//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: A Word of Caution // by Eighth //------------------------------// "I've learned quite a bit about Anon," You remark aloud, your eyesight unfocused yet deliberately avoiding looking toward Applejack. "In half a day?" She replies with an impressed scoff. "More than that," you pause though you're unsure why. AppleJack is one of your most trusted friends. She's the element of honesty and yet you find yourself hesitating to tell her. Maybe you're scared. No, you're definitely scared. But of what? That AJ will be angry at you? That something about Anon still sets you on edge? That she won't believe you? You shake your head as you try to avoid recalling. "Twi'?" It was when Anon first arrived and you freaked out. You called him dangerous and all the Apples defended him. And that was okay, you did overreact a bit to seeing something so alien. It was after that. The Apples, and Applejack, ignored your calls for concern and words of caution. That hurt. Though you told yourself you were just being overly-sensitive, that they might have just misunderstood and thought you hadn't calmed down. It still stung. It still stings. But it's more than that. "Anon has a camp, up in the Everfree." "I know that. He and Applebloom visit it from time to time, that's where they met after all. Though I don't like her exploring that forest, even if--" "He's got a tent, traps, tools, and all sorts of things up there. Anonymous is a lot smarter than he's been letting on." "Really? Wow... I had no idea he could do... Well, that he could do any of that. You know? He just does what we tell him on the farm, we need to show him at first but then he goes all day." This was it. As soon as the words leave your lips you feel a freefalling sensation. You've finally voiced what has freaked you out since your first encounter. Anonymous isn't just some pet. He is a lot smarter and knows a lot more than he is letting on. Something about him when you first saw him. The way he stood, his ease when fitting in, and his deep eyes that look to be examining every inch of you. "Really? What about his clothes when he first arrived? If a pony made them for him, we'd know. He can't exactly wander into town and ask for free clothes." This causes AJ to freeze up, her eyes looking as if they are seeing for the first time. "I-I... Never thought of that." How did--Applebloom," Applejack suddenly states with a stern and irritated glare off in the distance. "What about her?" "She's been up in his camp a bunch of times. She'd have seen his tent and tools yet never said a thing. She's kept that a secret and I'm gonna find out why." Applejack turns so you quickly call out. While she stops in her tracks, she doesn't turn around. "Please, listen to me first. I haven't finished." "Right, sorry," she replies as she guiltily turns back to face you. "I mean, please listen to everything I have to say. No interrupting at all, even if you don't agree." She nods. You take a deep sigh before unloading, "Anon spooks me. You know that. But ever since the start, I have felt that beyond those eyes is a brain thinking far more intently that any pony was giving him credit for. He isn't just some clever pet like Winona, or like the cows who work for you," your chest is pounding and feels like it is rising into your throat. You take a moment to let out a deep breath before continuing as calmly as possible, "Think about it. You were keeping him like a pet, having no idea he could talk until well after you took him in. He could have imitated us at any point to show he can speak, but he kept silent. Why? He could have shown us he is intelligent, built a tool or something. But he didn't. He kept that a secret. Why? There's a lot that we don't know about him, but I seem to be the only pony who is freaked out by this." AJ continues to be silent and intensely watches you until you've finally said your piece. You worry a little that she might be upset or something as you can't really read what she's thinking. But now that you've started you intend to keep the ball rolling. "We have no real idea what he is, where he came from, what he wants, is thinking, or even how he got here. What if there are a million just like him that turn up one day, or what if he is completely alone? Each are just as terrifying as the other in their own way. And I'm sure once he learns more, we'll get some answers. Maybe not all, but some. But right now, there is one pressing question that we can answer." "What?" "What do you plan to do? Maybe you don't need to do anything right now, but are you going to let him live on the farm forever?" "Of course," Applejack shakes her head in disbelief, "He'll always be welcome. He is practically family and as long as he does his share, he is welcome. He can keep doing his lessons as long as both of you want to do them. Twi' he is free to do as he pleases... I don't quite understand what you're asking me here." "Once he learns to speak, completely, he might want to leave. Or who knows, maybe once you get to know the part that has always been blocked off to us, he may not be someone you like. What do you want to do?"