So for anybody who has followed this story so far, I'm happy to inform you that we're finally getting into the action of the actual show. As you could probably tell from the previous chapters, the Prison battle is now up. The previous Chapters were merely Arc Chapters in which I allowed you to form an opinion of my character.
It was actually a lot of fun to write this chapter because so much happens in this episode... its personally a favorite. and it sets up where the rest of this story goes. I don't plan to completely go into AU until much later. I will try to follow the episodes as closely as possible. I may need a bit of help because I make some notable changes this chapter... but I am excited to get your opinions.
As a Disclaimer: The Walking Dead is sole property of its creators and AMC. I wish it was mine but its not.
As a Warning: If you've seen this chapter... you know quite well its very violent. Discretion advised.
Enjoy Chapter 3 of Nothing but Memories.
Nothing But Memories Chapter 3.
Show em your teeth.
Day three. Ronny was surprised he'd made it even that long. Sure, this couldn't even hold a candle to his old life, but falling into his new one was sliwly becoming easier.
And, though most of the residents hadn't taken time to get to know him, excluding Maggie, Darryl, Michonne and Carl, they all generally liked him and his dedication.
And his stories. He had millions of them. Ones for children, adults, dirty ones, whimsical ones...
They even found their way into gardening and farm life, as he had vivid memories of that small farm.
"Its not always fun on a farm... but theres always something to do. If I can say anything else, I always had a reason to get up and move in the mornng." Ronny said as he pulled the prickley weed away from the beans. He looked up at Carl and Tyrese... the three were assigned to garden tending... a chore the other two despised, despite its importance.
"Don't mean I gotta like it." Tyrese said, visibly sweating. He took a swig from his canteen. Carl pulled a few more before removing his hat, "Did he really make you clean the whole horse barn?" He asked
"It was because I got into a scrap at school... I'll never forget moving probably 200 pounds of horse shit in August heat."
Ronny laughed a bit, loosening up a bit on his third day, "Gardening isn't fun... but the benefits are finally starting to show up. And that was the best part of tending to one... waking up in the morning to find breakfast outside. Get some eggs, and some broccoli and onions and pick a few apples." He said. "You put Broccoli in your eggs? Yuck." Carl said, open distaste on his face before he took a drink of his water, and dumping a small amount of his forehead.
He smiled as he himself took a long swig from his own bottle. "Still not used to this damn heat... Does is ever get cold in this state?" he said sweating like a pig, getting a tap on the shoulder and turning around only to be greeted with a mop of Black Dreadlocks and a pair of dark brown eyes, "I need your help again. Last body, I swear." She said.
Of course he had to heckle Michonne... Her and Carl seemed to take great pleasure in his own suffering (like... tripping on his own boot laces...) but it was all in good nature. "Of course you need a big strong man to help you out."
"As soon as I need a klutz, I'll tell you."
Carl and she shared a knowing laugh before he gave a mocking glare.
He'd come to admire the womans impeccable strength. Carrying and buring all the Walkers over the past two days by herself... with a small bit of help from Ronny.
"You'd figure you would be strong enough by now to lift anything." He nodded at Carl and Tyrese, "Be back in a minute guys. Don't have too much fun without me."
"We won't."
He took to her side and let out a deep breath. "So... whats the word today, Micce?" He asked, she eyed him humorously, "This bastards even bigger than the last one." She said, to which his audible groan emitted, "Promise this is that last one?" He begged.
She nodded, "This is the last load. I can't believe Carl and Rick killed all of them alone... let alone Walkers this large." She said as she finally stood over the big sun baked bastard.
"Holy Crap... he must be 500 pounds of flesh and shit... wouldn't it have been better to do these guys earlier?" he said, grabbing the legs and lifting... He tried not to gag at the gurgling sound the body made... the smell was bad enough. They tossed King Fat Ass on top of the pile and leaned back against her Jeep.
"I wouldn't want you to miss the opportunity." She sat in the edge of the trailer, "Hey Hershel."
"Guess I got here too late." Hershel said, wobbling as best he could over to the two. Ronny hadn't had much time to talk to the old man. He seemed kind enough but what could he say to him? He seemed kind enough and respectable enough... considering he was the one missing a leg and yet still he cared for everyone there... he was admirable in that aspect
But when you looked at it, He was a doctor and they didn't share the same religion. But it didn't prevent his presense from being a welcome one.
"Just finished up... we came through in fine style." Michonne said, smiling at Ronny, "By fine style she means we loaded him up and managed to keep breakfast down." He said as the old man stopped and took a deep breath.
"Heading out to burn them?" He asked the two, his kind eyes surveying the duo. Ronny looked at her... remembering what she said yesterday morning... about how they burn them as a sign of respect...
Michonne shrugged, "You two wanna come with?" She asked, smiling at them as she checked the trailer to assure the hitch and such were fine.
Hershel nodded but Ronny gave a negative, "I gotta finish up my other chores but I'll definatly go body burning next time. You two have a blast." He said before walking back to his Duty after patting Hershel on his shoulder.
"He seemes like a bright kid." Hershel said as he stepped into the vehicle.
Michonne started the jeep, "He fits in well. Strong and doesn't sway from his path... wish we could say the same about more of the people we've encountered."
"Okay... we'll take a quick break for lunch and then we'll finish up with our chores... Good news is that I think I'm finally settling in." Ronny said, pulling his ration out. Some dried meat and a can of veggies... he ignored that and chomped the meat. They sat on the wall of the cell block as they watched the Jeep pull out... a feeling of unease settling over him... most likely due to the fact that they were burning the corpses... sure it was respectful but it just gave him the heebie jeebies.
"I'm glad to hear that..." Carl said, eating his own ration. "Some people still aren't used to it... some can't let go of their old lives... and they just can't move on."
"And you have?" Ronny asked when he swallowed the smokey jerky.
"No." He said simply... obviously not wanting to pursue that quite yet and so he dropped it.
"Hmm... well since we're on the topic of our old lives again, I bet a guy like you broke a heart or two?" Ronny asked in a joking mannor.
"There was this girl... Sophia. I think she liked me... but she died... so I've never been with anyone. I think thats for the best. I don't think her mom would've liked me much as a step son..."
"Well, you're likable. What was the problem?" Ronny asked, finishing his ration and setting a small amount aside. "Nothing... she and my dad were a lot alike once she came out of her shell... I don't need a girl version of my dad..."
Ronny nodded, "I see... I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure her mother feels the pain too..." He said as he looked at the clouds.
"What about you? Ever break a girl's heart?" Carl asked, cloud watching with him.
'Well, shit.' He thought to himself. He actually hadn't told Carl that he was gay. Which was perplexing considering he was much closer to Carl than anyone else and Michonne, Daryl, Maggie, Rick and even Tyrese knew.
But he figured it may come up eventually, and he was certainly no liar.
'No time like the present, eh?'
"Well... I did date a couple girls and they were nice... But we never worked out. One moved away and we quickly lost touch. One of them kissed another boy behind my back."
"Ouch... did you get revenge?" He asked, interested.
"You bet I did." He responded.
"What did you do?"
"I did what she did."
"Kissed another girl?"
"Kissed another boy." He said. Carl let out an 'Oh!' And nodded... as if he was trying to pick the next words he said very carefully. "Carl... I'm not easily offended. Go ahead."
"No its not that... its just...We had some neighbors like that... they were gay. These two ladies. One was a fellow police officer beside my dad... came to see him often after he got shot and was in a coma before this all happened. Her Girlfriend always made home squeezed lemonade... and talked to my mom. They were always so nice to us"
"To be honest, I wasn't expecting a Southern Georgia family to be so... open minded about that. Being gay and all... I had to avoid a lot of people like the... well, the plague."
"We are... I asked Dad when I was young about the neighbors. He told me there wasn't anything wrong with men who like men and women who like women... and if I ever disrespected anyone he'd ground me." He said.
He nodded, "Well that makes me happy. It also explains why I haven't been lynched yet..." he said with a joking tone.
"Don't put it beneath us... we'll just never do it for no reason." He said.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before Carl sighed, "So... whats it like? Being with a guy?"
His eyebrow raised, "Why are you asking?"
"Well I'm just... you know, a little curious... thats all..." he said... getting a bit flustered...
"Okay, I'll humor you..." he sat back in thought, "Okay, so the difference between a guy and a girl is personality. Girls are soft and sweet but... guys are rough and yet can be so passionate and overpowering... or conversly they can be like a girl if their personality demands it." He says.
"What does that even mean?"
"Well-"
Suddenly the rumble of... something on the horizon had them up and on their feet.
"Holy shit..." Ronnie said as the XT1 Tank rolled to the edge of their fence... and suddenly the prison had a loo of unexpected guests.
"Oh no..." Carl said, running toward the fence with everyone else. Ronny took a bit longer as he tried to assess what the fuck was happening.
The group stood at the edge of the fence and looked out...
"Who's that?" Ronny asked, spotting a man who was the obvious leader... wearing an eye patch.
Daryl snarled, "The Governor."
"Rick!" The man called the Governor cried. "Rick! We need to talk." He said.
The group turned to look at the man and Rick sighed as he looked between them all... and stepped forward, "I don't make the descisions around here anymore. We have a council!" He yelled at him. Ronny drew his gun slowly... preparing for a bad day... he didn't know anything about this group but you can't trust anyone who brings a tank to a gun fight.
"Is Hershel on the Council?" He asked, motioning over to a young woman by a car... she nodded in return and flung the door open.
Maggie and her Sister let out a choked cry as the girl dragged Hershel out and he limped in front of the Governor, and kneeled the poor old man down in front of him.
"What about Michonne?"
"I don't make choices anymore!" He repeated... the Governor got a smug look on his face, "Oh Trust me, you'll be making the decisions today, Rick. Now come down here... lets have that talk."
Rick and Daryl shared a knowing look... they knew what had to be done. Rick walked over to Carl and Ronny and pat his Son's shoulder before opening the gate...
Daryl immediatly turned to them. "Okay... We can't take all of em. We need to go in through the admin building and out to the woods like we planned. We can't take that fire power... we don't have enough people. When's the last time we checked the stash on the bus?"
Julie spoke up, "The day before the big hit. We were low on rations then and we are now."
"Let em go... I'll stay down here... talk as long as you want... but you have a Tank. You don't need Hostages." Rick said, arm wiping across his brow.
"Oh I do. This Tank is here just to show you I'm serious. But I don't want to blow a hole in our new home. You and your people have till sun down to clear out... or you die."
"It doesn't have to go down like this." Rick tried to say.
"I have more peopke and more firepower. We need this Prison. This isn't about the past Rick. Its about Right now."
Rick let out a sigh, "We have children in here who are sick! They... they won't survive out there."
But the Governor kept on.
"I have a Tank and I'm giving you the chance to walk away... what else is there to talk about?"
And the three Prison members starred at each other... knowing the next few seconds could change their very lives even more than the Zombie outbreak.
"I can shoot you. You all will shoot back, I know that. But we'll win and you'll all be dead. All of you. It doesn't have to be like that... I'm giving you a choice." He said as Two Walkers stumbled toward them... the Governor quickly pulled out his gun and shot three times.
"Our gunfire draws them out and the sun is still setting. The longer you wait the harder its gonna be to escape."
Darryl Non-Chalantly moved their weapon tote to the others and handed out their guns... and they took their places... except Ronny, who ran off toward the prison with an 'I'll be back.'
Carl had his sights trained on the Governor as Daryl talked to him.
"We should do something." He started.
"Your Dad has got it." He replied.
"Please, they're just talking... I could shoot the Governor."
"From 50 Yards out?"
"I'm a good shot. I could end this right now."
"Yeah or you could start something else. You gotta trust him."
Ronny ushered the children toward the bus and loaded them on, strapping Judith in. He looked at the girls and smiled, "Okay now wait for the adults. You see anyone you don't know... shoot them. We can't let them hurt you. Okay?" He said and pat their heads before running off to his own area... glad the fighting hadn't started as he made sure his gun was loaded.
After he left... they stood up, "What are you doing?"
"Going to help... they told us to be strong. We have guns. We should have them to..." after some nods, they left, leaving baby Judith behind to kick and coo at their retreating figures.
Rick could only stall so much longer... the Governor smiled and looked to the sky, "I reckon you got about an hour of sunlight left... the longer you wait... the harder its gonna be to get out of here."
Rick starred at Hershel and sighed, "We could... we could all live together here. Theres enough room for all of us."
"More than enough. But I don't think my family would sleep comfortable knowing that you sleep under the same roof."
But Rick pressed on, "We could live in different cell blocks. We don't have to see each other until we're ready."
Hershel finally took the chance to speak up, "It could work... you know it could."
"It could've. But it won't now. Not after Woodburry. Not after Andrea."
Rick wasn't about to give up, "I ain't saying its gonna be easier... its gonna be harder than us shooting at each other but I think we both know that we don't have a choice."
"We don't. You do." Governor responded.
"We're not leaning. You can fight us... but we'll shoot back like you said. Our gun fire is only gonna bring more of em out. They'll come in and take down the fences. Without them this Prison is worthless. Now you can come in and we can live together or none of us can."
It was then the Governor jumped off the tank and reached into one of the vehicles... and produced Michonnes sword... and put it to Hershels neck.
Rick panicked along with Maggie as the others began to mobilize... battle was about to start.
"Hey you! Back there with the pigtails! I see you. Is this what you want?" He looked around, "Is this what any of you want?!"
The Gunman on the Tank spoke, "What we want is what you got. Time for you to leave, asshole."
"Look, I fought him before. The people that were left behind have become leaders here! If you put down your weapons and walk through that gate... you're one of us. We can forget all thats happened. We're all alive right now. We've made it this far. We've all done worse things just to stay alive... but we can come back. We can all turn around and come back.." Rick said as the sword was lowered...
Things seemed finally over...
Hershel smiled at Ricks Wisdom... but it was all a passing fancy.
"Liar." And he lifted the sword!
*Bang!*
the Governors hand was shot! The sword flew from his hand. As Maggie screamed... and silence rang out... and chaos ensued.
Rick open fired, shooting the Governor in the shoulder as the Prison and the Governors forces began shooting out.
Hershel thanked God for that luckas he crawled away with Michonne close behind him, rolling on her back. "Come on!" She said as the Governor shook with pain and anger over his wounds.
Rick tried to fall back, but as he got into cover, he felt the bullet pierce his leg... but he pulled himself into cover and groaned as pain filled his leg.
Ronnue fired from his spot... knowing he scored possibly the luckiest shot by hitting that sword... he watched the duo crawl away from their spot as he watched from the roof, sniping the attackers... and the tank barrel aiming.
"Shit..."
Michone dragged Hershel behind a car and tried to saw off her bindings on an old hitch as a soldier ran back. She tripped him and broke his neck with one stomp.
"Get your guns! Get your cars! We go in! ...Kill em all." He said as the tank mobilized and drove forward, crushing the fence.
It was utter chaos... Governors men falling but they kept coming forward. Maggie was crying... not sure if her father had made it. "Go for the bus!" She called out as she took off.
Ronny began running as the tank aimed at him. "Go go go go go!" He said as he slid... and the corner of the building blew up... he layed on the ground as shit flew by him... and he descended the ladder he used to climb up to the roof... and then he dashed across the court yard... watching the tanks blow up as he passed Julie. He slid and avoided Shrapnel.
Back on the Battle field the Governors forces were still en mass... and moved forward... and as the Governor walked around his cover he was tackled and punched by Rick... and the duo began duking it out.
And Maggie loaded up the other prisoners... including Glenn... but she noticed something. "Where's Ruth?! Where are the kids?" She asked.
"Judith is here but she went to go find the others!"
Maggie dashed for the courtyard as Glenn followed, "We'll find em together!"
"No Glenn you're still sick! You have to stay here!" She said as she dashed out to find the others.
As Daryl shot and killed several others he felt a pat on the shoulder, "Keep goin Tex!" Ronny said, unloading his own clip.
"Nice shot." He said as the forces behind the tank were quickly but not completly downed... and then a familiar growl came close...
The Governor kicked Rick across his face... and knealt down to beat the crap out of him... Walkers were swarming like mad.
But Darryl and Ronny took one as a Human shield while Darryl tossed out a Grenade and blew up a few more... and the bus pulled away. Ensuring the others had no escape but to win.
Then Ronny saw Carl... he was surrounded by Walkers... he let Daryl take over and ran after him
But for Rick it seemed the end was almost near... blood coating his face as the Governor continued to bash his face... he was too weak to fight back... punch after punch... and he felt his hands wrap around his throat and choke...
But as the end seemed a step away... a Miricle. The tip of a sword pierced his chest... The Governor was done. She ripped the blade from his chest as Rick panted out his sons name.
"Where's Carl?" He said as Hershel helped him up.
"I don't know." Michonne said as Rick panted and ran for the Prison to find his son.
"Carl!" He cried as he got up to the Destroyed courtyard... seemingly abandoned excluding the Walkers...
Speaking of which, he had two lumbering toward him... but he'd be damned if he let two of these fuckers kill him.
But he didn't need to worry as a *Crack* and a *Bang* was heard. Carl and Ronny ran over to him... Rick hugged his son and cried.
"You did good... where is she?" He asked... and Carl looked stunned. How could he have forgotten his little sister?
He remembered now... as he spotted her abandoned baby seat.
The duo began crying as Ronny stepped forward. He put a hand on Carls shoulder but he shrugged it off...
He shot the nearest Walker iver and over even after his gun ran dry.
"Carl! Rick! She's alive!" Ronny said as the duo regarded him with tired and sad eyes, "I had her and the other children loaded on the bus! I promise! But what matters is that she is gone and we are not with her. We gotta move!" Ronny said walking over to them... they still cried over the losses they've had... but they knew he was right. And if there was even a chance that Judith made it out... that was worth moving on.
Rick and Carl hugged him as they started to carry Rick.
"You're a good man, Ronny..." he said with a big sniff, "Thank you for saving my daughter." And they walked out past the admin building and into the forest as Rick uttered "Don't look back..." over and over.
Just like they planned.
