> Dreaming of the Moon
>  by BeardedRedMane
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue Dreaming of the Moon (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	You no longer have a place in this world. Hell… It's probably safe to say that you never really belonged in the first place. It was just a tiny lie that you kept telling yourself. One that helped you get through the days. However with that lie gone you just couldn't live in reality anymore, it was too painful. Too cruel and unforgiving… However one day, by mere chance, you stumbled upon it. On some strange site under one of its' many boards you discovered it.

Lucid Dreaming.

Hell, the board even boasted that with enough training one could truly leave this world behind, surfing the plains of the universe for worlds yet touched by the hand of man.

Bullshit.

You weren't an idiot. Things like magic, spirits and the like were simply delusions of the mind-- but this? This was golden! Your very own retreat from such an undesirable reality! As you lie back into your bed with your eyes closed and breathing steady you prepare to leave the waking world behind. Opening your eyes you are met with a starry night sky and breathe in deeply. This scene was completely new to you and you slowly let your eyes wander around marveling at the evergreen field before you, lit by the moons soft glow.

Peace and Solitude. Something that the other world completely lacked, you would gladly spend the rest of your night just gazing up at the sky with no other sound than the wind lightly passing through the field. However a small sound carried by the wind grabs your attention and you lazily prop yourself up on your elbows and turn your head toward the direction of the sound.

Behind you is a massive tree that you would not have noticed had the sound not caught your attention. Now with your attention focused on the sound you can just barely make it out.  Someones…. crying? With your curiosity peaked you decide to slowly rise and follow the sounds, whomever is crying is most likely just on the other side of the tree. Ever so carefully you make your way around the tree, trying to be silent as possible, as not to scare whomever is on the other side. The crying grows ever so clearer and one final step brings you face with---

….
……
………

Words fail you, your body freezes and try as you might the only thing you are able to do is gaze awkwardly at what is front of you. Sitting at the base of the large tree, staring up at the night sky was something that you could only describe as the personification of the night itself. A mare whose coat was as dark as the night sky, a mane shining with the brilliance of the stars themselves! And her eyes….  Why were they marred by tears? Something this beautiful should never cry.

You don't really know why you did what you did next, it just kind of happened. With a hand you slowly reach out toward the mare but before you are able to touch her she takes notice of your presence. She flinches away from your hand and eyes that were filled with sadness moments ago now quake in fear, surprise and confusion. 

"It's lonely isn't it? With no one to share such a beautiful night with?"

You really don't know if what you said was the right thing… You were really never the type of person who was able to do or say the right thing when it mattered. All you knew was that the fear slowly melted from her face and with a tiny voice that wavered in the wind she replied, "You would sit by me in my night?"


•	•	•


How much time had passed since that first night you had met her? Did it even matter? No… all that mattered was that wordless promise to stand by her at night. With time she began to open up to you, at first your mere presence was enough to comfort her but soon enough words were exchanged. You talked of numerous things from your everyday life to epic tales of history, regaling tales of knights and honor. She seemed to really take to those stories. You also talked about your family and personal things that you thought you would take to the grave. One day in particular Luna finally opened up to you. She rarely talked about herself or her world, merely saying that nopony had ever cared to listen.

"A long time ago… we committed a sin." She began, her voice wavering slightly, "Because of this sin we were banished from our people… to be locked in eternal darkness with only the cold and silence to accompany us." She was gazing up at the moon again, with…  Sadness? Hatred? Remorse? I… I've never been able to read people well or their feelings. Maybe… Maybe it was a mix of all three. After a moment she finally broke her gaze with the moon and locked a new one upon you, her eyes boring into yours searching for… something. A Response?

You never really were good at this… People often called you an unempathetic person and even as a child you had trouble relating with others. But… regardless of that fact seeing her cry again was something that you didn't want. Reaching up you wrapped your hands around her, bringing her head to rest against your chest. "Even if your sin meant the end of the world, I would stand by your side till my last breath."

Under a tree in a grassy field, lit by the moons soft glow the only sounds carried by the wind were those that had made you reach out to her in the first place. But this kind of crying you was something that you could allow. 


•	•	•


Recently you've become a master at Lucid Dreaming, going so far as to be able to force yourself to sleep at will and even attaining a sudo sleep while still conscious of the real world around you. With all of your work done for the day at the office you decide to spend your lunch break with Luna. No longer needing to close your eyes you slow your breathing and concentrate. Your body numbs and seconds later you suddenly break away from reality. The surroundings speed past you in a blur of magnificent light until you are met with a grassy field under a moonlit sky. In the distance you see her, as always staring at the moon.

"Luna!"

Her left ear swivels toward the direction of your voice as she turns your way, trotting over before throwing her forelegs into the air. "Anon! We demand that thou relinquish the hug of welcome!" she boomed in a cute sort of 'I can't control the volume of my voice' way. For some reason she seemed to have trouble with that, probably the isolation but you didn't have the heart to say anything about it. Obliging the little princess you wrap your arms around her and hug her tightly. "We also demand the use of your hooves--- uhm.. Hands. To exercise the most enjoyed mane ruffling."

"Hoh ho, as Princess Luna commands it shall be done." Teasing her you begin work with your hands She seemed to be very partial to your hands, although you were sure that she could have achieved the same affect with her magic. Nonetheless she insisted on you doing it, something about a Princess does not something or other and that it was always the servants' duty.  Hands! Ponykind is not yet ready for the power bound within these digits!!" After separating you both sit side by side and gaze up at the moon.

"Anon…" Luna started, her voice quite low and timid, forcing you to turn toward her to hear her properly. "We--- I.. am really happy… that you.. and.." she began pawing at the grass with a hoof. She really is awkward. But then again aren't I? At least here I can be a little manly. Deciding that a little aid was in order you pull her close and despite her protests you begin to blow raspberries into her belly. You stop after a minute when you think she's just about flustered enough to get the words out on her own.

"We are very happy to have met you… Ever since... ever since I was banished from my world my mind has been clouded with rage, hate, revenge…" briefly her gaze drops and for a second you are afraid she might begin to cry, however moments later she raises her head and locks her gaze with yours once again. "But… but even if.. If I am never able to see my precious little ponies again. Staying here.. in this dream with you… might not be so intolerable." Now it was your turn to be at a loss of words. Once again, you were really never good with saying the right thing, especially when it mattered and even if you knew what to say, more often than not you lacked the courage to say it. All you could do was look up at the full moon and in your heart swear that you would always be there for her.


•	•	•


You looked like shit. Face unshaven, hair a matted mess and to top things off you hadn't eaten a single thing since then. It had been an entire one hundred and forty two hours since you last saw Luna. No matter what you did or how hard you tried you were unable to cross over to that grassy field under the full moon. Every time you tried your mind felt the heat of a thousand suns. Weeks turned to months and every day without fail you would try to force your way back to that place. Bearing through the pain only to wake up later finding that you had passed out at some point.
But you will never stop trying. Because somehow… Somewhere out there… In that grassy field, gazing up at the full moon with tears in her eyes; Luna is waiting for you.


•	•	•


"Can you tell me your name, son?"
"It's Anon sir."
"Alright, now Anon. Can you tell me where you are at the moment?"
"Yeah, I'm… in my.."

Wait… Where the hell am I? And who the fuck is this guy asking me questions?! Suddenly you become aware of a steadily growing noise and you try to sit up only to find that there are heavy leather straps binding you down to a cold metal table. The noise quickens to an alarming rate.
…..
……..
………….
Nope

That wasn't good for your racing heart; already there were beads of sweat beginning to pool on your forehead as your eyes dart left and right desperately looking for an escape. The man notices your panic and quickly begins to unstrap you. "Calm yourself Anon. You are currently in St. Marcus Hospital, the reason you were bound is because when you were brought here in an ambulance nothing we did would cease your lashing out. Injections, gas, nerve numbing agents; not a single thing phased you. If you weren't bound you would have caused further harm to yourself and the staff."

As expected of a doctor, this man knows the right things to s--OH DEAR GOD. It seemed that now was the time your nerves decided to reconnect to their respective pain receptors. EVERYTHING hurt. It felt like you were bruised all over and since breathing hurt you assumed you also broke a rib or two. AND GOD THE HEADACHE. It felt as if someone had performed a curb stomp on your dome and damn near succeeded.

"What.. happened to me..?"

Crossing his arms the doctor tried his best to conceal his surprise. After a moment of failing he finally responded, "Well we were honestly hoping that was something that you could tell us. Your mother was the one that called the ambulance. She also said that you were clawing at your head screaming 'Luna'…" The doctor paused for a second to stroke his beard, "Who is Luna, Anon?"

"Beats me." The troubled expression on the mans face only grew stronger, "Am I still immune to drugs? Cause if I'm not everything hurts. Put me out please."

The doctor lifted a brow, "You're on morphine… We'll have to run a few more tests on you now that we.." the doctor rambled off silently before his face switched to a reassuring grin, "Well for now rest Anon, now that you have finally regained consciousness I'm sure your mother will want to come in to see you. I'll be right back with her." The doctor announces as he exits the room.

Crazy… I just bonked out and started beating the shit out of myself?
……
……..Luna.. huh?

You don't know what Luna means but for some reason your chest hurts.


•	•	•


You were released from the hospital a week later with some nasty claw marks on your head and shoulders. There was one other thing too, the doctors said that a good portion of your brain was--- damn what was it again? All that technical jargon that doctor used wasn't needed. Basically he said a portion of your brain was fried, taking with it all the memories of the past year.

Fuck'n crazy.

To make matters even weirder apparently you gave all of your friends the cold shoulder and became more of a recluse than you were originally. You didn't even game! It took some talking with your friends but they seemed really happy to have you back to normal, though there was something that they wouldn't tell you about the last time they saw you. Whatever it was it didn't feel like it would have been a fun conversation. Nevertheless you were determined to get back into the swing of things. Sitting down at your PC you pull up Firefox and decide to thumb through your favorite comics, thinking that a few of them would have been updated within the-- Fuck it's been a year hasn't it? That's gonna take some getting used to. Scrolling through your bookmarks you find that it's a bit larger than what you remember.
"4chan.org /X/… Lucid Dreamers… A Reference Guide to Tulpas… Dreams and Spectral Projecting…" What the hell is all of this? You wonder before clicking on the 4chan.org /X/ link bringing up an image board. "Lucid Dreaming… huh? Sounds kinda' interesting."

> Chapter 1 The Everlasting Dream (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey! Names' Anon. I'm Twenty yea-- wait.

Fuck I'm Twenty one, aren't I? Sorry about that, I lost an entire fuckin' years' worth of memories a while back, bear with me. Though it really isn't all as bad as it sounds, I'd like to think that I obtained something in return; sort of like Equivalent Exchange. Yes I'm a nerd, yes I like anime, get off me. Anyway call it a 'drive' if you will… or force? It's a little complicated, sort of like I just can't sit still anymore. I get this anxious feeling every now and then, like there's something really important that I need to do…

Damn it all, it makes my head hurt when I try to figure out what that something is. Anyway, I found that hitting the gym dulls that feeling a bit. Although it always comes back at night, especially on nights with a full moon. Heh, what am I a damn werewolf? But like I said, complicated… and weird. I mean from my current memory I was never really one to work out, nor did I ever really need it. I'm one of those douchebags that naturally has a six pack without working out, also I have a high metabolism. Either way though, I may not have needed to work out then but man! Do I look like a chiseled beast now! So yeah life is going pretty good for me at the moment, that whole, 'Springtime of Youth' phase.

Too bad it's about to be cut short.

One second you're owning it up in your own personal reality aka lucid dream and the next moment you're bleeding out on a really nice wooden floor. Right, getting ahead of myself again guess I'd better start at the beginning. I had just managed to pull off entering a lucid dream from a waking state…


•	•	•


"So… Let me get this straight. You're a talking... purple unicorn pony thing?" Anon declared as they floated in a black void

"Yes!" she quickly replied with a hint of annoyance, standing on her--  Wow… ponies shouldn't be able to stand up on their two back legs and raise their two front legs in emphasis that way. Moreover her eyes are too big, I've been watching too much anime again…

"And your entire race of peo-- ponies is in danger?"

"As we speak!" she stomped her hoof down that made an adorable little clopping sound. "Currently Ponyville-- neigh! All of Equestria is in peril." Oh God, did she just whinny? I think my heart stopped for a second. "The Everlasting Dream has thrown everypony into an unending nightmare--"

"Except for you?"

"Yes, by chance I was able to detect it's presence before it befell us. Taking the necessary precautions I cast a defensive spell around my home and began research in my library. We don't have much time, my defensive spell is waning as the number of ponies under its influence grows. Soon all of Equestria will be trapped in an unending nightmare!"

A world in peril, its inhabitant's greatest heroes useless against the oncoming terror! Their only hope; a legendary hero from another realm to combat the darkness! Anon the--… Yeah I just can't get hyped over this. The plot is cliché, the inhabitants are something out a nine year old girls imagination, where did it all go wrong Anon? Whatever, still not the craziest dream I've had. All blame goes to 4chan. "Well what're we waiting for little pony? Let's go."

"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle" she responds with a hint of anger, "And if we're going to take on this dream we're going to need all the help we can get." Twilights' horn sparks to life in a blindingly bright flash of magenta as they fade out of one plane and into another.

"That was… abrupt." Anon muttered as he blinked the after image from his eyes. "Whoa…" instead of floating in a void they now stood in an infinitely long hallway with an innumerable amount of doors lining the way left and right. Fuckin' dream logic, place looks like it goes on for forever…Each door seemed to have a plaque for a room number but upon closer inspection found they were names instead. "Rainbow.. Dash huh?" Anon muttered before turning toward Twilight who seemed to be either lost in thought or shock. "So, what are we looking for again?"

"Behind each one of these doors must be somepony trapped within their nightmare… Unfortunately we don't have the time to free them all one by one. No, the best course of action would be to gather the Elements of Harmony and aid you conquering this nightmare."

"Elements of Harmony?"

"The Six Elements of Friendship?" Anon raised an eyebrow, Gay. Twilight's jaw dropped before she put on her best 'pls n00b r u shitting me?' face and explained. "Me and my friends represent the Six Elements of Harmony;

Applejack is Honesty, Fluttershy Kindness, Pinkie Pie Laughter, Rarity Generosity, Rainbow Dash Loyalty and I am magic. When combined the elements become a force of great power that is able to restore Harmony to anything it interacts with." 

"Right." Anon deadpanned. That is the last time I decide to have five chocolate bars as dinner, he thought before turning toward a door.

"Now the only hard part is how we're going to find them… A locator spell? I could use the basi-- Hey, where are you going?"

"Rainbow Dash is in here."

"What? That's amazing! You have some sort of long range telekinetic power or--"

"Nameplate on the door."

"Oh.." Twilights' ears flatted against her head as she and Anon walked into the room.


•	•	•


Rainbow Dash really, REALLY hated the hospital but it seemed that she spent a significant amount of her time in them. Not that she was cursed with a sickly body or anything, but because she always enjoyed the thrill of testing out new tricks that more often than she liked to admit, failed. Huh… must have been one really dangerous trick… I don't even remember how I got in here.

Rainbow Dash was brought from her musings by the sound of a stallion clearing his throat, she tried to move her body to face him but only her head seemed to move and with effort at that. "Ms. Dash?"

"Yeah that’s me, Fastest Flier in Equestria!" Dash boasted with a smile, "Now how about you tell me the damage; three, four days max and I'll be good to go?"

The stallion bit his lower lip before averting his gaze to the floor. A few moments passed and Dash was about to try again before the doctor let out a low sigh. "There was an accident.. and we did the best we could but.." The doctor paused before finally gaining the courage to look Dash in the eyes. "You broke your back and severed numerous nerve receptors on your spine resulting in complete paralysis from the neck down."

Sound faded from her ears only to be replaced with the deafening roar of silence as she tried to comprehend what was just suggested. "I… I.. but-- What did you just say?" Dash's normal bravado failed as her voice cracked at the end.

"I'm sorry, it looks like you've damaged your spine beyond repair. Even with magic assisting the healing process and intense rehabilitation it would be a miracle for you to walk without help again. Let alone fly."

……
……………..
………………………..

"Did you not hear me, Ms. Dash? I said that you will never fly again." the doctor said with a mocking smile that would have gone noticed if she hadn't just entered shock. "You will never be able to lead a normal life, even the simplest and most basic of bodily functions will require aid from a professional. You will forever be dependent on a caretaker."

"No… you're wrong… I was just flying--- yesterday! You'll see.. You'll all see! Just a few days rest and I'll be right as rain-- and I can move! I can move just.. fine?" but try as she might she couldn't budge a muscle. Moving her neck alone seemed to drain her of all her energy. Her wings-- or what was left of them lied limp and bandaged at her sides.

I'll never fly again…
Join the Wonder Bolts?
I can't even fly up to my house.
Can't even walk…

As the futility of everything came crashing down on her the final insult was given as she couldn't even turn away to cry. Her coat darkened and the colors of her mane dulled as she did the only thing she could do; weep for her shattered dreams. She vaguely registered the sound of a door opening but couldn't bring herself to either look or care.

"Rainbow Dash, I'm so glad we found you!" a voice exclaimed it neared her. "Quick, we have to get out of here, Ponyville is in danger we need your help!"

"Twi…light? I…no…." came but a whisper, "I can't help you."

"Alright, let's go." Twilight turned toward the door We've still got to find the others and if we--wait, what?" Twilight stopped in her tracks and whirled around to face Dash, "What do you mean no? If we don't act now all of Equestria could be doomed!"

For the first time since Twilight entered the room Dash lifted up her face up to look at her, her eyes empty. "I can't help you… I can't even move my hooves, let alone fly. I'm broken… Just… just leave me alone." Dash sighed painfully as she turned her head away staining the blankets with tears. "please, just leave me alone."

"Dash.. I--"

"So… this is that Rainbow-- what's-her-name?" Anon interrupted as he walked toward Dash, "Element of Loyalty or something like that, right?" bending down he grabbed Dash by the jaw and slowly brought her face to his.

"Hey, let me go--WHOA! Who--What the buck are you?" Dash cursed as her eyes widened in confusion and fear.

"Who am I? Who are you? Element of Loyalty?" Anon questioned before craning his neck back toward a shocked Twilight, his face showing uncertainty. "Hey Magenta, you sure we got the right person? Cause," Anon turned his head back to lock eyes with Dash, loathing in his eyes. "If this is what passes as loyalty in your world-- hell, if this is what passes for friendship then I must say; there really isn't much worth saving in your world."

"WHAT? How dare you?! My wings DON'T WORK!" Dash began with rage before her voice died out to almost a whisper, "I'm… broken.. A Pegasus who can't even fly… Who could possibly ever need my help?"

"Huh… So that's how far your Loyalty goes then? Go ahead, give up. Just stay in this room for the rest of your life, bawling your eyes out like a baby. But y'know what? If it were me, what I would do? Even if every god damn bone in my body was pulverized, you'd better believe I'd be crawling my way on my fucking face. Your friends don't need your help?" Anon gestured toward Twilight, "She came here because she needed it right?"

"But… what could I possibly offer?" Dash said with uncertainty, but a bit of her color began to return, "What am I supposed to do?"

"Stand by her side! Isn't that what friends are for?" Anon let go of her face yet kept his eyes locked onto Dash's as her coat finally regained its former luster and her mane it's prismatic sheen. 

"I.. I don't need you telling me that!!" Dash shouted as she tore the covers from her body, leaping into the air and extending her wings to the fullest. "I'm Rainbow Dash! And I'll Never turn my back on a friend in need!" Crossing her forehooves Dash glared down upon Anon as she puffed her chest out.

"Well look at that, you've got two perfectly good wings right there." Anon casually says as he smiles back at the fully recovered Rainbow Dash.

"I…I do!" Stunned, Dash glances back over her wings before turning her glare at the doctor who during her depression had tripled in height yet now he was no larger than a filly, his face contorted in rage. The room slowly begins to ripple as the stallion lets out a high pitched squeal and seconds later the entire room shatters leaving the trio standing in the hallway they were in before.

"Let's get out of here Twilight, we've got some friends to save!" Dash stated as she touched back down to the ground. "Actually… where are we?"

…..
……..

"Equestria to Twilight, anypony home?"

"Oh-- Right. We're inside of a dream--nightmare really." Twilight stammered. Amazing, his power is amazing! In just a few words he broke Rainbow Dash out of her own nightmare… But.. This situation is more dire than I initially predicted, nopony realizes that they are trapped in a dream and it seems to have some hold or impact on them… But it's not like they could die in here.. It's just a dream, right? Clearing her mind of her worries Twilight shook her head before she began again, "We've got to find the others and free them from their nightmares."

"…and what is that?" Dash thrust a hoof in Anons' direction."

"That is…"

"Anon." Anon states.

"Anon, he's a legendary spiritual being from the dream realm that I summoned; he seems to hold power in this place and can help us defeat this nightmare."

Anon blinked, What am I? A fucking Pokemon? "Pretty sure I'm just an ordinary Human, but whatever floats your boat.

"Pfft, so this huumon is supposed to save us? Doesn't look that tough to me… Bet he's real slow, with only having two legs to run on." Dash commented as she sized Anon up.

"Say's the girly looking Pegasus, moreover, who was just bawling their eyes out? Oh God! My wings! Their broken! I'm useless, woe is m--Gah!" Dash throws a marvelous jab that Anon would have praised had it not been dished out toward his gut and hurt like a bitch. Fuuuuck.. Did my dog just step on me? At least my brain translated it into something instead of waking me up. I kinda want to see the end of this dream. Anon rubbed his stomach before lightly punching Dash back.

"Alright, no time for talking, we've got to hurry." Twilight stated as her horn began to illuminate with magic, "Since my last spell put us close to Dash's door I think I'll be able to get us closer to our next friend, maybe even directly into their dream." We may have managed to free Dash easily… But what of the others? I really hope their alright, Twilight prayed, unable to shake off a feeling of dread.


•	•	•


Applejack always knew she couldn't replace them. Sooner or later a time would come when the question would pop up. Gotta have a plan, gotta be prepared. She would break it down, tell her the truth. How it happened… Why it happened. That even though they weren't here they were still watching over them.

"Why did ma and pa have'ta die?"

There were no plans.
No thoughts.
No words that she could muster.

"Why'd they have'ta die an leave me alone? Why'd ya let them die?" Applebloom questioned, her ears drooped down in confusion and sadness.

"Wha… but-- Why who in tarnation told ya that?" Firm, that's how Applejack had meant for that statement to sound but instead it was barely a whisper. It wasn't your fault. You were just a filly with a stupid dream… It was just the wrong place and the wrong time… They told you-- said it wasn---

"Everypony." Applebloom uttered, blowing away the reasons Applejack had been building up, "Big Mac, Granny Smith. Everypony."

……
……..
…………

No… Big Mac? Even Granny Smith? But.. they said… They assured me… Said it wasn't mah fault. I.. I just wanted to see the big city.

"Big Mac said that if'n you weren't born that they'd still be here. That ah'd been able to meet em… That ah'd have a ma and pa." Applebloom said mockingly, her tone however was lost on Applejack as the color rapidly begins to fade from her. It was mah fault… Had ah not ran away… had ah not wanted to live the big city life… Ah.. killed em… Ah took my sisters parents from her…

A hoof is placed on Applejacks shoulder that brings her out of her self-hatred, turning toward the hoof she looks for anypony to tell her it wasn't her fault. An escape from the feelings welling up inside of her.

None is given.

Standing there with burning hate in his eyes was Big Mac.

"Ah told you. Told you not ta go, warned ya." he spat, his face contorted in rage. "But no, ya had to go, had to live the big life. How was it sis? Was it worth it? Was it all that you wanted it to be?" Letting go of her shoulder Big Mac reaches for the yoke around his neck. To take off what he had been hiding. What he hid for her. What she did to him. As the yoke dropped from his neck so did blood spill from a large gash at his neck. It never healed? No…

No more…

It's too much…

"You brought this on yourself, Applejack! Repent!" roared Big Mac

"Give them back... Give back my ma and pa!" cried Applebloom.

A low creaking started to Applejacks left, a comforting sound that she had always known. The sound of her Granny Smith rocking in her chair as she stared out over the farm. "Ya know what the most painful thing in the world is Applejack?" Granny Smith questioned as she slowly stopped her rocker and looked down at her hooves. "Burying the child you gave birth to…"

Applejack just wanted it all to stop, to run away but no escape was given so instead she just fell back onto her haunches and cried. She cried for the parents Applebloom would never know. For her brother who forever would bear a visible reminder of her mistake. For her grandmother, who not only had to bury her children but had to raise the one responsible for it. How could I ever repent? earn even a fraction of forgiveness?"

"You know what ya have to do, you've known it all along." Applebloom said in a sing song voice.

"You know what you have to do. You've always known." Big Mac spat as he tossed a rope in front of Applejack.

That's right… ah already knew… A've always known… Picking up the rope Applejack slowly made her way toward the barn.


•	•	•


"A farm huh..? Sure are… a lot of Appletree's. They're kinda small looking though." Anon commented as he surveyed the landscape. 

"It's… Sw..sweet apple acres.. this has got to be.. AJ's dream.." Twilight panted as sweat pooled on her brow. Twilight was used to teleporting herself and other ponies and was at a loss as to why she felt so winded. Perhaps it has something to do with Anon… I'll have to compile a theory later and hope he stays around for enough tests to be done. After recovering her breath she continued, "Let's hurry, I have a bad feeling about this."

"Already on it!" Dash saluted before she sped off in the direction of the farm leaving behind a visible light trail behind her.

What the Fu--dream logic. "She got a jet mounted in her wing or something?"

"A what?" Twilight questioned.

"Never mind." Quickly the pair made their way toward the barn, albeit it was a snail's pace when compared to the speeding bullet that is Rainbow Dash.


"Dash? Did you find Applejack?" Twilight called out when they neared the barn and suspiciously eyed the closed barn door.

Anon however had no such reserves as he kicked the door to the barn open. Seriously? Who closes a barn door? I mean doesn't that saying come fr-- A blur of pink fills Anon's vision before barreling into his chest with enough force to knock him up and off his feet sending him tumbling past Twilight.

"OH WOW! I'm so happy that ponies started showing up! I mean not like they wouldn't, I made sure to tell everypony, well maybe not exactly tell but I left notes though. Its like, where is everypony today? But hey, I'm not sad or anything, even if everypony is a bit late I'm sure they all just got lost. I should have put up more signs, OH and maybe even a big balloon and--- Hey! Who are you anyway? You're new aren't you? Cause I know everypony and I've never seen anypony like you. We're going to have so much fun and I'm going to throw you a welcoming party! There will be balloons, cakes, apples, and all of my friends I'll--

What the actual fuck? Anon's mind raced as he cringed from the impact. He'd have been more angry if he wasn't confused and in pain; one second he's standing in front of a barn door and the next he's catching a pink rocket to the chest. And to make matters worse she won't shut up…

"Pinkie Pie..? What are you doing here?" Twilight stepped up toward Pinkie with a look of confusion, "This is Sweet Apple Acres so logically it should be Applejacks dream.. Moreover what happened to Rainb--"

"TWILIGHT!" Pinkie exclaimed as she dislodged herself from Anon's ribcage. Anon had just enough time to look up and see her collide with Twilight. Pretty sure I know what happened to Dash… "Why throwing a barn party of course! And what better place than inside an actual barn? We'll have square dancing and drinks and balloons and cake and fun and OH! Have you met the new pony? He looks a little weird but let's throw a party for him too!!"

"…not a pony." Anon comments as he begins to pick himself up, poor Dash, probably got nailed while she was speeding at mach three. Hope she landed softly…

In an instant Pinkie was upon Anon again assaulting him with Pinkiness, "Wow what are you then? And how come you walk on two hooves. What's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie, I'm going to give you a full tour of Ponyville! Have you met Rainbow Dash yet? She's so funny, look at her sleeping in that tree. Oooo your hooves, I can do that too!" She begins to blow on her left hoof.

"Anon…" he winced as he looked in the direction of Dash, "Huh… so that's where Rainbow land-- What the fu--How are you doing that with your hooves?"

"Pinkie, listen. I told you, this is all a dream, you're asleep. We're all asleep." Twilight weakly added as she picked herself up a bit faster than Anon did.

"That's just silly, we can't be asleep, we're right here now awake, Hello Twilight! This is a barn party, not a sleep over."

"No Pinkie, this is a nightmare. There was a reason nopony showed up to your party. This is a nightmare. We've got to free the others."

…..

That pink one doesn't look too bright… Anon observed before turning his attention toward Rainbow Dash. "Damn…" She had fallen out of the tree that she was entangled in when he was distracted by Pinkie. Gotta hand it to her though, she's walking it off like a champ! Dash shook her mane a few times before trotting up toward the group. That or she's just used to crashing… Hah! Rainbow Crash! Going to have to remember that one for later. Genius Anon, Genius.

"And that's the current situation, we have to hurry up and find the others." Twilight finished as Pinkie just stared at her for a second. Twilight sighed and was about to further explain herself before the world suddenly shattered around them.

"Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Let's go!" Pinkie happily exclaimed as she bounced past Twilight.

Odd.. She's skip-bouncing… And poor Twilight, she looks so defeated. Guess Pinkie just does things at her own pace.

"Alright, everypony gather up." Twilight ordered as her horn started glowing, "Here we go, be ready for anything."

> Chapter 2 The Everlasting Nightmare (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Oh man… oh god.. oh no ohnonoNONOooOOOOGHH!" once again Anons' abs tightened, stomach lurched and bile spilled from his mouth. "Is… Are those chocolate bars? Are you mocking me subconscious!?" Anon gasped as he wiped the bile from his mouth.  Fucking hate throwing up, worst fucking feeling in the world… Haven't felt this bad since I was food poisoned… Oh god… not again

Anon panicked as his stomach lurched again, releasing another stream of filth. Fucking dream sucks… Thought I'd never have a dream like this one after that last one…. Anon shuddered as he remembered a particular nightmare when he had as a child. He was running away from something and tried screaming for help. Although every time he tried to loose a scream a sinewy substance would block his throat and would grow back instantly after being ripped out.

"Ok… Ok.. I've just gotta keep my cool.. Calm down. Get up. Move on. It's nothing more than an elaborate firing of neurons inside of my brain based from past experiences in my life. Nothing new here." Anon declared as he hardened his resolve. "But seriously, what the hell subconscious? Where did the others go? Why the fuck did I just spend five whole minutes throwing up my insides? Fucking hate throwing up. Hate this dream. And I fucking hate ponies."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Even if Anon had Rainbow Dash's speed he wouldn't have been fast enough. All Anon had time to see was a blur of snow white before it struck.


•	•	•


This place… It just doesn't make sense, I've never seen anything like it, Dash thought as she flew high above. If Dash had to hazard a guess she mused that the only place similar to this one would have been the Everfree Forest. But this place makes the Everfree look like an all expense paid trip to a Wonder Bolts show in Manehatten. Dashs' gut clenched again as she suddenly veered to the left as a fraction of a second later a bolt of light ripped through the space she had occupied.

This place is dangerous… Dash furrowed her brows as she glanced back at the sky. Most of the sky had been blotted out by black clouds, which while unnerving as it was alone what scared her even more was the sky that wasn't blotted out. What part of the sky she could see was a sickly crimson and in place of a bright sun an unnatural black void hung in its place somehow generating light. I've got no other choice but to land..

As Dash began her descent she briefly wondered if landing was really the better alternative. I'd be surprised if even weeds could survive in a place like this.. Let alone ponies. The ground shared the same crimson as the sky and was dry and cracked with no signs of life. However there were signs of death all around her. There were rows upon rows of what appeared to be barren gnarled trees planted in a grid-like fashion as if someone had tried to plant an orchard in this hell. Those trees… They're unnatural, moaning and creaking as they were alive and in pain. Dash shook off her fears and made a landing near Pinkie and Twilight.

"Dash, Dash! She's finally waking up!!" Pinkie exclaimed as she noticed Dashs' approach. "Ooooh Twilight I was soo worried that you wouldn't wake up! No matter what I tried you wouldn't move or even smile!"

"Wh..what? Where--" Twilight began before her head exploded in a sharp pain as if someone had broken off her horn. Twilight whimpered as she curled up and gingerly hooved her horn.

"Give her some air Pinkie." Dash said as she placed a hoof onto Twilights' forehead. "I'm not too sure where we're at but I'm pretty sure this isn't someponies nightmare."

Waiting a moment for the pain to subside Twilight began again, "No.. I mean where.. where is Anon?"

"I don't know…" Dash bit the bottom of her lip in frustration, "When I came to the only ones here were me, you and Pinkie."

Twilight faintly smiled, at least I was able to avoid his capture… even if it had pushed me to the very limits of my power. Noticing the confused expression on Dash's face, Twilight spoke up, "Right as I had cast the spell to teleport us… something tried to invade my mind… It was too powerful to block so I did the only thing I could at the time and sort of… flung Anon somewhere…"

"You what." Dash deadpanned. "What do you mean flung him somewhere? Where the heck did you fling him!?"

"I… I don't know." Twilight replied sheepishly. "It all happened in a fraction of a second.. but he should be safe. More importantly," Twilight began as she slowly rose to her hooves. "We have to get out of here. I don't want to stick around and meet whatever it was that wanted us here… I think I can locate Anon and try to teleport us to him… Give me a moment." Mustering her strength Twilight grit her teeth in concentration as she tried to grasp his location."

……
………..
……………..

"Well?" Dash interrupted after a few minutes, "What's the holdup Twilight?" her voice came out a bit shaky in protest of her nonchalant pose. 

"I… I can't seem to locate Anon.. but I do feel the presence of two of our friends nearby; hold on. I'll see if I can't get us closer to them." Twilight's horn began to glow magenta as a purple bubble engulfed them for a brief second before shattering. Beads of sweat poured down Twilights face as she staggered before weakly looking up at Dash. "Looks like we're hoofing it."


•	•	•



"Oh I simply must apologize again for my abrupt and rude behavior; are you certain that you are unharmed?"

Yeah, as unharmed as one can be after taking a kick from a miniature horse… And I should know, I've been kicked by a cow before. "Yeah… No problem at all, don't worry about it. I'm made of tougher stuff than most people." For such a refined looking and polite speaking lad--pony, bitch sure is rough… She hit me so hard I bet I'll have a bruise from it when I wake up… Anon mused as he went over the events of the past ten minutes that led him to his fate.

Failed teleport sending me careening through space-time, check. Throwing up my insides upon arrival, check. Cursing all life and ponykind afterwards? Not my best idea… By chance, Rarity had just strolled out of one of the doors at the precise moment he was cursing ponies and acted on instinct. As if throwing up hadn't sucked enough… Though I can't really blame her. Breaking out of an eternal nightmare only to find out that you haven't woken up at all. Then to top things off some bipedal freak is declaring his hatred of all ponykind.

Thankfully Anon was able to come to some sort of understanding and only suffered a single blow from Rarity. Don't think I could take another one of those, Anon frowned as he thought before glancing back at Rarity and noticing her down trodden expression. "Like I said, don't worry about it, besides;" Anon began as he lifted up his shirt and flexed. "These abs could cut diamonds, it'll take a little more than that to hurt me."

"Oh my." Rarity blushed.

That's right Anon, just smile and act like your ribs aren't fractured. "But I'm really impressed that you were able to escape by yourself. Rainbow Dash was all mopey about her wings and couldn't do anything. How did you figure out it was a dream?"

"Oh please Anon, as if Applej-- As if anypony would ever wear something so atrocious, it was beyond being a crime against fashion! The only logical reason is that it had to be a nightmare." Rarity cringed. That isn't exactly the whole truth but there's no way I'll ever let slip what my nightmare truly entailed… The fashionista thought, she would take the fact that Applejack had become a better designer than her to the grave. "It was as if the entire world had lost its sense of fashion." she ended truthfully.

"Heh.. Well that's great. So that makes four out of six elements rescued… Now if only we could meet up with Twilight. You sure that you can't do it?"

"Unfortunately Twilight is gifted in magic, and while I am a unicorn my talents lie elsewhere. She would have to walk me through the spell and even then I am not too confident in my magical prowess to succeed in such an endeavor."

Well, there goes that plan… Anon thought, though he was grateful that he had stumbled upon one of her friends. With Rarity near him Anon was confident that Twilight would be able to find him again. Not that I'm the type to stand by idle while others do all the work. "Well we might as well press on, maybe we'll be able to find them without having to trouble them." Anon frowned for a moment before continuing, "Although I suppose that I should arm myself…" Don't want to be caught off guard and get bucked in the stomach again… Before Rarity could question Anon he raised his right hand into the air extending his fingers, "Embody!"

High above his hand a two dimensional red circle began to draw itself with runes lining the outside of the circle. Not stopping there the lines continued to run inside of the circle and once completed took the shape of a pentagram. The runes on the circle slowly began to spin clockwise as the pentagram inside the circle rotated counter clockwise while the entire two dimensional symbol began to descend over Anon's arm.

To Rarity's surprise as the circle descended a pointed metallic object was being revealed. As the circle finally reached his hand he grasped onto a handle as it began to phase into existence. In all Rarity assumed that large steel slab was a sword except far larger than one anypony would use, she estimated it to be at least four to five feet long. The symbol now at Anons' wrist shattered like glass, bringing the object down in front of him he smiled as he strapped it to his back.

"You can use magic!?" Rarity blurted out."

"Hm? This? Not really. Since this is my dream I can just make whatever I please." Anon simply stated, Although I suppose the theatrics really weren't necessary… Could have just willed it into existence but then I wouldn't have looked like a certified bad ass.

Rarity pondered for a moment, "Your dream? What are yo---Eeeep!" Rarity shrinked back as Anon drew his sword and in one fluid motion thrust it toward Rarity, narrowly missing her mane. The sound of steel rending flesh and an unworldly scream draws her attention to the creature whom had been the target of Anons attack. "What on Equis…" Rarity manages before the shadowy creature falls back and Anon places himself between the two.

Fuckin' boss, didn't think I'd be able to cut an incorporeal shadow. "You alright Rarity?" Anon glances back toward Rarity but a sudden blur brings his attention back to the creature, "Come on Rarity, we're gonna follow it! That thing screams plot device!"


•	•	•


"This place tanks…" Dash complained, the trio had been trudging through the volatile landscape with Twilight in the lead for quite some time but they still hadn't been able to find any sign of their friends nor a way out. Frustrated and bored Dash's boredom had finally overcame her fear and she set to the skies in search for anything that might lead them in the right direction.

By chance she spotted something out of the corner of her eye and peering closer she saw a figure in the distance that had yet to notice her arrival. Not taking any chances Dash banked left and flew back towards her friends, bringing a hoof to her lips motioning the two to be as quiet as possible.

"I saw something just a little ways ahead of us," Dash began in a whisper, "I'm not sure if its friendly or not and didn't want to risk getting any closer.

"Oh Boy! Is it somepo--" Twilight and Dash frantically brought their hooves to Pinkies mouth reducing her rambling to a few quiet mumbles.

"Shhhhh Pinkie," Twilight warned, "We don't know what sort of force we're dealing with here… So while we still have the element of surprise we should investigate a little."

"But I'm the Element of Laughter!" Pinkie giggled as Dash groaned and Twilight facehooved.

"Just follow our lead-- and be very quiet."

For the next ten minutes they made their way silently toward their destination, making sure to stay both behind the creature and out of its' line of sight. When they neared enough for them to get a good enough look Twilight had to muffle a gasp. Its' body didn't seem to have a definite form and was more of a black cloud of mist in the vague shape of a quadruped. It had been clawing at the soil for a while as they were approaching but had now stopped. The thing formed a wispy tentacle and reached into its' body.

A few seconds later it dragged out two silhouettes and tossed them next to the hole it had been making. Are… Are those ponies!" Twilight reeled back in horror but kept herself in check and motioned back to Dash to do the same. The three of them hastened their advance on the shadow as it began to do its' work. Hundreds of vines sprouted from the ground and rose the two ponies up into the air.

To Twilights absolute horror the two ponies that were being razed into the air were none other than Applejack and Fluttershy, the vines slowly entangling their bodies until it left them looking like a gnarled, barren tree. A spitting image of the hundreds of trees that they now took cover behind. That fact alone was enough to make Twilight scream, but before she could from inside of their prisons came bone chilling wails and screams. Oh Celestia… its torturing them… Pinkie Pies hair instantly deflated as she curled into a ball and rocked back and forth, tears streaming her face. Twilight Sparkle fared no better, tears streamed her face but her body was frozen in fear.

"Girls, snap out of it!!!" Rainbow roared as she streaked past both of them toward the abomination.

And with that Pinkie and Twilight were charging too, Twilight's horn gained a magenta hue as she rapid fired a few bursts of magic toward her friends prisons, freeing Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie was there in an instant to catch her while Rainbow Dash was pushing back the shadow.

"Ooomphf!" The air left Dash's lungs as the shadow tossed her off into the distance.

"Dash!" Twilight shouted before lighting up her horn to free Applejack, however her body froze as the nightmare locked its twin yellow orbs onto her eyes as a soundless voice pierces her brain.


What is it that you truly fear?


Twilights jaw dropped as the shadow split into two, swirling in a mass of shadow and light. "Oh hohoho!! Such amusing things you ponies are! Surely you haven't forgotten about me?" laughed the abomination that stood in front of Dash. It's body a mash of animals sewn together without rhyme or reason; a complete mockery of natural order. "However do you expect to defeat me when you lack your precious Elements of Harmony?"

"No pony will be able to stop us! Once you are gone the night will reign forever!" boomed a pony whose coat was as black as her heart. "All will bask in Nightmare Moon's Eternal Night!!"

> Chapter 3 Waking Up (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You… damnable.. wispy-like son of a bitch…" dropping to his knee Anon thrust his sword into the ground panting as he struggled to regain his breath. He and Rarity had chased the shade through numerous dreams and had he any air left in his lungs Anon would be rolling on the ground in tears at what most of these ponies were afraid of. Really guys? You're afraid of some stupid looking horse-face freak with mismatched body parts? That man is comedic gold!"

Taking in a deep breath to compose himself Anon rose to his feet and angled his blade toward the shade while sparing a glance behind himself, Rarity was just catching back up. Gotta give it to the girl, the only people who can keep up with me are my dogs and Kenyans. "You alright there love?" Anon mocked as he turned his attention back to the shade.

"However… do you run so fast!? You've only got two legs!" Rarity gasped before taking an offensive position next to Anon.

"Hehe, let's just say that running is in my blood." Anon joked as he tensed his muscles before leaping forward to enact a finishing blow that only met air. The shade darted backwards before attempting a slash that Anon readily parried and another that Anon easily dodged. "C'mon bro, is that all you've g--damn it!" Anon growled as he realized the slash was not meant to harm him.

Instead it tore a hole into reality, Anon had enough time to look dumbfounded before the shade fled through the portal. "Really? No, fuck that; you're going to have to do more than tear a hole in space time to get away from me! C'mon Rarity!" Anon yelled as he charged into the hole.

"Wait, what? You can't possibly be serious-- Anon!!" Rarity protested but nonetheless ran forward toward the shrinking hole. Clenching her eyes shut she pushed herself as fast as possible and jumped into the hole and braced herself for impact.

……
……….
……………

Rarity opened her eyes as her stomach began preforming cartwheels, there wasn't going to be an impact; at least not for another good three to five minutes. The shade had ripped a hole in reality that just happened to be positioned a good distance skyward. I'm going to hit the ground and die! Oh Celestia why?! Rarity began tearing up before glancing at Anon.

Anon was laughing up a storm and looked like he was having the time of his life.


•	•	•


"Oooh come on and smile!!" the pink mare shouted as she twisted her face into another bizarre expression. Nothing… Not a laugh? Not even a giggle?! She was running out of ideas and that was something because Pinkamena Diane Pie was never out of ideas on how to make somepony smile. Regardless of her actions Fluttershy just sat limp in front of her with eyes that were dead to the world. "Come on Fluttershy… we need you!" Pinkie cried as she glanced back toward the battle that was still ongoing.

The battle was heavily one sided, not only were they fighting the personification of Chaos but they also had to contend with an Alicorn whose job was to raise the moon. Though unspoken between the trio each couldn't help but wonder; How can a single Pegasus, unicorn and earth pony stand up against these odds? Again Discord snapped his fingers bringing matter into existence with as much effort one might give when blinking.

Suddenly there were cones, hundreds of cones of every flavor of ice cream imaginable. The frosty treats in unison dipped the sharp part of the cones down and began their descent toward Twilight and Dash. Rainbow Dash was just barely fast enough to evade the cones and pulled up out of the storm. Twilight however wasn't nearly fast enough on her hooves and erected a magenta shield that took the brunt of the attack. Nightmare Moon took this opportunity to further overwhelm Twilight by concentrating her magical blasts on Twilights shield.

Twilight was already exhausted from her failed teleport earlier and could barely weather Discords attacks let alone the double team from Nightmare Moon, any more trauma and she knew her shield wouldn't be able to withstand it. Upon seeing Twilights plight, Dash veered away from Discords Chaos and set out to distract Nightmare Moon. Turning away from the carnage and back to Fluttershy Pinkie did something that she hadn't done for years. She stopped smiling.

"Pinkie! How's it going with Fluttershy!?" Dash roared as she barreled into Nightmare Moon, throwing the mare back a few feet and turning her attention away from Twilight. "I don't think that we can las--OOOMPF!" Dash was just a fraction of a second slower than her opponent and took a blast of pure magic to the face before sailing limply through the air and landing with a sickening crack.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight cried but was unable to lift even a finger to help, with Dash out of commission Nightmare Moon now had free reign to concentrate her attacks on Twilight. Her shield visibly cracking as she strained under the assault of both enemies. It's no use… I can't keep it up…! An instant later her shield shattered and the feedback from the spell sent her spiraling into the ground. Bracing herself Twilight closed her eyes and prepared for the end.

A savage cry and a crack opened her eyes and before her she saw a pink mare with bone straight hair connecting a flying kick to Discords jaw that sent him flying back and out of the fight. To her left she heard another voice crying out in agony and turned in surprise to see that not only was Fluttershy awake but she had rammed herself into Nightmare Moons barrel and brought her to her knees. "You leave Dashie alone, you.. you.. You big meanie!"


	•	•	•


"I fail to see the humor in this situation, Anon!" Rarity cried, "I don't know if you happened to notice but we're currently falling to our deaths and I am a unicorn not a pegasus! And unless you're hiding a pair of wings under those atrocious pieces of fabric you call clothes then I'd like to point out that we're in terrible danger!"

"Don't sweat it…" Anon laughed, "Something like this isn't nearly enough to kill me!"

"Well beg your pardon but something like this is enough to kill me!"

"Hah, don't worry about it, it'll all work out somehow; just relax, have some fun." Anon cooly stated as he began to do backflips to pass the time. 

Apparently free falling to his death isn't hot blooded enough for this stallion! Rarity scrunched up her face in disgust before returning to frantically screaming and crying for help.

"Hey Rarity.. You see that? Off into the distance?" Anon questioned while stroking his chin.

"The ground? A sudden stop? Inevitability!?" Rarity cried as she closed her eyes.

"No, not that-- well yeah but.. Is that..? Hey Twilight!? Twilight that you?"

With Pinkie and Fluttershy now in the fray they stood a slim chance, even Dash had gotten back up, her injury not nearly as serious as it had sounded. with Pinkies help Rainbow Dash was able to keep Discords attention while Twilight and Fluttershy used their combined tactics to keep Nightmare Moon held at bay. But sadly Twilight knew the outcome in the back of her mind. Even with Fluttershy and Pinkie helping us I'm physically drained and Rainbow Dash is hurt; not to mention that these two show no signs for stopping.. Oooh if only we had Anon and Rarity!

"Twwwwiiiliiiiiight!!"

Great… so now I've hit the point where I'm both exhausted and desperate enough for my brain to hallucinate Anon's voice. No amount of wishful hoping is going to bring Anon and Rarity here to help us.

"Twiiiiliiiight!! Twiiilight!!"

Wait a second… That's a bit closer, Twilight thought as she tore her concentration away from Nightmare Moon and scanned the battlefield.

"Twilight darling!! Up here!! Catch me please!!"

So I'm either hallucinating both Anon and Rarity's voice or their both-- Twilight's jaw dropped as she glanced upward. Free falling several hundred feet above them was a laughing Anon and a crying Rarity. He found Rarity? He found Rarity!! She would be laughing from pure joy if she suddenly wasn't struck with the realization that they were around twenty seven point eight seconds from impacting onto the ground. "Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash! Rarity and Anon are falling from the sky, catch them!"

"Wait, what?" Rainbow replied before craning her neck skywards, her eyes going wide. "Fluttershy, grab Rarity, I've got Anon!" she ordered before speeding up toward Anon."

"Who's Anon..? Oh my!" gasped Fluttershy as she looked up to see her friend plummeting to her doom.

Rainbow Dash was the first to reach them, grabbing hold of Anon she tried to slow their descent. Oh buck, why does he feel like he weighs enough for two ponies?! Dash's wings strained but she was able to stop his descent and hover midair with him.

"See? Told ya it would be alright, Rarity!"

Rarity was frighteningly clinging to a flustered Fluttershy but managed to give him a glare before looking over the scene. "We're not out of danger yet!" Dash lectured, "We've got nightmare versions of two of our biggest bad guys down there, not to mention we still haven't saved Applejack!"

"Enemies?" questioned Anon, his eyes sparkling as he gazed down. "That horse-faced jerk and black Unisus are the enemies?" Anon smiled before continuing, "Drop me on top of that chimera-looking jerk."

"Unisu-- Wait, are you serious? What do you plan on--" Dash began but stopped when she saw the gleam in his eyes, changing course she added, "Alright but don't blame me when Discord changes you into a piece of cake and eats you."

"Whatever, watch and learn." Anon pulled his sword out and signaled Dash to drop him. "Hey horse-face, CATCH!"

Pinkie's tail twitched as she dove out of the way for cover and looked up just in time to see Anon's descent. Discord however wasn't as lucky and had enough time to look shocked before a boot filled his vision and a huge piece of steel ripped through his chest, slamming him against the barren ground. With a sickening crack Discord melted into a pool of black and shot into the air as a formless shade. Turning back toward Twilight Anon had enough time to witness the black mare scream in agony as it melted into the same black substance and shot up to meet its counterpart.

"Whooo hoooo! We did it!" Pinkie cheered as her mane began to poof out. Although she failed to notice the shades that had combined with each other and a third shade that Anon and Rarity had been chasing.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that!" Twilight cried, before turning to Anon, "Can you buy us some time?"

Anon twisted his neck to the left which let out a sickening crack, "All the time in the world. You've still got one more friend to save, right?" He said as he wretched his sword from the earth and placed it onto his shoulder. "Something of this level isn't going to be the end of me."

"Just be careful.." Twilight warned as she shuddered, "This thing takes on the forms of your worst nightmare…"

Anon chuckled at that warning, A dream warning me to be wary against nightmares? The irony! When was the last time I even had a nightmare? The shades of darkness reformed into one being and took on the form of the black mare, "What? Is horse-face too afraid to come out?"

"Foolish mortal, I am the Night! Lose yourself within my eternal nightmare!" Nightmare Moon cried as she began her offensive.

Turning away from the battle Twilight made her way toward the others whom had already surrounded the prison that Applejack was in; her screams causing Twilights ears to flatten against her skull. Don't worry Applejack, we'll save you! Twilight blasted the vines a few times and moments later Applejack came tumbling out, caught by Dash and Fluttershy. "C'mon AJ, you've gotta snap out of it!"

"That's not going to work…" came a weak and un-Pinkie voice, "I tried everything to wake up Fluttershy and nothing I did had any effect…"

"But didn't you wake Fluttershy?" Rainbow questioned.

Instead of Pinkie answering, Fluttershy spoke up first, "I could hear things.. Pinkie's voice, pleading with me for help…" Fluttershy's face darkened slightly, "But I was lost… within a void of darkness.. it was… so cold…and dark." tears were beginning to form in her eyes and Rarity placed a hoof upon her shoulder. "But along with Pinkies voice I could hear the rest of you, I just knew that you needed my help! I don't really know how… but I was able to wake up.

Twilight bowed her head in contemplation before gazing back at Anon who was keeping Nightmare Moon at bay. He may be able to hold her off, but he alone can't possibly push back the darkness… Moreover, even if he wins… Will that alone be enough to free all the ponies trapped within their nightmares? "Please Applejack.. You have to wake up. We need you. All of Equestria needs you."


•	•	•


Despair
Uncertainty
Promises
Lies
Deceit
Darkness..

It's cold… so very Cold

Applejack was alone, more so than she had ever felt in her life. It was as if she were floating in a sea of despair. How long she had been there, whether she was alive or dead. She couldn't tell and in the end she couldn't help but wonder, 'Did it matter?' Images flashed behind her closed eyes; images of Applebloom, her parents, Big Mac and Granny Smith.

No… it's better this way… I don't deserve to see the light of Celestia's sun or feel the warmth of friendship.

“A....ple….ja…k!”

Warmth. If only just a little she could feel the warmth of somepony. Like that of a friend… A friend that she didn't deserve. Ah.. deserve this. This darkness is my only way to repent… Who could possibly want to save somepony as horrible as me?

“Apple…jack!”

Again sound pierced her despair like a ray of Celestia's light, bringing with it a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of belonging. This time different images raced across her mind. Images of her friends, family, the farm. Happy times, sad times… Her life regardless of how much pain it may have held. She felt herself slowly being pulled toward the warmth she knew that she would never deserve.. Yet even though she knew she didn’t' deserve it Applejack still longed for it. Is it really alright for me to live?

"Applejack!!"

Applejack opened her eyes and was met with the faces of her five closet friends, all looking down at her with tears in their eyes. "Of course it's alright for you to be alive!" Rainbow Dash sobbed as she tried to wipe her tears away from her face, "Don't you go thinking that it's ok for you to just go off and die!"

With that the five of them were upon her hugging and repeating heart felt sentiments. What was I thinking? That it would be alright to just give up and leave behind my friends? Applejack closed her eyes as a smile crept to her face. One day ah'll have the courage to tell them… To tell her.. 

"Now what in tarnation are y'all all cryin' for? S'not like somepony just up an' died, right?" Applejack beamed as they nearly crushed her in another hug. For some reason she was unable to keep the tears from flowing from her face.

“Oh Applejack! We were so afraid you wouldn’t wake up and no matter how much we tried you only got colder and and---!” Pinkie Pie burst into tears.

“Yeah, we all need you Applejack!” Fluttershy added with the rest nodding.

“Now it’s finally time to end this nightmare!” Twilight said with conviction. Helping AJ up on her hooves all six of them turned towards Anon whom was still fighting Nightmare Moon.

"Whoa! What the hay is that?! And what's wrong with Princess Luna!?" Applejack protested.

"Don't worry Applejack. That isn't the real Princess Luna and this is all just a terrible Nightmare! We're trapped here-- All of Ponyville is trapped within this nightmare. And with his help we'll be able to beat back the darkness." Twilight declared.

"But how do we do that?" Rarity questioned while glancing back toward Anon, "Strong as he might be, it doesn't look like he can take on that thing by himself.

Twilight brought her hoof to her chin as she contemplated… How are we going to free all of these ponies and combat that thing? Sure we're united but these aren't even our physical bodies… The Elements aren't here to help us. Twilight glanced back over her friends, each of them full of determination. No… we can do this. We may not have the physical representations of the Elements on us but each of us carry a bit of their power inside of us… As long as we're together, anything is possible!

"We pray." Twilight began as she closed her eyes and bowed her head slowly as her horn flickered to life briefly. "We pray for the darkness to be lifted.. To once again see the glory of Celestia's sun above us! To once again run under her sun with our friends!"  Twilight declared as her entire body began to take on a glowing light. The others gasped before each bowing their heads in prayer.

In the distance Anon struggled with his foe, trading and receiving blows in a battle that he had meant to end with no help, though try as he might not only could he not gain the upper hand but his strength began waning. Each dodge he performed became narrower and each blow he landed was weaker than the previous. He had never lost a battle in his dreams before and Anon was determined to not find out. Gritting his teeth he gave a wide swing that forced Nightmare Moon back a few feet; giving him some breathing room.

Suddenly what sounded like an explosion came from behind him with a burst of warmth and light, keeping his stance Anon glanced back at the six ponies that were radiating power like the sun. Each pulse of power washed over the land, changing the landscape from barren wasteland to a lush plains. Tree after gnarled tree began to shake before crumbling to ash, releasing what was held in its grasp.

Turning his attention back to the mare Anon knew it was time to end this nightmare, overflowing with renewed energy Anon began a dead leg sprint toward his target, sword raised high. In response Nightmare Moon lost her form bursting into a cloud of black with two yellow eyes that gazed through Anons soul. "Oh? So you're gonna change into something I fear? Or something from my dreams? Bring it on!"

With all his might Anon swung his sword down toward a small mare whose coat was sky blue and mane shown as brilliant as the night sky. Her forelegs were outstretched as if to give him a hug and tears spilled from her eyes.


•	•	•


Very slowly and with much difficulty, Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes. Her entire body hurt and she felt exhausted; as if she had just finished running a ten mile marathon. Wearily she blinked the sleep from her eyes and wondered what had transpired. Around her five shapes came into focus and began to stir as the events of what had transpired raced through her mind.

We did it! She smiled, together with Anons' help they had pushed back the veil of darkness that had tried to consume everything. Twilight steadied herself as she rose to shaky hooves and in the process stepped in something wet and warm. Confused she looked down at her hooves and waited for her eyes to adjust.

The color of her right hoof seemed to be off, instead of the usual magenta it was colored a deep crimson that was also marring her clean wooden floor. Slowly she traced the fluid to its' origin to another shape on the ground. "Oh Celestia…" Crumpled in a heap on the ground with a stream of blood leaking from his side was Anon, Twilights thought process froze as from behind her Rarity let out a scream.

"What happened!? Why is there so much blood! Somepony--- Dash!" Rarity shouted and was answered by the sound of shattering glass followed by a gust of wind.

"I… I don't know.. Anon was keeping it busy-- and.. and---!!"

"Gah!" Anon writhed in agony as he clutched his stomach, his hands quickly becoming soaked in blood.

"Calm down!!" came a loud shout that caused every ponies head to turn in the direction of the voice. Fluttershy had torn one of Twilights curtains down and had rushed toward the figure on the ground. "We've got to stop the bleeding, until Dash comes back we have to do our best!"

I don't know what type of creature this Anon is-- but he helped save all of us… And I won't let him die! she thought, betting everything on the three butterflies that adorned her flank. Again Anon cried out as he began to thrash about in agony, the pool of blood underneath him growing by the second. Oh gosh.. he's already lost so much blood.. more than enough to kill anypony. "Applejack, help me hold him down! Twilight, we're going to need hot water and rags! Rarity, you have a needle and thread on you; right?"

"Thread and needle, whatever would you--NO. You can't possibly… I mean I can't! This isn't like sewing a dress! I--"

"Have to try or else he'll die! That hole is far too large to cover up! He just keeps bleeding through!" Rarity shuddered as she glanced at the damp makeshift bandage.

"Oh Rainbow Dash… please hurry."
> Chapter 4 So... I'm trapped here? (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slowly Anon floated to consciousness, lulled awake by a sound that he had only heard twice in his life; the rhythmic beep of a life support and the steady drip of an IV fluid bag. Which happened to be pretty unnerving for Anon; on account that the last thing he remembered was settling down in his bed to sleep. Opening his eyes Anon winced at the brightness of the ceiling lights; another sign that he wasn't in his room. Anon never slept with the lights on. As Anons eyes began to adjust his fears were confirmed, instead of waking up in his comfortable bed he now found himself in a foreign room with life monitoring equipment.

Unfamiliar ceiling…check.
Smell of alcohol and cleanliness…check.
Life support equipment most likely attached to me…check.

………
………………

Seriously? A hospital? Again!? Fuck. The last time I woke up in one of these I was strapped down to a cold table and informed that a good years' worth of memories had been obliterated from my mind. Anon tried to bring up his right arm to rub his temples but the appendage refused to obey, moreover he couldn't even feel the arm he tried to move.

Alright Anon, don't panic… You're gonna slowly inch those eyeballs down to your right arm and its still going to be there; and hey, if it isn't you'll just have to learn to bate with the left one. Mustering every ounce of strength and courage Anon turned his head and took a peek at his right arm.

Oh thank God. The reason it wasn't moving wasn't because I was horrifically maimed in some accident that I can't remember; it's just being laid on by a blue pony with rainbow hair. Anon turned his head back to the front and sighed in relief.

…..
…….
Pony
Blue Fur
Rainbow Hair

"Right this is just a dream." Anon told himself despite knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he was wide awake and not dreaming. After mastering lucid dreaming there was no way he could ever confuse the waking world and the dream world like some rank amateur. Regardless he darted his eyes nervously around the room until he found the object he was searching for. "See? That clock isn't accurately telling the ti--"

Anon waited a full two minutes while simultaneously counting off the corresponding time between the clock and his thoughts. Well… It's not like that's the only way to test whether or not I'm asleep, there are far more accurate ways to tell that. Bringing his left hand up to his face Anon reached out two fingers and pinched the contact that he had always neglected to take out before sleeping. The action instantly blurred his vision and a second later he let it settle back into his eye as his arm dropped back to the bed.

Anon just sat there letting the realization sink in for a few moments before he turned his head back to the blue pony. The pony was sleeping soundly on his right arm and Anon could feel the rhythmic flow of her exhales against his skin. Reaching his left arm out Anon brought it against the pony's mane. "Warm…" Anon murmured as he slid his hand down her mane and onto her back, brushing what felt like feathers. Are those wings? Is this a Pegasus?

"Mmmmmaaaaahhhhh." the pony stirred a bit as it nuzzled Anons arm before slowly opening its' eyes. Rising its' head up the Pegasus trailed its' eyes up to meet Anons, a slight line of drool escaped from its' mouth. "Ah."

"Ah."

In a flash the pony jumps back and--Holy shit it really is a pegasus, it's fucking hovering a few feet off the ground!! Anon was about to speak up and question the physics involved in that act and debate a few points of how its' wingspan was entirely too small to support its' body but in an instant it disappeared leaving behind a visible trail of rainbow light that looked like it could have been grabbed if Anon wanted to. As Anon pondered the absurdity his eyes slowly trailed to a counter next to his bed that held a bottle of pills and a glass of water.

"Welp, that explains it. So this is what it's like to trip balls. Must have been some really good shit to make me hallucinate. Moreover I can't even remember how I got here… Better not have lost another years' worth of memories." Anon grumbled as his stomach growled. "Holy shit, that hurts like a bitch, how long have I been out to induce a hunger that painful?" Anon looked around for a minute before locating the universal 'Call the Nurse' button although before he was able to press it the Rainbow pegasus  dashed back into the room. "Oh, what's up hallucination? Where'd you run off too?"

"What? Anon what're you talking about?" It responds in a boyish sounding voice.

Wat. A flash of magenta light interrupts Anons' already fragmented thoughts and he turns his head slowly to see--Really? Check this out! A purple mother-fucking-unicorn appears. Chaaaaarrrrlliiiieeee! Moments later the door to his room bursts open bringing forth a whole slew of ponies that differ in color and type. Anon was able to count three different types of ponies as they all filled in; unicorn, pegasi and regular ponies.

“Oh wow! I’m so happy that you’re awake! We’re totally going to throw a get well party for you and there will be games and food and cake! Oh it’ll be so much fun and everypony will be there! Oh!? We also have to throw you a welcome to Ponyville party! Oooooh I just can’t wait!” a very pink… and somewhat familiar pony jumps up onto Anons' bed with a mile long grin.

“Now, now Pinkie. Give the fellar some space. He’s hardly done woken up and yer talkin’ bout parties.” That pony has a southern accent... Anon noted as he scrunched up his face in confusion.

"Indeed, if anything the first thing that needs to be done is to get him out of those dreadful clothes and into something with a little more flair." Odd... Why do I have the strangest urge to punch that one in the gut?

Looking back at the small table holding his medicine Anon smiled warmly before pressing the 'Call Nurse' button he still had in his hand. "Uh nurse...? Can you come help me please? I think the medicine you gave me is making me hallucinate. There... There are six really girly, colorful talking ponies, pegasi and unicorns in my room." Anon paused for a moment in thought then added, "Oh and I'm really hungry too." Anon released the button and a moment passed before panic ensued.

Oh shit.. what have I done?! That nurse is going to think I'm a faggot! A grown man my age hallucinating about ponies? Done. My social life is done. Sagging his shoulders Anon droped his head in defeat. A moment passed before he felt a hoof land on his shoulder.

"Anon… Don't you remember?" Twilight nervously starts, "We fought against the Nightmare and with your help, won."

"Nightmare, what are you--" a spike of pain shoots through Anon's abdomen as his head throbs and images flash between his clenched eyes. Entering a lucid dream from a waking state Friday night, meeting Twilight. Freeing Dash and others-- getting decked by Rarity and finally the climax. A moment of silence passes as Anon heavily pants, "Twilight… Sparkle?"

But… but what happened after that? The last thing I remember was buying time for the ponies… then what?" Gazing down at the bandages that wrapped around his abdomen Anon smirks, "Guess that pain wasn't because I was hungry…" Anon joked before looking up to Twilight and her friends gaining a serious tone, "This… all of this is real?"

"Of course it is big guy! With your help we kicked that nightmares butt!" Dash exclaimed as she flew up into the air and shadow boxed.

"No… I mean this." Anon motioned to the entire room. "This place, these bandages, and you talking ponies."

"Talking ponies?" Twilight narrowed her gaze at Anon, "Well of course, why wouldn't we talk?"

"Because in my world ponies don't talk. Moreover they aren't even intelligent." before any of them could protest Anon quickly added, "Either way talking ponies are the least of my concerns. Twilight… When we first met you said that your world.. Equestria? That it was in danger. That threat has been eliminated and I was really glad to help-- but why didn't I wake up in my world instead of this one?"

The room grew silent as Anons' words hung in the air, Twilight shuffled her hooves before breaking contact with Anons' gaze and uttering three words that he had feared, "I don't know… When I first realized what was going on I cast a protection ward around myself and then gathered my friends at my library… However they had already succumbed to its effects… I scoured the entire library for any information only to find one book with a single passage that mentioned the Nightmare. There was a spell but…" Twilight paused and bit her lower lip, "But that spell was only to summon you to the dream plane that we were trapped in.. Instead it seems as if you've been pulled out of your dream world and manifested into our world.

There were tons of questions that Anon wanted to ask and wasn't even sure of the order that he needed to ask them but finally as a low rumbling echoed throughout the silence Anon glanced down before he settled on the first question he was going to ask, "Got anything to eat around here?"


•	•	•


Not a single fucking piece of meat… Should have figured as much. At least it's not a plate of oats and hay. Much to the surprise of Anon they had brought with them a variety of food so he wouldn't have to partake in the delights of hospital food. Glad to see some things are universal, Anon mused. Applejack had brought with her a bushel of the best apples he had ever had in his life. Pinkie had summoned a mountain of cakes-- summoned was the only thing that Anon could relate it to, seeing as she had just reached into her mane and pulled out a huge tray. Lastly Twilight had Spike-- Really? a miniature fucking purple dragon? He'd be cool if everything about him didn't scream Barney--prepare a few whole wheat bread veggie sandwiches.

As they enjoyed their indoor picnic Twilight brought Anon up to speed on both his injuries and the events that led up to it while a nurse came in to re-bandage his wounds.. Apparently when she had tried to teleport him the nightmare reached out and tried to intercept their jump but due to quick thinking on Twilights part she was able to avoid Anons capture. Twilight and party however were forcefully relocated near where the nightmare was trying to trap them. They were able to free Fluttershy but were locked into a losing battle with shadow versions of the Discord and Nightmare Moon.

Then suddenly Anon and Rarity dropped from the sky and with the added help they were able to defeat the nightmare versions of Discord and Nightmare Moon. "So all of that I do remember, including the point where I was fighting that mare to buy you all time; but how did I get wounded? Last thing I remember was bringing my blade down to deliver the finishing blow to that thing…"

"We aren't sure, by all means you looked as if you were not only holding your own but even seemed to have the upper hand, right up until we used the Elements to instill harmony upon the dream world." Twilight began to tear up a little but continued, "When we all woke up from the dream somehow you were pulled back with us… but you were hurt, and there was so much blood." the ponies collectively shivered and Pinkies mane partially deflated.

The silence held for a few seconds before the nurse had finally finished getting the bandages off, absentmindedly looking down Anon had to do a double take before bursting into a fit of giggles at what he saw. The wound had been stitched closed with pink thread and was in the shape of a small heart. Apparently Rarity was a seamstress and with his life in danger had patched him up like an old pair of pants. The nurse had to threaten to sedate Anon before he stopped laughing, saying he would reopen his wounds.

"Right…" Anon began in a serious tone, as the nurse left the room, "There's just one thing that I don't get Twilight, why me? I'm not some kind of ancient being with magical powers or some super hero either. Hell, I'm not even a soldier, I'm just a regular guy who just turned twenty one."

Taken back for a moment Twilight instead responds with a question of her own, "What? But you seemed so sure of yourself inside of the dream! Moreover you took down Discord within seconds and easily stalled Nightmare Moon for around ten minutes. Not to mention you didn't seem to show surprise at… well pretty much anything." 

"Heh, sorry but that was just me being me," Anon responded while chuckling, "I'm a lucid dreamer, that's why I wasn't surprised at anything and had confidence to take down anything. I just thought I was in another one of my lucid dreams."

"Sorry but could you back up a second? What's this lucid dreaming you're talking about?" Dash questioned.

"Heh.. like… You serious? Well if I had to sum it up in a sentence it's the ability to control your dreams. You see when a normal person falls asleep they sleep for a few hours before entering the R.E.M. stage of sleep; or in other words the portion of sleep when you dream. People like me practice daily to become aware of the signs that your dreaming and with that realization you're able to take hold of your dream and do whatever you want with it. Anything from flight without wings, or dreaming up an amazing adventure that casts you as the main hero. It's really fun when you get the hang of it."

"Whoa, so you can just control dreams? Can all of you humans do that?"

"Well, yeah with enough practice, but it's not just humans. With proper training any sentient being that dreams will be able to control their dreams once they realize they are in one. With enough practice I'm sure you could too Dash."

Twilight brought a hoof to her chin in thought, "No, that's not possible; in fact the only mare who is able to control the dream world would be Princess---"

"Aw yeah! That would be totally cool," Dash yelled as she hoof pumped the air, "So you're saying that you can teach me how and then I could explore the deep jungle with Daring do?!"

"Daring who? Well as I said, anything is possible inside of a dream," Anon laughed as Dash danced around in glee, Anon turned his attention back to Twilight, "But besides being able to lucid dream I'm not really anything special. Hell, I've only been at it for a little over a year, there are millions of people who are decades my senior at this stuff." Anon picked up another cupcake and popped it into his mouth, "My guess is that I was one of those, 'right place, right time' cases. So when can you send me back? Not that this place isn't cool, it's just a tad bit girly and well.. completely devoid of humans."

Twilight averted her eyes as her ears splayed back against her skull, "I'm sorry Anon, but my spell was only to bring you into the same dream world that everypony was trapped in." she breathed out a sigh before making eye contact with Anon, "I have no idea how you ended up in our world… let alone how to send you back."

Anon frowned for a minute before he swallowed his cupcake, "Seriously? I'm stuck here? What do you mean you can't--- I mean it would have been one thing if I woke up in a badass medieval world surrounded by a harem of hot girls but… I'm…" bringing his palm up to his face Anon sighed, "You're telling me that I'm trapped in this world. A world full of brightly colored talking ponies… and that there are no female humans on this planet?"

Twilight didn't respond but she didn't have to, the answer was written all over her face. A few dozen thoughts rampaged throughout Anons mind in that moment that included never being able to see his family, friends or pets ever again. All of those thoughts hit him at once but one realization stuck harder than the rest. Unless somewhere down the line he acquired a furry fetish the chances of Anon ever getting laid dropped from an already abysmally low number to absolute zero. "Well then… Indeed."
> Chapter 5 Meeting at Town Hall (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


This tale is from the night Anon was wounded, his mind and body on the verge of breaking as his saviors rushed him to the hospital.


"How's that hole in your abdomen treating you, Anon?"

"What?" turning to face the voice Anon saw that it was himself who had posed the question. Trailing his eyes downward to his own abdomen Anon saw that he indeed had quite a large hole placed there. Blood gurgled from his mouth as Anon fell to his knees clutching the gaping hole in his stomach. This… isn't real, I'd have felt this pain before that jerk wearing my face pointed it out… It's just a dream! Regardless of that thought the pain that coursed through Anon's body felt real enough to bring him to his knees, it was all he could do to remain conscious.

"Hah, you think that you're conscious right now?" Doppel Anon smirked, "Moreover you think that that hole in your abdomen hurts?" The doppel Anon raised his voice in anger as he glared down at the Anon who was prone on the ground. "No… You already know what really hurts."

Looking up Anon would have laughed if he wasn't in such intense pain. Something that hurt even worse than this? That… that's not possible. Anon was pretty certain that had he removed his hand before he bled out he would be able to take a peak at his liver. No! I've gotta concentrate on waking up! This is just a nightmare, and I'm beyond simple nightmares!

The doppel Anon slowly made his way over to Anon and knelt down to gently place a hand down upon his shoulder before violently grabbing Anon's face gazing directly into his eyes. "Is this how you act when someone asks how you're doing? I'm just a little worried about you--- and this is how you treat me? Why, you're hurting my feelings Anon. Just like that one person…"

Suddenly the pain in his stomach was gone along with his doppelganger and in place of the overflowing pain he was feeling there was nothing but joy. For the first time in his life Anon was truly happy, standing in front of him was a person-- no it was a girl. She had long black hair that reached down her back and partially covered her face. The only thing Anon could see was a winning smile that was only for him.

Anon tried to reach up to the woman but upon touching her she shattered and with it so did the floor supporting him. Falling through the darkness Anon tried to grasp onto something, anything to slow his descent and to his surprise he was able to. Something inhuman-- a horse perhaps? Somehow it had grasped his hand and stopped his fall. There were tears in her eyes and she opened her mouth to say something. Only instead of words the void where she opened her mouth was filled with a blindingly bright light. Slowly beads of sunshine began to rip through her form as she crumpled and turned to ash.

Once again Anon began to fall but this time tears streaked his eyes, "Please…stop.." Anon begged as the void began to glow brighter and brighter like the sun. Soon even with his eyes clenched shut all he could see was an intense light. Unable to take it anymore Anon began screaming, his mind overwhelmed with images he had no memory of, burning their way into his skull. The pain in his abdomen returned full force and the last thing Anon remembered seeing was the same horse that had tried to catch him running toward him in the distance.


•	•	•


Anon hadn't really noticed or given it much thought when he had woken up yesterday and met Twilight and all of her friends but now it had come to the front of his mind in full force. Why am I naked? Where are my clothes?! Why aren't I wearing one of those stupid hospital gowns that really don't cover you at all!? Panicking Anon's gaze darted around the room before finally falling back on the doctor in front of him.

Raising an eyebrow the old stallion cleared his throat, "As I was saying Mr. Anon, could you please stand up and remove your sheets? I would like to take another look at your wound." he said as he reached a hoof toward Anons last line of defense.

"Uhh… So where are my clothes again?" Anon nervously chuckled while inching away from the doctor."

"Ah, I'm terribly sorry Mr. Anon, but about your clothes…" he pointed to a can full of cloth, "Due to the severity of the situation we had no other choice but to cut you from your clothes. There was a severe amount of blood and we were unsure of whether or not it was only coming from your abdomen."

Fuck! He had thought that those strips of cloth looked familiar and sure enough they had been what he had been wearing Friday night when he had fallen asleep. And now they're nothing but a bunch of torn, bloody strips of cloth… I need clothes-- but where? Do ponies even wear clothes? As the reality of the situation settled in Anon could feel the beads of sweat forming on his brow.

"C'mon Anon, we don't have all day to stand around, just get up and show us your wound!" Rainbow Dash muttered in annoyance as she reached for Anon's blanket.

Why were they even here?! Anon cried out in his mind, all of Twilight's friends minus Rarity stood in the room, their eyes glued to his form. Is… Is that a notepad Twilights holding? What're you gonna do with that? Document how tiny my cock is when compared to a god damned horse?!

As Anon clenched his eyes in defeat the door to his room burst open and in trotted Rarity with what looked like a new set of clothes. Anon hadn't a clue when or where she had gotten human clothes but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth--- Ooh… probably shouldn't use that term ever again while in ponyland.

"Oh Anon I took the liberty of making you some new clothes! Though I wasn't able to accurately measure you I'd like you to try them on later and I can--"

"No please!" Anon yelled, his voice cracking slightly, "I mean, I'd very much like to try them on right now, they look outstanding and it would simply be rude not to immediately try on such well-designed and thoughtful gift." Anon bullshitted as he eyed the clothes hungrily.

Rarity's jaw dropped for a moment at his statement before blushing and grinning like a mad-mare, "Well I do say that you certainly are a gentlecolt who knows his fashion! I would be honored if you would try them on." floating the clothes to Anon she abruptly turned to the rest, "Well come on now, we can't very well expect him to change in front of everyone, besides it will be more of a surprise when we see the end result! Come on ladies!"

With that the seven of them shuffled out the room, Twilight being the last as she glanced back with a hint of disappointment on her face before closing the door. Wat… Whatever-- I have to find a way to repay her generosity for unwittingly saving me. As Anon threw on his clothes he couldn't help but notice that besides lacking underwear it was pretty standard.

"Wow… they fit amazingly well, yet she said that she was able to do this only from looking at my dimensions?" after buttoning up his shirt Anon walked over to the trashcan and shifted through it. "They may have cut up my clothes but with some luck-- aha!" Anon exclaimed as he pulled out his trusty slip on converse shoes and put them on before yelling that he was decent.

"Well I must say I've outdone myself, you look simply smashing in your new outfit Anon." Rarity declared looking over Anon, and he couldn't help but agree. The shirt Rarity sewed was simple enough, it was a simple long sleeve form fitted button down shirt. The sleeves had been slightly too long so he had rolled them up to his elbows and he left it untucked. The pants looked kind of like blue jeans but Anon noted that they felt weird and stretchy so he doubted it was made of denim.

Kinda feels nice, even though I'm free-ballin. "Well as I said before, I can't thank you enough-- and if it wouldn't be too much trouble could you make me some more?" Anon questioned as Rarity burst into a fit of joy and clamored on for a bit about 'A whole new challenge.' I guess ponies do wear clothes… Just not all the time. Odd.

The doctor cleared his throat again and walked up to Anon, "Now if you would be so kind as to lift up your shirt." Anon complied and began inspecting his injury. Anon had no idea how but for the most part it was fully healed, not even leaving a scar. Twilight had gone and given him an explanation on healing magic and then moved onto talking about a rare chance at documenting the effects on a whole new unknown species before but Anon tuned out after a few minutes.

In the long run the only thing Anon understood was that they were able to regrow all of the skin around the wound and repair some of the damage to the muscles but were hesitant to do more in fear of healing his injury incorrectly. So unfortunately the wound still ached and would need more time to heal.

"Congratulations, Mr. Anon. You're well on your way to being back to normal!" the doctor exclaimed before nervously adding, "We weren't all too sure that you would make it when you first arrived, although one thing is certain; You have a strong will to live."

"Well let's just say that dying isn't all that high on my list of favorite pastimes." Anon replied with a slight chuckle before letting his shirt fall over the wound. Pinkie Pie however was on the floor giggling like crazy. Man… if only women back on my world laughed at my lame jokes that hard. "So, I take it that I'm free to go?"

"Yes. Although I must stress; hold off  on any strenuous activities for a bit. That was a serious wound you came in with and even with our magic and three days time… Well, let's just say that it would be a shame to see you here again so soon."

Noting the doctors warning Anon gave a nod as the group headed out of the room, "Oooooooh Anon! I just know that you're going to love it in Ponyville! There are so many fun things to do and ponies to meet! We're going to show you around town and everything!" Pinkie joyfully declared as she bounced along.

"Sure…" Anon replied, his voice laced with as much 'enthusiasm' as he could muster. "So, where to first?"

"Well of course that would be Ponyville town hall! It's going to be the start off for our grand tour around Ponyville! We'll hit up everything, Sugar Cube Corner, The Library--" Pinkie rambled on for a bit as the group left with Anon in tow. Pinkies excited ramblings were slightly infectious and Anon himself couldn't help but feel pumped up for the event.

Well I guess it makes sense that I'll be meeting the mayor of their town; on account that I am partly responsible for saving it. Anon mused although he inwardly hoped that the meeting wouldn't be overly formal and stiff. Anon couldn't help but picture a long drawn out ceremony where he would be given a large key and would have to kiss babies. Not that I wouldn't appreciate the gesture but those formal events put me to sleep.

After losing himself in his thoughts for a while Anon finally spoke up, "So, how far is the town hall?" 

"Just up ahead Anon!" Pinkie yelled as she bounced ahead of Anon and toward the largest building Anon had yet seen. Most of the houses Anon had seen were fairly small and colorful but this one was at least three stories high. Pinkie had reached the halls' doors and let herself in, immediately slamming the door shut behind her.

Odd.. However Anon disregarded her actions, That girl bounces… That shouldn't even be possible for long periods of time-- in fact, I don't think I've ever seen her walk normally. Anon shrugged before reaching out to the door and opening it up and stepping in.


SURPRISE!!! Welcome to Ponyville Anon!!


As soon as Anon had gotten a foot into the door he found himself assaulted by the cheers of what looked to be the entire town of Ponyville packed into one building. Some were stamping their hooves and cheering while others were waving and smiling. Anon blushed and lightly shied away from the crowd, Well she did say something earlier about throwing me a welcoming party… But the variety of reasons on that sign is a bit outrageous! A huge banner hung from the wall with three different sentences plastered on it:


Thanks for saving Ponyville!
Congratulations on your Recovery!
Welcome to Ponyville!


Never one to celebrate events or be part of large social gatherings Anon stuttered his thanks while nervously running a hand through his hair. "Well go on Sugarcube, introduce yerself. Everypony is waiting for a few words from their hero." Applejack said as she nudged Anon forward.

Wavering slightly he took a step forward and tried collecting his thoughts, "Uh… Hi. I'm Anon!


•	•	•


Best. Party. Ever

Anon seriously couldn't remember the last time he enjoyed himself at a large social gathering like that. Well… Probably when I was like fifteen and all my friends were still gamers who didn't need a bottle of alcohol or a blunt to have a good time. He briefly thought back on how at some point in his life parties with his friends turned from having fun and playing games to standing around awkwardly with a bunch of strangers that needed to be plastered before they would interact with each other. The only games that would be played involved drinking until you threw up, then drinking more.

How old are these ponies? I mean I'm not complaining at all but man, some of these games I haven't played in ages! Pinkie Parties are fuckin' awesome! Ponies mingled left and right all the while playing games or dancing to music that Anon never thought he'd hear from a bunch of ponies. There was a snow white unicorn with spikey blue hair that wore a pair of huge purple shades laying the nastiest dub step beats he had ever heard. There was even a karaoke contest.

As the party finally began to die down Anon found himself sitting down next to a demolished food table staring out at the ponies as they continued to party. DJ Pon3 was still laying sick beats with a few ponies dancing around her; one of them in particular was the purple mare who had summoned him to Equestria. Oh shit… Anon stifled a giggle as he watched Twilight 'dance.' I thought I was bad… but words alone can't explain that much fail.

"Hey Anon, you enjoying the party?" Pinkie asks from atop Anons back.

How did she get there without me noticing? Anon thought but couldn't help but smile at the silly mare, "Like a fat kid in a candy store." Pinkie rolled off his shoulders and hit the ground laughing.

The party continued on for a good hour and a half before finally breaking up with ponies going their separate ways, shooting Anon thanks before they headed out. Anon was slightly saddened about the party ending but perked up when Twilight reminded him that they still had quite a few places to visit. Well if town hall was that fun, I can't wait for what comes next.

> Chapter 6 Crossing Cultural Boundaries (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"So, where to next?" Anon beamed with a smile that would make Pinkie proud. They had not too long ago left Town Hall and to the best of his knowledge they were going to hit up everything of interest in the small town. Anon was still a bit upset that the party had to end after only an hour and a half and noticed that Applejack and Rarity were a bit upset as well; however for completely different reasons. Their younger sisters Sweetie Bloom and Apple Bell, if Anon remembered correctly, failed to show up to the festivities. Applejack said something about hoping the Cootie Mark Crusaders weren't getting into any trouble

"I wanted to take you to Sugarcube Corner next but--

"But we were thinkin' that ya might've had yer fill of sweets for the moment." Or for the year, but hey, who's counting? Pinkie pouted as Applejack continued, "Now don't be that way Pinkie, any more sweets and this fellars gonna burst; we'll visit the cakes again once all those sweets settle." Turning her gaze back up to Anon she added, "Right now we're on our way to Sweet Apple Acres, home of the tastiest Apples ya ever laid yer peepers on."

"If I could interrupt; since my boutique is on the way to your farm  we simply must stop by my by. It would give me a chance to properly measure you for a new ensemble."

"Alright, I'm totally up for that!" Anon announced with a little more enthusiasm than he should have. It's either wear this same pair of clothes for a week straight or go for a stroll in my birthday suit… Anon grimaced at the thought of the alternatives.

Dash flapped down near Anons ear and quietly complained, "Oh c'mon Anon! Don't tell me you actually enjoy standing still for hours trying on frou-frou looking clothes? Wouldn't you rather do something more cool?!"

Anon debated for a second before shaking his head, "Sorry Dash, but it's not like it's literally going to take five hours, right? Besides," Anon turned his head toward Rarity, "It would be rude of me not to take a tour of Rarity's boutique after she so generously made me a pair of clothes."

Rarity gave off a cute but slightly dorky laugh before turning to Dash, "See Dash? At least somepony knows a thing or two about elegance and fashion! I daresay Anon would fit right in with some of Canterlots Elite. Besides, not all of us are interested in running around and getting our manes dirty." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes while the others stifled giggles. "Now, right this way, my boutique is just around the corner."

True enough as they turned onto the next road in the distance Anon saw a large flamboyant building that screamed 'Carousel Boutique'. Shit… maybe Dash was right. "I'm tellin' ya Anon, this is going to be sooooo boring!" Dash whispered furthering as if echoing his thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah; but you know what they say right? Save the best for the last." Anon whispered back while Dash beamed and lightly jabbed his shoulder. As they reached the door to Rarity's boutique Rarity took the lead and opened the door, motioning the others inside. Anon however had to crouch to get inside. Ugh, pony sized doors… But why were the City Halls large enough for me?


"Welcome to my humble abode where ponies come far and wide to take a glimpse at perfection!" Rarity hammed it up as she stood on her hind hooves while thrusting her hooves into the air for added effect. Anon instantly realized why Dash was so hesitant to enter as a quick glance around the room gave him a good idea of Rarity's specialty. There were pony shaped mannequins modeling very formal and frilly outfits. Oh boy, a tomboy's worst enemy: girly shit.

Anon took a nervous step back as he began to think that this had not been the best idea; although before he could voice his distain Rarity began shoving him toward a stand near the center of the room. "Now, shall we get started? I just need to take a few measurements-- it will only take a second." A nearby drawer glowed light blue as it opened, letting out a long measuring tape that was wrapped in a blue aura. As it floated toward Anon he instinctively raised his arms and assumed a T stance so she could properly measure him.

"Your proportions are so odd Anon… Not unlike a Diamond Dog-- yet completely different… Although I have yet to make clothing for something that stands on two legs-- save for my little Spikey." She frowned slightly as she began measuring, "But you wouldn't believe how hard it is to make clothes for a dragon, even a baby one. They have to be strong enough to resist getting torn and what not on their protective scales. Although it's not as if his scales are all that sharp but after rubbing against his scales for a while-- well you know." Rarity sighed before beginning again, "Well anyway, let's get you out of those clothes so we can properly measure you."

"Alri--Wait. What?

Unfortunately what happened next could only be explained as a miscommunication error… It wasn't anyone's fault really; if someone had to be blamed a religious man might throw blame to the rib woman and dirt man who partook in a piece of fruit from a forbidden tree. Anon struggled for a brief moment before his arms shot up against his will and his shirt climbed itself up past his chest and neck.

"No, Wait! Wait just a--" however unfortunately his shirt caught on his face making talking a bit impossible. Rarity at the same time unbuckled his pants with her magic and in one swift motion ripped Anon clean from his comfort zone. "Ah."

"Ah."


•	•	•


"Aw c'mon Anon, Rarity already apologized, how were we supposed ta know that humans didn't have sheaths? How about ya just open the door and come on out?" came Applejacks voice through the closed door. How can they be so calm about this? Either way, not gonna happen… Fucking Stallions and their dick hiding pouches, that shit just doesn't seem right. Anon continued his searching, hoping to find something that he could cut his stomach open with so he could die from blood loss instead of embarrassment. They may have been ponies but that fact alone wasn't enough to override the fact that he had been forcefully stripped by a girl while five other girls stood by and watched. Hope they enjoyed the impromptu lesson on human anatomy 'cause they're about to get another one when I find that knife!

"Never! Just let me die in peace!" Anon screamed through the door as he finished putting back on his clothes that had been ripped from him earlier. There's no coming back from this… Anon could still clearly see each and every one of their faces and reactions as their eyes trailed down from his face, to his chest, until finally resting upon his shrinking manhood.

Fluttershy was probably the only one out of the bunch who had been just as embarrassed as he had been, her entire coat had turned from a buttery yellow to beet red and had Anon been in the proper state of mind he'd have questioned the absurdity of such an act. Rarity had been the unluckiest out of the six as she had only been a mere meter from Anon before she ripped his pants off. She also turned an outstanding color of red but unlike Fluttershy, failed to avert her gaze either because of shock or she planned on memorizing his measurements since she knew there would never be another chance. Again had Anon been in a proper state of mind he'd have joked and told her to take a picture for it would have lasted longer.

Twilight Sparkle…This mare here… even though Anon could clearly tell she was embarrassed like the rest it didn't stop her from darting over his entire form as if it were going to be on a test later. Rainbow Dash-- she did the unforgiveable.. after a moment of shock, she blushed heavily before raising her hoof, pointing it in Anons direction and laughing. Anon could feel the erectile dysfunction syndrome creeping its way into his skull. Pinkie was a bit strange, she gasped; turned a few shades pinker and never lost the smile that seemed to always be on her face. Lastly Applejack let out a long and low whistle before covering her face with her hat.

Of all the places I could have locked myself into, why not a pantry full of knives instead of the bathroom? Anon eyed the toiled for a minute as he debated if it were possible to drown in a toilet lest he have to see their faces and listen to them stammer apologies. "Applejack's right Anon, just come out, we're really really sorry!" came Twilight's voice.

Damn magic! It's only a matter of time before one of them forces this door open and I don’t think I can drown myself that fast! Panicking Anon's eyes darted around the bathroom before he finally rested his gaze on a stained glass window. "Bingo." rushing to the window he fiddled around with the lock for a moment before it clicked open. Too bad I'm not on the second story, I could have swan dived onto the pavement. Cursing his luck once again Anon climbed out the window, hit the ground rolling and got up sprinting as fast as he could.


•	•	•


Anon wasn't all too sure where he was running to or what he planned on doing once he arrived, the only thing he was concentrating was putting one foot in front of the other. Perhaps whenever he reached his destination he would have a moment to stop and think. Rounding a few corners and vaulting ponies Anon slowed his pace to a light jog and swiveled his head to the rear. Anon breathed a sigh of relief as the building was no longer in sight and he doubt that he could navigate back even if he had wanted it, "Now, back to cutting open my--whoa!"

Tripping over something Anon tumbled face first into the street, landing in slightly less pain than he initially predicted. "Ow ow ow…!" came a voice from underneath Anon followed by, "Get off me please!" Untangling himself from the poor pony Anon stood up and reached his hand down, grabbing the ponies hoof and hoisting it up. "Sorry about that, was busy running away in shame and embarrassment." 

"Whoa, what're you?" The mare questioned, confusion and slight curiosity in her golden eyes as she stepped back and withdrew her hoof. Huh… She doesn't know me? Guess the entire town wasn't at that party… though I guess that's to be expected.

"Sorry about that," Anon began before noting the confusion in her golden eyes. He had met quite a few ponies at Pinkies party but he was sure he hadn't met this one yet. Well it's not like the entire town could have made the party so I guess it's only natural to be confused.

"Wh..what are you?" The unicorn mare questioned whom Anon thought could pass for Rainbow Dash's sister-- though with a less tomboyish appearance. She quickly withdrew her hoof and took a step back.

Anon chuckled a bit, "Sorry about that, names' Anon." this was the reaction he had been expecting from a town full of aliens, although it was lacking in fear. "I'm the weird guy that Pinkie Pie threw a party for at town hall like two hours back."

"Oh.." The mare visibly relaxed and took a step toward Anon, "So you're Anon? Sorry I couldn't make your welcoming party but I had something very important to do. My names Lyra Heartstrings." Lyra declared as she raised her hoof out toward Anon.

Anon frowned slightly at the gesture, This… is a handshake… right? Why? You've got no fingers, what're you gonna grasp my hand with? Anon shrugged before he reached out to shake her hoof but at the last second she withdrew it and instead simply bowed as Anon raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, sorry. I'd shake your talons but I've never had luck in doing so. I've always been accidentally scratched by them; and I can't play the Lyre with injured hooves now can I? Well I've got to go, I'm already late.

Huh… Anon looked down at his fingers wiggling them. I guess you couldn't really call those things Spike has hands… He is a dragon. But don't they have something with fingers here? There were a few points Anon wanted to address with the foremost being how something with hooves intended to play a lyre but instead he settled on his hands, "These things aren't talons they're fin--" Anon dropped the rest of his sentence, realizing that Lyra had run off in the opposite direction. Yeah.. I'll just clear that up later.

"Anon!!" came a yell that rose the hairs on his neck, turning to face his threat Anon saw a Rainbow bullet on a collision course with him. Unable to dodge Anon simply braced himself as Dash slammed into him, sending both of them to the ground rolling. "Ow… I thought you were faster than that…" Dash muttered while rubbing her head, she had managed to land on top of him, "But no one is faster than me!" Dash shouted triumphantly as she laughed.

Laughed…

Nope

Going red with embarrassment Anon tried to shout out a few protests but was silenced when Dash put a hoof in his mouth. Hey! That things dirty! You walk on that! "Sorry we stripped you down… and stared.. We didn't know that you didn't have a coat of fur… or that it was all so… open." Dash averted her gaze and blushed before continuing, "And it was really uncool of me to laugh-- Not that I was laughing because it was funny or anything! I… I just get really nervous and I don't deal with embarrassing things too well so I try to laugh it off."

Well… That… Actually makes me feel slightly better.. Anon thought, perking up a bit and nodding to Dash who sighed in relief.Glad to know the laughter was due to an awkward embarrassment instead of being outclassed by a stallion. As Anon finally began to calm down his thoughts finally gained a sense of rationality. Hell, even if I don't measure up, what does it matter? They're horses! I mean they're naked all the time-- she's naked on top of me at the moment-- and I feel nothing! In the distance Anon could see five others galloping toward him.

Deciding that continuing the round of 'I'm sorry' and 'I forgive you' would be a little embarrassing underneath Dash Anon moved to get up and to his complete surprise found that Dash was unnaturally light. Anon was easily able to pick her up and stand up at the same time. No wonder pegasai can fly with those tiny ass wings, they're a lot lighter than they look, probably more so than other ponies..

Pinkie Pie confirmed Anon's thoughts as she jumped into the air and latched herself onto his face with all four hooves causing him to look his balance and tumble with the two of them in tow. Yup, definitely lighter than earth ponies-- that or this girl has been packing on the cup cakes.

Don't worry Dashy! I've got a hold of him!" Pinkie playfully squealed as she gripped onto Dash with he eyes clenched shut. With that the rest of his embarrassment floated away along with his laughter as the four other mares looked on with puzzled expressions. Yeah, I know I'm really bad with dealing with embarrassment but they're still a bunch of ponies.

"Sorry about that… Its.. a human thing.. Let's just say that on Earth it would be extremely embarrassing to be stripped by six cute girls." the group blushed, "But hey, it's not like you girls are humans. 

> Chapter 7 Cutie Marks (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"So Anon, can you tell me more about your world and why ponies don't talk?" questioned Twilight as an ink quill and a few pieces of parchment floated in the air next to her suspended by a purple aura. Since it was going to be a while before they reached Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight had begun to quiz Anon on everything about humans and their home world. Although Anon was slightly annoyed at her constant barrage of questions he preferred it to the awkward apologies on stripping him earlier. 

"Well… Instead of why it's more like how would they be able to talk. I'm no expert on horses but the only thing I've ever heard from them is a neigh or a whinny. So not only would it be impossible for them to replicate certain sounds, moreover humans are the only sentient race on Earth. I mean you can't expect squirrels and rabbits to have their own language right? They're just animals."

"Hey! Just because you can't understand them doesn't mean that they can't speak." came a loud voice from behind Anon, a cream colored mare lightly 'stomped' her hooves before panicking and drawing back, "I mean… Every animal has a language, you just have to learn to talk with them."

So everything in this damn world talks huh? I'm never going to be able to eat steak again am I?, thought Anon before continuing, "Sorry, I suppose you could be right, humans aren't really that close to nature anymore. We like to think that we can predict and control it… but often end up paying for our ignorance." Anon ended with a bit of sadness in his voice, "Well also besides lacking the ability to talk our ponies don't look quite like you guys."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash questioned before Twilight was able to.

"Well, It's like… hm…" Anon paused which also caused the others to come to a stop. Anon spent a good minute looking between the six ponies, taking in their forms. Twilight had her head slightly tilted to the right with a look of confusion and inner thought. Rainbow Dash had landed but chose to stand on her hind legs while crossing her forelegs across her chest. Applejack planted her flank on the ground while Rarity chose to stand. Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down waiting for his response while Fluttershy was kind of just hoofing at the ground.

"Well first off your limbs are way too flexible, "Anon said pointing to Dash, "Ponies shouldn't be able to stand like that and cross their arms-- forelegs. Also, " Anon turned to Twilight and stared her in the face for a good second before adding, "your faces too round and are very human-like... Normally I wouldn't be able to tell such emotions from a ponies face-- Oh and we don't have unicorns or pegasi, just regular ponies." Anon said as he turned his attention to Applejack. "And what's with those weird tattoos on your butts?" Apparently Anon had said something outrageous because after a few seconds they all began responding with different questions.

"Hey, whaddya mean our limbs are too flexible?"

"Wait-- there are only Earth ponies in your world, how do you control the weather?"

"So all of the ponies in your world all just walk around all sad without ever smiling?"

"What? You mean these cutie marks on our flanks?."

"Control the weather? What in the world are you talking about-- Also, gay. Hope they call it something different if you're a guy."

"Well of course it's gay! It's the gayest moment in a pony's life when they get their cutie mark!" exclaimed Pinkie, while Dash and Anon snickered, and then hoof to fist bumped in acknowledgement, "What're you two laughing at?"

"Nothing. So what, do you guys head down to the local tattoo shop and request-- Actually, now that I think about it that's not skin... What do you paint it on you with some kind of permanent paint? I mean I'd say it was a brand but you can't burn colors into skin."

"A cutie mark isn't something that's drawn on," Twilight began in a matter-of-factly tone. "It appears when a pony finds his or her special talent in life. It's a symbol of what you love doing and are the best at in life." she finished turning her flank toward Anon so he could see as so did the others.

"Special talent huh… Let's see if I can name 'em." Anon shuffled his eyes between the mares in thought before continuing. "Hm, Twilight has a whole bunch of stars on her bu-- flank. So I'm going to say stargazing." Rainbow Dash laughed hard while Twilight looked irritated. "Welp that was obviously wrong.. Onward to Applejack! Let's see you've got three apples and live on a farm… I guess you're really good at growing apples or making apple foods?"

"Close nuff' partner."

"Alright, one for one! Now for Rarity… Diamonds? Dang," Anon sighed as he scratched his chin, "I honestly have no clue there but since you made me such awesome clothes maybe your cutie mark should have been a needle and thread. Pinkie Pie is easy, three balloons huh? They've got to symbolize the awesome and fun the parties that you throw."

"Actually yes darling, my special talent is sewing."

"Oh, oh! And mine too, you got it right! I absolutely love throwing parties and making ponies smile!"

"Oh yeah! Three for one! Two more to go, let's see… Fluttershy's got three butterflies so I'm going with she's really good at catching and raising butterflies. And finally Rainbow Dash… You've got a cloud shooting a lightning colored rainbow." Anon deadpanned, "You must be able to make rainbows and rainbow lightning."

"Pffft, step back and guess again Anon," Dash replied as Anon just smirked before taking off to the skies at an impossible speed before curving around and zig zagging back to the ground catching and destroying a good ten clouds in the process.

"Uhm, and my special talent isn't catching butterflies, it's raising and caring for animals, I can also talk to them."

"Ah.. well sorry, looks like I got three out of three though right?" Anon bragged as they resumed walking, "So what, I take it that your special talent is flying really fast?"

"The fastest."

"Too bad you're so small, in my world if you existed you'd be taller than me and weigh like a thousand pounds. Then I could ride you off into the sunset."

"Whoa what, why are your ponies so massive!?"

"Heh, well they aren't called ponies, they're horses. Which are pretty much just bigger versions of ponies. They were just bred that way so we could ride them. Although since times have changed we don't need to ride them anymore, what with cars and what not."


"Cars? What are they?" Twilight asked curiously, though much to Anon's relief before he was forced to elaborate Applejack pointed forward and spoke up.

"Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres."

From what Anon could tell it looked like a normal enough farm, although he had never actually seen one in real life. There was a barn, well, and house but instead of crops all Anon could see were fields of apple trees. "So… the only thing you grow are apple trees?"

" 'Course not, we grow wheat an' other things but the main product here are apples." corrected Applejack as she trotted over to the nearest apple tree. Turning around she balanced on her forelegs bringing her hind legs back before lightly kicking the tree, dropping a single apple. "Here, go ahead an' give it a try."

Seeing no reason to refuse Anon accepted the apple and took a large bite out of it. Delicious didn't even come anywhere near describing how good the apple tasted. Wasting no time at all Anon devoured the rest of the apple, core included. "Why are your apples this good? You spike them with crack?"

"With what now? These apples are the pride of my family, we raise only the best." declared Applejack standing up on her hind legs while pushing out her chest proudly. "Now c'mon partner, how 'bout we go in and meet the family?"

"A-actually, can you point me in the direction of the little bo.. Hm, stallions room? I've gotta go." Applejack raised a hoof and pointed to an outhouse near the barn. Figures… "Thanks, I'll only be a second, I'll head in afterward." waving a hand in thanks Anon proceeded at a brisk pace intent on taking a leak. The others were led by Applejack into a house which Anon noted.

"Oh man I'm so glad ponies don't just drop it wherever like horses in my world." Anon said while relieving himself. It was a pretty standard outhouse; however it was smaller, extremely clean and thankfully had a bucket of water. It probably wasn't meant for washing hands but that's what it was going to be today. Finished with his business Anon exited the outhouse, proceeded to walk to Applejacks front door and was tackled face first into the ground.

"Hey, hey! Quick, tie up his hooves!"

"I'm trying to! But his hind legs are really long while his forelegs are too short."

"Ahlright! Cutie Mark Crusaders Creature Tamers!!"

With his face in the mud and three bodies on his back Anon had no choice but to submit as he was hog tied and gagged. Looking up he saw three fillies standing up looking at each other's flanks, "Do ya see anythang?" questioned the yellowish one with a red mane and a pink bow tie.

"Nope, I don't see anything, looks like we're not getting our cutie marks in capturing creatures." commented the orange one with spiked pink hair.

"What do you suppose it is?" questioned the white one with pink and purple hair. Anon struggled as he tried speaking to no avail.

"You think he came out of the Everfree forest? Wait till Rainbow Dash hears that we took down a monster from the Everfree!" exclaimed the orange one excitedly.

"Yeah, but how do you suppose we go about carrying it into town? He looks kind of heavy." questioned the white one, her voice cracking in the middle of her sentence.

"Ahve got an idea!" the yellow one stated as she trotted into the barn and emerged a minute later with a wheel barrel.

"Great idea Apple Bloom!"

"Ah shucks it was nothing, now hold the barrel steady Scootaloo, while me and Sweetie Bell get him in." as they grab Anon grunting they begin to stuff him into the wheel barrel.

"Oh man, why's he so heavy?" Sweetie Bell said while struggling to lift Anon.

"Who cares! Think of how cool it will be when we show it off to everyone!"

"Yeah! Scootaloo's right, maybe we'll get our cutie marks in the circus!" exclaimed Apple Bloom in a shrill voice. "Cutie Mark Crusaders in the Circus!"

Anon would have thought this entire situation was adorable had he not been flawlessly tackled to the ground, then bound and gagged by mere children as they began to comically stuff in into a wheel barrel. A lone tear of shame rolled down his cheek as the three fillies rolled him toward town. My luck with females is the same-- even in a world of ponies!


•	•	•


"Hey, what do you think is taking Anon so long?" questioned Twilight as she sipped on her apple juice that Granny Smith had made for them.

"Hey, maybe he's doing number two." Dash said giggling.

"Oh please Dash, must you be so uncivilized? The poor thing has had a hard enough time without you making jokes." commented Rarity.

"Still, Dash is right, I wonder what's takin' him so long. Maybe ah outta check on him." Applejack said as she stood up.

"Why I sure hope nothing bad happened to him." Fluttershy said with a hint of worry.

"Oh c'mon Fluttershy, what kind of trouble could he possibly have run into? No toilet paper?" Dash burst into another fit of laughter while Rarity and Twilight rolled their eyes.

"Well regardless ah should check on him. Would be unhospitable of me to do otherwise."


•	•	•


Anon had been struggling for the past ten minute as they wheeled him towards town, unfortunately for him the one called Apple Bloom seemed to have a lot of skill in tying rope. He had tried a few times to reason with them but since he was gagged his voice came out in a mess of gurgles and spit. Although what the fillies hadn't planned on was that Anon was human and thus had the greatest weapon evolution had given him; eight fingers and two opposable thumbs, soon enough he would be able to work the rope enough to unbind his feet.

"Hey, wasn't there supposed to be some kind of party today at the town hall?" came Scootaloo's voice.

"Oh yeah! I think Pinkie was throwin' a get well party, shame we had to miss it." Apple Bloom said with a twinge of sadness.

"Yeah but look what we found because of it! If we had gone we wouldn’t have captured this thing!" commented Sweetie Bell. Anon fought with renewed vigor and rage at the irony of the situation, the ropes loosening just a bit, with a little more he would be free.

"Yeah, and good thing we didn't make a Pinkie Promise, else we might not have gotten a chance at finding out our special talent and getting our cutie marks!" Somewhere in the back of Anon's mind he lightly registered Twilights earlier lecture on cutie marks, he was almost there, in another minute he would be free.

"Oh no ya don't," said Apple Bloom as she peered down at Anon, tightening his ropes and crushing his hopes of escape. "We need you to get our cutie marks!" Defeated, Anons' body went limp as he gave up, Not like I'm going to die or anything but this rope really chafes.

"Hey make sure you tie it tighter this time Apple Bloom, we don't want it escaping before we get our cutie marks!" Scootaloo replied bit a hint of annoyance.

"Hey, ah did tie him up properly… He's just got these weird hooves."

Fingers, Anon thought, Were there seriously no apes for humans to evolve into around here? Anon decided to stare up at Apple Bloom since she was still standing on him making a death grip knot out of the rope.

"Hey, it's looking at me weird, Ah think it's havin a hard time breathing, with that cloth in his mouth and what not. Think we should take it off for a sec? Not like he can do any harm."

'Oh sweet blessed Apple Bloom, my savior! Please!' Anon wanted to say but all that came out was his muffled voice as he gave the most puppy dog eyes he could.

"Don't be crazy Apple Bloom, what if he bites you? You might catch something." Damn you Scootaloo you--- you fucking chicken!, Anon raged but at the same time in the back of his mind commended her on at least playing it safe. Apple Bloom jumped off of him and resumed walking.

"Yeah ah guess you're right."

Scrunching up his face Anon fell back into the barrel, trying to shrink as small as possible, Publicly humiliated not once but twice in one day? We're on a roll Anon.

> Chapter 8 He's a Carnivore (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Letting out a loud yawn Spike stretched his limbs and blinking the sleep from his eyes before continuing down the street. Today was the day that the creature named Anon was going to be released from the hospital. Unfortunately… Spike had overslept and to make matters even worse Twilight had thought it best to let him sleep. Though he really couldn't blame her since she was the reason why he was lacking in sleep. Twilight had spent the past few days scouring the Library to find any information she could about Anon, her search thus far had been fruitless.

The first destination Spike had reached was the cleanup of the party thrown in Anon's honor; he had apparently missed them by a good hour which meant that they would now be on the tour of Ponyville. Spike thought that if he hurried he might be able to meet them just as they were leaving Rarity's house. Twilight had made a VERY specific schedule and knowing her unless Discord got loose they would stick to it. 

Unfortunately his second destination was another dead end, which caused Spike to nervously glance around to see whether or not chocolate rain would be falling. Fortunately some other disaster must have happened to throw a wrench in her schedule. This is what led him on his way to Applejack's, if they were still sticking to that schedule Twilight made the next destination would be Sweet Apple Acres for sure. As Spike was making his way from Rarity's house out of the corner of his eye he caught five familiar fillies, a wheelbarrow and a tall bipedal figure.


•	•	•


Fluttershy was perhaps the only pegasus in existence who preferred walking rather than flying but this being an urgent matter Fluttershy had no choice. Anon the scary bipedal creature that helped save their lives had disappeared, this being the second time today. She had been "volunteered" along with Dash to get a bird's eye view of the farm to see where Anon had wandered off to but secretly she had hoped that Dash would find him first. Although she knew he meant well and was a nice "human" she still felt a little unsettled by him, she still couldn't shake the images of him fighting brutally against the nightmare all the while wearing a smile on his face. A smile of sharp teeth.

Being Ponyville's doctor of sorts when it came to animals she held a vast knowledge of everything from mammals to reptiles and there was one thing that she knew about animals, flat teeth meant a diet of vegetables while sharp ones indicated a diet of… meat. He was a carnivore. Suddenly a high pitched voice pierced her thoughts, bringing her back to the task at hand. Looking down she noticed five fillies surrounding a wheelbarrow talking in raised voices. Unable to hear what they were saying Fluttershy was going to land to see what they were talking about before her body went ice cold.

Inside the wheelbarrow bound and gagged was an angry looking Anon. Fluttershy literally dropped a good twenty feet in fear, her mind freezed and took seemed to take her motor skills along with it.

"Creature tamers huh? You morons can't even walk him properly let alone tame him!"

"That's not true!! We can train him easily, and we'll get our cutie marks while we're at it!"

"Th…they hog tied Anon and--… oh my!" Fluttershy was already beginning to hyperventilate, the gears in her head churning trying to think of a solution to the situation before it got any worse. The look of anger on Anon's face increased tenfold. Fluttershy turned her head towards the farm debating how fast she could fly back and get help before--


•	•	•


Anon was quite bored, after giving up trying to break free he was content on finding ways to entertain himself. Anything from trying to name clouds that were in particular shapes to counting his own teeth, to which he was proud to say still had all thirty-two. Apparently his mouth was just the right size to accommodate all of his teeth. Or was.

"Hey where are you three losers going with that wheelbarrow?" came a voice that forced the wheel barrow to a halt slamming Anon face first into the side of it.

"Yeah, where do you think you blank flanks are going?" came another voice, or it could have been the same one to Anon. He was too busy cringing in pain.

"Why that's none of your business Diamond Tiara!" Apple Bloom screamed back in anger, then catching herself she added, "We're just bout to get our cutie marks in creature taming! We caught em ourselves!"

Fucking kids, picking on each other, fuckin' lame. Face hurts.. God damn it.

"Is that so?" came the first voice as she jumped onto the wheelbarrow and into Anons' field of vision. "He looks stupid and kind of weak, but then again he must be if he got caught by you three lame-o's!"

I.. Oh no you didn't… Anon's face began to burn red with embarrassment and anger as the filly with a gaudy looking tiara on her head berated him. Had Anon been twelve years younger he'd have slammed her face into the pavement… But being a reasonable adult, not to mention a foreigner in a strange land full of mystical ponies that could lynch him for such an act-- calmed his train of thought for the moment.

"Creature tamers huh? You morons can't even walk him properly let alone tame him!" the annoying filly gave a loud laugh as her minion cackled along with her.  

"That's not true!! We can train him easily, and we'll get our cutie marks while we're at it!" Sweetie Bell yelled as her voice cracked in frustration. The others also raising their complaints, Diamond Tiara looked as if she was loving every minute of it. Anon could see the gears turning in her head as she smirked, the little filly wanted nothing more to see them fail. Not on my watch.

"Well then." Diamond Tiara smiled innocently, "Why. Don't You. Prove it." Jumping off of him and onto the ground she waited as the three crusaders eyed each other with fear filled determination. Nodding to each other they each jumped up into Anon's view.

"G..girls.. are you sure about---"

"There's no way we're letting her make fun of us like that!" Scootaloo cut off Sweetie Bell.

"Yah and think, what if it really is our talent? Then we'd be able to show her!"

"Well? What's taking so long? I don't have all day, I want to see the three of you fail, now." The three of them peered down nervously at Anon as Apple Bloom hesitantly removed the last of his bindings, the gag being the last before they hopped out of the wheelbarrow. Trying to hide his smile Anon stood up to his full height causing the crusaders to gasp and backpedal a few steps. Anon wasn't that tall of a guy, just two inches under six feet, one inch on a good day. However being in a land of miniature ponies meant that he towered over full grown ponies by over two feet and these were even smaller!

The crusaders eyed each other nervously with a "What now" kind of look. Furrowing her brow a single thought popped into Apple Blooms mind, Well maybe he's like a dog like Winnoa. "Ah…Ahlright.. C-Come boy?"

On command Anon jumped down from the wheelbarrow and walked up slowly to Apple Bloom, trying not to scare her more than she was already. Stopping a foot from her Anon knelt down on one knee and dipped his head down and slightly to the right. "N…now s..s..shake!" Apple Bloom stuttered while extending her hoof, visibly nervous.

Shake? Really? You've got no fingers, where did the concept of hand-- hoof shaking even come from" Following his orders Anon reached out his hand and "shook" her hoof. The initial impact sent a shiver of fear down her body before she calmed down looking up at Anon in a confused awe before back at her friends. "Ok, good boy! Now… Oh!" looking around her Apple Bloom picked up a stick in her mouth and tossed it a surprising distance into the air. "Fetch!"


•	•	•


Spike wasn't sure what in the world was going on. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell seemed to be playing with Anon like he was a dog. Then there were also two fillies that he remembered were Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looking on mouths agape with a certain confusion that was probably on his face as well.

Apple Bloom had climbed on top of Anons shoulders while Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo were in his right and left hands respectively all the while Anon was running circles around Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"Faster, Faster!" Scootaloo cried, she was being supported on her stomach by Anons left hand as she flapped small wings as fast as she could. With Sweetie Bell in Anon's right hand it looked as if she were racing Scootaloo.

"Yeehaw!" somewhere along the lines Apple Bloom had tied the rope into a makeshift harness and was steering Anon around. 

"What're you guys doing?" Spike asked walking up to them with utter confusion on his face, "How come you're not on the tour?" Anon slowed down as Apple Bloom steered him toward Spike.

"Oh, hey Spike! Look what we found!" Scootaloo exclaimed as she was lowered to the ground along with Sweetie Bell.

"We caught ourselves a pet!" Sweetie Bell screeched.

"And Ah tamed him! We were just showing him off to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon." Apple Bloom added.

Spike looked from the crusaders to the two fillies behind Anon with confusion in his eyes before looking up at Anon who winked at him while bringing a single finger to his lips.

"Yeah, just watch this!" Sweetie Bell exclaimed before turning to Anon raising her fore hooves. "Sit!" Anon did as he was instructed opting to sit indian style.

"Well it doesn't matter if you somehow trained that ugly thing!" Diamond Tiara announced finally pulling herself out of her shock. Walking up to them she pointed her hoof at their flanks. "You're still a bunch of blank flanks!"

The crusaders looked back at their flanks before dipping their heads down in disappointment while the other two fillies laughed. A thought came into Anons mind as he got up on all fours and began growling at the two fillies.  "W..what, control your mutt!" Stuttered Diamond as she backpedaled a few feet, Anon slowly following her. "I mean it! I'm the richest most popular pony, I'll have my dad lock up your--- ah!" Anon began barking causing her to lose her nerve and turn tail full speed, leaving a visible trail of dust.

Spike and the crusaders instantly broke out into a fit or laughter, Anon waited until the two girls turned a corner before cracking a smile, "Well, that'll show those two." Anon stood up and brushed himself off as he headed back toward the now dumbfounded crusaders.

"Hey Anon, how come you aren't with Twilight and the others? Shouldn't you be at Sweet Apple Acres on a tour around Ponyville?" questioned Spike after he finally managed to calm down his fit of laughter.

"Well I was, but…" Anon looked over at the bewildered crusaders before continuing, "but I decided to take a detour." After a few moments of silence a uniform look of horrified realization passed over their faces, "Not like I didn't have fun though, I was just helping Apple Bloom and her friends out." finished Anon as he winked at the trio. And with that not a soul will ever find out that the mighty interstellar hero Anon was brought down by a group of little girls, Anon breathed a sigh of relief unaware of a cream colored pegasis flying overhead.

"Well ok," Spike said completely oblivious to Anon's wink, "We had better get back to the farm and continue the tour."


•	•	•



"Huh, so Anon got wrapped up with mah little sister and her friends?" Applejack said without much surprise. "At least we know they're outta any trouble, what with missin' the party."

"Yes, they were heading back this way." Fluttershy technically wasn't lying, she was just telling part of the story but to her she thought that she owed Anon at least this much. Thinking back on her actions she felt a little foolish about being wary of Anon, even after learning that he helped save their lives. "Oh, and Spike was with them too."

Twilight perked her head up turning toward the conversation, "Really? I thought that he would be sleeping a little while longer, the poor little guy hasn't been getting much sleep."

"Hard not to blame him." Rarity began, "With that evil nightmare that was on the loose I can only imagine the nightmare it showed my poor little Spike."

> Chapter 9 An Eventful Meeting (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

                Anon was sitting quite comfortably in the shade with his back leaning against an apple tree as he gazed at the scenery. The pint-sized Crusaders were running around playing with Spike while Dash and Pinkie seemed content on devouring the entire picnic before anyone else could get a share. Rarity looked on with a refined expression of disgust before turning her attention to the Crusaders.

"You know, now that I've got a second to really catch myself it's still hard to believe any of this is real..." Anon said without referring to anyone in particular. Reaching up again Anon pinched his cheek before glancing over to Twilight, "Even now I feel like any second now I'll wake up and be back in my room... So you were saying when I first woke up something about not knowing how I got here or..." Anon just let the sentence trail off and turned his head back to the crusaders.

The silence hung in the air for a few moments as Twilight mulled over the proper way of responding, after a few more seconds she finally collected her thoughts, "Well, while I have yet to discover what exactly happened when I used that spell I sent a letter to Princess Celestia explaining the situation."

Turning his attention back to Twilight Anon couldn't help but smile, almost laugh even. Princess? Had they been humans instead of ponies this would have been so much cooler. Twilight seemed confused at his attitude but was more or less put at ease from his smile. Her logic going along the lines of 'somepony can't be all that angry while smiling'. "So, who's this Princess? Will she be able to do anything to help me?"

"Well of course! Princess Celestia is the wisest and most powerful being in all of Equestria, if somepony knows anything about the spell that was used it will be her." Twilight said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Though I only notified her of it when you woke up yesterday I'm sure she'll have a solution in no time."

Anon let out a sharp whistle, "So she's some hot stuff huh? Well that sounds cool, if she's that powerful I should be back in no time. Though I'm kind of nervous, I'll be meeting royalty soon right?" The crusaders had stopped their playing with Spike and were waving their hooves calling out to Anon, their eyes screaming 'Play with us.' "Well, guess I can consider this a small vacation then." Standing up Anon stretched his limbs before heading toward the trio.

"Well isn't that great? With the Princess looking into it he should be on his way back home in no time, right Twi?" Applejack mentioned as she took a bite out of her leafy sandwich, Twilight however didn't respond her brows knitted in worry.

"What's up Twilight, this is the Princess we're talking about and you said it yourself; If somepony knows anything about the spell you used it will be her." Dash added as she stopped stuffing her face long enough to rest a reassuring hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

"Well of course, Princess Celestia has probably already come up with a way to send him home… but…" Twilight's ears drooped as her voice wavered a bit, "But what will she do to me since I couldn't solve it myself?"

"What?" Rarity whom was watching Anon play with the fillies craned her neck towards Twilight, "Twilight dear, thanks to your quick thinking we were able to defeat that nightmare before it took over completely. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't been there? I believe Princess Celestia will overlook such a small detail."

"No… You girls just don't understand!" Twilight cried out in frustration, "I just plucked a being at random from his cosmos, transported him who knows how far-- to an alien world and all without knowing how to return him! Princess Celestia could never overlook such a blunder! I mean, what if---!" hanging her head in shame Twilight broke off her sentence as her words sunk in. None of them able to properly rebuke Twilight's statement choose to instead look out at the Crusaders who were happily playing with Anon.

Rarity was the first to break the silence shuffling her hooves around awkwardly she questioned, "So, you sent a letter… How long until she arrives?"

"Well I sent a letter to Celestia that night when Anon was teleported into our world and I sent a short note to her after he woke up… but-" Twilight was beginning to hyperventilate as she entered her panic mode. "But she still has yet to send me a response other than a 'Congratulations on combating a threat to Ponyville'". What if she's thinking over all the possible punishments I deserve? It can't possibly just end with a slap on my hooves! I could be jailed, or worse! She could disown me as her student!"

"Whoa hey--Spike!!" Anon nervously shouts causing Twilight and the others to turn their heads toward him. Clenching his stomach Spike opened his mouth and belched a spray of emerald flames, Anon meanwhile was diving out of the way in fear and when the flames subsided a scroll bearing the royal seal fell to the ground. Glancing up Anon nervously laughed, "Guess you are a dragon, huh? Just watch those flames bro."


•             •             •


My dear sister, are you not well?"

A voice shook the mare from her thoughts. She felt more than well and terrible all the same. Shaking her starry mane the Princess of the Night turned toward her sister and smiled lightly, "Well, why would we not feel well sister? The nightmare has been beaten back by thou's most beloved stud--"

"Ah ah ah! You're using the Royal Canterlot voice again." Celestia smiled teasingly as she purposely interrupted her younger sister. This yielded more of a genuine smile from Luna before her brows furrowed again in concentration. Even though Celestia had untold ages worth of experience the Mare of the Night was the only one whose thoughts constantly eluded her. A fact that she had regretted for over a thousand years; she was not about to make the same mistake again, "You're troubled, are you not? I know that since the incident your night court has been overflowing and that you have been soothing the dreams of everypony affected. You've yet to sleep these past few days, have you? I know that you are still drained from our efforts at stalling the spread of the nightmare that night."

Luna's brow slightly parted again but instead of answering her sisters' question she turned away choosing instead to lock her gaze outside at the afternoon sky. Normally she would be resting at this time but she just couldn't sleep, not until she had confirmed what had been bothering her.

"This evening I plan on going to Ponyville personally to meet this Anon and thank him on behalf of all Equestria." Celestia turned her eyes away from her sister in thought, missing Luna's ears perking at the mention of his name. "And… I believe that you should stay here. You've barely had any sleep these past few days and I don't think you should strain--"

"No." Luna replied quickly, her pulse quickening just a bit, "I mean, this… Anon helped combat a threat that only we could stall, I am very interested in meeting him-- and I feel fine." Luna added smiling

No, I must go at all costs, if not just to put down these suspicions

Again Celestia stared at her sister, debating over her welfare before finally sighing. "Well, if you genuinely feel up to the task then I won't stop you however you must promise me that you won't push yourself." Standing up Celestia walked over to her sister and nuzzled her face lightly. Luna again loosened her face and smiled as Celestia exited the room. Turning her gaze back toward the afternoon sky Luna frowned once again. There was absolutely no way that Anon could be here, in fact its probably just a simple case of someone with the same name… but… Luna's thoughts drifted to the scene she saw a few nights ago replaying it over one last time.

Luna had been going into the minds of every citizen of Ponyville, soothing their dreams and bringing a peaceful slumber. It was then that in the midst of roaming the ethereal dream world that she had felt it. A mind screaming out in pain louder than any she had ever heard. Rushing to the ponies dream she beheld a fragmented mind that was built into a maze of doors each holding a trap more sinister than the last. It was only by chance that she was able to make her way toward the source of the cries.

And there, in front of her was a being she hadn't seen in so long she had doubted him to be real, except he was crying in pain while lashing out at everything, even himself. His mind seemed to be split in two; one half torturing and the other being tortured all while the room constantly shifted through what could only be his memories. Taking a chance Luna did the only thing she thought to save him, seal his mind.

Even now Luna wasn't sure whether or not she actually witnessed this or whether it had been a remnant of the nightmare that attacked Ponyville. All she knew was that if she didn't go with her sister today, she would never find out.


•	•	•


"Maaaan! To think you lived in a Library, I don't think I'd have agreed to helping you clean it if I had known that." Anon said jokingly as he planted a seat on a scenic fountain, for a half second he debated asking how they made stuff like this without thumbs… or fingers for that matter. Twilight who was working her way to burning a new strip of road from pacing looked up for a brief second and began panicking while apologizing.

"Whoa, whoa. Hold up Twilight, it was a joke, it wasn't that bad." Although it did take them a good hour to get it "Twilight" approved. After the surprise of her living in a huge library settled he could really see her only living in a place full of books. Twilight resumed her construction on the new road and Anon decided to question a nearby Rainbow Dash, "So… does she always do that? Y'know, the whole panic attack thing whenever someone important visits."

Normally Rainbow dash would have snickered and made a joke about how Twilight always overreacted whenever the Princess decided to drop by. She actually believed that the Princess might even be doing it for a few easy laughs, or at least Dash would do it just to tease Twilight. "Yeah, but this time is different."

"Huh.. Yeah, I suppose it's not every day that you've got to introduce a diplomat from a foreign world to your nation's leader. Shouldn't you guys try to calm her down a bit?" Anon suggested.

This time Dash smiled a bit, "There really isn't anything you can do to stop full on panic Twilight mode." then added with a more serious tone, "Hopefully everything goes alright."

Anon shrugged and looked around, "So, I suppose she'll ride up a gaudy chariot being drawn by some strong looking body guards. Why aren't we meeting her at the edge of town or something? Where is she coming from?"

Pinkie popped out of nowhere, kind of like she just phased into existence on Anons' shoulders, Anon flinched but then smiled. "Wow are you an esper Anon? She'll totally be flown in her chariot pulled by two tough looking stallions-- Oh! Look, there they are!"

"Wait-- flown? You serious?" Anon questioned as he craned his head toward the sky. Low and behold his guess was correct. A little ways into the distance two snow white stallions each wearing shiny armor are flying while pulling a gaudy looking carriage with two beings in it. "Huh, there are two of them in there, which one is the Princess?" Pinkie Pie disappeared again and joined with Twilight and the others who were standing in a line awaiting the Princesses touch down. Not wanting to seem rude Anon stood up and turned to make his way toward them as the carriage landed. 

Celestia gracefully stepped down from the carriage and toward her faithful student and fellow embodiments of harmony whom bowed at her presence. Smiling Celestia nodded her head and beckoned them to raise theirs. "My Little Ponies, we are pleased to be here today-- Luna?" Celestia paused mid-sentence and turned to a flash of blue light behind her and an empty carriage. Regaining her composure instantly the Princess of the sun turned back toward Twilight and smiled lightly, "It seems that lately Princess Luna has been feeling under the weather, you'll have to excuse her, due to the recent events and all." Twilight was the first to begin to show her concern before the Princess held up a hoof. "There is nothing to fear Twilight, you and your friends successfully defeated that Nightmare, which brings me to my next point."

Still smiling Princess Celestia turned her attention toward Anon whom was still a good five yards away. "You must be the Hero Anon that Twilight Sparkle has told me about, please forgive my sister for her abrupt departure, due to the recent events she hasn't been feeling up to strength." Anon said nothing in reply, he simply stood there. Tilting her head slightly Celestia looked down at Twilight who gave her a shrug before walking closer to Anon. "On behalf of all of Equestria I wish to thank you for your heroic--…"

Celestia stopped, not just in sentence but in movement too, they had just barely crossed half the distance to Anon. The group looked up at the Princess in confusion before gasping in shock. Celestia had stopped smiling and instead a look of worry appeared on her face. "Are you alright, Sir Anon?"

Standing not seven feet from them was Anon, his body frozen mid-step, body trembling, fists clenched white and eyes wide with a look of terror in his face. As Celestia took another step forward Anon tried stepping back but ended up tumbling over his own feet landing hard on his back.

Dash broke stride with the group and closed the distance between her an Anon. "Whoa Anon what're you--- Dude, are you crying?" Without even registering Rainbow Dash's existence Anon had his eyes locked with Celestia, a feeble arm raised in defense with his face now streaming tears.

With a puzzled look on her face Celestia's horn began to glow, "I.. I'm sorry if I startled you but I mean you no harm. I am Princess Celestia, one of two rulers of this land, let me help you up." As she finished her statement her magic slowly began to envelope Anons body as Anon let loose a scream that could be heard throughout Ponyville before disappearing in a flash of blue light.

Several miles away in the middle of the Everfree two flashes of light illuminated the forest leaving behind an unconscious Anon and a panicking Luna.

Princess Celestia could probably count the number of times she had been surprised on her hoof had she fingers to do so, this was nevertheless one of those times. She had felt Luna gathering magic and teleporting abruptly away when she had first exited the carriage but had failed to notice that she had only teleported a short distance away and was keeping watch. Celestia however couldn't for the life of her figure out why. Stranger still the being known as Anon seemed absolutely terrified of her and the moment she had begun touching him with magic had been disastrous. Had Luna not teleported him away she wasn't quite sure what would have happened.

"Uhm… Princess..?"

Snapping back to reality Princess Celestia once again resumed her confident smiling demeanor before responding to her student, "It seems, as if there is something about me or my power that Anon finds… Unsettling. However there is nothing to fear, Luna has taken it upon herself to take him out of the range of my aura."

Twilight tilted her head while scratching her mane, as expected of her student. Princess Celestia could already see the cogs turning inside of her mind, mulling over the few reasons as to why a being would feel pain and fear in her presence. Breaking Twilight from her thoughts the Princess put a hoof on her shoulder, "There's something that we need to talk about, concerning the spell that you used." Twilight's heart rose to her throat and her stomach sank.


•	•	•


Once again Luna found herself in the maze that was Anons' mind and couldn't help but question how it became this fragmented. Occasionally she would walk down a path and it would suddenly twist and turn or completely dissolve into nothing forcing her to go back and try again. Her only guide was the chorus of screams played by Anon. Turning another corner Luna came face to face with a familiar door. Opening it Luna beheld Anon who was just standing there smiling at her, "Anon… is that you?"

"Is it me? Well who else would I be, Luna?" Anon responded with a smile on his face as he opened his arms wide. Luna stepped toward him in what could only be described as pure joy.

"Anon, I wasn't even sure if you really existed, I--" seconds later spiked tendrils erupted from Anons' arm invading the space that once housed Luna but struck only a flash of light. Luna reappeared a few yards back her wings raised. Anon laughed hard as his features began to distort; his teeth growing sharper, nails pointed and his eyes changing to slits. This wasn't the same Anon, this was the fragmented half that she thought that she had sealed days earlier.

"Luna, what's wrong? Won't you give me a hug? Like the one you gave me?" his voice coarse and cracked as he tore at his shirt to reveal a bloodied hole in his chest.

Luna felt sick as she gazed at the bloodied hole, it had to hurt, there was no way it couldn't. She knew that in the dream world pain may be dulled slightly but it was still there and with a wound like that he shouldn't even he standing. "What did you do to Anon?"

"What did I do? I did nothing, compared to what you did to him, in fac--" a blurred figure rushed forth from behind Luna tackling Anon to the ground.

"You leave her alone you sick piece of shit!"

"Anon?" Luna gasped.

Anon picked himself up from his more monstrous looking self and struck a fighting pose in front of Luna. "The one and only. I don't know who you are but you should definitely stay back, he's pretty strong."

"Wait, what?" Luna stepped forward as the shade of Anon picked itself up and darted into the darkness. Anon waited a few seconds while looking around before he dropped his guard and turned around to face Luna.

"Well it looks like it retreated for now, though we should keep our guard up, there's no telling when it will come back. Who are you anyway, are you looking for a way out of here too?"

"Luna…" nodding slowly she searched his eyes for any signs of recognition. The shade of Anon certainly seemed to recognize her but for some reason this version of Anon had no clue who she was. An internal conflict? Was that other Anon actually the real Anon? Who do I trust?

Anon smiled and took her hoof, "Well Luna, I'm pretty strong so if you stand by me I'll protect you."
> Mini-Chapter 9.5 Fear (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Excited, but dreadfully anxious, thrilled with happiness but saddened at the fear of doubt. These and many other emotions were coursing through her very being while her stomach felt as if there were a gigantic manticore within it; intent on fulfilling its’ life dream of becoming a gymnast. The blasted thing was flipping, twirling and bounding back and forth without a care of the damage it was doing. Her concept of time was also skewered which had only happened once before when she was on the moon. The flight from Canterlot to Ponyville usually took two hours; four hours by train. This one took three seconds.

The ground that had been racing past her nanoseconds ago now slowly crawled as the carriage was about to touch down. Suddenly she was loosing her nerve, in a few seconds she would either be reunited with an old—what? Oh no… We’re… friends right? He still thinks that I’m his friend right? Wait—don’t get ahead of yourself, this could all very well be a case of mistaken identity and this being is just somepony who happens to share the same name.

The carriage still hadn’t touched ground, which meant that her concept of time had decided to torture her with anticipation, unable to stand it her eyes quickly darted around her. There were a number of ponies who were on looking the event, apparently her sister was going to make a dazzling spectacle of this and bestow some kind of metal of honor to him. She caught view of her sisters’ most prized student and her friends. The same ones that had returned her sanity back to her after that incident when she tried to kill everything by making it eternally night. Not purposely… it just wasn’t one of her best ideas. Still, I don’t see him, maybe it was just a dream…

Then it happened, as the carriage finally met ground her eyes locked on a figure that was sitting casually on the edge of a fountain. On two long legs it stood up and locked its’ gaze in her direction. A nanosecond later she phased out of reality and reappeared a few dozen meters behind Anon masking her form, presence and being.

…..
…….
………..
………….

Luna’s mind for a lack of a more elegant term simply farted.
Wait, what have we done?!

Much to her dismay no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t move a single muscle, somewhere in the still rational part of her mind she realized that she would have to apologize to her sister for her abrupt disappearance and make it up to her. The rest of her mind was confused on why she had chosen to disappear while her body seemed intent on backing up her brains decision. Unable to move she just locked her eyes on his unmoving form.

Her regal sister stepped forward toward Anon and in that moment Luna felt terror. Barely breaking her gaze from Anon she registered that her hooves had begun to quiver lightly. Celestia took another step toward Anon and her already baseless fear tripled. So unnerving was it that it brought her rational mind back. As powerful as her sister was she had never once felt fear of her because deep down some part of her knew even in that evil state of mind she was in that Celestia would never harm her.

As Celestia made another step toward Anon Luna began to hear voices, tiny wordless screams of pain, anger and something else… Anon still had not moved but as she focused her attention to him she discovered him to be the source of her terror. Though Anon was standing he was hardly conscious and if she had to say it felt as if he had just up and fallen asleep and was having the most terrifying nightmare of his life. This nightmare that he seemed to be having was so strong she could sense it, normally she would have to actively search for a pony who was in a nightmare while in the dream world. Anon fell to his back with an arm raised, the fear Luna felt became unbearable and the voices began to have words.

It’s hot
No.. stay back
I’m scared!
GIVE HER BACK
It burns
Don’t touch me
NEVER, I WILL NEVER STOP---
Someone help, I’m scared!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

In that instant Luna’s horn filled the square with light taking with it Anon. Deep within the Everfree Forest Luna felt the voices fade and the fear dull. Looking down at Anon she could tell he was still trapped within his nightmare. Closing her eye’s she breathed deeply and plunged into his dream.

> Chapter 10 Choices (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

                Celestia's horn ceased its glow and for a half second she could be seen frowning before she resumed her "All is well in Equestria" façade. Celestia had thought that she sensed what was the problem briefly as her magic wrapped around Anon but if her sister wanted to solve the matter she wasn't going to undermine her efforts. Still, she couldn't help but wonder as to the reason why… Perhaps she felt usurped from her place as Mare of the Night by this being and its strange dream ability. Shaking her mane lightly she resolved to carefully question her later, as of the moment there was a matter of equal if not greater importance.

"Twilight Sparkle… First I wish to express my deepest gratitude to you and your friends. Once again you have put your lives on the line to protected Ponyville from evil. Which makes what I'm about to say… harder." Princess Celestia, a being whom time had no effect on, choked briefly on her words before resuming her normal tone.  


•             •             •


"Uhm… So, you're trying to find your way out of this---" again the scenery suddenly shifted as trees phased into existence and grass sprouted under their feet, "…forest." Anon replied with a grunt as his walking cane he had been using to traverse the desert they were in only moments before transformed into a scimitar to cut through the brush. Luna wasn't sure what unnerved her more, that the landscape rapidly kept changing or that Anon failed to realize it in the slightest, she had thrice before questioned him about it and each time Anon replied with a 'What are you talking about?' "So, where are you trying to get to, after you get out of this forest, I mean."

This time Anon ceased his slashing and turned to face her, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well isn't that obvious? I've got to go home. I just got off work and I have to let my dogs go out to pee." Luna was at even more of a loss than she was moments before, she could just wake him up and be done with it but that wouldn't solve the mystery as to why he didn't remember her but the other one did.

"And.. what of that thing from earlier that looked like-- looked odd." She said deciding to try to gage his reaction.

Anon turned back to the task at hand and continued his assault on the brush, "Him? Dunno, annoying bastard though. Every time I almost get home he puts up another detour but what're you gonna do? They're working on the road so I have to go around."

Luna sighed deeply as she knitted her brows in concentration, Anon wasn't making much sense and they weren't getting much of anywhere at this rate. In the back of her mind she could also feel her sisters' presence and the multitude of questions on her mind; she couldn't keep everyone waiting with the exit they pulled. Closing her eyes she began concentrating her horn faintly glowing searching for anything. Moments later she felt the tiny whispers she had heard earlier, "Anon." she said firmly, causing him to pause his advance. "This way."



•             •             •


Throughout the hundreds of possible punishments Twilight Sparkle had thought of none of them compared to this, so absurd was Celestia's response she literally couldn't comprehend it. "You mean, you can't send him back at the moment right?" Twilight blurted out without regard to the way she addressed her Princess. Celestia only shook her head sadly before taking a stern tone with her student.

"The spell you used wasn't as simple as teleporting somepony across a set distance, Twilight." the Princess began. "To begin with the power it takes to teleport an object over the distance of a mile is a great feat in and of itself for said unicorn. The power needed to accomplish such a task doubles as does the distance."

"But I-- there's no way that I had enough power to pull a being his size over the distance of the world, let alone countless galaxies!" Twilight interrupted.

Celestia's brows furrowed in thought, Twilight's statement was valid… If applied to anyone but her, still there would be no way to explain it to her without revealing everything. Hardening her resolve Celestia looked down upon Twilight not as her student but as a ruler of an entire nation. "Twilight Sparkle, it is fact that due to your actions all of Equestria has been spared a terrible fate… Though through your actions and reckless use of magic a being has been translocated from his home world against his will with no current way to return. You will hereby be placed under arrest and stripped of your title until such a time where we can come to an agreement with Anon the Human." 


•           •           •


"So.. that's it…" Luna stood unmoving as she watched Anon fight a ghoulish version of himself wielding nothing but a tower shield and a dagger.

"Yo!, what's with that tiny ass dirk you're tryin' to stick me with?" laughed a corrupted version of Anon as he easily avoided Anons' attacks while raining a barrage of his own on, "Really-- you're going to have to throw away that shield if you even want to graze me!"

"Screw that, last time you tickled me with one of those claws I nearly wet myself." Anon retorted while swinging in vain. All the while Luna concentrated her gaze on the hole in the doppelgangers chest. A black substance oozed from the hole and gave off an aura that was all too familiar to Luna. It was the same aura of darkness that she felt when the nightmare first struck days ago.

Luna's mind was racing over the implications and possible resolutions. On one hand it would be a simple matter to just obliterate the remnant of darkness subsequently curing Anon and then return with him, but it would come at a price. The nightmare seemed to have latched onto a piece of Anon's soul, erasing the remnant would at the least obliterate a portion of Anon's soul that still remembered her.


And at most kill him.


Soon she would have to make up her mind, Anon wasn't getting anywhere in his fight and the shade would only run off again. Biting down on her lower lip Luna, Mare of the Night gathered her resolve.

"Seriously, why is the shield so large and the sword so tiny? Does it mirror the size of something private of yours?"

"You… Oh I'm going lodge this prick so far into your rectum!"

"Enough!" Luna cried out using the Royal Canterlot voice, "Your terror ends here." Lunas' horn shone brightly causing the doppelganger to shrink back. Anon ceased his attacks as Luna approached them with her eyes glowing white with power. "You will cause no more harm to Anon, Nightmare!"

Gasping for air the doppelganger managed to smile before he spoke, "So that's… how it's gonna be eh? Must be pretty nice, to conveniently cast away someone after he isn't useful anymore. Guess you were just toying with me back then under that tree in the grassy field."

Luna grimaced as she let the light of her horn overtake everything.


•	•	•


Anon sat up slowly as he brought a hand to his forehead, probably the right one. Splitting headache, huge gape in memory, lights being way too bright and sounds not working properly, Anon hadn't had a hangover before but he imagined that it would be like this. Blinking through the pain Anon focused his eyes to where he thought he heard voices and was able to make out six small colorful shapes and two larger ones.

The six smaller ones were most likely his new friends but what the fuck were those two large ones? As his mind slowly cleared he was finally able to make out the two large shapes of-- "Yo… What the fuck?" Eight mares turned toward Anon giving him his attention. Oh fuck, is that Princess Celestia? She's huge, You'd think the Princess of Ponyland would-- Well be a pony. Not a horse... And who's the second one? Wait-- fuck! I come to and the first thing I do is yell obscenities in front of a Princess. Wait-- the scenery fucking changed, why am I always waking up in unfamiliar places?! No--Quick! Damage control Anon! Think of something good to say! 

"uh…..Sup?"


•	•	•


"Sister, while we do agree that Twilight's actions do warrant  a proper reprimanding-- Thou art suggesting imprisonment?!" Luna stomped her foot down hard against the wooden floor as she glanced back to a Twilight Sparkle who was currently in shock, Fluttershy was crying next to her while the rest were trying to comfort Twilight.

"Do not misunderstand me Luna-- or you six." Celestia shifted her tone into one of comfort, "Twilight will be placed under house arrest only as a precaution. There will be no dark dungeon or improper treatment." Behind Celestia, Twilight at her mentors words finally snapped out of her shock while Fluttershy's tears slowed to sniffs."Howev--"

"However it is imprisonment all the same," Luna finished. "No matter how thou might word it. Anon isn't the--We are sure Anon while upset about this development will not want to see somepony punished for a mistake made in good conscious!" 

"I… She's right though, I did something that can't be taken back. At the very least I should be punished. What of Anon? What if he has a family somewhere? People that miss him! And I--"

"Yo… What the fuck." a voice interrupted from their left. Luna was the first to look up and relief washed over her face for an instant before she saw his confused gaze at the sight of them. At the sight of her. A few seconds of silence passed before anyone said anything, leading Anon to break the ice, "uh…..Sup?"

Had the situation been lighter Dash would have snickered at his expense instead she looked at him with a mix of pity and anger. Pinkie Pie was imitating Fluttershy, her mane straight as she stared at the ground while Twilight briefly met his gaze only to tear up and look away. Applejack cursed under her breath while Rarity shuffled her feet awkwardly. Celestia on the other hand took a few steps toward Anon. "Greetings Anon, I am Princess Celestia and on behalf of all Equestria I would like to give my thanks for your heroism in our darkest hour." Princess Celestia dipped her head down and bowed.

"Uh.. no problem?" Anon nervously replied. All right, damage control success! Step two, figure out what the fuck is going on. Relaxing a bit Anon brought up his right arm and flexed, "Just doing what anyone would do, besides what kind of man would I be if I let a bunch of girls have all the fun?" Anon instantly cursed his casual personality and way of speaking, while it was easier to let people laugh around him goofing off in front of royalty wasn't exactly the smartest thing. In the background Pinkies hair poofed a little as she hid a giggle, Dash huffed and rolled her eyes.

The tension in the room dropped regardless of how Anon felt about his words, visibly blushing Anon continued, "If you don't mind me asking is there a particular reason"  Why you're so tall?  "Why I'm on the floor?"

"We will be able to explain it to thou." Celestia furrowed her brows slightly as Luna trotted up beside her stealing Anon's attention. "It seems as though the wound you received from the calamity that struck our world ran deeper than we thought." Luna spoke as she brought up a hoof pointing it toward Anons chest while Anon trailed his eyes down his body. "We Alicorns are beings of great power, so great that we constantly radiate a bit of our power around us. When evil happens to be in the presence as one as strong as my sister, their minds are wracked with a great sense of pain."

"Whoah, you saying I'm evil? I mean I know I'm not the best person around-- and there was that one time I beat the snot out of that one kid but he deserved it. That prick hocked a loogie in my hair!" Rarity gasped and cringed in the background.

Luna continued, "Seeking refuge from the Elements of Harmony the nightmare must have impregnated you with a piece of itself hoping to slowly recover and make a comeback." Luna paused as she remembered the scene of Anon fighting himself and what she had to do. Crinkling her nose slightly she continued, "However its plan has been thwarted as I dealt with remnant personally."

Anon went silent as he grazed his fingertips over his chest, "Gay. I got raped, didn't even get dinner and a movie." Rainbow Dash laughed hard before covering her mouth and tried fixing a stern look at Anon. It didn't work. "So it looks like I've got you to thank for saving my life huh?" Anon placed his hands on his knees as leverage before hoisting himself up, standing a bit taller than Luna but on eye level with Celestia.  "Thanks for saving me." Anon said sincerely as he smiled and held out his hand. Luna felt her hearts' pace quicken as she lost herself within Anon's smile, slowly she reached out to shake his hand only for him to take his hand back. "Oh, well I suppose handshakes are a bit inappropriate for a princess."  Moreover impossible without hands... What would be the proper thing for royal-- Ahah! Always wanted to do this. Anon smiled to Luna's disappointment, however to her surprise he instead knelt down to one knee while bowing his head and dropping his left arm to his side while his right clenched a fist over his chest. "Thank you, Princess---" This is soooo fucking cool, despite her being a pony and all.

"Luna…" she replied while blushing then added, "Please rise, if anything it is us that should be bowing." Anon rose his head with a silly grin on his face that made Luna's heart skip a beat.

"Indeed she is right; we are the ones that should be bowing… Moreover there is also another subject that we must discuss." Celestia said bringing the tension back to the room. "I wish you to take into account this fact before I continue; know that Twilight Sparkle is my most prized student. With her level headed thinking and superior knowledge of the magical arts she has on numerous occasions saved Equestria from forces that seek to bring about chaos within it. So as her teacher the responsibility for her actions should fall upon me." Twilight looked up and was about to protest before Celestia glanced back at her sternly.

Anon's smile slowly faded into a confused frown as he waited for her to continue, "The spell that allowed you to manifest in our world… Is unknown to me-- but know that even now I am searching for alternatives to solve this. But know that while I will dedicate every resource I have to return you to your world I do not want to give you any false hope. You may very well--"

"Be stuck here…?" Anon finished as he felt the strength in his legs leave him. Stumbling backwards Anon landed hard on the floor.  Celestia allowed him a few minutes of thought before she continued.

"I know this pales in comparison but know that I am prepared to receive any punishment for my students act--"

"No Princess-- It should be me who suffers!" Twilight chimed in as she walked up next to Celestia while looking Anon in the eyes." Please,  I'm the one who cast the spell, I'm the one who ripped you from your world.. If anypony should be punished I should bear the responsibility." Twilight lowered her head in shame.

"No, as your teacher the blame falls upon me, had I properly trained you more than it would not have come to---"

"Quiet!!"

Everyone froze as Anon cut off both Celestia and Twilight. Anons hands were shaking as his eyes locked on the wooden floor. Everyone held their breath as they waited for what would next come out of Anons mouth.

"You guys are pretty crazy, y'know that? Fighting over who will take the blame and shoulder the burden." Anon's fist clenched as he rose his head to look at both Celestia and Twilight. "With both of you guys that prepared and apologetic, what kind of guy would I be if all I thought about was punishing both of you?" Anon gave the best smile he could muster. "It was an accident right? We'll just have to work together and somehow straighten everything out right?"

A few seconds passed before Twilight blurted out, "Wha-- really? I mean-- Just like that? You don't want to banish me, or imprison me or--"

"Or at least punish me, whatever you ask could never be enough."

"C'mon guys, give it a break. Didn't I just finish telling you? A man doesn’t go back on his words right?" Anon kept smiling best he could.

At the end of Anons words Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash rushed over and piled together on top of Twilight in a group hug as Twilight herself broke down and began crying. Across from them nopony noticed Anons smile falter for a brief second as his thoughts went back to Celestia's words.

I do not want to give you any false hope.

You may very well


Never see my family ever again...



•	•	•


Later that night Anon laid awake atop a makeshift bed of blankets on Twilight's wooden floor. In the end he had finally convinced Twilight and Celestia to forgive themselves but it had come only after much negotiation. Celestia had at first tried to reward him with a mountain of treasure, complete with his own mansion and estate. "Hah, make me into something like a Baron with riches beyond my wildest dreams eh? And then what? What do I do with it... an alien in an alien world. Go out and spend it on expensive wine and women?" Anon didn't drink and even if he did there wasn't a woman for a few light years around. "Buy video games?" Anon shook his head, there was no way ponies had video games, lacking hands and what not
.
"Hell, what am I even going to do for the rest of my life? I mean it's not like I had much of a plan back home... Just living day to day. Go to work, go to school... What now?" Thinking about everything all at once wasn't going to work, tomorrow he'd wake up, find a job and begin to pay Twilight rent... If she let him. And someday, maybe not tomorrow or the next, Celestia would find a way to send him home. Anon closed his eyes and tried to let sleep take him.

> Chapter 11 Sleepless Nights (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Once again Princess Celestia sighed as she paced the corridors of her Castle, despite it being well into the night she could not sleep. Her mind still mulling over the events that had transpired the day before, between her sister's odd behavior and the outworlder Anon she was at a complete loss. Anon aside, her sister had not been acting like herself as of late. Celestia had thought that she was just beginning to bond with and understand her sister again but her actions although admirable, only served to further confuse Celestia. Quick to anger, jumping to conclusions based on little evidence and fearful of outsiders. These were the faults that Luna had, faults that forced Celestia to banish her over one thousand years ago.

No… These are faults that I myself had… and had I not been blinded with running a Nation I could have stopped my sister before she slipped into darkness… Princess Celestia let out a long sigh as she ceased pacing the corridors and looked to her left out of a window. A bright and beautiful full moon shown above, one that would take the breath away of any connoisseur of beauty. For Celestia however it only shown as a reminder of her failure, How am I supposed to prevent another mistake like that from happening when I can't even understand her feelings?

"Sister…?" came a voice shaking Celestia out of her fit of depression, breaking her gaze from the moon she rested it upon a mare whose mane shimmered like the night's sky. "Having trouble sleeping?" Luna asked with a bit of concern, then added after a few moments of silence passed between them. "It's about him isn't it? Anon."

"It's that obvious, isn't it?" Celestia smiled as she let out a chuckle. "Today I expected that I would-- I expected the worst." her voice going cold as the emotion drained from her face. "Displacing someone from their home world, their family... Without any known way of returning them. It would not have been strange for him to ask the same be done to me."

Silence invaded the conversation as the two of them stood still for a few seconds, with Celestia now staring sadly out the window at the moon again. "He's a strange one, isn't he?" came Luna's voice with a giggle, which tore Celestia's gaze from the window. "I don't think Anon is the type of person that would want to see the suffering of others, even if he himself was in pain."

Luna felt her cheeks grow hot as she faked a long yawn and turned to leave, "We must have expended more energy than we thought on cleansing Anon, fare thee well," pausing mid step Luna turned back to face Celestia and smiled. "and remember, no one will blame you. You were not at fault, Tia." Celestia paid little attention to the extra bounce in Luna's step, instead she was drawn back to her sisters words as a lone tear fell to the floor and the first true smile she had all day shown itself upon Celestia's face.

When was it that you last called me by that name...Woona? Turning toward her own quarters Celestia silently thanked Anon once again. This time for allowing her, if for only a mere moment, to forget those thousand years of regret.


•	•	•


Soon Celestia would raise the sun signaling a new day for all of Equestria. The suns rays would creep across the land; first gently shaking awake those, who like the Apple Family, rose with the sun. However, such an event was not scheduled to happen for another hour or so, for now every pony in Ponyville was sound asleep. Everypony save for one lone mare.

Ever so slowly Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes and muffled a long yawn. She wasn't used to waking up this early, in fact her schedule called for another hour and forty seven minutes of sleep. Stifling another yawn Twilight carefully slipped out of bed without making a sound while glancing over to make sure she did not wake her number one assistant.

Cute little Spike was still sound asleep, he wasn't going to be up for quite a while. Perfect, I've just enough time to spare to rework today's schedule, unfortunately Twilight's schedule thus far had not planned for Anon to still be here. Originally she believed that they would be throwing both a welcome and goodbye party as he would depart to his world with assistance from Princess Celestia.

Twilight's ears dipped back in sadness once again, although Anon had insisted that no one was to blame she couldn't help but feel bothered not only by her own failure but also for the Princess trying to take blame for her. No, it may not be today but one day I will return Anon to his home. Levitating a few blank scrolls and ink quills Twilight headed downstairs to her desk intent on dropping off the supplies before heading to the kitchen to heat some tea.

Halfway down the staircase Twilight gasped as she suddenly stopped, noticing that her desk was already occupied by a tall lanky figure. Illuminated by the moons soft glow Anon sat awkwardly on a chair that was a little bit too small for him. He had one leg loosely crossed over the other while he rested his chin on his left hand while staring out the window toward the moon. Twilight wondered how such a large creature not only pulled off such a weird way of sitting but was apparently comfortable with it.

Twilight continued her descent down the stairs and as she neared Anon she adjusted her throat to gather his attention, "Uhm, Morning Anon. Did you sleep well?" In the back of her mind she briefly wondered of his sleeping and eating habits and whether or not his current environment was sufficient in supplying the basic necessities he may or may not need. She would definitely have to schedule in time to talk about Anon's basic biology and his diet plan.

"Oh, Morning Twilight." Anon replied as he sat up straighter and turned to face Twilight, "-- and yes, I had a good night's rest. But what are you doing up so early? Did I happen to wake you?"

"No- not at all. I was just waking up early to plan for the day." noticing a few misplaced books a top her desk she continued, "You were reading!?" Her voice slightly louder than she intended it to be.

"Ah, yeah. Sorry about taking them without asking first, I was a little bored and wondered if there was any good literature in this library."

"Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that. You're welcome to read any of the books in this library." Twilight happily exclaimed, "But, I was curious as to how you're able to read them."

"Hm.. You know I didn't really think about it but these books are definitely in English and you're definitely speaking in English. How are you speaking my countries language?"

"English? I've never heard of that language but everyone in Equestria speaks and writes in Hoovian-- but maybe your brain is somehow interpreting our language and writing as your own… Maybe it has to do with the summoning spell that I preformed! Oh the implications of--"

Anon chuckled as he watched Twilight brainstorm the reasons behind his ability to speak and read. "Well whatever it is I'm certainly glad that I can read, you guys have some pretty cool fantasy romance novels." Holding up a copy of Daring Do Anon continued, "But you said something about needing to wake up early for something? Is it something I can lend a hand with?"

"A what?" Twilight asked with a puzzled expression, Anon waved his arm, "Oh! Well, actually there are a few things that you could help me out with-- that is if it's not too much trouble." To Twilights' delight Anon nodded his head, "Oh thank you so much! This will be an amazing opportunity-- I mean it's not every day that somepony is able to learn about a being from another world. Just think of the possibilities, the different evolutionary paths!" Anon had no idea what he was getting into...


•	•	•


Letting out a long yawn Spike stretched his limbs and opened his eyes. He felt outstanding and probably wouldn't have even woken up had his stomach not been demanding food. Slipping out of his bed Spike looked out the window to see the sun relatively high in the sky. "Huh… Twilight?" Spike called while looking around, usually she would have woken him up an hour or two ago but eleven o'clock? With his stomach roaring once again Spike decided to head downstairs and toward the kitchen.

"Sorry, like I said before, in America we're really only taught our history. It's not until college that you start really learning about the rest of the world and even then it's something that you've got to pursue on your own. Moreover there really isn't a need to memorize stuff when the internet is in your pocket." came a voice from the bottom of the stairs.

"The internet? What in the world is that?" by this time Spike had reached the bottom of the stairs only to see Twilight locked in a conversation with what looked to be an unwilling Anon. Twilight had a mountain of scrolls around her and was furiously writing down information.

"Uh, morning-- what's going on here?" Spike called interrupting Twilights' interrogation, Anon breathed a sigh of relief.

"Morning Spike! Did you sleep well?" Anon said quickly trying to change the topic of the conversation.

"Yeah, Twilight usually never lets me sleep this late! Though I am kind of hungry, I was about to make some breakfast." Twilights' ears perked up as she glanced at her clock, It was well past the time for breakfast but lunch time wasn't for another two hours, she silently chided herself for forgetting the time.

"Well that's good, we were actually about to wrap up the impromptu lesson on humans anyway-- right Twilight?"

"Right, it is past time for breakfast, I guess we were having so much fun learning that we just lost track of the time. Though it doesn't have to end right here, we can discuss your eating habits and needs over brunch!" Anon looked over at Spike with pleading eyes.

Rolling his eyes Spike spoke up, "Don't forget that you have other things planned today Twilight, wouldn't want to get behind on your schedule, right?"


•	•	•


"Thanks Spike, y'know for earlier." 

"Yeah, no problem. I know how Twilight can get sometimes." Spike laughed as they exited Twilights' house with full stomachs. The breakfast wasn't as bad as Anon had originally thought it would be, although he wasn't too keen about the lack of meat. Moreover Anon nearly shit a brick when Spike began to eat priceless rubies and gems. "So what are you going to do today?"

"Didn't really think about it," Anon replied while rubbing his chin as they walked without a particular direction, "I was too concerned with getting away from Twilights' interrogation to actually plan on what to do... What about you?"

"Me? Oh... Well I was just going to drop by the Carousel Boutique for something.." Spike said trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Huh, picking up some clothes? In that case I'll tag along, if you don't mind that is. I've only got this single pair of clothes and I really don't want to go around naked or smelling like trash."

"Why not? The naked part I mean."

"Well.. uh, it's a human thing, we really don't like being naked..." Anon said before attempting to change the subject, "So, you're a Dragon huh? Although you don't have any wings... Can you breathe fire?"

"Of course I can breathe fire! And the only reason I don't have wings yet is because I'm still a baby dragon." Spike said as he folded his arms while pouting.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. We don't have dragons in my world, or at least there aren't any around anymore. They are popular in fantasy novels but it's not like there is any evidence supporting the fact they existed." Inwardly Anon sighed at the fact that he would probably never slay a dragon in his life, not that he could. "So Dragons don't live in mountains and hoard treasures here? Suppose this cities full of dragons eh?"

"Well actually, no... I'm the only dragon in Ponyville, dragons usually do hoard treasures in mountains..." Spike said sounding a bit disheartened before adding, "I thought you said that you didn't have any dragons where you lived."

"Really, how about that? It's just like how most fantasy novel portray them but what are you doing here in Ponyville then? Shouldn't you be in some mountain sitting atop a pile of treasure?" Anon blurted out as Spike hung his head low.

"I... guess. I'm not really like other dragons and the ones I've met so far were real jerks." Spikes voice wavered slightly but continued despite it, "I mean.. I've lived my entire life around ponies-- and I really like everyone... but sometimes I just--" Spikes' words trailed off as he continued walking

"Well I for one think it's awesome that you're a dragon, who cares what other dragons act like or do? Squatting in some dinky old cave while sitting atop treasure, sounds boring right?" Anon said as he knelt down to Spike and ruffled his Ouch spines, definitely spines, not hair!

"Yeah, that does sound lame." Spike agreed and perked up a little.

"Exactly, now how about we go get some new threads from Rarity?" Anon suggested as Spikes' mood instantly improved at the mention of her name.

A few minutes later Spike and Anon walked through the entrance of the Carousel Boutique in higher spirits, Spike was enthralled with different tales of dragons from Earth's myths. Anon had gone over eastern, western and fantasy versions of dragons but made sure to concentrate on stories where dragons were ageless magical beasts who protected and influenced major events in history instead of terrorizing towns. Spike ate up the stories like can-- Jewels WTF. Even going as far as to come up with a Dragons Code based on what Anon had told him.

"Well if it isn't Anon! And my cute little Spikey-wikey," came a voice from the back as the sound of hooves delicately tapped against the floor. "To what do I owe this delightful visit, perhaps I could interest you in some new clothes?"

"Yes actually, I wanted to see if I could purchase a good weeks worth of clothes but before that I wanted to see if you know of anyone in town that might need a hired hand." Rarity looked on with a blank stare for a second before Anon corrected himself, "Hired-- hoof, I mean."

"Well yes, there are a few ponies in town that could probably use the hooves of a skilled stallion such as yourself but why do you ask?"

"I can't just keep getting such good clothes for free now can I?" Anon held up his hand before Rarity could object, "Besides, I'll be here for a while and I might as well make myself useful right? Don't want to lose my girlish figure." Anon stated while striking a feminine pose, Rarity laughed while Spike made lovey-dovey faces at Rarity.

"Well we all know that a girl mustn't lose her figure, I would have to ask around first but the only pony who immediately comes to mind would be Applejack." Rarity suggested as she patted Spikes head. The baby dragon literally melted under her touch, Anon in the back of his mind wondered if Spike had a chance, unsure if inter-species relationships were common in Equestria or not.

"Alright, in that case I think I'll head off to Applejacks-- Oh and I believe Spike wanted to stay with you for a bit, said something about being interested in helping out at the store and learning your trade."

"Oh! Is that so? I'm so happy to hear that my Spike has gained an interest in fashion!" Rarity pulled in Spike close for a hug. Anon winked at Spike who had a 'Thanks bro' look on his face before heading off toward Sweet Apple Acres.

> Chapter 12 An Unexpected Opportunity (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"You're joking…" Anon gaped as Applejack reared her hind legs back and let loose a powerful buck, its force loosening a dozen apples that each fell neatly into a basket. Anon looked up at the tree, it couldn't have been smaller than twelve feet and was probably almost a foot thick. Anon placed a hand against the tree and gave it an experimental shove. It didn't budge in the slightest. Well what the fuck, that can't be right. How did they all manage to fall inside of the basket-- no no no.. Moreover that's not even the biggest problem! Trailing his eyes down the tree Anon rested them upon Applejacks flank. Sure, she's a horse, and I suppose her legs do look like they've got some power-- but that tree is twice my height and she's like half mine!

"That's how we 'pick' Apples here partner." Applejack stated proudly, "That bein' said y'all have no business here bucking trees until those wounds of y'all's heal. Doctors' orders." Her words fell on deaf ears as Anon was still trying to do the math required for a being her size to knock apples from a tree that large.

"Well I guess you're right…" Anon sighed as he gave up on his calculations, she was right and he was in no mood to get shown up by a pint sized horse. "And I can't pick them because the force of the buck only drops the ripe ones?" AJ nodded and Anon scratched the back of his head, "Indeed… Well I don't suppose you have anything else I could do?"

"Ahm sorry partner but apple buckin' would be th' only thing but seein' as y'all are still-- DUCK!" Applejack shouted as she dodged to the side.

"Still a duck? Pretty sure I'm hu--" the hairs on the back on Anons' neck stood on end as he turned just in time for his vision to fill with grey. "Ah, duck." The force knocked him to his ass.

"Ow ow ow… Wait-- It didn't hurt? It didn't hurt! I made a perfect landing!!" the grey mare exclaimed from atop Anons' chest.

"Mornin' there Ditzy." AJ stated as she lightly tipped her hat before walking toward Ditzy.

"Morning Applejack! I brought your mail!" Ditzy exclaimed as she reached her face into her mailbag bringing out a few letters.

"Much obliged Ditzy but think ya can--"

"Get off me please?" a voice came from under Ditzy startling her into the air where she hovered shakily. Anon climbed to his feet and brushed the dust from his pants before getting a good look at his attacker. "Man what was with that? You've got to be more careful when flying around. You could hurt som--…" Anon instantly shut up as he got a good look at the mares slightly crossed eyes that were beginning to tear up. Oh fuck, stepped on a landmine! Damage control! Anon nervously looked toward AJ who responded with a 'you just fucked up' look.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! I'm always bumping and crashing into things and nothing I ever do seems to work I'm always making trouble I ju--" Anon rose a finger to her lips and shook his head lightly.

"No, actually I'm sorry...  I kinda overreacted; I mean you're really light so there's no way that little bump earlier hurt." reaching up Anon wiped away her tears, "So don't worry about it, I was really just venting a little of my anger, I'm kind of jobless." Hell kind of homeless too but let's not open that pity party just yet.

"…Really? You're not hurt-- or mad at me?" Anon nodded and shot her a smile before Ditzy tackle hugged him. Man ponies are way too physical... And strangely light… And very soft. Anon found himself absentmindedly ruffling her mane with one hand while scratching behind her ear with his other. Man… I'm starting to miss my dogs.

"Whoops-- sorry about that." Anon stated as much to her dismay he lowered her to the ground and ceased scratching her ears, "You guys are too cute and remind me of my dogs back home. Though you guys are a little smaller than he is."

"Smaller? Ya got a timber wolf fer a pet or somethin'?!" AJ blurted out as her eyes widened.

"I--It's cool…" Ditzy stammered her eyes locked on Anons' digits, in the back of her mind she was making a note to ask for another ear scratching. "But if you really need a job then… then maybe you could work with me…"

"What?!" 

Applejack and Anon said in unison, one's voice was filled with delight while the others absolute horror. Anon didn't seem to notice Applejacks distress and continued, "Really? I could help deliver mail with you? That would be awesome! Are you sure that your boss would hire me?"

"Now wait right there a secon--"

"Why of course! My boss has been trying to get somepony to help with the mail for ages! But every time he finds somepony they all end up quitting because they have to move away or they found another job." Ditzy yelled excitedly as Applejack deadpanned.

"Alright! When can I start?"

Ditzy and Anon slowly made their way out of Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack just staring, "Dangit Anon there's a reason why nopony wants t' deliver mail with Ditzy. That mare can make jus' sittin' a hazardous activity."


•	•	•


"Uhm… So you're the stallion that saved us from that nightmare?" Ditzy asked quietly while subconsciously keeping only half of her face visible to Anon, her own personal nightmare fought to resurface itself again. Anon gave a light nod and Ditzy continued, "Well I just… I wanted to say thank you-- I mean I should have come to your party earlier and said it myself…but.." Ditzy trailed off and began to study the ground as if it were going to be on a test unable to tell Anon how much the mere memory of her nightmare plagued her.

"Not a real big fan of crowds huh? It's alright, I let you in on something-- if you can keep a secret." Ditzy stopped and glanced up at Anon as he made a show of looking around to see if anyone was listening before bending down to whisper in her ear, "I'm not that good at crowds either, next time we can have a small one to make up for the one you missed."

Her ears perked up and for the first time since bumping into him she chanced making eye contact only to find that Anon was genuinely smiling back at her. Her fears melted away as she was able to finally return a true smile, "Thanks... That really means a lot to me. Now let's go get you a job!" She shouted excitedly as she broke out into a trot.


•	•	•


"So, It's not that I'm not really exited about this opportunity but..." Anon nervously looked around at the mail room they were currently traversing, "Don't you think that your boss might the the teensiest bit peeved that I interrupted you midway through your delivery route?"

"Nonsense Anon, why Ms. Inkwell has been trying to find somepony to help me out for ages, she'll be really happy!" Ditzy exclaimed as she stopped outside of an office door that read, 'Molly Inkwell'. She knocked on it a few times as Anon audibly gulped, held his breath and waited.

"Come in!" the voice from the other side rang out as Ditzy opened the door and stepped in, steeling himself Anon followed suit. The inside of Molly Inkwell's office was relatively plain, there was a desk with three stacks of organized papers and behind her was a cabinet that seemed to hold various things. The mare in question was an earth pony, she had an off white coat and a blonde mane that seemed to be slightly dulled due to the passing of time. "Good Morning Ditzy." the mare smiled before she glanced over at a clock and added, "You're back a bit earlier than usual, I take it that today was a good day?"

Ditzy smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof, "Well actually Ms. Inkwell I haven't finished yet I was almost done when I ran into Anon." Ms. Inkwell raised her eyebrow but otherwise said nothing, Ditzy either failed to notice or wanted to continue without being chastised over her constant 'accidents'. "Anon is new in town and needs a job to help him get back on his hooves." Ms. Inkwells slight irritation melted into surprise as she turned her attention to Anon.

"Ah, yes! My name is Anon-- I'm new in town and Ditzy told me that there was a job opening here delivering mail. I was wondering if it weren't too much trouble that you would consider me for the position."

"Mr. Anon is it, currently housing with our very own Ms. Sparkle right?" Anon shot a surprised look before she continued, "Ms. Sparkle is very thorough in handling paperwork and proceedings, so much in fact that we have already been notified to send all or any mail that is addressed to you to Ms. Sparkles residence." Anon inwardly chuckled, As if I'm going to get mail. "So.." The mare began in a serious voice forcing Anon to stand at attention, "So you are interested in a position as a mailcolt, correct?"

"Yes M'am."

"Any you swear that you will uphold the rules and regulations of said position?" Ms. Inkwell questioned while searching his face for any uncertainty.

"Through rain, sleet, or snow." Anon added pulling back on the only knowledge he knew about the mail. It came, on time regardless of the weather, or at least UPS did.

Ms. Inkwell let his answer hand in the air while studying him for a few more moments before sitting back in her seat and smiling. "Well I don't see why not, it would be the least I could offer to the town's very own hero. It will take some training but we'll be happy to have you aboard." Ditzy zipped up into the air pumping her hooves up and down while throwing out a silent cheer. Anon finally relaxed knowing that he had just lucked out in finding a job. "Well then Ditzy, you'd better go out and finish the deliveries and then get a good night's rest. We'll be giving Anon some first hand training tomorrow morning."

Ditzy nodded and zipped out, narrowly clipping the door on her way out. When Ms. Inkwell heard the door slam shut she sighed and turned her head back toward Anon, "It's not going to be easy delivering mail with Ditzy and I ask that you have utmost patience." Anon nodded with a smile, although he wasn't sure what in the world was going to be hard about delivering mail. He mused it was probably because he didn't really know his way around Ponyville, something he was going to have to change.


•	•	•


Bon Bon was merrily making her way back home with a few bags of groceries from the market, tonight she had planned on cooking a large dinner in hopes of cheering up Lyra. Even though the disaster that befell Equestria passed it seemed to leave it's mark upon Ponyville and while Pinkie Pie had tried her best someponies still wore a fake smile with a hint of sadness in their eyes. Bon Bon was sure it would pass but she decided that even Pinkie Pie might need a hoof in this and had been working on even tastier candy to cheer the local kids up. With the thought of giving everypony a genuine smile Bon Bon continued on with a little extra trot in her gait. Her thought's however were interrupted when a familiar voice cried out, "Twitchy tail!!"

Bon Bon instantly looked up while jumping to the side two feet, narrowly avoiding a gray blur that collided with the ground, "Afternoon Bon Bon! I've got a special delivery for you!" Ditzy smiled as she reached her muzzle into her mail bag and pulled out a letter.

Taking the letter Bon Bon returned her smile and placed it in her saddle bag, she knew from the candy decorated trimming on the edges of the letter that it must have been from her parents, they probably wanted to check up on her after reading the contents of her last letter. "Thank you Ditzy,"

Ditzy got up on her hind legs and gave a salute while sporting a silly grin on her face, "No Problem Bon Bon. It's the mailmares job to always ensure it's ponies get their mail. Through rain, sleet, or snow!" Ditzy added with a sense of renewed pride from the words Anon said earlier before flying off.

"Huh... wonder what got that mare into such a good mood?" Bon Bon wondered before realizing that Ditzy's smile had become infectious, the surrounding ponies were smiling at her earlier clumsiness. Whatever it is I sure am glad that you're back to yourself Ditzy, I wasn't sure if even Pinkie Pie would have been able to cheer you up.


•	•	•


Anon somehow found his way back at Twilight's house, he may have just landed himself a job but he still didn't have a cent to his name so that meant he would have to take up Twilight's offer on lunch... Which undoubtedly meant answering more of her questions. Anon took a moment to weigh the risks before he lightly knocked on the door. A few seconds later the door opened up and instead of being greeted by Twilight he found himself face to face with Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, hey dude. Sup?" Dash greeted him as she opened the door and motioned him to come in.

"Nothing much, just decided on an early morning walk around town." as Anon entered he noticed Twilight at her desk with a mountain's worth of information she had pried out of him earlier. "Hey Twilight." Twilight jerked her head up from her desk with an expression that read, 'Let the Science and Learning begin!' Anon's mind instantly went into diversion mode, "So... Dash, what brings you to the library? Looking for a good fantasy novel to read? I could use one too, if you know of any-- seeing as there are no video games or t.v. here..." Anon added the last part under his breath.

Dash's eye's instantly lit up as she zipped toward one end of the library then back to Anon with a book in hoof, "Well do I ever! This one is the first book in the most awesome series ever! Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone!" Twilight lightly giggled in the background as Dash momentarily blushed, the meaning escaping Anon.

"Cool, I'd love to take a lo--" the rumbling of Anon's stomach interrupted him as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, "I mean after a bite to eat, if that isn't too much."

"Sure, and while we're eating we can discuss more about the world you come from!" Twilight added happily as she got up from her desk and headed toward the kitchen. Anon silently cursed his stomach.

"Oh man, Twilight's got the same look on her face that she gets when she's deep in her 'science-y' stuff." Dash smirked as she lightly made fun of him.

"Oh yeah?" Anon gave a look of mock anger to Dash before calling out to, "Hey Twilight! Do you mind making another plate? Dash here said that she's really interested in learning about my species too!"

Dash's jaw dropped but was able to recover after a moment, "Do you really think that Twilight is gonna believe that I would do some egghea---"

"Sure! This is going to be soooo much fun!" Rainbow Dash deadpanned at the sound of Twilight's voice.

"C'mon Dashy! This is going to be soooo much fun!" Anon mimicked as he made his way to the kitchen, Rainbow Dash facehooved before giving up and following him into the kitchen.

Inside Twilight was finishing, on the table stood a plate of sandwiches and a pile of scrolls next to it. Made something that could be eaten without messing up your notes huh? Touché Anon made his way to his seat followed by a grumbling Dash, her eyes switching between the sandwiches and the scrolls, debating whether or not free lunch was worth it. Twilight was the last to sit as she levitated three empty plates in front of each person.

"So, there was a few topics that I though about asking you after that light session we had earlier." Anon paused in the middle of grabbing a sandwich, That's what you call a light session? Dash grabbed a few sandwiches herself and began to chew, her eye's already glazing over with boredom. "The first thing wanted to know was, what is this 'Internet' you mentioned this morning and why would it make memorizing things pointless?"

Anon grimaced as he grabbed his sandwich, "Before I answer that do any of the following pieces of technology exist here; Computers, Cell Phones, Automobiles, Televisions, Calculators, Cameras."

"Aren't computers and calculators the same thing?" Twilight asks before in a flash of light an object appears next to her bathed in a magenta aura. Anon's stomach dropped at the thought of an abacus being the most advanced piece of technology.

"Wow... An abacus, I've never seen one in real life before...And no, they aren't and I meant an electric powered calculator, not that manual dinosaur"

"Electric?" she questioned while tilting her head.

"Oh come on, you guys have lights, you can't have that without electricity-- don't tell me you're powering them with--"

"Magic? Precisely, how else would they be powered?" Twilight replied with a 'duh' tone in her voice.

"Indeed..." Anon groaned before taking a bite of the sandwich and cringing. Opening up the sandwich Anon furrowed his brow, Are.. Are those dandelions? I don't even know if humans can digest these... Well if in an hour I spend the next twelve on the can then that will answer that question. "And the other pieces of technology I named?"

"Hm... the word automobile is a bit foreign to me... automatically mobile?"

Anon sighed again, not only were there no computers but it looked as if he was going to have to walk to wherever he needed to go. "Like.. car's, motorcycles, trains."

"Oh, we have trains but the other two I've never heard of before."

"How are they powered?" Anon asked although he was pretty sure he already knew the answer.

"Steam powered, fueled by coal."

"Huh, I wasn't expecting that. And any camera's?"

With another flash of magenta light a camera appeared floating in Twilight's aura, she aimed it toward Anon, "Say Cheese!" With a flash the camera spit out a small six by six card that had a picture slowly transcribing itself upon the paper.

"Ugh that's ancient."  Anon replied as he took the picture from her, "Well with all that information I can see that the topic of the internet would be too impossible to explain without first going into the basics of our technology... It's like you guys are centuries behind us. Although I suppose that your ability to use magic fills in the gaps."

"Hey, what do you mean ancient, what kind of flashy stuff do you have in your world?" Dash spoke up for the first time with a tinge of interest in her voice.

"It's like this, I'm guessing you guys don't need cars because your ponies. You guys could probably run long distances without even getting winded. But then again, it wouldn't even be a fraction as fast as the speed of a car, let alone a plane."

"What'dya mean not even a fraction as fast!?" Dash questioned, the subject of speed seemingly grabbing her attention. "No hunk of junk can beat me in speed!"

Anon chuckled to himself, Oh man these ignorant plebeians, time to blow their minds with the brilliance of the human race. "Please tell me you measure your distance in miles, Twilight." to Anon's relief he was rewarded with an affirmative nod. "Right, well I don't know how fast you think you are but unless you can clock out a constant seventy miles per hour over the course of six hours then Humanity has got you beat-- And that's just the speed limit, cars can go as high as a hundred and twenty miles per hour but... That's just not safe, or legal. Oh and don't even get me started on planes, a car moves at a snails pace in comparison." Anon finished with a smug smile on his face in comparison to Dash's jaw dropped shock.

"That's impossible! How are you able to maintain a constant speed over that long of a distance? I mean seventy miles every hour?! Our fastest train tops out at fifty miles per hour!" Twilight babbled as she furiously began scratching down mathematical formulas on her scrolls.

"Yeah, well that's not so cool.. Still not as fast as my top speed, even if it can go longer than me... " Dash stuttered out, Anon could feel that Master Human Race envy a mile away. "But I bet that thing can't turn on a dime like I can!" Dash added as she flared her wings while puffing out her chest with pride.

"Hah, no they can't but neither can you. But hey, let's humor you and say that you are faster than the fastest car. If you take a ninety degree turn at even half that speed the sheer force of it would tear your body apart."

"Say's you, c'mon Anon, I'm going to show you what real speed is!"

"Sure bro, sure."

> Chapter 13 Magic... (Revised)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Sister, are you not hungry?" Celestia questioned, Luna however continued to push her fork around her plate before letting out another long sigh. "Luna." Celestia repeated, this time gaining her sisters attention, "Is your meal unsatisfactory?"

Luna looked up from her plate just in time to notice Celestia flick her ear toward a very nervous stallion, beads of sweat were rolling down his face as he trembled to meet her gaze. "N.. not at all!" she half shouted before digging into her meal, "We were merely admiring the work of art that Iron Chef hath prepared for us."

Iron Chef could have melted, thus was the relief that ran through him. Iron Chef not only oversaw food preparation for the Castle but personally made the meals for the Princesses himself as his father and his fathers' father before him. His family alone for countless generations held the prestige of preparing food for the ones who raised the Sun and Moon. With a small napkin Iron Chef dabbed the sweat from his forehead before bowing and exiting the dining hall with a sigh of relief.

Celestia stifled a giggle before turning her attention back to Luna who had nearly finished her meal in an effort to help the poor stallion save face. 'It's like one step forward and two steps back...' Celestia mused, although her sister seemed to come out of her shell a bit yesterday, today Luna seemed off. "Is there something on your mind? You seem a bit distracted."

"N..Not at all dear sister." 


•	•	•


"Go, Go! Rainbow Dash! If you can't do it, no pony can!" Somehow… While Anon wasn't looking, Pinkie Pie melded into existence decked out in a complete cheer-leading outfit while waving rainbow colored pom poms in the air. To make things even stranger she was bouncing back and forth on only her hind hooves whist she cheered.

"Freaky.. Magical half-bipedal ponies…" Anon muttered to himself as Pinkie Pie preformed a series of cartwheels. "So, how are we even going to measure Rainbow Dash's speed? Last time I checked the most technologically advanced thing you guys had here was the wheel." Anon said as a smirk appeared on his face.

Twilight raised her brow in annoyance but instead of responding she choose to turn her attention toward Dash, whom was currently preforming wing stretches, "Alright Dash, all you have to do is keep this strapped to your head and it should be able to accurately gauge your speed… Just be careful, I'm not all too sure that this device can keep up on you."

Dash responded with a nod while Anon sat back and scrunched his face into a frown. He was no electrician but Anon was pretty sure that device Twilight strapped to Dash's head couldn't, wouldn't and shouldn't work. Not only did it seem to lack any visible way to track her speed  it also lacked a way of displaying said speed, if anything it was a glorified steampunk headband. Anon didn't even want to get into the fact that it probably had no power source, programming or any of the sort. "Magic…" Anon deadpanned before turning his gaze back to a pink pony that was currently doing a walking hand stand while cheering. "Yup… Magic."

"Alright Anon!" Dash exclaimed, tearing Anon's attention from the impossibility that was Pinkie Pie. 
"Better keep your eyes peeled, or you'll miss it." Dash boasted as she flared her wings and stood on her two hind hooves.

"Pfft, miss what? Do you somehow expect to go from zero to sixty in ten seconds fla--"

Anon's sentence died in his mouth as Dash rocketed into the sky while simultaneously his jaw hit the ground. He hadn't even blinked, yet his eyes strained to follow her movement, hell Anon could barely follow the visible light trail Dash left behind. Faster than anything Anon thought possible Dash began to zig zag at angles and speeds that should have torn her silly physics breaking body to shreds.

Dash managed to glance back at Anon in the middle of one of her aerial tricks and couldn't help but smirk. From the look on his face she had blown these 'cars' and his perception of speed out of the water but there was still one thing left she had for him to see. Speeding vertically up into the sky, Dash climbed higher and higher intent on showing off her best move.

"Wait until you get a load of this."

Had Anon been a physicist he probably would have been shaking in rage at the number of laws Dash seemed to outright shatter and would have voiced his complaints had Twilight not spoken up first, "Dash Wait!!" she began in a panicked voice while waving her hooves into the air. "My device isn't study enough for a Sonic Rainboom!!"

"A Sonic what?" Anon asked as Dash began to crackle with power, a cone beginning to spread out from her. A second later Anon heard a shattering sound as Rainbow Dash looked like she collided with something tangible in the sky and was launched backwards at an incredible speed, trailing wreckage that was once Twilight's speed monitoring device.

"My invention!"  Twilight cried out before being engulfed in a purple sphere and disappearing in a flash of light.

Anon just stood there for a moment his face scrunched up in a mixture of confusion, anger and worry. "Don't you mean, 'Oh no Dash!' I mean she's definitely going to hit the ground and--" at that moment Dash hit a cloud, skipped off of said cloud and onto another before rolling to a stop. "Fucking magic…"

"Poor Rainbow Dash, she was sooooo close to pulling off a Sonic Rainboom!" Pinkie exclaimed as she trotted up to Anon, "What were you saying about magic Anon?"

"Nothing. On another note though, even if Dash landed on.... clouds. Is she really going to be alright?"

"No need to worry about Dashie, she's tough! A little spill like that isn't enough to keep her out of the sky." True enough to Pinkies words Dash was dusting what looked to be cloud residue off of her coat as she stretched out her wings. "See?"

"Right... Well I guess if my friend was that resilient to pain and injury I would be more worried about my device" that shouldn't work! "Instead of her well being. That being said how long do you think it will take Twilight to gather all of those pieces?"

"Well usually I would say that she could do it quick, fast and in a jiffy but my front hoof is all shaky shaky and my tail twitched three times followed by an ear flap so Twilight might be a while."

Anon blinked, "Right, enough time to make myself scarce. Tell Dash she's--" got a fucking jet in her wing, "pretty fast but we humans have built faster jets." 'That's right Anon, maintain that pride for the human race, cheating ponies and their physics ignoring magic.' Anon then turned around and proceeded to walk away. He wasn't sure where he was walking but he planned to keep on walking until he reached a place that made more sense. He turned his head back for one last look at Pinkie and grimaced. 'Might be a long walk.'


•	•	•


As Luna wandered the halls of Canterlot Castle she couldn't help but sigh. Anon is actually here, in Equestria. Yet I'm here pacing the corridors like some nervous school filly. Though to her credit even if she were to muster the courage to talk to Anon where would she start? Anon! It is I, Luna, doth thou not remember all those nights we've shared? It seemed impossible, Anon failed to recognize her when she delved into his mind the day before or at least part of him did not. His mind had been a fragmented mess and she couldn't tell whether it was from the Nightmare he fought or-- No.. something like that should not only have lacked the power but the time to so severely fragment his mind.

"Not that it matters anymore..." Luna mused, "What would you do in this sort of situation, Anon?"


•	•	•


After enjoying a long mind clearing walk, Anon found himself in a small field overlooking a giant forest. The field was covered by an assortment of wild flowers and near him was the stump of a long passed tree. "This place is unrealistically peaceful..." Anon sighed before settling down on the grass with his back against the stump, "Still... Am I really here? In a land of magical talking pastel colored ponies? Even for me this is too much for a lucid dream." raising his hand Anon reached for his cheek and tugged hard before frowning and closing his eyes.

"If I were on Earth I would probably just be getting home for lunch..." Anon smiled as he thought. "I'd open the door and standing there would be Zane and Riley, those guys would be barking their heads off while wagging their tails... I'd let them run around outside while I went inside and fixed their lunch. Nothing but the best for those two, chopped chicken and rice."

"They would run in smelling their food and devour it. Afterward they would try to get me to play with them... Even though they knew I had to go back to work..." Anon sighed as he pulled his knees to his chest and gazed out at the forest. "I hope they're eating properly without me there."

"I hope they are alright too." came a voice to Anon's left that made him flinch, turning to meet the speaker he saw a cream colored pegasus with a pink mane. "Oh... s-sorry I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's alright Fluttershy." Anon flashed a smile, "I was just spacing out a bit but I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I mean I know how it stressful it can be to be away from your pets for a while..."

"Yeah, they'll be fine, I live with my mom so she'll be able to feed them while I'm gone." Anon stated with a smile that faltered for a second before turning his attention back to the woods, "Although Zane is a big baby, and doesn't eat properly when I'm not there."

The grass crunched next to him and Anon glanced over to see Fluttershy had taken a seat next to him. "Don't worry Anon, Twilight and the Princesses are going to do everything in their power to get you back so I'm sure that you will be back home in no time." Fluttershy said as she placed a hoof onto Anon's shoulder.

"Thanks." Anon turned toward Fluttershy and for a moment saw Zane instead, sitting there wearing a silly grin on his face with his paw resting on Anon's shoulder. Absentmindedly Anon reached up and ruffled Fluttershy's mane before scratching her ear.

"Oh..Uh... uhm.." Fluttershy stammered reminding Anon that he wasn't scratching the ear of some mindless animal.

"Er, right. Personal Space." Anon said as he stood up cursing under his breath, "Sorry about that you guys just remind me of Zane-- just smaller and... colorful." 'Twice in one day, really need to stop that.'

"Smaller?!" Fluttershy practically yelled, "Oh my just what type of dog is he? I mean the largest domesticated breed in Equestria is only a few inches larger than Winona-- although in the wild there are cases of them reaching nearly two feet and that isn't even including wolf hybrids. Oh! I can only imagine the multitude of animals that your world must have, breeds that we've never seen here in Equis. I would really like to see your world one day!"

"Oh... Well breed, right." Anon stammered, slightly taken back at her enthusiasm. "He's a Great Dane, which I think is the largest breed of dog we have on Earth. Although it might be the Mastiff instead...I don't really know, humans have breed dogs for so many centuries that I really haven't a clue. Last time I weighed him in I believe he was around a hundred fifty pounds. I think he's around three and a half feet tall but I haven't really measured, he was always growing so fast that I gave up trying to keep track.." Fluttershy was beaming as she took the information in. "I take it that you're a dog person?" Anon was met with a blank stare, "Prefer dogs over cats."

"Oh no, I don't prefer any one animal over another. I believe that each animal has something special that only they can do and it's my job to take care of them and help them reach that potential."

"Right, I take it that this has to do with those Cutie Marks..." Anon stated while rubbing his chin, "I don't really understand the principle of it though. So you gain these when you find something that you're really good at, right?" Fluttershy nodded, "And they just like... appear out of thin air?" Fluttershy nodded again, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do they just... appear? Why are they pictures of what you're good at? What if you find something that you're even better at after you get that mark, does it change?" Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak, "--and don't you dare tell me magic. That isn't an explanation."

A few seconds of silence passed before Anon pinched the bridge of his nose, "It's magic, isn't it?"