Anon is laying beside Blossom, the captain resting peacefully in his arms. He’s spent a least half an hour with his eyes closed in a failed attempt to relax. He can’t take his thoughts away from Twilight. Everything is starting to move faster than he thought and the way she’s acting is throwing him off his original plan: his plan to just help her and forget she exists. His mind is a minefield under normal circumstances, and Twilight has managed to set most of them off like the clumsy pony she is!
Visions of the past flash before his eyes. Questions about her motives and intentions. Does she genuinely wish to reform herself? Or does she want something far more sinister? She acts sincere in her regret over what happened, but is it just a ploy to get Anon to drop his guard? The facts frighten him more than his paranoia. He knows she’s sorry and regrets what happened and wants to make things better for everyone. Anon isn’t stupid, he knows he’s on that list of hers, perhaps the last one she wants to help.
His emotions are all screwed up. He still hates her, that hasn’t changed, but listening to her talk so casually as they walked reminded him of a time when she wasn’t the monster he knows her to be. A pony that was curious and helpful, a pony that he may have once considered a friend... Anon pulls Blossom closer. He doesn’t have a choice. If helping Twilight can make Celestia happy, then that’s what he’s going to do. Anon owes Tia for all that she’s done for him and this time he’ll do something she wouldn’t expect.
There’s also the side benefit of Twilight being shipped back to Ponyville when she’s done with this stupid stuff but this is still mainly for Celestia. Anon nods to himself. Alright, he has a clear goal and there’s only one way to get there.
A knock echoes from the door and breaks the silence.
“Who could that be?” Anon whispers.
“Twilight,” Blossom answers.
Blossom moves from Anon and sits up as she keeps her gaze onto the door. She doesn’t look happy and Anon can’t comprehend why that mare is here of all places. There’s another knock at the door.
“Um, Anon?” Twilight calls out. “Is this even his room?” she mutters to herself. “If you’re in there, I uh... I just need a moment of your time.”
Anon knows if he remains silent then she’ll eventually leave, but that goes against what he’s trying to accomplish.
“One minute,” Anon calls back.
“Oh, thank Celestia,” Anon hears Twilight say to herself, sounding relieved.
Anon looks at Blossom. “Better get this over with.”
“I’ll be right here,” she answers, still facing the door.
Anon gets out of bed and answers the door. Standing there, nervously shifting her weight from one hoof to the other, is Twilight. She looks up at him but quickly averts her gaze.
“What do you want?” Anon asks, leaning against the door.
“I’m sorry... I couldn’t do it.” Twilight can’t face him, to see that look of disappointment. “I sat there at the table, the words were on my tongue, but I couldn’t say it.”
Well, Anon isn’t surprised to hear this, not in the least. The fact is, it took him years to build up the courage to say anything to Twilight and even then that was only with the support of his friends. In this rare case, Twilight is actually facing against her support, so there was no one there when she needed someone. This leaves Anon in a tricky position. Now he’s her support.
This isn’t what he wants, but it’s the only choice available to him.
“It’s to be expected,” Anon says trying to ease her mood. “If it’ll help, I can come with you next time.”
Twilight snaps up to face Anon. “R-Really?”
“Yeah, just invite your brother and Cadance to that restaurant again and we’ll both talk to them.” Anon hears a pony clear their throat behind him. “Make sure there’s a place for Blossom too.”
Twilight snaps out of her stunned daze as she nods rapidly. “Yes, of course! So, what time is good for you?”
“Tomorrow during morning court. I’m sure one, if not both, of the sisters will want to spend time together after then. So it’s best to do this when they’re busy.”
“Alright, I’ll take care of everything.” Twilight beams with a smile.
Anon rubs his hand on the back of his neck, the two of them staring at each other for an awkward amount of time. “So... yeah.” Not knowing what else to say, Anon closes the door in Twilight’s face.
“Thank you!” Twilight shouts past the door as she gallops away.
Anon’s shoulders slump as he trudges back over to the bed and falls onto it.
“You’re taking this seriously,” Blossom remarks matter-of-factly.
“I have a goal and I intend to make it happen.”
“Good to know.” Blossom cuddles up to Anon again. “This time, get some sleep. Your thoughts were keeping me up.”
“What?” Anon looks at Blossom confused.
“It’s a joke, but still, you twitch slightly when in thought. Get some sleep; you’ll need it.”
Anon takes Blossom’s lead and gets comfortable and closes his mind. Unlike before, his mind is calm and sleep takes him easily.
Nightmare lays on the floor of darkness of her dream, Luna panting heavily over her beaten form.
“All I wanted was silence,” Luna hisses, the floor of the void wisping around her hooves and rising to lick at her fetlocks. “Yet you test me at every turn!”
Luna kicks Nightmare in the stomach, knocking the wind from her already labored breaths from her lungs. The bloodied mare violently heaves as she fights to draw in a breath.
Ever since morning court, Luna had been using the Corruption as a means of stress relief, trying to beat sense into her thick skull so that she would learn her place. Nightmare has taunted her and belittled her one time too many!
After catching her breath, Luna tries to compose herself the best she can. “You. Are. Nothing,” Luna says, pacing around the once mighty Mare in the Moon as she observes her handiwork. The immaterial tendrils of darkness dance around her hooves wherever she steps like raging flames. “Keep your silence or this will become routine.”
Luna turns to leave but a chuckle fills the dead air she left behind. Nightmare tries to pick herself up but collapses on the floor in a broken heap. This does little to stop her chuckle as it turns to full blown laughter. Luna looks over her withers to face the mare and finds that Nightmare is looking right at her.
“You’re a scared little filly,” Nightmare mocks. “You think you’re in control, that you possess power, but we both know that you’re hanging on by a thread.” Luna flares her wings, attempting to intimidate her, but she only smiles coyly as a result, noting the wisps of shadow churning around the diarch and clinging to her. “It’s only a matter of time before you lose yourself to me.”
Luna narrows her eyes. “That will never happen. Not again. You are weak, Nightmare. I wonder what I ever feared in you.”
Despite her pitiful state, Nightmare cracks a smile. “You can’t lie to yourself like you lie to Anon.”
Luna’s eyes widen, and Nightmare Moon can feel the heavenly brew of dark emotions stretching and shaping the void.
“Still your tongue, parasite,” Luna coldly warns. “I have tolerated your insolence for long enough.”
“Why don’t you show him your true colors?” Nightmare suggests, smirking. “I’m sure he’d be thrilled to see that when it comes to being a monster, you and I are one in the same. Though,” she cracks her neck, blood trickling past her lip, “I am touched by the intuition that perhaps you are far more practiced in cruelty than even I. You make me proud.”
Luna’s eyes fill with fury as all the fur and feathers on her body stand on end. “I am not you!” Luna shouts as she picks Nightmare up in her magic and slams her into the floor multiple times.
Nightmare can only continue to smile as she has long since lost the ability to feel pain. Anything Luna does to her at this point is just for her own enjoyment. Luna stops her onslaught as she lifts Nightmare up to face her, the smile ever present.
“So much anger to relish in,” Nightmare remarks. “You haven’t changed one bit. You’re weak, the same little Lulu I’ve always known.” She flips around in Luna’s magic with worrying ease, causing the alicorn to involuntarily take a step back, staring daggers into her eyes as her smile, now inverted, deepens. “It’s only a matter of time before your ‘loved ones’ too are victimized by your aimless passion. Your sister, your captain,” Nightmare’s glares death into her host. “Anon.”
Luna drops Nightmare, backing away as her blood runs cold. “You’re wrong. No, I’d never hurt any of them.”
Nightmare gasps in false sympathy. “That’s why Anon is weary of you. He knows better than to trust a vulture!”
Luna doesn’t know what to say, her breath catching in her throat.
“That’s not true,” a voice echoes.
Luna’s head snaps towards the voice and finds Anon standing there. His brows are furrowed as he looks between Luna and Nightmare. Anon has no idea what’s going on, but it doesn’t seem pretty. Nightmare is beaten to hell and Luna looks like she’s one wrong word from a full-blown meltdown. He can already guess what’s happening here after what he experienced at the hall of doors. Still, he wasn’t expecting to find this.
It puts a lot of stuff into perspective for him. What an excellent mess Anon finds himself in. First Twilight, now this. Anon is shaking his head as he walks up to Luna.
“Anon, I can explai-”
Anon slaps her without pause. The hit is hard enough to knock Luna off balance for a moment. She looks back at him in surprise as she brings a hoof to her cheek.
“Stop being crazy,” he reprimands before his features soften. “I trust you, Luna.”
As the pain and shock begins to fade, tears start rolling down her cheek. Slowly, she rests her hoof back onto the floor. Anon is taken off guard as she dashes and takes him into an embrace. For the first time, Anon sees Luna cry and for reasons that he’s not even aware of. He wraps his arms around her and allows her to cry all the pain away.
“I-I was afraid.” Luna cries into his shoulder. “I thought you hated me for what I’ve done.”
“There’s not much you can do that would make me hate you.” Anon speaks calmly. “Am I upset? Yes. Am I disappointed? Yes. Do I hate you? No.”
“I just- I just want to protect you.” Luna nuzzles into him an a desperate attempt to convey how sorry she is.
As Anon holds Luna close, he realizes it was a pipe dream to think that everything was fine with the sisters. Sure, he’s helped them, but there’s a millennia or more of issues on top of what he’s fixed. Luna has always been afraid of abandonment. Who isn’t? Though the difference is that nopony has another in their head trying to corrupt them day in and day out.
“I know, but it hurts me when you do something so reprehensible for my sake,” Anon admits as he lifts Luna’s chin so she can face him. “You left Blossom to protect me, and as a guard and friend, she’s exceeded my hopes. You can relax and we can try to move past what happened in Ponyville and Spike. I want to enjoy the time I have with you and Tia, not worry about the next dumb thing either of you try out of some misguided attempt to protect me when there’s no need.”
As Luna looks into Anon’s eyes, she feels the urge to lean in for a kiss. She loves him so much and his words only spur the need to relay that feeling to him. However, she must hold herself back but she must show him how much she cares. Luna leans in and kisses Anon on the cheek instead.
Pulling away, she feels her worries melt away. “I apologies for losing myself. Having her constantly there puts stress on me. I should have talked to you about my worries, but I know how much you have on your shoulders.”
Anon wasn’t expecting that kiss but it was a somewhat emotional exchange. “If you’re concerned about something, I’ll always listen. It’s no problem.”
Luna can feel that love swell inside of her. However, another issue is at hoof.
“Anon, you no longer need to keep what I’ve done a secret. I came clean to what happened. I’m sure Tia will come to talk with you about it.” Anon looks worried, so Luna hugs him again. “My sister and I are fine. This is something we’ll work out together.”
Anon calms down at her words. If that’s what she believes, then he’ll accept it. So much is going on right now that he’s not sure how to cope with it all.
“Thanks for the warning,” Anon responds, trying to clear his rampant thoughts.
Luna lets go of Anon as she feels her face cover in a blush. She can’t believe she kissed him! However, for Anon, he’s reminded that they’re not alone as he looks over to Nightmare Moon. She lays on her side, back facing them. His thoughts calm as he looks at her, a particular pain inside of him taking its place. A need to help, even though he knows it’s wrong. He has to remind himself that this mare tries to hurt Luna mentally.
Nightmare has been laying on the floor in silence. Despite all the damage she’s taken, there’s something else causing her to hurt inside. She doesn't know what it is, but ever since Anon has shown up, it feels far more unbearable than what Luna was subjecting her to. After their exchange, Nightmare could sense the resolve in Luna at Anon’s words. There’s no chance her words will cut at her now; he’s ruined everything in just a manner of seconds! She might as well rest while she has the time.
“What are you doing?” Luna asks.
Nightmare feels something rest on her side. She opens her eye and looks... to see Anon. He's kneeling beside her as he runs a hand over some of her wounds. He doesn’t answer, moving around to the front of Nightmare, lifting her head up to examine her face. There’s blood, bruises and scratches covering her from head to hoof. Once again, he has no idea if what he’s doing will even help, but at the very least, it makes him feel better. He snaps his fingers to summon bandages.
“Leave her.” Luna walks closer to Anon. “She doesn’t deserve the kindness.”
“Maybe not, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.” Anon starts wrapping Nightmare’s wounds. “Were you the one that helped me with my nightmare?” Anon can see how her eyes soften but she doesn't speak. Then again, with the beating she’s taken, she’s probably tired. “It makes sense. Only Luna and I can do that kind of stuff and I know it wasn’t her... So that leaves you.”
Anon lays Nightmare’s head onto the floor as he continues to work on her. “Thank you.” Anon says, placing a hand on her side. “You had no reason to help me, but you did regardless. I appreciate it.”
“Do not take her act as one of kindness,” Luna warns. “It could be nothing more than a ploy to corrupt you.”
“It’s something I’ve considered.” Anon still working on Nightmare. “Can I request something, Luna? You’ll probably be upset, but it’s something that’s been eating away at me.”
“What is it?” Luna cautiously asks.
“I want to visit Nightmare again.”
That causes both Nightmare and Luna to flinch.
“What?!” Luna looks baffled as she stomps her hoof. “No! You and I have talked about this. I don’t trust her, and you will undoubtedly be at risk.”
Anon finishes working on Nightmare. He stands up and walks back to Luna.
“I have to do this, Luna...” He turns away from her. “With or without your permission.”
“Give me a reason, Anon,” Luna asks seriously.
Anon looks from Luna back to Nightmare, who has yet to move. Even with what little history he knows, and the recent issues she’s been causing with Luna, he feels a small part of him wanting to know more and to help. The only thing he can say is what is apparent to him.
“She’s alone here.”
Nightmare winces. Loneliness has always been her companion, yet now she takes umbrage at the fact? Luna looks at Anon in awe. Even though the pony before him is Nightmare Moon, he still cares about those he can relate to. However, this is not something Luna can see from his point of view, given the history, but looking into his eyes, she can see a specific pain behind them. A need to at least try, even if it’s a fruitless endeavor.
She loves him so much, but his words from before are still on her mind. He trusts her, and after what she did, she may as well give him leeway on this. No matter how much her soul cries out to protect him from the monster before her.
“Please, come with me to speak in private.” Luna summons a door for them to leave.
Nightmare can’t believe what’s happening as she watches Anon walk out of her dream with Luna close behind. Once the door closes, the pain starts to fade away and numbness takes its place. She doesn’t understand that creature. Perhaps this will be what she needs to escape? However, despite her thoughts, she can’t look away from the bandage on her hoof.
Celestia is trotting through the halls of the castle in search of the resident human. Now that everything has come to light, she wants to assure him that whatever problems may arise can be solved together and he does not have to carry this burden alone. This is upsetting in many ways: it makes her question if he trusts her or if he’s afraid that everything will come crumbling to the floor, should he not hold it together.
She can’t blame him. He had just recently lost two of his closest friends and she knows how much that affected him. Now he’s probably worried about everyone and how their actions could destroy what little he has. Celestia understands that feeling; she felt it herself toward Luna when she first returned, but things worked out, thanks to Anon. While they may disagree or even fight, she wants him to know that they’ll always work things out in the end.
Celestia nods with confidence. However, that feeling fades as she remembers she hasn’t found Anon yet. She’s searched the dining hall, her bedroom, the bathhouse, and even the library. Twilight was there looking busy over something, so Celestia let her be. The only place left is his room, though one he’s seldom used over the past few months. It’s the only lead she has, unless he’s still out shopping around, but it’s been almost half an hour and Anon doesn’t stay out in public longer than necessary.
Turning toward his old room, she continues on with a newfound goal. While romance is indeed on her mind, she first needs to help Anon realise that what they have is strong and nothing can break it... A somber mood washes over her. If the worst should happen, and he’s not interested in her, she wants him to know that she will accept his choice, no matter how painful it may be.
Celestia shakes the thought away. No reason to assume the worst. Anything could happen, and she’s sure that with time, everything will work out.
Twilight is looking over the library with haste. She needs to find when the sisters were born and quickly! Her tongue pokes past her lips in concentration as she searches, but her mind is occupied with something else: she’s thinking about Anon. The giddy smile on her face hasn’t left since she spoke to him and how they plan to face Cadance and her brother together. This is undoubtedly the first step to making amends, and Twilight is well aware of how far Anon is pushing himself to make it work between them.
“By the end, maybe we can be friends?” she whispers to herself.
“Who can be friends?”
Twilight jumps in fright, turning on a dime to face the voice. Standing there is Spike. She instantly calms down.
“Oh, it’s you, Spike!” She places a hoof over her racing heart. “Sorry, I didn’t notice you there. I’ve got a top priority mission I’m on.”
Spike cocks his head. “Really? Is it from the Princess?”
“Nope!” Twilight goes back to searching. “It’s a secret, but I’ll tell you when the time is right.”
Spike doesn’t understand what she’s talking about, but she looks far livelier than when they last spoke, at least.
“Oh, do you need any help?” he offers.
“Um.” Twilight taps a hoof to her chin. “Yeah. Can you look for any records that reference when the sisters were born?”
“Any particular reason why?” he asks while walking over to a shelf to look through.
“As I said, it’s a secret... So, can you keep this between us?”
Spike salutes, puffing out his chest. “You got it, ma’am! This drake’s lips are sealed!” He smiles, looking excitedly at Twilight. “So what’s the secret?”
Twilight giggles, holding a hoof over her mouth. “Alright... Anon wants me to find out when the sisters were born so he can throw them a party.”
Spike drops the book he pulled from the shelf at that. There are so many things about what Twilight said that have Spike questioning his sanity.
“Um... Alright, let me get this straight... Anon asked you to help him find this stuff?”
“Eh… Sort of?” Twilight nervously rubs the book in her hoof. “It’s a long story. I swear I’ll tell you everything tonight, but please, I need you to keep everything as our secret.”
“I already said ‘ok.’” Spike picks up the book he dropped, but then an idea comes to mind. “Uh... I may know where a book like that is.”
Twilight whips around to face him. “Really?!”
“Yeah...” He takes a second to think about what he’s considering. “Luna has a lot of old books I’ve never seen before in her room. It has to have that kind of information in there. Or at least something that can help point us to it, if not.”
Twilight’s fur stands on edge. “L-Luna? You went into her room?” she asks in concern.
“Yeah, she was nice and I wanted to talk to her about a few things.” Spike faces Twilight. “She offered a lot of good advice and I feel better about a lot of things.”
Twilight bites her lip, her ears splaying against her head. Spike walks up to Twilight and hugs her, pulling her from thought.
“I don’t hate you, Twilight,” Spike says. “I know you’re trying hard to be forgiven, and that’s why I’ll always be by your side. Who else could be your Number One Assistant?”
Twilight’s heart melts as her eyes glisten, she hugs him tightly as a weight lifts from her. She’s been worried that what happened would make Spike leave, but hearing this makes her sure of the path she’s chosen. It also makes her wonder what Luna talked to him about to bring about this change.
“Thank you, Spike. I love you. I know it’s not something I say often, but I do.”
Spike can feel his eyes water a bit. “I love you too, sis...” He clears his throat as they move away. “So, I could probably ask Luna if I can look over her library. I don’t need to tell her why, but I have the feeling it’s the best shot at finding out when they were born.”
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Twilight asks. “I doubt you’ll get in trouble, but I wouldn’t want you to lose whatever trust Luna has in you.”
“It’s fine. We’re not doing anything wrong, right?”
Twilight shakes her head. “No.”
Spike nods. “Alright. I’ll talk to her now. There were a lot of books, so it might take some time.”
“No problem. I’ll be here if you need me.”
“See you at dinner?”
“I’ll be there.”
Twilight watches as Spike walks away. Everything is going to work out. She’s sure of it.
Celestia stands before the door to Anon’s room. She lifts a hoof to knock, but stops just shy as a thought comes to her. Could he be resting? Not to rudely wake him, she leans an ear against the door to be sure. There’s a set of rhythmic breaths from within. He certainly is resting, but not alone. Has her sister come to see him and they decided to take a nap together? She’s not sure and that leaves her apprehensive of what she should do.
Shifting from one hoof to the other she weighs her options. She wants to speak with him, but doesn’t want to wake him. However, if she’s to leave, then she’ll lose this opportunity to talk to him. Celestia wants to put this issue to rest as soon as possible, so going is not an option. Then a brilliant thought comes to mind. She’ll join in his nap and when he wakes, she’ll be there to talk to him. It’s foolproof!
Celestia silently opens his door and peeks into his room. There’s a large lump in the bed, apparently him resting. She remains quiet as she enters and closes the door behind her. Taking care to make each step towards his bed light as a feather. When she gets close enough, she confirms that Anon isn’t alone but the pony isn’t her sister, it’s her captain! Celestia isn’t sure how to take this. How close have they become that Anon would allow her to rest with him?!
Celestia can feel that other side of her mind starting to act up. It questions how familiar they are, if Luna’s captain is in some way a romantic threat. She calms down to settle her thoughts. They’re close friends and for that she’s grateful to see Anon as relaxed as he his when Celestia isn’t around. Though that still doesn’t mitigate her jealousy, it helps calm her irrational side.
Celestia can feel her heart race as her school filly thoughts boil to the surface. She wants to hold him and whisper sweet nothings as he rests. Kiss him awake and tell him that she loves him. She sits on her rump as she covers her face. She's so embarrassed by these thoughts that it’s almost unbearable! She quickly sets her mind back on course. Her plan will still work, even with company. Celestia lifts the blanket off Anon with her magic and scoots in behind him as she covers them properly.
She lets out a sigh of content, resting her head behind Anon, taking in his scent. Her heart and thoughts settle as she relaxes. Now she’ll wait, and then ease his feelings once he wakes. From there, well, only time will tell.