The Groping Grotto
-Chapter Two-
Thank you berry much, Sir.

In the low lit chamber, Anon ate in silence. He was eating small pies baked from an indiscernible berry. He was wondering how long he could survive on them before this particular choice of diet would begin to affect his health adversely. As he ate, the creature simply sat there, looking up at him expectantly with its unsettlingly large green eyes.

Anon simply feigned a smile as he resumed questioning it. It seemed quite eager to answer. What it had to tell him was not the least bit pleasant: "You didn't think we were alone down here, did you? Only a trusted few know about you. They'll come around latter to chat with you. But if the others knew, well, they might kill you."

"Well aren't you helpfully honest. Tactless, but helpful." Anon replied, as he kept on his false smile.

"You're welcome!" The creature chirped out cheerfully. Completely missing the backhanded remark.

It seemed to be overly affectionate and keen on the human. So Anon just kept on smiling. When it came up close again, brushing past him, he let his hand fall gently onto its head and ran it down its back, in slow stroking motions. It gave a little satisfied purr of satisfaction. It looked like it could very well burst with joy.

Anon only hoped that the other ones he might encounter would be as easily won over as this specimen. He had his doubts. Distrust told him that they would all probably be unalike, and so he had to be prepared for anything.

"So you say that they actually get out shovels and clear away winter manually in an event you call Winter Wrap Up, over at that place where you come from. This Equestria of yours."

When the creature told him of Hearth's Warming Eve, he in turn, told it about Santa Claus, and the true meaning of Christmas. He also told it of an even greater holiday. The holiday savings that are had on the day after Christmas. Boxing day.
"Right. I usually increase the project overhead by 5-15% in the planning process when determining initial feasibility. Otherwise, the unexpected expenses, setbacks, and losses can push an otherwise-profitable project into the red. If it can't handle 5-15%, then I take the reasonable route and either reinvest in already-profitable existing ventures or move on to a more durable project. How do you handle your initial ERP?" Aux asked as he fiddled with an abacus.

"I don't know. I don't know all that much about financing or business in general. I just really regret not having shares in Apple Inc." Anon said as he was jotting down the helpful business advice to paper. He was hoping to leave the improvised Cave Learning Institute with a Cert IV in Didn't-Die-Horribly.

"Oh Anon." The now teary eyed creature said. It fought back the urge to sob as it adjusted its coat collar and partial necktie attire. "I know that disappointment. I also really wanted to invest early on in Apple orchids. I mean, it's the staple food of the Equestrian diet. The value could only ever go up!"

It leapt up onto Anon, giving him a hug as it began to cry into the human's shoulder. Anon lightly rubbed its back, trying to comfort the fiscally frustrated monster.

"And the worst part is, all we ever export is crappy candles and bucking berries, almost everything else, we have to import from Equestria! Our entire economy is largely dependent on exporting a limited-resource. We're a Berry Republic! Our economy is a mess and beyond fixing! We can't even export the meat because Equestrians are predominantly herbivores and the trade agreements with the Griffon Kingdom cannot be negotiated while they are having a civil war, again.

"Hey now... making candles can't be that bad, right?" Anon suggested.

"I won't go back to braiding cotton or collecting bee's wax. I want to be a pastry chief!"