//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - Fears and Plane Trips // Story: Seeds of Redemption // by Pyrefly_91 //------------------------------// As we sped off, Applejack sat in the passenger seat, tears rolling down her face. Besides her sobbing, the drive back to my house was silent. Once we pulled into the driveway, I could bare it no longer. I threw open the door and went around to the other side of the car. Ripping open the passenger door, I reached down, unbuckled AJ and lifted her out of the vehicle. I then carried her inside, only putting her done when I reached the couch I had slept on the previous night. Sitting down next to her, I finally broke the fettering silence. “Applejack,” I began, but was quickly cut off by my weeping guest as turned on me, wrapping me tight in her arms. “I am so sorry Jay. I really am.” “Why?” I asked, shocked by this sudden apology. “It’s my fault Jay. Everything that’s happened is because of me.” Pulling away slowly, I look at her face, trying to make eye contact, however she avoids my gaze. “AJ, what makes you think this is all because of you?” She took a deep breath and finally made eye contact. “If it weren’t for me dropping into your life like I did earlier, none of this would have happened. I know how these things work. Somepony - someone - saw me fall last night. They called the people that handle that type of stuff and now they're after you because you’re protecting me. That’s got to be it. What else could it be?” I let out a small chuckle, immediately garnering a look of annoyance from AJ. “What’s so funny?” She snapped. “This is serious! They could show up any moment.” “I doubt that.” I replied, squaring myself on the couch so that I was sitting on it properly. “I can tell you with 100% certainty that you are NOT the target here. And I can also tell you why then won’t try anything while we’re here.” “Is that so? The do tell Mr. Smart Guy.” “With pleasure my dear equine turned human. There not after you because I’m the one they want. Think about it, when did they show up?” “As we were leaving the mall.” “Exactly my dear AJ. And what happened of significance just prior to us leaving the mall?” “You got that phone call. And those messages.” “Precisely. The guy I spoke to told me that certain people had been searching for this loot for generations. And judging by the dress of those guys that shot at us, it either the government or some dirty organization.” “Ok, so what’s stopping them from coming after us here?” “Simple, the neighbors, and the high risk of collateral damage. Better to attack in an empty parking lot where only a few cars can get shot than on a public street where a little kid might get killed in the process. Not to mention we’re not exdefenseless here. And on that note, I have some stuff I need to put together before we go catch that flight to California.” “What do you mean?” “I need to pack a suitcase and find out what this ‘Race of Death’ thing is. So you just sit tight, and relax as I go get my stuff together. Ok?” “Are you sure that we can trust the person that called you?” “Nope,” I shrugged. “But what choice do we have but to run with it, right?” AJ simply nodded, looking back to the floor. Before getting up, I gave her another quick hug, and left her side to go pack. According to the email containing the tickets we would be using for the flight, it would be on a private jet and that there would be no need for security to check our luggage upon departure or arrive. Hoping that the info was in fact legit, I began my packing. Figuring how the people chasing me and AJ had fired the first shots, then there was no point in holding back. It was time to serious. Once I packed my clothes, I moved onto the firepower. I walked into my closet and removed a false wall, revealing a hidden gun safe. Inside housed everything from peashooters to automatic shotguns. Looking over my repertoire I came to a decision. I didn’t want loud, I wanted accuracy, and efficiency. So out of all my options I reached for my favorite. It was no other than a bolt action S&W rifle. Even without a scope, I could nail bullseye after bullseye. I packed the rifle and almost a dozen fully loaded clips, as well as a dozen handgun clips into a duffle bag with a few more articles of clothing. As soon as the bag was packed, I walked over to my nightstand and opened it. I looked down at the handgun sitting the drawer, silently cursing at myself. “If only I hadn’t left this behind. I could have protected her. Kept her safe. I’m such an idiot.” I said, reaching in and lifting it out. I inspected the firearm, opened the chamber. I had forgotten to unload it the last time I had taken it to the firing range,  so it was still loaded. “But not again. I will protect her. I will help her. I promise you, Mom, I will.” With that I tucked the gun in between my pants and the small of my back. Finally done with the packing, I walked out of my room and piled the bags up at the top of the staircase. Before I headed back down to see Applejack, I entered my computer room. I turned on the tower and waited for it to boot up. Once ready I searched for info on the “Race of Death” that the text message with the location in it mentioned. Turned out it was an annual professional street race that was held in the heart of Death Valley. One of the stars that would be attending was a previously retired racer by the name of Ryan Cooper. In his bio it was also mentioning that since his return to the pro street racing circuit, he’d been driving with a girl with rainbow colored hair and was simply noted as RD. “That must the girl that AJ is looking for.” I thought out loud. Suddenly there was a knock from behind me. I turned to see my guest standing in the doorway, her face covered in dried tears. Looking at her now, in the state she was in, hardened my resolve to follow this to the end. No matter what. I once again I'm drawn to her eyes, their bright emerald hue that keeps sucking me in. But this time I don’t look away. Instead I get up and walk over to the girl, and wrap her in a tight embrace. “I promise you AJ, I won’t stop till you find her. Even if it costs me my life.” We separate, and as I look her in the face she simply nods, and with that, we leave the room. As we head down the stairs, I grab my luggage and we head downstairs. I add Applejack's clothes to the bag that doesn’t have my rifle, and with that done, we head out the door. Before I opened the doors to the vehicle, I couldn’t help but turn back toward my home. I had a feeling that this was the last time that I would see the place I’ve lived in for so many years. After a few moments of silence, I hit the button to open the doors. With the bags in the back seat and myself and AJ in the front, I backed out of the driveway and took off towards the airport. Thankfully the drive to Logan Airport was uneventful. No suspicious cars followed us, no phone calls, nothing, just the music I had put on to help us clear our heads and calm us down. On the way there, AJ had fallen asleep in her seat, peacefully snoring quietly. For the first time since we had left the mall, she had a smile on her face. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but silently vow again to see this whole ordeal till the end. No matter what happened to me, she had to reunite with her friend. I don’t know why it had become so important me, but I couldn’t help it. There was something about this girl. Something that I had never experienced before with anyone else. All I know was that since she fell into my life, something suddenly clicked. I somehow felt complete with her around. ‘What the hell is wrong with me’ I thought. ‘I just met this girl less than twenty-four hours ago! Granted she fell from the sky. Naked. And I did have to save her before drowning. But I just don’t know why I feel so protective of her. It makes no goddamn sense! FUCK!’ I finally shook the thoughts out of my head for now and focused on the road. It wasn’t long after we arrived at the airport. Once I parked, I reached beside me and softly shook Applejack awake. “What’s up sugarcube?” She asked sleepily. “We’re here.” I replied, a stoic expression plastered on my face, fighting to not think on what I was pondering during the drive. I quickly shut the car off and reached into the back to grab one of the bags. As I got out, AJ grabbed the other one and followed suit. Once again, before walking away from the vehicle, I got the feeling that I was never gonna see it again. So I pulled the notepad I still had in my pocket and quickly wrote a note. Finished, I opened the drivers door once more and placed it on the dashboard, the text facing down. Walking away I locked the doors and just kept going. “What did you write?” AJ asked as I walked past her. “I wrote to have it delivered to my father’s house in Texas if I don’t make it back in a few weeks to claim it.” “Why wouldn’t you be back?” She also asked, but I didn't reply. I just kept walking. Realizing I wasn’t gonna answer, she hurried back to my side, and out of no where, hooked my arm with her own. In silence, we entered the terminal, arm in arm, heading towards the unknown conclusion of this adventure.