//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Memories // Story: Friendship is Ancient // by Alexander Jack //------------------------------// It was late evening. The chores such as feeding the birds and cleaning their houses were complete, as was the task of gathering the chicken eggs and picking some of Fluttershy's home grown fruit. Alex wanted to go out and eat, saying he'd buy, but she insisted on the idea that she'd make a salad instead. After dinner, Fluttershy put the animals to sleep, and spoke to Alex “If you want, you can sleep in my bed tonight.” He was silent for a moment, but then said softly, “I appreciate the offer, but my chivalry would not allow me to take the better night of rest, I'll sleep on the couch.” She stuck her head under the couch for a second and pulled out a blanket. “At least have some covers to keep warm. Good night Alex.” “You too Ma'am.” Fluttershy then walked up the stairs,but looking back, saw Alex wasn't laying down, she assumed he just wasn't quite tired yet. She went into her room, but didn't bother to close the door. She laid on her bed and pulled up her quilt that Rarity had made for her. Thanks to Alex, she had her chores done early. She wasn't tired enough to fall asleep yet, but she WAS tired enough to feel the need to rest. She was trying to get herself to sleep by imagining calming things like fireflies, swarming and showering light all over the dark night, or listening to a waterfall rush by as she laid on the grass. She grew more and more tired, but didn't fall asleep. For an hour, she had tried to drift herself to sleep, to no avail. Then she heard a very soft creaking. It didn't frighten her, but she was curious, was Angel sneaking more midnight carrots? She stuck out her hooves to get out, but was bitten by the bitter-cold air. She got up and quickly folded the quilt over herself, making it seem like a thick robe. She then tip-toed her way to the stairs. As she neared the stairs, she began to hear a soft voice and a string instrument on pianissimo. She descended down the stairs, and heard a bit louder of the sounds, which carried well over the dead of night. She got to the end of the staircase and saw that Alex was not in the couch, and the door was cracked open, enough to hear the soft tune and sweet singing of a man with a voice far too tender to be a knight. She crept up to the door, and opened it wide. There, she saw, was Alexander, in a warm, worn robe, holding a violin in his hands while playing and singing softly. He was sitting off the edge of the pathway leading to her cottage. She slowly walked towards the figure, just behind him so he couldn't see her. His playing was calming, even if she didn't understand what the lyrics were supposed to mean. Her eyes became a bit heavy, and she swayed a bit, to the tune of his violin. As she grew tired, she crawled up to his side and laid next to him, leaning her head against his thigh. He realized she was there, but continued to play until he finished the final verse. When he did finish, he looked down and saw two sleepy eyes look back. “What do you call that song?” she said, eyes now closed. “Actually, I don't even remember the name.” “Would it be alright, if I could hear it again?” He didn't answer, but began to play again, even a but softer. She fell into a deep sleep, enchanted by his skills with the string instrument. Alexander played a verse short when he realized she was already asleep. As carefully as he could, Alexander put his violin back in his backpack, and looked down at Fluttershy. He couldn't help but smile at the cute equine, and for some reason, she reminded him of someone, but he couldn't remember who. Alex reminded himself that it's near freezing out, so he should take her in soon. He put on arm around her neck and the other around her back legs as slowly as he could, and gently pulled her up, with her head resting on his shoulder. He walked into the house and quietly closed the door. He began his slow and stealthy ascension of the stairs, and near the top he'd almost dropped her. However, when he lost his grip, she pulled tight, out of pure instinct, perhaps, but nonetheless had saved him from an awkward moment. Alex then walked into her room, and laid her on her side and pulled her quilt over her legs. Again, he couldn't help but smile at how cute she was. He knelt down, and looked at her. He began to run his fingers through her hair. And then, it all hit him......he remembered everything about it. All of his memories he had wanted to, needed to forget, for his own good... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He could feel a weak slap or two to wake him. “Private. Get up!” Alex opened his eyes. It was his Sargent, dubbed “Slingshot” for his ability to throw grenades far and accurately. Alex stood up and got out of the convoy truck. “My turn for sniper duty sir?” “Better.” Slingshot hands him a shovel. “Body patrol. Still got your gun?” Alex flashed him a holstered .357. “Good boy, remember, if you even think it's too shallow, dig deeper. And collect the tags if you find any.” “Yes sir.” Nothing else was said between them. Alex walked up the long dirt road, burying any of the dead Germans he found. But he took it to a personal level. He would take out his bible, and pray for each grave he filled, and afterward, laid their helmet to mark them. He slowly worked up the road, collecting any dog-tags he found on the way. After a few hours he managed to make his way up hear a ware-house. He started digging another hole when he heard voices come from the building. So he stuck his shovel into the ground and drew his gun. Quickly but quietly, he ran towards the side of the small warehouse. Both hands on his revolver, he trailed closer to the door. He leaned on the door to hear weak voices of germans. Just like in his training, he grabbed the knob with his left hand and aimed down the sights of his gun. “One...Two...Three!” He burst open through the door, prepared to fire. But it was not what he had expected. There were a few german men, injured, and in medical bandages, and what he first thought to be a nurse. But after looking closely, he realized it wasn't a nurse, it was a little girl, no older than ten. No guns, no ammo, no tanks, no trucks, no planes, nothing. These weren't nazis, let alone soldiers. He lowered his gun, a bit relieved actually, that he didn't find himself in a sticky situation. Then he holstered his weapon, and decided they were friendlies. He began to walk around to account how many wounded and dead there were. 37 dead, and at least fifty wounded. “American!” he heard a gentle, yet distinguishable voice. “Du sprichst deutsch? It was the girl, holding a rag down on a bleeding out civilian. “Ja, ich sprecha.” He walked over to her, and she told him instructions in german so that he would be of use. While he held the rag for her, he pondered the idea of reporting back to his sarge, but shot down the idea that he would get in trouble if he didn't. Considering he was the platoon's best medic, he wouldn't get too yelled at for doing what he does best. It wasn't until after a while that he realized the girl had removed a few bullet fragments from the new open wound. The girl tied a roll of bandages around the open flesh. For hours, that's how the cycle went, Morphine, tweezers, roll, repeat. Until all the still-living civies were taken care of. When they were done, Alex decided he'd better report back what he found. Just as he placed his hand on the doorknob, he heard the girl. “Wait, American...” She tugged on his arm to get his attention. “Do you...know, where I, can get...food?” Her english was slow, and broken, but good enough to understand. Alex looked around, the rest of the civies would be fed after taken with med-evac, but she wouldn't. He looked down at her, and she returned the gaze. He couldn't resist her huge, pleading eyes. “Yeah, come, i'll get you some food.” She grabbed her teddy bear and followed him outside, down the street. As they walked down the road, the girl was counting the helmets out loud, so to keep her off focus from a body count, he started asking questions. “So, what's your name?” She was silent for a moment. “...Suzanne...” “How old are you?” “Zwölf...I know, I look young.” “Why are you here Suzanne?” “...Mom, taken by nazis...I left, in orphanage....It blew up...I help survivors.” “Why did nazis take your mom?” “She's doctor, I learn...from her.” “What about your dad?” She held her bear tight to her chest. “Dad took her...” They were quiet the rest of the way. Such a silent torture it must be to be abandoned in a war-zone, as a mere child, and to have no-one to talk to. As soon as Alexander step foot on the so-called 'base', he heard a gun cock and his sergeant yell. “Private!! Why is there a little girl with you?!” Alex didn't flinch, but Suzanne hid behind him. “I'm getting her some food.” “We're the army, we don't hand out food.” “Yeah, we also don't shoot 12-year-old orphans that pose no threat.” Alex grabbed the end of Slingshot's gun and lowered it for him. He didn't fight it, but he did return with an angry face. “Fine, but get her out of here soon as you're done.” Slingshot left to go check on some of the other soldiers, muttering “damn medics...” under his breathe, leaving Alex and Suzanne alone. With Suzanne close behind him, Alex walked over to the convoy truck he woke up in earlier that day. He took her and set her on the edge, and rummaged through the metal bin that was set aside. Alexander pulled out two sandwiches, handing one to her. She only stared at it. “Is something wrong?” She didn't make eye contact. “I don't, eat meat.” “Ugh, just like Donny...tell you what kid...” He took the meat off of her sandwich, and placed it on his, then did the vegetables the other way around. “Better?” She nodded, and ate slowly, while he was done within a few bites. Since Suzanne was still eating, Alex went ahead and grabbed the large box with a speaker and microphone. “I'm going to make a call real quick.” He flicked a switch and buzzing could be heard. “This is medical Private Alexander, is Admiral Armstrong able to receive this transmission?” There were several long moments of buzzing. “...Well, if it isn't my own personal life-saver. What can I do for you son?” “Sir, I found a pocket of downed civies at these coordinates.” He punched in a series of digits on the numb-pad. “Three dozen wounded, the rest are dead.” “That is? Alright, I’ll get some craft over there. Anything else?” “Actually sir, yes.” “...and it is?” “Remember the offer you made after I got you and some others off the carrier?” “I lived through that day thanks to you.” “I think it's time I take up on that offer. I'd like to go home.” Suzanne: “Can I come too?” The admiral fell silent for a few seconds as he tried to understand what he just heard. “Son, was that a little girl I just heard?” Alexander panicked before having to make a decision. Whether to let the girl stay in war-entrenched Europe, or take her to back with him. “...Between you and me sir, it wouldn't be so bad to get two tickets home, would it?” “...Alright, I’ll see that you have a spare seat. Over and out.” “Over and out..” Alexander turned off the radio and turned to Suzanne. “Why would you want to come with me?” “You are a medic, no stranger to death...you, understand.” He hadn’t taken a good look at her until now. She had extreme blonde hair, but had black eyes to contradict it. Her skin was pale, but her dress covered much of her body, hiding it except for hands and face. “What do you mean I understand?” He gave a deeply concerned face. “Death ist natural, others don't see, why I don't cry...for my family. He knew what she meant. More often than not, at someone's funeral he always saw the ones with more forethought being the only ones to not shed a tear. Because they knew it is inevitable, not because they are heartless. But she's only twelve! “Well, most soldiers understand. So, that still doesn't explain why you want to come with me.” After downing her bread crust she once again held her bear tight. “I want to be doctor...for mom.” Of course! How could Alex be so blind? Her parents, what he found her doing, and helped her do. Alex looked towards the city, buildings destroyed, some still burning to ashes. Post WWII will be hell for her, in this part of Europe. He looked back to Suzanne. She's not choosing this to help people, that's a second, she's doing it to honor her mother, whom she will never meet again. “Well kind, right now Germans aren't exactly thought highly upon in America, so tell you what. I'll take you, but I’m going to have to teach you everything myself.” He had no time to react, as the girl jumped up and clung to him in a tight hug. “...Thank you.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next day, after barely dodging heavy invasive 'study' by government officials, thanks to the admiral, the two were on their way to America. The ship they were on wasn't too large, only a bit larger than a standard submarine. Most of the men were injured, but couldn't be helped anymore than they had already been. For the most part, the two had to stay in their bunk hammocks, which could sometimes be uncomfortable with the ship's swaying, but if you closed your eyes it felt like you were on land, blowing in the breeze. The food wasn't great, but that's military for you, more often than not it was beans with bacon, or rice, with occasional whiskey sneaked in when the officer's weren't looking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A couple years later... Alexander stepped out of his truck; the frozen air began gnawing away at his skin. He walked up to the house. It was a nice house, two stories, brick, common and cheap here in Oklahoma, especially so in rural areas. With a heavy object behind his back, he unlocked the front door and walked through. “Merry Christmas Suzanne! I got a surprise for you.” She popped her head around the corner. “What is it?” Her English had severely improved since she arrived with him. He pulled out the book called 'Exploring Human Anatomy' and held it out to her. She gasped and ran under the book to hug hum tight, knocking the air out of his lungs. “Oh! Thank you daddy! You're the best.” Daddy.....she called him daddy. A tear formed at his eye. He'd never been a parent before, he never thought he would ever be one either. In fact, he's never had a family, no parents, no brothers, sisters, cousins. He's never had any of it, until today, and to know someone loves you enough to call you 'daddy' was a great- no, an amazing feeling. So great in fact, it replaced the pain of his ribs beginning to crack. “That's...enough Suzanne.” She let go. He offered a smile. “You just go enjoy your present.” She grabbed the literature and smiled. “I will!” She bolted off to the other room. All the other things in the world didn't matter to him right now, not the war, nor his friends, nor enemies, awards, medals, accolades, kills. The only thing that matters to him right now is that after all of his life, he finally has a family. With this, he is content. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A decade passes, and each year the two grew closer as a family. Suzanne began branching off from human doctoring and included animals in her study. In her studies, Alex gets a few pets to keep her company. Throughout the decade she got more and more stuff for each subject on medicine she could, so she could be the doctor she wants to be. As his memories fly past him, they play out a particular morning, just a regular Saturday, with an abnormal event. Alex flipped the last of the pancakes onto the plate and cut off the fuel supply for the stove. He chopped off a bit of butter and poured some syrup on both stacks. He then took each plate and set them on the table that was on the other side of the kitchen, and called out upstairs. “Oh Suzanne! Breakfast is ready!” Alexander stood at the bottom of the stairs for a few moments, before ascending. She had been up all of the night before, studying her pets. Suzanne thought she always got away with it, but in reality Alex just didn't think it was bad to do so. As he got to the top, he turned to the first door and saw it was cracked open. Now against the door, he started pushing it open with the back of his hand. When he fully open the entrance, he couldn't help but smile as he saw his daughter laying there. She lay on her side, with her arm extended over the end of the bed. Standing on her finger, so calm, yet bold, was her pet raven, frozen, as if instructed to stay in that exact spot. He walked up to her, and looked at her. Seeing his daughter had always given him something to be proud of, to be happy for. Alexander extended his arm and brushed her hair back from her eyes. But as soon as he touched her, he froze, and his heart skipped a few beats. Cold. Just, dead cold. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alexander's experience kept switching. Memories, reality, memories, reality. It was difficult for him to tell the difference, because they mimic each other so well. The emotional pain was killing him, when he looked at Fluttershy, all he saw was Suzanne. He had to get out of there, he couldn't stay. With his reality being bent back and forth, Alexander quickly walked down the stairs. He grabbed his knapsack and rushed out the door into the cold night towards town. As he got further away, his perception of reality repaired itself, and he could make out what was real again. Only now did Alex realize that he had been crying maniacally since he exited the cottage, not that he was sniffling, but his eyes were running like water-falls. While walking towards the town square, Alexander composed himself, wiping his years with his free hand. After drying his eyes, he threw his arm into the bag, grabbed a piece of paper, and secured the bag on his back again. He unfolded the piece of paper, revealing a map of Ponyville, given to him by...her, in case he needed it. On it, all of her friends' houses were specially marked. He took his finger and ran it over the map. “Okay, I’m right here... and she is... here.” His finger fell on a tree shaped drawing with Twilight's name. Being the socialite she is, she probably knows where there is a place he could stay tonight, right? Not to mention research would keep her up at these hours. Alex lowered his map and in the distance he could see the Library, somewhat illuminated. He put away the map and began walking towards it. When Fluttershy was telling Alex about her friends, she did speak of Twilight's unusual sleep patterns anyways. The bitter cold air gnawed at the bit of exposed skin he had as he stepped on the soft, grass-covered ground with his exposed feet. SNAP The sound sent chills up his spine, and Alexander spun around and threw a hand of the handle of his sword. He saw a shadow hide behind a house. Perhaps it was just a kid going home. There was no certainty, but no point in investigating. He let go of his weapon, turned back to Twilight's library, and began walking faster. He walked right up to the artisan designed double door. The windows showed candle light, and he could hear feint hoof-steps. She was most definitely awake. He put the back of his knuckles against the door and knocked. The pitter-patter of hooves are heard until the door swung open, to reveal a purple pony with the slight scent of lavender. “Hello? Oh, hey there Alexander.” He offered a reluctant smile. “You can call me Alex, Ms. Sparkle.” “Okay, well, what can I do for you at such a late hour?” “I was just wondering if you happened to know if there were any, say, hotels or apartments in town that would be open to rent tonight?” “What?? Did something happen between you and Fluttershy?” He scratched his head. “No, well...yes. Look, I just can't see her for now.” “Could I at least know what happened? Did something upset one of you? He shifted his feet. “Yes, but I don't really want to explain right now...so, do you know if there is anywhere I could stay?” “Well,i don’t know of any hotels...” She backed up and open the door more. “But you can stay here a while, we have a quest bed upstairs in my room.” Alex ducked his head a little and walked in. After Twilight closed the door, she turned to see him kneeling down to by eye level in front of her. “Thank you Ms. Sparkle, if there is anything I can do for you, just let me know.” Twilight looked at him. It was hard for her to tell with only candlelight, but he didn't look the same as before. His face was a bit red, his nose was running, his eyes were a bit wattery, and what other skin was showing was pale. Either he's suck, or something bad had happened, emotionally speaking. “Don't mention it.” She walked past him, and he followed as she led him up the stairs to her bedroom. Twilight opened the door to her 'bedroom', which had no less books in it than the room before. She led him up the last, short flight of stairs, and stood at the end of the bed across from her's, looking at it. “Well, here's the bed, if you need to use the bathroom, there is on downstairs and to the left, try not to confuse it with the lab.” He sat on the edge and turned his head to her. “Thank you, miss Sparkle. I'll try to find something to give you in return for this.” She began her descent. “Call me Twilight, and, you don't have to pay me back. Sleep well.” “I'll try.” Twilight left the room. Alexander laid down and closed his eyes, pretending he was laying on a mountain, or in an abyss, so that he may rest his mind.