, Kim, Lucky, and several other men.
"What's going on here!" Skytalon yelled out. "We were receiving complaints from people in town that there was a fire and we see you all dancing and singing?" Skytalon called out angrily.
Ace walked over to them. Maxine noticed him and glared at him. "Kicker, where have you been, fucking the dead shop keepers’ worthless whore?" Ace growled ready to attack. Dash and Annie stood up and stopped him.
"What do you want," Melody called out walking forward. Rose stayed put as Diamond walked over to stand beside her.
"Like she said," Maxine said spitting to the side. "We’re wanting to know what’s going on here?"
"We're having a Summer Sun Celebration." Melody answered glaring at them. Maxine, Lucky, and Kim blinked looking at one another curious.
"What?" Skytalon barked.
"It's an Equestrian holiday." Maxine answered with a wince.
Skytalon glared at Maxine as she turned back. "Alright pack it up, enough of this nonsense."
"Actually," Ace said stopping her. "According to the Griffin law, there is no law against us celebrating Equestrian holidays or celebrations." Ace said crossing his arms across his chest. "I looked through it five times to make absolutely sure."
Skytalon glared at Ace harshly as she looked around to see her Equestrian deputies staying silent. She growled.
"Fine enjoy your stupid holiday. But if someone gets gunned down, I won't be here to arrest them." Skytalon rode off with her deputies slowly following her. Lucky gulped being the last one. Kim turned to her stopping her horse.
"Luck, let's go!" Kim called out glaring. Lucky turned to Kim then back at Annie and the group. Lucky sighed then turned her horse and followed Kim back to town. Ace shook his head as Annie rubbed her face.
"It' alright everyone." Dash called out easing everyone's fears. "Let's have some fun!" As soon as he said that everyone started cheering. Even a girl or two walked over to Dash grabbing his arms and pulling him into the crowd.
Annie and Diamond chuckled at that. "He is a handsome rogue isn't he?" Diamond purred causing Annie to blush. She laughed at what response she got. Annie groaned applying hand to face.
Melody sighed seeing the sheriff and deputies leave but there were some people waking up from town. What surprised her was that they were the children of the Horse Gods. She walked over to confront them.
Constance stopped her flock as Melody approached. "What are you doing here?" Melody growled crossing her arms across her chest.
Constance sniffed standing up straight. "We heard about the Summer Sun Celebration being celebrated here."
"So?" Melody asked quirking her brow.
"So, as Equestrians and Children of the Horse Gods we celebrate it just as much as you. Aren't you still Equestrian Ms. Liker?" Constance asked glaring at her.
Melody turned to hear Annie walking over. Annie stood by Melody and smiled kindly to them which Melody found disturbing.
"Well I see you have decided to join?"
"Huh?" Melody squeaked turning to her.
Constance sighed looking at Annie. "Only a few of us sadly. My husband and his closest followers wanted no part of this considering it was you who sent the invitation."
"Wait," Melody interrupted pointing at her sister. "You invited them? What the hell Annie!"
Annie blushed turning to the followers that came by. "Ahem, Melody, may I talk to you for a sec?" Annie grabbed Melody's suspenders and pulled her a distance away from the followers. Annie released the straps hearing the strap snap into Melody's chest.
"Ouch!" Melody yelped rubbing her sore spot over her breast where the suspender snapped at. "What the hell, Annie?" She growled still rubbing with a wince.
"I invited them because it's courtesy."
"Since when did you care about that?"
Annie glared at her. "Melody this is a celebration for everyone. Not just us. So considering I still want to have a sort of semblance of courtesy to them to show I had no hard feelings against them,"
"Wait a second," Melody interrupted. "First you're talking like Diamond, and second, what the heck!? I thought you hate them for trying to make you into someone you’re not and stoning Diamond!"
Annie sighed placing her hands on her hips shaking her head. "Melody, we’re being neighbors here. This celebration was made to have everyone in the community come together and have fun under Luna's moon for a night and wait for the sun to rise. And everyone means everyone, even the Children of the Horse Gods."
Melody stared at Annie for a long moment then turned away shaking her head. "Whatever, don't expect me to make them welcome." Melody snarled as she stormed off. Annie sighed rubbing her face. She didn't like the idea having the Children of the Gods there, but it was just something nice to do. Since she got at least maybe twenty of them to come means they wanted a chance to be accepted, just like she wanted to be. Annie walked back to Constance and her followers to see them watch her with worry.
"There might be some resentment of you being here but this is a celebration." Annie said smiling softly. "Besides, everyone is too busy getting drunk and enjoying themselves. I hope you'll enjoy yourselves and mingle with everyone."
Constance sighed and smiled. "That is very thoughtful of you Annabelle Apple. We accept this invitation happily. Thank you."
Annie blushed rubbing the back of her neck as Constance waved for her followers to go and enjoy themselves. Constance stayed behind with Annie.
"I still don't agree with your choices in life Annabelle. Your mother would not approve." Constance said hoity like.
Annie rolled her eyes. "I understand but I've made my choice and I'm happy with that choice." Constance looked up at her quizzically. "Perhaps you might have to think about yours." Annie declared grabbing her chin and turned her face to the side to see a swelling on Constance's face. "Is Minister Temple treating you fair?"
Constance swatted Annie's hand away with an “hmmph” and walked off to join the festivities. Annie sighed sticking her hands into her pockets and started back to the party.
By early morning, everyone was either sleeping or still awake telling stories, singing drunk ballads, or to some making love under the moon. Annie and her friends all sat around a fire pit either telling stories of home or their past, singing funny songs, or even just playing tunes with no singing at all.
Ace, Dash, and Annie would use their instruments that the band weren't using to play some songs. Melody picked up an unused guitar in her hands thinking as she looked it over.
"What's wrong?" Rose asked sleepily leaning against her side.
"Just thinking, I haven't really played a guitar in forever."
"You play?" Rose asked. Melody frowned a touch realizing she's getting an audience of onlookers. Melody smiled seeing Butterfly sleeping into Annie's lap and Dash was staring at her stroking her pink head. Annie lifted up Butterfly and set her into Dash’s lap much to his discomfort. Berry and Wendy were eating some of the warm gumbo enjoying their drink from working. Ace was fixing the mandolin as Velvet was checking the old banjo. Tinker was sleeping on the ground exhausted from working in the barn for a long time. Melody remembered earlier that night when Tinker arrived with the box for Annie. Annie was speechless and thanked her for the gift. Melody smirked returning to the present seeing Tinker flip over onto her back, lightly snoring.
"I used to." Melody whispered. "Only practice but sometimes I think I had a knack for it."
"Why not play a song from the city?" Annie mentioned with a smile. Melody glared at her seeing her smirk. Melody thought for a moment checking the strings to hear the notes clearly. She turned to realize everyone was waking themselves up to listen. Rose even sat up so she wouldn't be in the way.
"Well alright, let me play a little something." Melody thought for a moment then smiled at an idea. "You know there was this song I heard while living in the streets. It was some song I heard from drunk soldiers that visit this tavern on my corner where I sell papes and such. Anyway, I would play that tune to get money."
“Papes?” Wendy asked curiously.
“Uh that's what newsies called them.” Melody sad with a blush scratching her head. “I was a newsie for a time. A kid who sells newspapers for a bit.” Melody set herself up then placed her fingers on the strings and played a little experiment first to find out how the guitar sounded then she began to play the tune.
As she played the group was smiling hearing Melody actually playing something. Annie was amazed, Rose was smiling, Ace though was staring at her strangely fingering his chin. Melody closed her eyes playing the tune by heart and she began smiling. When she ended the tune she opened her eyes to hear her friends applaud to her playing.
"That was good." Dash said smiling as Butterfly was clapping her hands.
"Good, good Aunty!" She said cheering. The elders all laughed at the cute girl. Ace though wasn't smiling.
"Um where did you hear that song again?" Ace asked curiously.
Melody shrugged. "Some tavern in Manehattan."
"What type of soldiers were there?"
"Um I don’t really remember. They were wearing blue uniforms though, out of armor."
Ace smiled a touch chucking. "What?" Velvet asked curiously.
"That song you were playing, it was a song from the Equestrian army. It's a very popular march song."
"Really?" Rose asked interested.
"Yep, I was in the cavalry before I was demoted so to speak." Ace said with a touch of guilt. He smiled turning to the banjo and picked it up. "You know the cords but do you know the song?"
"No, I was younger. I only memorized the tune." Melody said.
"Well you'll learn." Ace said chuckling as the others got excited.
"Another song?" Diamond asked smiling.
"Yay!" Butterfly cheered loudly waking Tinker from her sleep causing her to groan and crawl over to Dash laying on her stomach by him.
"What's going on?" She asked sleepily rubbing her eye with her fist.
"Kicker wants to sing war songs." Dash answered chuckling.
"Oooh which one?!" Tinker asked sitting up on he hands and knees smiling.
Ace winked at her. "That song you played Melody is called Garryowen. It was a tavern tune turned into a cavalry’s title song so to speak. Play that tune again would you?" Melody nodded smiling a touch excited. Then the two began to play, Ace playing the cords with Melody. The group stayed silent as the two played together. Then Ace began to sing the song.
Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed
Come join with me, each jovial blade
Come, booze and sing and lend your aid
And help me with the chorus
Instead of spa, we'll drink drown ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory
The group were smiling at the cheery sounding song. Annie wrapped her arm around Diamond as they moved with the song. Butterfly and Tinker began clapping their hands to make a beat. Dash leaned back on his hands watching the exchange. Ace winked at Melody to see her smile in return as they played more and he began the next stanza.
We will make the mayor and sheriff run
We will cheat the bailiff of his funds
We are the boys no man dares to dun
If he values his whole skin
Instead of spa, we'll drink down ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory
Right away Ace began playing the cords as Melody began to play with the beat of the clapping. Dash lifted Butterfly off his lap and set her down as he took the banjo he was using to play the cords with Ace as the three players continued on the song as Ace sang again.
We'll break the windows, we'll break the doors
Their watch will fall by threes and fours
And then we'll let the doctors work their cures
While we tinker with our bruises
By this time Melody memorized the chorus and sang with Ace surprising the ex-soldier. Even Rose and Velvet sang along to the surprise of the duo.
Instead of spa, we'll drink down ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory
As they played the cords Tinker was humming along. Then by the second round at the cords for the chorus the others began singing along as Ace and Melody were smiling staying silent as they played then Ace started the next stanza again.
Our hearts so stout have brought us fame
For some 'tis known from whence we came
Where'er we go they dread the name
Of Garryowen in glory
Then the whole group began singing with Ace and Melody the chorus.
Instead of spa, we'll drink down ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory
After the last chorus Ace, Dash and Melody were playing the cords as the others around them sang the stanza again. By the time the cords for the chorus piped up again everyone sang the chorus again. Melody turned hearing Rose, Annie, and Diamond sing with them. All she could do was smile and sing along until the end of the song. Once they were done they were all laughing like children around a campfire and cheering each other for the song.
By the time the sun was rising everyone was sleeping. When Melody woke up she found herself laying right next to Rose, Rose was sleeping into Melody's embrace smiling. Melody looked over to see Annie laying in the same type of fashion as Melody, her arms wrapped around Diamond as they snoozed. Melody looked over to see Dash, Tinker and Butterfly sleeping close together in a blanket. Berry and Wendy were snoozing under the table with a bottle of whiskey. Then she noticed Ace and Velvet sleeping close together under a blanket, by the smiles on their faces they must have done something overnight.
Melody sat up with a yawn looking up to see the yellowing sky of morning. She sighed scratching her head and dusting herself off of grass and dirt and soot from the fire. The sun has risen, the sigh of a new day, a new time, and a new plan. Melody sighed looking down at her friends …. Her family laying around her.
"Well time to get back to work."
