Days seem to blur into one another as you find yourself carrying each one out the same as the last. You're unsure why perhaps it's the stress or maybe you're just trying to distract yourself from the burning question you've had ever since you snuck into Anon's camp two weeks ago. The little wooden figure Anon made of what resembles another human reemerges in your mind. At first, you tucked it away in a drawer of your reading desk as curiosity caused you to grab it just as Anon came back to turn his camp inside out to find it. Now you're stuck with this token, unable to work out how to give it back until you decided you'd just... place it somewhere he will find it. So now you've started keeping it on yourself until you can find such a place.
"Oh, hey Twi," Applejack calls as you approach the farmhouse.
"Hey AJ," you aimlessly call back.
You give your head a firm shake, trying to wrest yourself free from distraction and back into reality.
"How--"
"Anon, uh, cut his hair?" Her voice has a strange level of uncertainty to it that cause you concern.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. It gave poor ol' Granny a bit of a fright. He did it with a kitchen knife you see... And well, she thought."
"Ah," you nod with a vigorous understanding to show she doesn't need to go further into detail on that.
"Everything is fine. But well... He looks so different now without all that fuzz. Ya know? Any idea why he'd shave like that?"
"Not really. It's a little hard to understand those intricacies without asking him to just explain. Have you?"
"Yeah," Applejack shrugs, "He just said he didn't like it. I don't really get it if he didn't like it then why not just say so? He's a confusing little critter I tell ya."
"AJ, it seems like something else is bothering you."
You seem to hit the nail on the head as her already stiff composure gets stiffer still. The two of you take a seat on the step overlooking the farm. The sun is setting like it always is when you come for Anonymous' lessons. The warm yellow-orange glow flows over the trees and sky like paint in water. The clouds blur the incandescent glow but do nothing to stop the warmth giving its caressing touch across your face.
"We've had Anon for some time now. And I get he is a little more complex than say, Winona, but I thought I understood what goes on in his head pretty well. Ugh, I dunno. I think I'm just tired and stressed. We're going to have a late harvest this year it seems. Like way too late if we want to have stock set and ready for prepping the next field in time."
"Well, you've got an extra set of hands this year," you reply with a light-hearted laugh and a nudge.
This seems to spur Applejack on a little, her usual beam of a smile returns at the least.
"Yeah, he's been a real help this year."
Suddenly an idea hits you, and you open your mouth to voice it before catching yourself. Applejack is always a little touchy of Anonymous, so you find yourself hesitating for a while until she glances your way to see there's something on your mind.
"I have an idea," you finally state, "And if you don't want me to, I won't. I just want to run it by you first."
"Okay," replies Applejack with a wary smile.
"What if I followed him around a bit? Just for a few days. I'll make notes and see what we can understand by thoroughly observing him."
"I thought you already did that when he first arrived?"
"I did," you reply with a blush for being called out, "But now he is more comfortable in the town. He knows ponies, he can communicate a little now, and he understands us a little more too."
Applejack seems to give it some deep meditative thought for a brief moment before nodding.
"Sure. What's the harm in knowing him a little better? Tomorrow is his day off too so who knows what you'll find out."
The two of you agree and excitedly chatter over a few observations you've made individually before Anonymous appears for his lesson. Today something seems off. He doesn't seem to take to his lessons, words seem harder for him to grasp, and your mind begins abuzz with what could be the matter. But as he is concentrating hard on his lesson, you keep your words to yourself even when it's time to go.
You're up at the crack of dawn and immediately head down to the Apple farm to find Anonymous, leaving Spike at home to do whatever it is he does when you're not around. Once you track down Anon, you follow a fair few metres behind him. Far enough to make sure he won't notice you easily, but close enough where you can get a clear sight of whatever he gets up to.
"For the first part of the day, Anon escorts Applebloom to meet up with her friends in the town square," you jot down in your log book.
The three fillies chatter about, occasionally trying to include Anonymous in the conversation where possible. Usually, he just nods politely and seems content to just be in their company as he sits on the water fountain's edge watching over the town. Every so often, his gaze his flit upwards to survey the town. His eyes seem aimless, not really looking for anything in particular. Just watching. Once the fillies decide what they want to do with their day, they make tracks after bidding Anon goodbye.
"Hmm, he seems to be just sitting there," you mumble aloud as you bite into a bag of trail mix.
It's been some time since the Cutie Mark Crusaders left, but Anon is still in his spot watching over the town. Then he notices a pink party pony pressingly pouncing progressively to Sugar Cube Corner. Anonymous stands up and intently makes his way over to her, who easily notices the tall human heading her way over the busy crowd of ponies.
"Hiya Anon," Pinkie pleasantly pronounces.
He waves back.
"Wanna come in?" Pinkie gestures to the bakery, to which Anonymous nods.
You've always found it curious how the two seem to communicate more through gestures and charades. An old habit they got into before you were giving Anonymous lessons. You've tried using gestures and still do when teaching Anon, and at times he will do the same with you. However, with Pinkie, the interesting thing is how in sync they are with the other's intended meanings.
Hastily, you rush towards the window, taking care to not be spotted. Then once you notice the pair head into the kitchen, you dart around to the back of the bakery to watch through the window there.
"Wanna help me make some triple choc-chip 'n fudge cookies?" She beams, miming to be eating a biscuit made of air.
Anonymous shakes his head.
"Brownies?" Pinkie asks as she draws a little square.
Again he shakes his head, then he draws a circle.
"Cupcakes?"
Anonymous draws a larger circle in the air.
"Oh, a cake?"
He nods.
"Okay, but what flavour." thoughtfully states Pinkie as she points to her tongue.
Anon shrugs.
"I'm thinking we should do something with fruit... Real fruit. Like... Banana?"
Anonymous holds out his hand and teeters it like it's a seesaw.
"You're right. It needs more."
Anon makes a series of dots in the air.
"Blueberry? Oh, we could do banana AND blueberry. Yes. But it needs MORE," she pleads.
Now Anon makes a series of gestures. First, he mimes eating something from a bowl, then pretends to be icing, then sprinkles with his fingers.
"Yes. Yes! YES!" Pinkie gleefully bellows, "Banana and blueberry cake, frosted with cream custard, and sprinkled with coffee flakes. Anon you're a genius."
The two immediately set to work without a word. It seems like Anon understands his role in the kitchen with Pinkie as he gathers all the utensils needed and sets to work prepping some ingredients once Pinkie places them by him. The pair works seamlessly, without a word or hassle, until the cake is in the oven. Then they clean up and prep a few other common treats for the bakery like icing eclairs, making a few cookies, and bite-sized cupcakes.
"Oh, it's done," Pinkie calls just a second before the oven bell rings.
Anon grabs some nearby tea towels for either hand and pulls out the cake where it is left to cool before being frosted and decorated. Your stomach lets out a low garble as you realise you've had nothing to eat but the nice parts of trail mix. Once the cake is finished, Pinkie cuts Anon a slice to box for him. The two wave then Anonymous heads off with the cake slice in hand.
As you follow him down towards the lake, you find yourself in a bit of sparse odds for hiding places. There's only a bit of trees and bushes to hide near the lake, but there is a gap of nothing for a while. Deciding the risk the clearing, you follow silently as best you can behind the lumbering human as he finds a nice bit of shade lake-side.
Dive into a nearby bush as soon as you can allows you a clear view to watch over Anonymous. For a moment he sits in silence, enjoying the serenity of the quiet lake before taking out his cake. Then to your amazement, he takes out a candle to place into the cake and some matches to light it. There is a haze of confusing mist that seems to be clouding something just in front of your face so it isn't until Anon begins to hum a tune before blowing out his candle that it dawns on you.
You hesitate in the bushes, thinking briefly that you should go and say something. But then you realise your position. Pinkie, however, spear tackles Anonymous is a loud chorus of tears and apologies. Nobody likes to miss someone else's birthday, and nopony dislikes that feeling more than Pinkie Pie. Rather than follow suit, you take the distraction as a cue to leave.
Your hastened steps, at times skipping one or two to gain speed, carries you toward the barn of Sweet Apple Acres where Anon resides. Grabbing the little trinket that belongs to Anon, you shove it amongst the hay bale that is his bed.
"I thought you were following Anon around today," comments a voice behind you.
You spin around to see AJ, concern all over her freckled face.
"Saw you running up the field in a mighty rush."
Your words trip as they're about to leave you, making an odd croaking noise.
"I ran into Anon," you stammer.
"Well, obviously. Did you find anything interesting out?"
You nod and it's followed by a silence before Applejack gives a gentle nod in return to urge you to continue.
"He's... lonely."