This story is a sequel to The Hermit
It has been a couple of months since Sunny and Zipp were stranded in the Everfree Forest. Their encounter with Anon still weighs heavily on Sunny's mind, so it comes as a pleasant surprise when he arrives in Maretime Bay one quiet morning.
However, although he is eager to speak to Sunny and Zipp again, Anon begins seeing more similarities between the past and the present than he is comfortable with. As a result, Sunny, Zipp, Pipp, Izzy, Hitch, and Misty find themselves under a great deal of pressure to do something that Anon doesn't seem too keen on explaining fully.
What is it that has Anon, immortal spouse of the long-deceased Celestia, so anxious? What is he trying to accomplish?
And what is he so desperate to hide from Sunny?
I just finished “The Hermit” and this was posted 5 minutes ago. Awesome timing.
Great start, can’t wait for more.
God, what a great start! I can't wait how Anon deals with the changes from G4 to G5. Keep it up!
it's alright so far.
I see what you did there.
Hey runic!
This looks interesting
surprise to be sure but a welcome one
My guy is definently on crack, producing so much quality content so rapidly!
I like to imagine Anon looks like Wolverine in Logan (2017)
Man, it must be something indescribable for Anon to see this. Seeing his old friends and loves essentially reborn into this new group of ponies. And now he’s the one to be their teacher. It’s clear the pain is getting to him, but I know for certain Celestia would want him to open up again!
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Now I'm doing it too
I forgot… is Sunny or Misty his granddaughter?
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Sunny is the granddaughter of Anon and Celestia. Prior to the events of this story, Anon did not know Misty existed.
Перепутали хитча с Мисти, именно она показала верность, И всё таки, куда пропали предыдущие аликорны? Их заточила в камень опалин?
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Russian Translation
Plot twist:
Opaline: Hello… Father
I’m kidding
nice chapter man
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So crazy it might just be it, (Not Really)
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Anon - You were the chosen one Opaline. You were meant to balance the Magic of Friendship not destroy it
Feeling Star Wars reference today
Anon, this is My Little Pony! You can't expect them to actually get rid of a villain!
Wow, I didn't expect him to come out this early in the story! But I guess it means more time for reminiscing and training! And, what exactly does Anon's history with Opaline include? Just up to where she divided Equestria? Or maybe more than that? I'm excited to find out!
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It didn't seem like he was expecting them to proactively get rid of her, he was just pointing out that she'd almost certainly try again.
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Actually... that's the same conclusion I drew. Unless Opaline is Cozy Glow by a different name, it's starting to look like Opaline is Anon and Celestia's daughter.
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Unless there's some serious plot twist coming up, as far as Anon knows (and implied to us) his daughter is Sunny's dead mother.
How she went from white Alicorn foal to Sunny's mother has yet to be revealed , but I do find it a little odd how he hasn't even said her name, even to himself.
I know he'd miss his wife and all, but I guess I just expected near equal consideration for the interspecies miracle of a daughter he raised who used to keep in touch with him regularly.
G5 always makes me feel sad
I love seeing Anon teaching Sunny, someone who can really guide on her being an alicorn. Loving this sequel so much!
to give
I’m tearing up. I don’t think I’ve ever really gotten this emotional from one of your stories before. Sunny now has someone to call family again, and Anon can be the grandpa he’s been wanting to be! This was so moving, and I can’t wait to see them get closer and bond over their newfound familial love!
The futility of keeping secrets from pastel ponies
Not completely sure what it is that makes g5 stories so emotionally charged. Might be „the things we have lost“ when connected in this way to g4.
But, it’s a good thing I’m reading this at home and not on a bus…
Great story so far.
You went right for the heart with this one, eh? Because oof this one got me.
"Her Name Was Joy Starscout"
His name was Robert Paulson
I don't cry easily when I read stories like this one. But today was an exception. 😢
A beautiful, heartwarming moment there. Well done!
Called it!
How dare you end this story like that! I thought it was going to be longer
friendship training and human shenanigans… plus that ending 
Btw, love how Anon wants Opaline redeem. That’s special mercy of friendship that any MLP character would ever has shown before…
Wait… After chapter 5?!? Noooooo!!!
I didn’t expect Celestia to survive
Wonderful story, I am glad sunny has a grandfather.
Keep up the great work.
Oof. I expected the moment Celestia revealed herself to Anon that she probably wouldn't be 100% intact, but still. She got put through the wringer.
With that ending, there better be a sequel at some point. I NEED to know what happened, to leave it here would actually be criminal. Gah, my feels man.....
If Tia is alive then maybe Twilight is too.
Oh my god, Celestia was alive! That very well means Twilight could be too! The reunion between Celestia and Anon was too much, I cried right there along with them. Now Sunny can have a proper family again soon! And man, it is scary to see just how much of a beating Celestia took, and that alone makes me wonder if Twilight survived. I truly, truly hope so, along with Joy Starscout.
But you know what this means Runic, right?
This means there better be a DAMN sequel to this story!
WHY RUNIC?! DON’T LEAVE US WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL CLIFFHANGER!
This is beautiful BUT YOU CANT STOP!
Oh man Sunny is gonna flip when she finds out she has a grandma to hug too.
These have been stories that would fulfil an Anons wildest dreams (except the harem one maybe), without being overly trite and convoluted in the way that most other fics with self inserts or Anons tend to do. So I applaud you for that.
I can't help but wonder though, if Anon here might actually be somewhat mistaken in his assessments of the Elements of Harmony.
G5 so far has given me the impression their traits have been sort of diffused and mixed around between them all. Hitch may be sheriff but he's as kind as Fluttershy not just because he's always caring for animals, but also compassionate enough to be Sunny's only friend for most of her life. Misty may have the butterfly mark, but given how the episodes went it seems more likely it reflects her own personal growth to be who she really is, catalysed by her loyalty to true friends, even if shes just as shy. Zipp exudes many of the qualities of Rainbow Dash, but her detective work tells me honesty is pretty high up on her priority list.
And, they've had other names in the past across generations. The Pillars of Equestria weren't exactly named after all the same traits either. Different ponies needed in different times after all. Does G5 need all of the exact same 6 elements? I guess only time will tell, but I think it's arguable that the qualities Sunny and her friends embody might just be a little bit different.
I once read a post or fic somewhere that posited that Sunny would be the Alicorn of Hope. That ponies could be united again, that things could change. Maybe that's what they need this time round.
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it was mentioned in the last story
Sorry to bring you down. Joy died from Sunny’s birth
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Possibly, but that’s as far as Sunny knows. Anon and Sunny thought Celestia was gone too. Maybe it’s something Runic will revisit in the sequel to this story (which I refuse to accept ‘no’ as an answer!).
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Thank you friend, while i love Kalashnikov's weaponry his country's language might aswell be gobbildigook to me
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Yknow what's worse than a Grammar Nazi?
A Grammar Nazi Who's W r o n g