//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13 
// Story: A Word of Caution 
// by Eighth 
//------------------------------//

"Where is Anon?" You ask the wildly grinning Applebloom.

"Up in the far west field, where the cows usually graze."

As you get up, Applebloom remains seated. She watches you leave and you wish she would have actually came with you. This way you'd have someone or something to focus on. You could carry on the conversation or even just pay very close attention to the smug grin she had. At least that way your mind would have something to stew on and wouldn't be alone with itself.

"He was mocking me."

"Thank Twilight, yeah, thank thick-headed Twilight. That's what he really meant."

"Anon was just laughing at my expense. Silly, stupid Twilight."

And other similar thoughts echo through your mind over and over. They seem to feed off one another as you get closer to the field so you're practically ready to burst the second you get there.

Once you arrive near the herd, you notice they've all gathered around something. In the centre of it looks to be Applejack, Granny, and Anon. Pushing past, and a little shoving, you get to the commotion where one of the cows in on her side. In labour. Anon looks to be up to his elbows inside guiding the calf in its birth.

"Hey Twilight," says Applejack as she leads you back a bit, "Gertie here was having a bit of trouble, seems her poor little calf was coming out backwards. And a little slowly, which can mean all sorts of trouble. We were about to send for Dr. Fauna or maybe even Fluttershy but Anon here seems to know what he is doing. Those arms come in real handy, look."

You do. And wish you hadn't. The look of all the slime, ooze, and mucus unsettles your stomach and you dry heave. Even looking away doesn't help as you've already burned the image deeply into your mind.

"Oh, don't be like that Twi', birthing is as natural as it gets."

Gertie lets out a groan as she tries to push the calf and curiosity betrays you. You look and it sets off the dry heaving again. AJ rolls her eyes at you. Then the two of you wait patiently in silence. Even the cows wait with bated breath until the final push. 

A few of the cows shove through to begin licking the newborn calf. Applejack is quick to grab and lead you out of the enclosing herd where Anon joins you. You're about to fire back up again when you notice all the... stuff is still all over his arms. It's even on his shirt, pants, and shoes. Anon kneels down with an expression of worry, he even puts a gooey hand on your withers. Which deals the final blow to your already unstable gut. As you free yourself of breakfast, Anon cleans himself off with a nearby bucket of water.

"Please don't ever, ever touch me with something like that again," you croak and shudder.

"Could Anon talk to Twilight?"	

"Of course," you reply before realising he was actually talking to Applejack.

"Of course," she repeats.

There's a moment of silence as she walks away but once she disappears into the tree line, your eyes meet with Anon's for the first time. Just as you are looking him over, his eyes seem to be doing the same to you.

"What did you want to talk about?" You ask, finally cutting into the silence.

"Applebloom?"

"We talked, about you. But I think you knew that."

Anon just tilts his head with an expression of curiosity. And you remark to yourself how once upon a time his face was so foreign to you that his expressions always seemed a little off. But now that you've seen him every single day, it's as plain as the muzzle on your own face.

"For one thing, 'thank Twilight'."

As if to add insult to the injury, he laughs. Loudly. He throws his head back to send the bellowing chuffs into the sky as his belly shakes with the effort.

"Thank was... not understand."

"A misunderstanding."

He nods, "But was fun."

As takes a seat in front of you he also chuckles a little more. Yet the laughter is nothing more than innocent happiness. You sigh and shake your head at yourself as you think how Anon wasn't the only one misunderstanding.

"Sorry."

"It was just a joke," you immediately reply in order to dismiss the apology, "Nothing wrong with that."

"No. Sorry for no talking. Anon and Twilight."

"I'm sorry too," you answer as you too sit down on the soft grass with Anonymous, "I should have tried pushing conversation over learning in recent days."

You look away slightly, a little embarrassed with yourself.

"But," you add, "Your speech has progressed great. Still broken but you're very easy to understand now."

"Apples helped... Twilight?"

"Yes?"

"Can we talk?"

"Of course, what about?" you ask eagerly.

"Anonymous."

"About you? You want to talk about you?"

"Yes."

"I want nothing more, but... Why now?"

Anon gives your question some thought. His face hardens like stone as he looks for the words then he takes a deep breath and begins.

"Afraid."

The single word is so final and broad of an answer that it takes you a moment to catch on.

"Of what?"

"Of here. I... Did not want it to be home."

"I don't understand."

"Anonymous... I was afraid that... If all knew then this would be home."

"You didn't want to get attached?"

"Yes. But I think... I am ready to be known."

"Then why me?"

"Remember book?"

You nod vigorously as the possibilities of its contents have plagued your mind so often that it's impossible to forget THAT book.

"It is my... book of you."

"Me?"

He nods, "And Apples, and all ponies."

Then it is your turn to throw your head back and laugh into the sky above. Based on what you heard from Applebloom, it seemed the obvious explanation but even then you didn't expect it. Even though he is an alien, you can't help but laugh as the similarities. The both of you were making notes on one another, trying to learn to communicate, and all the while you never got around to having any conversation that would answer any questions.

"I want Twilight to know. Twilight is..."

His face creases as he struggles to find the word. You lean forward in anticipation and try to fight back the urge to give possibilities in fear that would influence his answer.

"Twilight is help... Twilight gave Anonymous words and words make Anonymous able to make here... Home."

He smiles at you warmly which you return in earnest.

"Thank Twilight."

"Hello Anonymous," you reply, somehow unable to resist the urge or even stop yourself before the words escape you. But Anon laughs, and you join in.

The two of you laugh for a little while then let silence fill the space between you for a moment. Only the cows off in the distance mooing softly in celebration of welcoming a new calf into the herd can be heard. Then Anon takes a deep breath and begins to speak with a smile.

"My real name is..."

---END---