//------------------------------//
// Ch. 22: Annie's Final Years 
// Story: Tales of Apple Scratch: Just Another Wild West Story 
// by TigerSwirl448 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 22
The Final Years


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So much had occurred since I last wrote in this book. I read through it all and found myself quite happy with what I wrote and yet I feel like it was incomplete. Since Melody’s passing things have been getting harder for me and I feel like it is time to actually make an ending for this unfinished memoir. So I took up the quill again and decided to write my final years.


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After our final escape from Reginald and Skytalon, we all followed Ace to a place where he claims to be safe. What I saw surprisingly was a run-down cabin that was built by the first settlers of the frontier. Ace opened the door for us and we walked into the small space. It was about the same size as Ace’s cabin back in Frontier City, big enough for us all to sleep together on the floor. 

Ace told us that the place will do for the rest of winter and then we’ll tear it down and make a new home. I liked the idea and so did the others. For the rest of winter we stayed at the cabin, I would go out with Ace and Dash to hunt for game. There was little to find, even with game traps we found in the cabin helped little. It was a hard three months.

Finally when the snow was melting, Ace took the chance to ride out to the nearest town. It was the last month of winter, Dash, Melody and I walked out to the nearest forest, two miles away to cut down lumber for the start of making a new barn for the horses. We were able to make a make shift corral when we first arrived for the horses we gathered from the canyon. When we returned with three trees, Ace was already at the cabin grinning ear to ear. He told us that he was able to find an outpost, an Equestrian outpost! That was a shock to us, Equestria made a military outpost in Griffin Territory. We knew now that Equestria was being serious for war if they made a move like that.

That wasn’t all though, Ace told us that he got a catalog from the outpost. A Hooves Catalog. I didn’t know what it was until Melody explained that it was a huge train and store company where they sell items for everyone. From nails, beds, fire fed stoves, anything you can think of this Hooves Company sold it. When I took a look at the heavy book I could see what Melody meant. This giant catalog had so many pictures along with prices for each item. 

Ace took the catalog from me and flipped through the page then pointed at a picture. I leaned over with the others to see what he was pointing at. It was a house! A two story farm house.

“What’s that?” Dash asked. “A house?”

Ace nodded and told us that this company also sells house building kits. With enough money we can buy a house! A farm house! I was excited yet confused.

“How in Tartarus do we get a house here?” I asked.

Ace smiled at me knowingly. “Annie, they don’t send the built house to us. They only send it in pieces. So we could get a full house in pieces and we build it by the instructions.” 

That was by far the strangest thing I have ever heard but excited all the same. Ace began circling with charcoal in the book as we told him what we needed in the house. Once we were done with the list he grabbed his horse and told us it will cost a bunch of bits. At least two hundred.

That surprised us since we didn’t have that amount of money. Melody though thought long and hard for something. I turned to see Rose whispering into Melody’s ear. 

“Wait,” Melody said stopping Ace from riding off. “I got the money.” Melody said noticing our shocked looks. Melody grabbed Fair Breeze and leaped on her.

“What? How?” Diamond asked clearly shocked.

“I’ll explain later.” Melody said before riding off to who knows where. Several minutes later, Melody came back to us, her hands were covered in dry mud. “Here,” She said tossing something yellow and brown to Ace’s hand. Ace caught the object and was surprised by the weight of it. He stared at the object then back at Melody.

“This is pure gold!?” He exclaimed. “How’d you get this?”

“I had a side venture.” Melody said with a blush. “Will that be enough, I got another bar.” Melody said pulling out a second thin gold bar from her pocket and flipped it in the air catching it.

Ace nodded sticking the gold bar into his jacket pocket. “Good idea.” Melody handed him the second bar then told him to get going. Ace rode off back to the outpost. Melody just walked off to the corral with Rose behind her. It wasn’t until a later did I learn Melody’s secret venture, digging for gold in Frontier City. Who would have thought she got away with it. I couldn’t help but smirk at that.

Ace returned to us that night saying that the man in the outpost wrote up the order and sent it by this new Equestria mail system, The Pony Express. We’ll be receiving our house and other objects in a month at the quickest. That was great news to us.

After the order was shipped in, we all got to work on building a barn for the horses. It wasn’t easy building a barn from the ground up. Ace was able to buy tools from the outpost and we used them to build the barn. It was me, Melody, Dash, Ace, and Tinker working on the building of the barn.

It took us two full weeks of constant work to get it up and finished. Once done, we let the horses into the barn and into their stable blocks. All the horses seem happy to have some cover and warmth. After that we began building a bigger corral to allow the horses to roam around. 

As we were building the corral, Butterfly came running to us calling to us. Melody and I stopped what we were doing when Butterfly ran to us. She pointed behind her to the cabin and said something was wrong with Rose. Melody dropped what she was doing to run to the cabin with Butterfly behind her. I stayed put watching them run off. I looked to Dash and Ace to see them look at me with worry. Tinker took Melody’s place as she helped me beat the fence post in the hole on the ground.

Later that evening I noticed Melody standing by the barn looking pale as a sheet. I asked her what was wrong, she shook her head confused.

“I don’t know.” She whispered with fear. “Diamond’s checking Rose now.” That surprised me even more. Diamond was checking Rose …. For what? 

I went to the cabin and saw Velvet helping Butterfly with her writing seeing me. Velvet pointed with her thumb to the door as she returned to teaching Butterfly. I went into the cabin and I saw Diamond shaking her head as Rose slept in the quilt. Diamond looked pained seeing me. She stood up and grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the cabin. She pulled me to the large rock by the property. There she stopped to look at me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Did Rose catch something?” If Rose got any of these horrible diseases out here, that would be devastating. Diamond shook her head.

“No, she’s alright.” Diamond said sadly looking down at the ground.

“Well?” I asked. “If she’s fine then what’s wrong?”

Diamond gulped looking to the cabin, the barn, and then back at me. “Rose is with child.” I remembered feeling cold all of a sudden. Don’t get me wrong, a young woman being with child is a blessing especially out here in the frontier, but considering what Rose went through in early winter with Reginald and his thugs …. I just couldn’t believe it.

“How long?” I asked. Diamond shrugged.

“Perhaps when Reginald was on her or his thugs. Who knows?”

“Does Melody know?” I asked stupidly.

“Not yet. You’re the first one to know.” Diamond whispered with sadness. “Melody is going to be,” I stopped her before she said anything else. Melody was going to be crushed knowing this. Sometimes at night Rose would wake us up with her screams and crying from nightmares and Melody would blame herself over Rose’s night horrors. Melody would say it was her fault for Rose’s pains with Reginald leading him to Frontier City and all. We all tried to get Melody out of that hole she dug, but that seemed to be what kept her down in spirit.

“I’ll tell her.” I said seeing the relief on Diamond’s face. “You just go on and tell the others. Let me get Melody out of here first.” Diamond hugged me and kissed me on the cheek smiling happily at me. I suppose that Diamond didn’t want to be the one telling Melody the news. She headed back to the cabin, I followed her until I reached the barn and grabbed Fair Breeze saddling her up then I went to Twilight to saddle her up too. 

Once I was done I lead the horses out of the barn and I found Melody where I left her, worrying sick on the ground. I nudged her leg with my foot and told her to ride with me. Melody didn’t ask for where we were going or why we were riding somewhere, she mounted Fair Breeze and followed me into the plains.

Once we found a private enough place we sat down on a hill overlooking the valley. Form there we could see the barn and the cabin. After a while I took in a deep breath and I told Melody what Diamond told me. At first she was still, very still. I waited for an answer until I heard her began to cry. I could tell she connected the dots too of how this happened. I reached over the gap between us and wrapped my arm around her letting her cry into my chest.

“It was my fault.” She cried. “If I hadn’t met her none of this would have happened!”

I just let her cry, I didn’t know what to say or do to end her pain. Poor girl.

When we finally went back home, Melody was awfully quiet. I tried to tell her that none of this was her fault. If I was the will of the Gods for Rose to be pregnant then that what had taken place. I wish I hadn’t spoken, Melody just glared at me and I realized what I just said. I apologized about it but Melody just rode off. I can be such an idiot sometimes.

Everyone now knew about Rose and for a while we were all sad and angry. The girl didn’t deserve the pain she went through but it also wasn’t fair for us to be upset over something as joyous as a child coming to the world.

After a couple more weeks, our house finally came … in pieces. Just as Ace told us. He borrowed a wagon from the outpost to transfer all the lumber, flooring, doors, windows, and everything else we ordered in multiple trips back and forth from the outpost and the cabin. Once we got the foundation Dash, Tinker, Melody and I got busy working immediately. With Rose pregnant, we had to build the house fast, we didn’t know how much time we had left, six months or four, we knew that we had to hurry.

After the first week we got the foundation and the front porch all built. Weather was a cruel mistress even in the frontier. Jupiter keeps threating rain over our work. Velvet and Diamond used their combined powers to make a shield over the house as we build the walls and creating the second floor and ceiling for the first story. It took us about a month to finally build the house and place all the furniture inside. By that time summer was starting.

Spring that year became very warm. But being in the middle of nowhere made it even more unbearable. Melody and I were busy setting the earth for apple trees. My first orchard. I was able to get some apple seedlings and planted them into the small mounds of dirt. After I was done with that I grabbed a shovel and used the shovel to stick into the ground and pull it out. I continued this motion creating a line that will be the border of the tiny orchard of ten trees.

It was on that day that I saw something in the distance. I stopped sticking the shovel into the ground to get a better look. There were three horsemen riding towards us. I grabbed the shovel and started jogging back to the house. By the time I made it to the house I saw the three horsemen on their feet talking to Ace and Dash. I watched Tinker take the three tired horses to the corral.

As I got closer I could hear the older man of the three laughing with Ace and shaking his hand. The elder had a fiery orange head of hair with golden eyes. The two other horsemen were about Dash's age, one had white hair while the other had black hair. Annie noticed that the three were dressed similarly to the Royal Guards from Equestria. But their armor is dull and not shiny as compared to most guards I saw back in Manehattan.

"Look at you Kicker!" The orange haired man laughed. "I swear now you look like an outlaw." Ace was blushing with a chuckle.

"Well you can be surprised what stuff I had to fight out here to get these scars of valor. I swear I got more action out here than in training." 

Annie stepped over to see Diamond in one of the rocking chairs knitting, looking over with curiosity. Rose and Melody were sitting on the chair swing I built with Tinker's help. Butterfly was painting on my gun box again with red paints.

Ace turned and smiled seeing me. "Oh let me introduce to you the last member of my family." He said motioning me to come over. I side propping the shovel to the rail wiping off the dirt off my hands as I walked over. 

"Annie," Ace started pointing to the older gentleman. "This is Captain Maverick of the Canterlot guard."

"Was Canterlot guard. I’m just a trainer for the guards now." Captain Maverick said chuckling holding out his hand to me. I took his hand and gave it a firm shake. “Damn Kicker, are you sure this is a lady?" He joked as I blushed releasing his hand.

"Yes sir, this is Annie Apple from Manehattan."

"An Apple eh?" Maverick said smiling. "I knew a few apples that are in the guard. Brave and very big men the lot of them."

I couldn't help but smile at that. "We were born to be strong."

Captain Maverick turned to Ace and sighed. "You're a family man now? The great Ace Kicker has finally left the hot blood years?"

Ace blushed at that glaring at him. "Hey! Just because I don't go and sleep with girls doesn't mean I'm out of action." Captain Maverick smirked but then he frowned looking behind us.

"Is that," He started staring, even the two other were staring. We turned to see Velvet come out of the house with a tray with cups and a pitcher of a drink she made. Ace chuckled.

"Yes sir, that's Velvet Mist, The colonel’s baby sister. How are the Mist family?" Ace asked turning back to him.

Maverick winced rubbing his head. "Well I hate to say that the family has broken up big time."

"Broken up?" I asked interested. I've heard of the term before. It's mainly used to hide the true fact of a family breaking up. Weather it was assassinations, sickness, or loss of standing in the government.

Maverick sighed. "Sorry to say this Kicker but the Mists are ... it turns out that the Mist household are in-breeders."

"In-breeders you say?" Kicker asked scratching his chin. "How?"

"Most of the Mists' children were in-breed children thanks to the mother and father, they're brother and sister."

"Yikes," I said in shock. It’s against the Horse God’s law to bed with a sibling, since most times the child would be either very ill or deformed. Of course it’s not common but when it happens it becomes big news, especially if the news comes from the upper class or royalty. "So how did Canterlot find out?" I asked.

Maverick shook his head. "It's more like high society crap. Someone in the Council of Harmony found out and made a big crab shoot over it. Now the family has lost their estate and everything. The Mist family is no more."

Kicker winced turning to see Velvet talking to Rose and Melody seeing their smiles. Kicker turned to Dash to see him looking at him for an order. Ace turned to me, the look in his eyes said it all. "Don't tell Velvet."

"That's unfortunate." Dash said joining our conversation.

Maverick nodded. I had an idea though and I spoke it to them. "What if that's why Velvet was given away to Amos?" I asked seeing Kicker's eyes widened.

"Well that could be the real reason. But for right now, let’s not say anything to her. This will crush her." Ace said seriously biting his lip with worry.

After our conversation, Ace offered our home to the three Equestrians for the night. They were happy for the invitation. That night at dinner Captain Maverick and his two soldiers told us about why they were traveling to the frontier. They were looking for sites for forts and towns.

Our fears came true. The council of Harmony with the Princesses were pushing for war. It wasn't a too big of a surprise but we didn't think it would happen so soon. Ace and Dash talked throughout the evening with Captain Maverick. I lead the two young soldiers into the stables for rest. Tinker said she didn't mind them sleeping as long as they stayed out of her hayloft room. Of course I knew they soldiers will be shocked even if they tried considering going up there Tinker had the ladder rigged to a trap for anyone that don't know how to disarm it would get a nasty surprise.

The three Equestrian soldiers stayed with us for a couple more weeks, helping us with the farm. Ace bought us a few spools of barbed wire, a new invention made by an Equestrian in the middle country. We cut down more trees to make fence posts so we could wrap the barbed wire around them. It took us a full week to enclose the whole property with the stuff and so many bandaged fingers from the spikes for our troubles.

When the property was enclosed Melody and I worked hard on building an archway, the entrance to the farm. After a bit of work and thanks to Dash for the flying aid, we finally completed the farm. We left the overhanging sign blank for now. Even though this was Ace's property, I wouldn't mind taking this place for myself. Ace pretty much allowed me to do what I please here.

The time flew by so fast that it was close to summer. The soldiers were a huge help to us and we were grateful for their aid. Sometimes I would notice how Maverick and Ace would be engaged in their long and thoughtful conversations. Even Dash would be talking to the other two soldiers and by the sound of it, stories of royal guard training.

Until one day it was time.... And I'm afraid to say that it was by far one of the worst things that happened to our family.

I was busy tending to the orchard, making sure the soil was moist enough and making sure the small trees were growing fine, when I heard a ringing of a the dinner triangle. I groaned, ever since I hit my head in the canyon, high pitch noises were so hard to bear for my ears. I turned to see that Tinker was ringing the large triangle hanging from the porch on a string.

By the sound of it, it wasn't a call for lunch. I dropped what I was doing and ran to the house. Once I got there Tinker looked at me with fear.

"What's wrong?" Dash called out running up with the two guards. I noticed Ace, Melody and Maverick came running to us as well.

"It's Rose," Tinker said with worry. Melody ran into the house immediately that is until Velvet pushed her out of the house with us.

"Velvet, let me in." Melody growled. Velvet had this frightened look on her face trying to keep Melody form barging into the house. 

"Diamond can't work with multiple people in the room." I noticed Melody's hands were clenched into fists. Velvet placed her hand on Melody's shoulder. "Wait out here. We'll get you later." Velvet turned to me for help. I nodded taking Melody by her arm and pulled her away from the door. Velvet ran back inside the house to help Diamond with the birthing.

We all sat outside. Waiting and hearing everything that was happening upstairs. Dash was nervous, his leg jumping up and down. Butterfly sat by him with her hand on his knee trying to calm him down. Ace and Maverick stood by the barn talking to pass the time. On occasion I would see Ace turn to the house then turn back to Maverick. The two guards left for the corral to take care of the horses. I sat by Melody along with Tinker as we waited. Melody kept wringing her hands with worry on her face. Every time we hear a yell from the upstairs window she would jump.

When the sun was setting we noticed that the upstairs was eerily quiet. No sound came from there, no baby and no crying. Something didn't feel right and I could tell the others knew it too. Melody was freaking out, I could tell by how hard she breathed that night.

We heard the door open. We all stood up or turn to see Velvet looking exhausted and I noticed the horribly sad look on her face, she was crying. Melody went pale and ran into the house. Ace ran over seeing Velvet in such a state. We watched quietly until Velvet sobbed hugging Ace tight crying into his neck. Tinker bowed her head covering her face. Dash turned away rubbing his head. Butterfly was asleep against his side, unaware what had occurred. The guards bowed their heads. I decided to run into the house.

I ran up the steps two at a time and found Diamond closing the door to Rose’s room behind her crying. She was a mess and her arms were blood stained.

"What happened?" I asked quietly with fear as I approached her.

Diamond shook her head sniffling. "Something happened. Something went horribly wrong." She whispered shaking her head. "I knew something was wrong when ... There was so much blood, too much to be normal in a birth." Diamond silently cried trying to keep herself calm. "She bled to death and there was nothing I could have done. I tried everything and she-!" Diamond covered her mouth to hide the sob, trying hard to regain control of herself. I turned away nodding. 

"The baby?" I asked with worry.

Diamond shook her head. "Dead as well." She whispered.

I nodded gripping to the stair rail shaking. I could hear sobbing through the door and knew Melody was there. I walked over to Diamond and held her letting her cry into my embrace.

The next day, we held a funeral for Rose and her child. Ace and I dug a deep grave for Rose outside the property, on a hill over-looking the valley. After we got it deep enough we walked back home where Tinker was waiting with Remington and Twilight hitched to the wagon. Ace walked to the house as I stood outside waiting.

I looked up seeing everyone come out, Diamond and Velvet used their magic to levitate the covered body in blankets to the soldiers and Dash to carry to the wagon to be taken to the hill top. Diamond went back inside the house then came back out holding the baby's body also wrapped in a blanket.

We took the walk to the hilltop and from there we laid Rose and her child to rest. We all stood there for a long moment praying for her safe ascension to the gods and saying our good byes. I grabbed the shovel and began to carefully bury her into the ground. I tried to be gentle in the way I let the dirt slide out of my shovel. Dash came by my side and helped. Once Rose was buried we buried the child next to her.

As Dash and I pile in the dirt, one by one the others went back home. One by one they left crying of just staring at nothing. I looked at Diamond to see her waiting for me, I let her know to go on without me. She nodded and left us. Dash took the shovels and walked to the wagon where he placed them. He leaped up with Tinker and the two rode off. 

Now it was me Melody and Maverick. Maverick looked to me as I looked to him. He sighed and bowed in respect before leaving us be. I looked down at the last two items left. They were wooden crosses Tinker made on the fly. They're only for temporary use, we made a decision to find real grave markers. I set Rose's cross at the head of the mound, I felt a hand take the cross from me and I saw Melody looking at me. I nodded and let her do it.

I watched her sadly as she stuck the cross into the ground and making sure it was stable enough to stay up. After that she looked to me seeing the second cross in my hand. I nodded letting her take care of the other cross. After the crosses were taken care of I heard Melody sniffle and began to cry silently. I walked over to the pile of rocks Ace and I took from the woods and started stacking them over the mound of dirt, with help from Melody we finished the funeral together. I stood up ready to help Melody up but Melody ignored my offered hand staring at the ground.

"I want to stay here." She whispered. "I want to stay with Rose and Autumn." I looked down to see the name cared into the wood of the cross over the baby's grave, "Autumn Leaf." It was name that was given to her, even though she's dead, it's a bit harsh for us to call the cross "Rose's Baby."

"Sure Melody, take all the time you need." I whispered patting her shoulder. Melody got comfortable on the ground staring at the rock covered mound. I went back to the house leaving Melody alone with her lover.

The seasons changed from summer then to winter, things were so hard without Rose around. It was hard for many of us to not look at something and think of the pianist. Diamond, Velvet, and Melody took the loss harder than the rest of us. Diamond knew Rose when she was younger and became like a niece to Diamond. Velvet I think was upset for not trying hard enough to help Rose. And Melody... She became a harder person to be around with. She would gripe and cause fights in the house. So much so that Diamond ordered me to get Melody out of the house.

I was able to drag Melody out before she made a fist fight with Dash. The only thing I thought of her to do was to come with me and check on the barbed wire fence for breaks or slacks. It seemed that giving Melody work helped. As long as she has something else on her mind, she became a tolerable person to be around with. So for most of autumn I made Melody work with me. On the orchard, making a plot of field for a garden, fix the barn for the winter, and even fixing the barbed wire fence.

The three guards decided it was time for them to leave and report back to Las Pegasus for duties. So we had a nice filing dinner for their farewell. Before I went to bed I went out to check Twilight, she was getting old at this time. What I saw instead surprised me, I saw Dash placing a pack on his horse's back. Dash saw me and blushed.

"What are you doing?" I asked worriedly.

Dash didn't answer for a long while then he sighed, turning to me. "I'm going to Equestria."

I was shocked hearing this. "Why?" I asked. "Aren't you happy here?" I asked worriedly.

Dash shrugged. "Don't get me wrong Annie," He said sadly. "I had a blast here and I would love to stay longer." He paused with a sad look in his eyes. "I don't think this is my place." 

I felt sad seeing Dash like this. "Was it Rose?" I asked. He flinched at that turning to me.

"Yeah," He said with guilt. "I'm sorry. I just want to move on and get out of this place." I nod my head, it was understandable but sad all the same seeing him packing. 

"What about Butterfly?" I asked. "She won't be happy when you leave her here."

Dash sighed then turned to me. "That's the thing. I'm taking Butterfly with me."

I stared at him surprised. "What? Why?" I asked, quite surprised to hear my voice crack from the surprise.

Dash blushed turning away. "Butterfly ... She's talented Annie and you saw that. I just think it's best to take her with me to Cloudsdale and learn flying and weather magic. I can't teach her everything and ..." He paused and I noticed the tears in his eyes. "I think her mother would want her in Equestria. I want to give her a safe life, Annie. Out here, it'll be a war zone when Equestria and the King declare war. I want to keep Butterfly safe."

For a long moment we stood there facing each other. I knew the reason and the reason was justified. Dash has now become Butterfly's father and worries for her safety. I know if I had a daughter I would have done the same thing.

"Alright," I said causing him to look at me again this time in shock. 

"Alright what?"

“You don't need my permission Dash. You could leave whenever you want."

"But what about Butterfly?" He asked worriedly.

I shrugged and told him I had no hard feelings. "You were closer to her than me. You're a Jupiterian like her." Dash nodded crossing his arm across his chest.

"Yeah but she still loves you too Annie. You helped her during her most troubling times."

"Only for a week." I joked as Dash chuckled at that.

We both returned to the house and we announced to everyone what Dash was going to do. Everyone was surprised.

Diamond asked why he wanted to leave. Dash sighed turning to Ace the most.

"I want to join the royal guard." He said with a shrug. "I guess ultimately I want to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps. He's a lousy leader and I know I can take over. Besides the Dash family are known to be soldiers turned politicians since the early ages. I guess I'll be doing that. Making Cloudsdale a better place for fliers." I couldn’t help but smile with pride, Dash has grown up.

The next morning, Dash and the royal guards saddled up their horses. Butterfly looked at me and I gave her a hug. She told me that she'll promise to write to me and went over to Dash's horse using her wings to fly onto the horse. We all waved farewell to the riders as they rode off towards Equestria. I began to notice for the first time that we are getting smaller.

Winter was tough in the frontier that year. I go out with Ace and we would hunt for game in the forest. We caught some hares in traps but nothing too much.

Nothing else to say over the next two years. I did received letters from Butterfly like she promised and learned that while Dash was in military training, she was enrolled to a school for girls, I often ties read her letters and hear the poor thing's troubles of fitting in. But by the end of the second year, she said she has made new friends in Cloudsdale and a possible boy looking her way. I was happy for her.

Our orchard was growing and I was so happy to find all ten trees growing fast. The small trees reached over my head but they still have much growing to do before they start growing fruit. But I knew for sure we will be getting apples next fall.

It was also during this year that we noticed wagon trains passing the property guarded by gold armored royal guards. Then later we found out that the outpost we visited often is now accompanied by a town, a real town. Ace and I traveled to the growing town to offer our assistance in building their shops. I even got Melody to come to keep her out of her depression. She has been better but still intolerable in the house. By the end of the year, the town of Hoofington was built.

One day though, Tinker was looking sad. I approached her about it and she said she's been thinking of leaving and going to Equestria too. It turned out there have bene some shady men in the small town of Hoofington and some of them recognized her and they were griffin soldiers. That wasn't good. Tinker decided it was time to leave and start inventing new inventions. It was sad to see her like this but we couldn't protect her from soldiers. 

Tinker packed up Remington and left the farm the next day saying her farewells and promised to create happy things to help people. We all watched her ride off to Equestria. I just hoped she would be able to be alright by herself. But I was comforted by Melody that Tinker had matured quite a lot since we first met her those years ago. Melody was right, Tinker did well from what I could tell.

After Tinker left, I started to notice Ace acting strange. Very depressed and kept looking towards the est. That gave me an idea what he was thinking. He was thinking of leaving too. I approached him and told him that if he wanted to leave, he can.

He stood up turning to me and said he wanted to for a long time. That surprised me more than anything. Ace and I walked around the orchard seeing the blossoms on the limbs. Ace told me that he wanted to go back to Equestria and become a soldier again and finish his service and give Velvet a living. We started to notice that Velvet hadn't been happy living here. Ace told me that he had decided that when spring comes back around, he and Velvet will go back to Equestria. 

I didn't convince him to stay or to go, I only nodded and said, “Alright."

Sure enough in the spring Ace and Velvet packed up their things for their trip. We hugged Velvet seeing her cry, smiling at us saying she will never forget us. Diamond was very emotional during the whole thing. Melody shook hands with Ace but Ace wrapped his arms around her holding her. I smiled seeing Melody hug him back.

"Take care little sister." He said loud enough for me to hear. Melody was crying, smiling at him.

"Get out of here before I start bawling like a little girl." She threatened wiping her eyes behind her glasses. Ace and I hugged one last time before he tipped his hat to us. He and Velvet took their horses and off they went.

In six years of living here, now there are three of us left. I wrapped my arm around Diamond's waists pulling her to my side and then I wrapped my arm over Melody’s shoulder hugging her too.

"Alright," I said after a long moment of silence. "We have now more chores to do."

It was true after Ace, Velvet, and Tinker left us we had more chores to do and Melody and I were the ones doing the work. That is until that summer.

I was busy working when Melody said she wanted to go to town for a drink, it was the anniversary of Roses death. She did this sometimes and I wasn't worried and let her do it. I was busy painting on the sign hanging over the entrance of the property painting down a name. "Apple & Liker Farm" It was our farm now, and I'm happy to say that everything was coming true. 

My dreams of having a farm and a growing orchard was coming true. I'm with the woman I love, my sister, my orchard of ten trees growing strong, a nice herd of horses, and a nice vegetable and herb garden Diamond tends to. Everything was looking up.

Two days went by and I was starting to worry. Melody sometimes stayed in Hoofington for a couple of days which I later found out it was going to the whore house in town. Poor girl. On the third night, I saddled up a young horse for the run to town. Melody was gone longer than necessary and it worried me. I leaped up on the horse and went off to town leaving Diamond sitting on the porch.

During the trot I saw someone walking on the road. Thankfully, Luna's sky was clear and the moon was bright or I wouldn't have seen her. It was Melody and through the moonlight I was able to see her beaten state. She smelled of booze and sex and she looked disheveled and beaten.

"Annie, is that you?" She asked looking up at me. Her breath was horrible.

"What happened to you?" I asked helping her up on her feet.

"I don't know ... I was drinking and then I was taken outside and ..." She shook her head crying. 

"What happened?" I asked trying to get her to talk to me. 

"I was jumped," She whispered shaking her head. "Soldiers I think." She whispered crying. I then looked down and noticed her pants were messy and stained and I groaned shaking my head. 

"What soldiers were they?"

"It was too dark. They pinned me to wall Annie, I couldn't see them. I think they were Equestrian, the accent." Melody shook her head. "Can we please just go home and forget this even happened?!" She yelled out.

"Alright," I whispered hugging her feeling her hug me back. "We're going home."

It was no secret that there were more Equestrian soldiers coming through to these towns and thanks to this, war started the next day.

When I got Melody home Diamond immediately came to us and helped Melody into the house. 

"Let's get you cleaned up sugar." Diamond said leading Melody inside the house as I took care of the horse. Once Diamond got the bath read for Melody she took Melody's clothes to get them cleaned. She saw me enter the house and I told her what had happened.

Diamond was in shock. "Melody was ... oh no! It was hard enough with Rose." Diamond started crying. I quickly shushed her holding her close. 

"I'm sure everything will be fine." I said trying to make her smile. Or so I thought.

In the fall Melody got sick one morning and Diamond went to check on her. When I got up and checked on them Diamond gave me this look and I tried to ignore it. It could be a stomach sickness, nothing too bad. Well it wasn't until three weeks later that I finally gave in to Diamond’s pleading looks. Even Melody was miserable getting the picture.

Morning sickness equals to being pregnant and seeing her learning that made her even worse. I think it was the memory of Rose's tragic death that was making this scary for us all. So since then I worked by myself. By the middle of fall I started harvesting the apples and happy to say they were perfect. I collected the red delicious apples and place them in baskets. Diamond tried to help me but I wouldn't allow her. She was getting older and I didn't want her to hurt herself.

During the fall I would take the wagon with our produce and travel to Hoofington to sell the true Apple Family apples. And I'm happy to say that I had a good haul of bits to go and buy some things for home. Especially since Melody was having a baby soon.

I was approached by a woman, she noticed me looking at the baby clothes that were knitted to be sold. She asked me if I was expecting a child.

"Sort of," I answered. "It's my sister you see." I said smiling. This woman smiled and asked if I have found a midwife for the delivery. I told her that we had one but we could use the help.

The woman introduced herself as Lillian, a mother of ten which surprised me greatly. She said she was born here in the griffin kingdoms but would gladly help anyone in need, Equestrian or Griffin. I thanked her and the two of us started to talk a lot about babies and such. I even told her about Rose and her child. The griffin woman was shocked and saddened. After talking to Lillian I went back home with the new items I bought.

Perhaps the best moment in my life was probably the birth of Melody’s child in the spring. When Melody said something was wrong, Diamond went to her immediately then later Diamond told me to get Lillian, the midwife I talked about. I rose in a hard sprint on a ready horse to town where I found Lillian. Lillian rode with me back to the house. Lillian told me to stay outside and went to help Diamond with Melody. 

By the afternoon I heard a sound that made me gasp, I heard a baby crying. I ran up the stairs. I went into the room and was nauseous smelling the blood from the birthing, but I was happy to see Melody actually breathing. Melody was alright and alive! Diamond placed a cool rag over Melody's face to cool her down. I turned to the midwife, she was holding Melody’s baby in her arms and the little one was crying and very much alive as well. It was exciting for me to witness.

"Where is the father?" Lillian asked smiling expectantly.

I felt a panic rise into me, I didn’t tell Lillian about how Melody got pregnant in the first place. From my talks with Diamond, in griffin law children born from rapists don’t live very long. I turned to Diamond with worry. Diamond looked worried too.
"There wasn't one." Melody whispered pulling the cloth off her face slowly sitting up with help for Diamond. 

"What do you mean?" Lillian asked curiously, frowning slightly.

Melody panted using the rag to wipe off her wet neck and chest. "I was ... attacked months ago. By soldiers in town." Melody said, she was exhausted. Lillian looked shocked as she looked around grabbing a thick cloth.

"What's wrong?" I asked in surprised.

"Such things," The woman said harshly. "Must be destroyed." She said placing the rag and pressed it to the child's face.

"What are you doing?!" Diamond shrieked as I grabbed for the baby pulling him away from the midwife hearing his wailing again.

"What am I doing?" The griffon woman said seething. "Such a thing should not exist!"

"Why just because the child’s father isn't here?" Diamond growled standing up. I was trying to calm down the little one holding the baby close to me, wiping off his head with the cloth.

"It might be different in Equestria but here in the Griffin kingdoms, such children born like this should be culled! Killed!"

I glared at the woman. "That ain't fair, it ain't the baby's fault."

"Fault?" The woman laughed. "No," She glared at Melody. "You should have cleaned yourself before the seed bloomed."

"That's enough!" I growled handing the baby to Diamond to hold as I confronted the griffin woman. "You have helped us and for that I thank you, but I don't want to see your face on my property again. Get out." I growled.

The woman sniffed turning away. "Have it your way. But having a monstrosity from an attack is selfish, pure born children of a happy marriage can live here Annie Apple." She turned to Melody and Diamond. "His name will be forever a griffin name. Scratch. Remember that. A bastard's poisoned child. I suggest you kill him before things turn ugly."

Lillian left the house and I watch her leave. I let out a sigh and looked over at Diamond, the baby and Melody. Melody looked frightened.

"Hey don't listen to her superstitions." I said carefully sitting on the bed beside Melody taking her hand. "Be grateful sister," I said as Diamond handed me the bundle. "You have a child now."

Melody at first was a little fearful as she took the baby into her arms.

"So," Diamond asked smiling. "A boy or a girl?"

Melody unfolded the blanket and looked at her child for the gender. "A boy," Melody whispered silently smiling a touch.

"A name hmm? A strong name." I said smiling. "Any child born from you will be strong, I guarantee it." I said smiling. Melody seemed happy to hear.

"I like Tucker."

"Tucker?" I asked confused. "Ain't that a griffin name?"

Melody frowned and shrugged. "Why not?" She said a touch sad. "A boy born in griffin lands should have a griffin name right?"

"Melody," Diamond said sadly as Melody shook her head.

"Tucker ... Scratch. That's his name. But I won't make it a bad name, It should be a name to be proud of."

I smiled at that. I think Melody has turned a new leaf. "Why not Apple?" I asked in a joking tone.

Melody smirked at that. "Nah, I'll just leave it as it is." Diamond and I couldn't have been more proud.

The first three years went by fast while caring for a child. Melody had a new life change. She’s too focused on taking care of Tucker to be sad or worried about her life. Which was great to see her smile and laugh seeing Tucker doing the most adorable things. I was happy to see Tucker survive his first winter and then growing, he has the eyes of his mother bright red eyes, but his head of hair was a navy blue, probably a mixture of father and mother or maybe the father had navy colored hair. Who knows? But the biggest surprise was when we learned that he could use magic just like his mother. A Titanian son. I often times joked that I'm the only Eponian in this family. 

We did had a few visits from griffin kids bothering us because of Tucker and Melody. Hoofington with a small group of griffins seem to become nuisances when I go to town. But thanks to the Equestrian guards there, the griffins were given a choice of jail time or leave town. Most of them left town.

When Tucker turned five, we saw something familiar, a group of soldiers riding towards us in their golden armor and a large flag of Equestria. We were sitting on the porch enjoying lunch when they came. I stood up approaching them. Melody pushed Tucker into the house as Diamond remained sitting in her rocking chair watching. 

The riders stopped and looked down at us. "Who owns this farm?" The leader, a hoity man with blond hair asked. I glared at him recognizing his Canterlot accent, a royal.

"I am, Annie Apple. And you are?" I asked.

The man growled. "Peasant! I am Lord Jason Blueblood and you shall address me as such!"

I glared at him. I heard the sound of the henry rifle click and turned to see Melody with the henry rifle in her hands loaded and ready. The guards looked at Melody with worry seeing the gun.

"Forgive my sister, we don't take too kindly to royals here." I said, still remembering Duke Reginald Philharmonica.

"Sir," One of the soldiers said. We looked up seeing that it was a woman. "Allow me." She said carefully. Lord Blueblood snorted and waved his hand. The woman approached me on her horse, I backed away to avoid being stepped on.

"Ma'am, we are from Canterlot, royal guards. We came here since we had won the Territory of the frontier to Equestria. We are now standing on Equestrian land ruled by Princess Sisters Celestia and Luna."

Diamond and Melody gasped and so did I. "Really?" I asked interested. "Since when?"

"Why you!" The royal spat as the soldiers pulled him back worried about Melody's weapon.

"Ahem," The woman said clearing her throat. "I apologize for my lord’s behavior. Anyway, since last summer, the Council of Harmony signed a peace pact with the Griffin King that includes allowing griffins to join the council in Cloudsdale in exchange with the land. Now all the land from Las Pegasus to San Franciscolt to the frozen north border is now Equestrian land."

I nodded. "Long live the princesses then." I said bowing my head.

"While we are here, we are here to maintain the Princess's and the Council's laws. And as such, weapons such as that," The woman said pointing at the rifle in Melody's hands. "Must be confiscated and destroyed. There will be no weapons of that nature in Equestrian lands." Annie blinked with shock then turned to see Melody looking frightened too.

"As such we have been ordered to search every household for weapons." The woman turned behind her and the soldiers dropped down from their mounts. Three went to the horse barn, the rest ran into the house. One man took the rifle from Melody’s stunned hands. The rest ran into the house.

"Hey!" Melody yelled out as Tucker ran to Melody hugging his mother’s thighs hiding from the strange men. "You can't just barge in like that!" Melody yelled out glaring at the woman and the royal.

The woman was ready to speak but the royal beat her to it.

"Please you will hide every piece of weaponry you got. We have been ordered to gather everything!" Melody glared at him.

"This is still the frontier!" Melody yelled out watching the house being wreaked inside. "We need them to protect us!"

"You have us now." The royal said smugly at her with a suave smile. "You have the royal guard protecting you."

"I'd rather protect myself than have a guard like you protecting me!" Melody yelled out. Diamond stood up quickly and grabbed Melody shushing her.

I gasped seeing his glare toward Melody, he grabbed the pommel of his sword ready to use his authority on my sister. I waved my arms to get his attention. "Sir! Your grace!" I called out. It worked, the two looked at me. "She's right I'm afraid, you see we lived here for many years and having rifles and revolvers helped in our protection. We had wild animals and even thugs coming here to threaten us. The weapons help us scare them off."

The woman turned to the royal to see him smirk. "Still, it's the law."

They looked up as the guards came out of the house holding up a second henry rifle, three revolvers. I was shocked to see that the guards didn't find my Walker! 

"That’s all of them your grace." One man said walking to a wagon and tossed the weapons and bullets inside the wagon. The duke smirked and saluted.

"Have a good day ladies. Now men let's be off!" The royal waited no time galloping off. The lingering soldiers got on their horses and rode off following their leader. The woman guard though didn’t move. She looked down at us and bowed her head.

"I apologize. We are stationed at the Vanhoover fort. If you have troubles contact us there." I kept my mouth shut as I nodded to her turning away. The woman saluted and rode off leaving us behind. Some protectors they are.

Years went by again. More people came out west to form new towns and building better railroads to connect the towns. It was still a slow process. When Tucker turned seven, I let him plant more apple trees with me, by the time Tucker turned ten we had fifty healthy apple trees. Tucker was a growing, strong boy. I was able to work him hard and taught him everything to be a farm boy. Melody taught him everything she could with studies like writing, numbers, and reading. Diamond even taught him manners that Melody failed to do, teaching him to be a “Southern gentleman” I remembered how Melody reacted by rolling her eyes at that.

Everything was just fine, we hardly been harassed by the griffin folk in Hoofington, getting bits from selling apples, eggs, vegetables and getting nice bits for that, and Tucker was growing strong. A perfect happy family. Until one morning I woke up. I turned looking at Diamond to see her still sleeping. I leaned over to kiss her on the cheek but something was wrong. When I kissed her cheek, it was cool. I sat up stroking her face expecting her to wake up ... She didn't wake up.

"Diamond?" I whispered placing my hand on her arm and it felt warm under the blanket. "Diamond?" I said louder shaking her. She didn't stir. I swallowed hard and leaned over, hovering my ear over her nose and I heard nothing. I started to panic and pull off the blanket and placed my hand over her breasts trying to feel for anything, movement, a heartbeat, anything. There was nothing.

"Diamond?" I whispered then began to cry. Diamond was dead. She passed in her sleep and by the look on her face, it was peaceful. "Oh Diamond." I whispered. The most precious woman I knew that I love so much is gone. I didn't know how long I was in bed crying, Melody entered the room smiling.

"Hey why aren't you two-" She stopped in mid-sentence seeing me crying laying by Diamond. "Damn." She whispered connecting the dots.

That afternoon all three of us dug a grave at the hill where Rose and Autumn rested. Melody stood by Rose’s grave for a long moment before she helped us with the digging. We dug a hole next to Autumn's grave. I couldn't dig without breaking down in tears. Melody told me to sit and let her and Tucker do the digging while I cried. When they were done, we walked back to the house to transferred Diamond to the hill to be buried. The two Titanians used their magic to lower Diamond into the ground. We said our words then mother and son buried her as I watched.

I was left alone to place the rocks over the mound to protect her. It was the hardest afternoon I had ever had. It was like losing my mother all over again. It would be the hardest year I'll ever have.

Seven years after Diamond’s death, it was a nice spring evening. The three of us were sitting on the porch enjoying the nice cool weather. I was silent as Tucker and Melody were talking as I rocked in the rocking chair.

"You're what?!" Melody said causing me to jump and turn to see Melody looking at Tucker.

"Like I said, I want to go out east, Mother." Melody shook her head a little frightened.

"Tuck, come on now. There is nothing in the east. Believe me. Why do you think I came here with your Aunt?"

I turned fully around to listen to them talk. Tucker wanted to leave for Equestria to follow his dreams. Melody didn't want him to leave, not yet at least. I stood up walking past them.

"Just let him do what he wants Melody." I said sourly. "He's a man now, he can make his own destiny." I left them alone to go to bed, I wanted to be alone.

Sure enough a month later Melody and I watched Tucker now dressed in a cotton shirt, nice black jacket, black pants and boots, saddling up his horse. Melody was worried like any mother while I stood by watching him. Tucker promised to visit as soon as he could. He hugged me first. "Thank you for teaching me to be strong Aunt Annie. I won't let you down."

"I hope not." I answered smiling proudly at him. "Keep your head on your shoulders and remember to be an honest man."

"I will." He said pulling away to hug Melody. I smiled seeing Melody actually crying holding him tight.

"Whatever happens, I'm proud of you." She whispered pulling away fixing his jacket. "Remember, make the name Scratch count, my son." She said seriously seeing him roll his eyes.

"Yes Mother." He said smiling, kissing her on the cheek. He mounted on his horse and left us heading east. Now it was just us two left. Funny enough it started as me and Melody and now I guess it'll end with us.

More years passed and Melody and I were happy living here together. Two middle aged women living on a farm. Of course I'm the only one working now. Melody got annoyed with me working all the time that when we went to town, Melody called out for any abled body boys that can work at our farm. I told Melody I didn't need any help. But Melody jabbed that I needed it I was just too stubborn to admit it. Only my sister will know such a thing.

So on the spot we’ve hired five young boys between the ages of fifteen to twenty to work for us that the farm. I guess it was a good thing Melody made me do it. Because that summer it was a treacherous one. I was working a lot and felt ill, then the next thing I knew I fell off the ladder I used to pick apples. The next thing I knew I woke up in my bed feeling horrible.

Later I was told by the doctor that I had to stay off my feet and no working! Worst summer I ever had. 

The older we go the more problems we both had. Since my stroke I couldn't work much anymore, I just sat in my rocking chair watching the boys work. But one day I realized Melody was acting funny. She seemed lost as she looked around the house. I asked her if she was fine and she answered with a smile saying she was. A while later one night I heard a sounds outside. I went out with my trusty Walker revolver (that the royal guard missed) loaded and found out it was Melody looking around outside.

When I found her in the orchard she looked at me afraid. "Annie ... where am I? Where’s the house?" She asked grabbing my arms. I turned looking behind me. 

"It's back here." I said carefully as I lead her back to the house. She didn't say anything for a while. As the months went by her condition got worse, she started forgetting things, she even started to forget where she was born. That got scary for me. I kept asking her questions and she would answer them but every day the answers came out strangely. She was losing her memory. It got bad to where I wrote a letter to Tucker and prayed he got the letter. But when he didn't come I knew that either his letter got lost or he was too busy. So that was when I decided to make a scrap book and started writing. Then at night I would read to her a chapter of our adventure. 

Sometimes she would smile and say that things like, "That Rose girl sounds pretty nice." or "Ace he sounds like a rogue. Are you sure this isn't some fantasy story?" I was shocked by such questions. After a while I stopped writing and telling our story over and over again in hopes of rekindling that flame of the past, but Melody just got worse. She wasn't remembering and I fear she will forget who I am.

After Melody’s fifty-fifth birthday, she passed away. I knew she wasn't going to last long. I didn't cry this time. Yes I was sad but I couldn't help but feel better knowing Melody is now in a better place. I called for the hired help to help me carry Melody to the hill. We dug a grave where I told them to dig, on Rose's left. We all stood there praying and giving Melody the Gods’ graces. I allowed the workers to have a full weekend off. Many of the workers that have worked since they were fifteen to twenty were sad to see Melody gone.

I for one though stayed by her grave smiling down at Melody's grave. "You get to be with Rose again Melody. I hope you’re happy." I whispered feeling the tears in my eyes. I sighed and patted the dirt mound. "I'll take care of this place, I'll keep your gold safe. I’ll let Tucker know about it. I know you would want him to have it all.” 

When I got home I numbly walked to Melody’s room and I found Melody’s chest and opened it to find it empty. I sighed and looked at the scrapbook I made for Melody and placed that into the chest. I searched for everything I could that will remind me of my past. Pictures, books, and my Walker revolver box with Butterfly's art on it including the funny name she put on it, "Apple Bucker" in pretty cursive script. I found Melody things, Tucker took most of them but Melody things like her glasses I placed into the chest. Then the one object that about made me cry. I stood up and found her old bowler hat covered in dust. I was surprised that Tucker didn’t take the hat but I'm also happy he didn't. I placed the hat neatly in the chest. But one last thing made me think.

I stood up and walked to Melody's side table to open the drawer to find her closest possessions. A small log book, a couple of pictures of Rose including a burlesque picture. I smiled seeing Rose's flirting smile. I pulled them out setting them on Melody's bed. Then I found one last thing ... the silver watch. I sighed and took the watch. I placed the watch to my ear and surprisingly enough it was still working. I remembered Melody throwing the watch in the drawer after Rose's death wanting nothing to do with the object anymore. I smiled taking the watch and tried to open it, but the lid wouldn't budge. After I gave up I placed the items into the chest. Once I knew it was filled up enough I closed the lid and flipped the latch closed. I left the room closing the door, never to enter again.


<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>


And now I reach the present. It's still hard looking back now remembering all those faces I used to know and then one by one they left or passed. I will never forget my friends who became my true family. They gave me love that my previous family never gave me.

As I write I can feel the chill of the outside air. I know it's close to my time. I'll be joining my family soon. Well I guess Minister Temple did have a point that I would end up alone. And funny enough, being alone wasn't so bad. Not so bad at all.