>Day 100 EXP in Equestria
>Be Anonymous, explorer extraordinaire
>With a quick stab, you fell your tenth hydra
>Hydra killing is thirsty work, you think, as you drain the last bit of water from your canteen
>As you carve out some large scales to reach the gallbladder, you feel an intense energy build in the air
>A cloud of dark fog rapidly builds before bursting
>It is the lovely Princess Luna and she does not look too pleased
>”Anonymous!”
>Her royal tone makes you feel like a child for the moment
>”Just look at this mess! Why are you thinning the hydra population further!?”
“I needed these materials, Princess. I am just… stockpiling… For an emergency?”
>You try to smile through your lie, but the Luna will have none of it
>”We are leaving immediately.”
>You scowl, but succumb to your Mistress’ wishes
>With your pack loaded to the brim, the Princess and you teleport away
>You are practiced at this spell and ride the fabric of time easily
>The world changes from the swamps to the pristine castle of Canterlot and you smile
“I apologize for scaring you.”
>”I was not worried about you as much as the extinction of the swamp denizens. Why must it always be hydras when you are angry or disappointed?”
“I was only a little angry, dearest Princess. The book does actually call for quite a few hydra organs.”
>You brandish your little green book in your gore covered hand
>Princess Luna frowns quickly
>”Why do we even have that book in the library? I am going to bury it under the tallest oak I can find…”
>Clutching the book to your chest, you look to the Princess with sad eyes
>”Oh, don’t you give me that look, mister. You have abused the so-called ‘Cure-alls’ for quite some time.”
>Perhaps you have relied a bit heavily on this book, true
>Luna sobers up as you both walk towards the barracks
>”Anonymous, I need to speak to you in private. We have plans to discuss.”
>A smile parts your lips as the serious intonation of planning sinks in
>The Princess abruptly stops and places an outstretch hoof against your chest
>”But, first, bathe yourself. You smell of hydra stomach and mundungus.”
>You nod quickly as you cheerfully trot with your spoiler towards home
 
>In a fevered dream
>Be Nightlight
>You are flying high above the clouds with the warm sun against your back
>It is a lovely day, you think
>You scan the ground from your position until you spot your target
>Swooping low, you dive for the unassuming prey
“Got’cha!”
>You quickly snatch Anonymous up in your hooves and smile widely at him
>He is rather small compared to you
>”Hello, Nightlight.”
>His voice is a little shy, but isn’t he always?
“Are you ready to go on an adventure?”
>”As ever, faithful sentry.”
>Yes, you are a faithful sentry, aren’t you?
>Spotting an interesting bramble, you decide it looks like it is worth investigating
>Dropping down, you gently release Anon so that he stands on his own
>”Hmm, this place reminds me of a long and sorted battle, of which I was victorious, naturally.”
>Anon puffs out his chest and smiles
>You salute your mentor smartly
>He really is amazing when you get right down to it
>Fearlessly, Anonymous charges into the thorny brush and quickly disappears
>You follow your stalwart leader, but find yourself a little too large to easily maneuver
>After a short while of navigating the prickly bramble, you come upon a large space at the center
>Before you is a large throne, made of wood and vines
>Upon it sits a magnificently large pony, not unlike Celestia herself
>Her mane is beautiful, red and rust colored with green leaves interwoven throughout
>A curved, red horn rests neatly on her head and her wings remind you of fallen autumn leaves
>Nestled in her large hooves is the body of Anonymous
>For the moment, you can see him resting peacefully with his eyes closed against her
>A heady, windy voice suddenly calls to you from the throne
>”Nightlight, sweet little pony, come to me.”
“Who are you?”
>”I am Lady Holly, dear Nightlight.”
>You look around at the scene as something nags at your mind
>”Please, come to me. Anonymous has, you should follow your dear mentor.”
>Anonymous does not seem to stir from his sleep
”Anonymous, sir!”
>The small figure barely seems to register your voice before Lady Holly speaks up
>”Nightlight, why would you wake him? Look at how peaceful he is. You want him to be happy, yes?”
>Of course you want Anonymous to be happy, but this sensation of wrongness eats at you
“I need an order to follow another…”
>Anonymous suddenly springs to life and looks up from his nap
>”Come, Nightlight, it is so peaceful with Lady Holly.”
“What about our adventure? Our duty?”
>”Every soldier needs a rest. Even Celestia rests sometimes.”
>You stop and grade his words for a moment
“Who?”
>Anon smiles a little and rests his head against Lady Holly
>”Celestia, the princess. You must be very tired to forget.”
>You scowl and feel a weight at your shoulder
>A spear, your spear, materializes from thin air and you ready yourself
“Anonymous does not speak like that... What have you done to him?”
>Lady Holly only smirks casually as Anonymous falls back in her hooves
>”Come, Nightlight, join us…”
>The thorns around you seem to close in
“No!”
>There is a sound of a sudden snapping and you see the large throne bristle with thorns
>”I said come!”
“And I said no!”
>A vine moves in for your back hoof, but you quickly dodge it
>Another tries to strike from the ceiling, but you stab it into the floor
>”Why do you resist? It is better to serve me than to fight.”
>A red flare of leaves and thorns rises from the throne and you instantly realize what you are staring down
“The Red Queen…”
>Lady Holly cackles as more thorns attempt to overwhelm you
>You scowl and only show fear for a moment
“Anonymous will come for me.”
>”No one will come…”
>The Queen’s voice is like an angry wind
“He will rescue Rosewood’s village.”
>Lady Holly grimaces at your defiance
>”They are mine to control!”
>The vines twist angrily as you beat them back
“And you know what else?”
>The False-Queen hesitates for the moment and growls at you
>Smiling widely, you look her straight in the eye
“Anonymous -will- defeat you.”
>She roars as her eyes flash crimson and a thousand angry vines whip towards you
>You will not fail in your duty
>You will not fail them
 
>Be Anonymous
>After a quick bath and some unregistered alchemy, you meet with Princess Luna
“Dearest Princess, you wished to speak to me?”
>Luna reads over a large tome and hardly peeks over the edge
>”Yes, Anonymous, please have a seat.”
>You find the simplest chair you can before sitting
>”Nightlight, as I have told you before, has been infected by a magic spell delivered through a bite. The only one that could break it now is her.”
“I understand this, but, perhaps just a bit of intervention from me could…”
>The Princess slams her book closed and looks to you
>”Anonymous… Anon, please understand that both my sister and I have given Nightlight aid. Much like we have done when you are injured.”
“I trust you, I truly do…”
>”But, you are frightened?”
>You stop for the moment and turn your head from your Princess
>”It is natural, Anonymous. Your fear, your anger, all natural reactions to this situation. It is how you act upon your instinct for your friends that truly gives shape to such events.”
“I have killed ten hydras in the bogs from dusk ‘til dawn…”
>Princess Luna sighs with a smile on a her face
>”Admirable, if nothing else. You are devoted and I am proud to see you have grown to cherish another.”
“This would not be my first pony to cherish, dear Princess. There is yourself and Princess Celestia.”
>”Hmm, I suppose, but have you ever called us, even I, friend?”
>You pause for a long moment as you decide your words
>It is all for naught
“No… No, I suppose I have not. You are my superiors, I worship you.”
>You plead from the heart with your Princess
>The Princess slowly rises to her hooves and strides beside you
>Her warm body presses into your own and she wraps herself about you in an endearing hug
>”Anon, how small you were when we found you and how unwise we were in your development… You walk the path we once did tread, but time has shown you are loyal.”
>You carefully raise your arms and lightly return the embrace
>”This pain you feel is unlike any other, but I promise that is normal for friends to feel this sick over each other. We will see Nightlight through these dark times.”
>Your fingers grip onto Princess Luna’s soft fur and you place your head on her shoulder
>Her majestic wing wraps around you and your feel safe for but a moment
>”You are a fine friend, Anon, I know Nightlight thinks so too.”
>A tear slips down your face and lands lightly onto Luna’s fur
>”It is not weakness, that which makes us cry…”
>The Princess tries to comfort you
“… Then why am I upon my knees?”
>Friendship is suffering