- >You ease open the door, light pouring in from behind you.
- >It’s pitch black in there, how does she move around?”
- >You shove the thought to the side as you slip inside and close the door.
- “Hello, Trixie? You in here?”
- >No response. If she wanted to be hidden she wouldn’t make a peep.
- >That just means you get to search for her.
- >Fucking joy.
- >You pull an orb of magic light out of your ass, figuratively of course, keeping it dim for Trixie’s sake.
- >If she’s been cooked up inside this place for so long then she’s going to be extra sensitive to light.
- >You’ve been there; living in the changeling hive wasn’t nice to your eyes.
- >So you try your best not to hurt hers.
- >You almost trip over a discarded book by your feet and make a note to avoid the dozens of others that litter the floor.
- >The fireplace is out cold, the logs long neglected.
- >You pick up a picture off the mantle, a small purple unicorn standing beside Princess Celestia.
- >She looks so happy, likely the Twilight that Anonymous mentioned.
- >You place it back down and head deeper into the room, two bookshelves on either side of you.
- >Only a few books remain while the rest have been thrown about.
- >Skimming through the book yields little for you, just highlighted pages of useless information.
- >”Biology of Equines: Unicorn’s Explored.”
- >Interesting.
- >You toss it with its comrades and move over to the curtains held tight against the wall.
- >Gently peeking through the slit grants you a gorgeous view of the city below along with the rolling hills around.
- >She cut off such a view? She must be crazier than you thought.
- >You move back inside, this time finding a set of stairs to ascend.
- >The wooden planks creak under your weight followed by heavy breathing from the second level.
- >It hushes shortly afterward, but you at least know she’s here now.
- >You scan the second level calmly and try to pinpoint her location.
- >The bathroom door hangs open so you can cross that one off.
- >You check out the desk and point light onto the documents spread over it.
- >There’s a mess of diagrams and lab notes along with comical circles around some of the important information.
- >She’s really weird, you don’t need to meet her to find that out.
- >You’ve met your fair share of wackos in your day, but she strikes you as obsessed.
- >Twilight’s signature can be found on the majority of the documents here, most of which seem to deal with some sort of energy enhancement.
- >It’s of no concern of yours so you allow yourself to keep moving about.
- >The blankets on the bed bulge upward, its inhabitant as frightened as a child.
- >You’ll let her calm down before you tear the sheets off.
- >Behind the bed lies a most curious sight, a mannequin.
- >You place your hand on the soft layers of the cape, its starry pattern reminding you of a magician.
- >Its tied together with a jewel, cracked and ragged. It’s certainly seen better days.
- >And to top it all off is a wizard’s hat, resting on the head.
- >It’s a cute little costume as far as you’re concerned.
- >You look back to the bed, Trixie as still as a rock.
- >You walk slowly over to the bed and sit down on the side.
- >Gently, you pull the sheets away revealing… a bundle of pillows.
- >You grin and shake your head. Clever girl.
- >Another set of hushed breath clarifies what you already know.
- >You get to your knee and lean down as your light hovers above.
- >You pick up the concealing sheets as you peer under the bed.
- >”NO GO AWAY!”
- >The sudden shout startles you and you bang your head on the side, a slight annoyance.
- “Wait, I just want to-“
- >A pillow smacks into your face and you can hear her scrambling away.
- “I want to talk to you.”
- >As you’re about to chase her down the stairs your footing grows unsteady as the floor grows slippery.
- >You hold onto the rails as you breathe in a heavy scent of ammonia.
- >Why does everyp0ny do that around you?
- >You can make out Trixie barreling for the door.
- “Don’t open the-“
- >She swings the door open and screeches as the light blinds her.
- >You force the door shut as she stumbles backwards and hurry down to her.
- >She hears you approach and tries to escape once more.
- >”Please don’t hurt Trixie! Trixie’s sorry!”
- >She stumbles over the books and you catch her just before she hits the ground.
- >”NO NO NO!”
- >She goes berserk in an effort to escape, hitting you everywhere from the jaw to your more intimate parts.
- >You clench your teeth and bear with it while trying to calm her down.
- >”I never meant to anger you!”
- “Please just calm down.”
- >She tries to slip from your grasp but you keep a strong hold on her.
- >”Please don’t…”
- >She begins to tire which puts you at ease a little. At least you don’t have to worry about getting hit again.
- >”Don’t.”
- >You pet her mane gently, the strands brushing through your fingers.
- “Shhh, be calm. I’m not to hurt you.”
- >Your arm dampens as she wipes away her tears.
- “Let it out, just let go.”
- >Thankfully she already released the other stuff.
- “It’s alright. It’s alright,” you repeat as you rock her like a child.
- >It’ll be alright.
- >You place your hand on the log and look back to her.
- “Can I?”
- >She nods and you ignite the fire, making sure to shield her from its intensity.
- >The fire illuminates more of the room than you did before so you get a better feel for the space.
- >The coffee you put on dings and you pour a cup, placing it in Trixie’s cold hooves.
- >She thanks you and sips at it, the steam rising from her cup.
- “Can I ask what that was all about?”
- >She seems to close up, “Don’t think about it, don’t think-“
- “It’s alright,” you cut her off before she goes all catatonic on you. “Let’s just talk about something else.”
- >”Sure.”
- “So… You were a famous magician right? I saw your outfit upstairs.”
- >”T-trixie hasn’t performed in a long time.”
- “I’m sure your act was something. You ever do the ol’ saw a p0ny in half trick?”
- >”Trixie only performed by herself.”
- “A loner huh? Not much for company I’d assume. I never really liked to be the center of attention myself.”
- >”Trixie used to like the stage, before she was a joke,” she bows her head.
- “Don’t be so hard on yourself, everyone has their off days.”
- >”Trixie was humiliated. No p0ny would take Trixie seriously.”
- “Maybe it has something to do with all the third person. It makes you seem a bit pretentious.”
- >”Oh that’s nice,” she says as she starts to cry again.
- >God dammit.
- >You scoot closer to her on the couch and rub her back.
- “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.”
- >She sniffs and takes another drink of coffee, “I forgive you.”
- “Doesn’t that sound better?” you reply with a grin.
- >She smiles back in turn, “Yeah it kind of does.”
- “A smile too? Say it ain’t so.”
- >She hides her face as you continue to entertain her.
- “If I knew I was this funny I would’ve become a comedian rather than a hero.”
- >”Hero,” she mutters solemnly as her eyes fixate on the fire.
- >Her violet eyes capture the flames as she recedes back into her memories.
- >”He… he killed them…”
- >She’s not ready, you can tell.
- >You pull her away from the fire and rescue her from her mind.
- “Come on, I want to see something.”
- >She follows you back upstairs and sits on the bed as you whisk her clothes off the mannequin.
- >”I can’t put those back on.”
- “Oh come on, humor me.”
- >”A-alright, for you. Don’t you dare laugh at me.”
- “You can hit me if I do.”
- >”I can do that anyways.”
- >Smartass.
- “Let me rephrase, I’ll let you hit me.”
- >”Fine,” she says as she levitates the clothes from your hand.
- >You turn around as she fixes herself up.
- >”I didn’t say you had to turn around.”
- “I know, I just want it to be a surprise.”
- >”You’re weird you know that?”
- >You could say the same thing about her.
- >”Alright, you can turn around.”
- >You swivel around, a grin sprouting on your face.
- >She smacks your arm without hesitation, “You said you wouldn’t laugh.”
- “I didn’t” you rub your arm, “You’re just cuter than I thought you’d be.”
- >”Oh,” she blushes, “Thank you.”
- “You really are something else. I don’t know why you stayed in here all day.”
- >”Because I’m a fake, that’s why,” she retorts ruining the mood.
- “Like hell, you’ve got something, I can feel it.”
- >”That’s what Anonymous said too, and he threw me to the side when he was wrong.”
- “Well, I’m not wrong.”
- >”You don’t understand. I lied to everyp0ny. I told them I was something I’m not. I’m just a phony.”
- “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
- >”I told them I defeated an Ursa Major.”
- “And they believed you? Damn, and here I am trying to make clever lies.”
- >”I almost destroyed Ponyville, but Twilight saved them.”
- “You’re jealous of her?”
- >”Why shouldn’t Trixie be? She was Great and Powerful, while I cowered in fear.”
- “Is that what all these notes are about? You’re trying to catch up with her?”
- >”Anyway I can.”
- “You’re a fool.”
- >”Don’t speak to Trixie like that.”
- “Cut the third person crap, you’re better than that. You don’t need to be better than Twilight.”
- >You cut her off before she can backtalk. You’re in no mood.
- “I know how it feels to get shown up. That’s a defining part of my life, but I don’t let it control me. I focus on what I can do, not what’s been.”
- >”That’s what I’m trying to do. I want to be better.”
- “For the wrong reason. You want to prove that you’re better, and as long as you think like that,” you shake your head, “You’ll never be.”
- >”I have to try.”
- “Do you know where I get my power from?”
- >”Your emotions, anger, fear, love, hate. Just like Anonymous.”
- >You shake your head. She’s so very wrong.
- “He took that power. He’s unnatural. Do you really want to be like him?”
- >”I guess not.”
- “You guess or you don’t.”
- >”I don’t.”
- “Good. Now I’ll ask you again, do you know where I get my power from?”
- >”I don’t know.”
- >You take her hoof and place it on your chest.
- “I get it from here, from inside. Not some medical experiment doohickey. I strove to be better so that I may protect others. I was rewarded with this.”
- >Energy ripples down your arm and into her.
- “True power is born within, not brought from out.”
- >”I could never achieve something like this. I just can’t.”
- “Celestia did. Twilight did. I did. You can too.”
- >You brush the hair out of her face.
- “You just have to believe you can.”
- >You pause and think for a moment.
- “There’s something I want you to have.”
- >You yank the gem from her coat.
- >”Hey! What’s the big deal?”
- “This necklace has been handed down for generations of heroes like me. Equestria needs heroes.”
- >The ruby sparkles brilliantly on her cape, truly doing her justice.
- “I think that hero should be you.”
- >”But why?”
- “I don’t know to be honest. It just feels right.”
- >She peers down at your gift, “Thank you.”
- “Don’t mention it. I should get going. It was nice to meet you.”
- >”But what about why you came?”
- “I wanted to know what happened on the day the rebellion was crushed, but it only pains you. I can find another.”
- >”I wasn’t in the battle, but I met the hero,” she exclaims. “He, made a fool out of me. I was so scared…”
- “Do you know anything about the changelings?”
- >”Never heard of them.”
- >You nod. She really didn’t know anything.
- “I figured. Still, that’s one person off the list.”
- >That doesn’t mean this trip was pointless.
- >Trixie shows you out and asks about your next journey.
- >You say that you’re going to talk to Nightmare Moon, and boy will that be fun.
- >She seems to know the way which is good, because you have no fucking clue where to go.
- >”Nightmare Moon should be inside, and Anon?”
- “Yes?”
- >She holds you tight, “Thank you. I hope I can call you a friend.”
- “Anytime,” you reply scratching her ear, ”Now go and do something great for me.”
- >”Yes sir.” She trots away with a spring in her step. Damn ponies these days.
- >You grin to yourself and open the door, two p0nies inside, a unicorn and alicorn.
- >”Ah! Anon? What’re you doing here?”
- “Mr. Light? I could ask you the same thing.”
- >You look to Mr. Light and… Luna.
- >She scratches her leg nervously, “Well this is awkward.”
- “I’ll say.”
- >You’ve never seen her in her normal form before. She’s far less imposing without the armor, fangs and such.
- “What happened to Nightmare Moon?”
- >”She died when their hero saved my life.”
- >What? Your head is full of fuck right now.
- “So the whole Nightmare Moon persona has been just an act?”
- >”Convincing isn’t it? She fooled me at first too.”
- >”I have to be careful not to let it take me over again. I trot a thin line.”
- >You walk inside and shut the door behind you. Anonymous would not be happy if he found out.
- “Who else knows about this?”
- >”Just me, Light and now you.”
- “Keep it that way. The last thing I want is Anonymous finding out.”
- >”Don’t worry, I keep my identity safe.”
- >You certainly hope so.
- >”So why are you here Anon? Shouldn’t you be back-“
- “No, why the hell are you here?”
- >”Watch your tone boy.”
- >Oh he fucking didn’t.
- “I’m older than you are, kid. I want an answer.”
- >”He’s too much like him.”
- “What’s she talking about?”
- >”When we spoke in the past, I requested your help in dealing with our benevolent ruler.”
- >”To which I said was a terrible idea. He has him in his pocket.”
- “I’m in no one’s pocket. I made a deal and that was it.”
- >”You declined Anon, and if I couldn’t get your help I would have to find others.”
- “But Luna knew about your intentions already?”
- >”Yes, she was the one who found me. I was scared for my life the first time we met.”
- >”Being the incarnation of darkness does that,” she jokes.
- “You’re both a couple of revolutionaries is that it?”
- >He nods, “Big things have small beginnings.”
- >They’re- Dammit.
- “Do you have any idea how fucking stupid you both are?”
- >This startles Light, “I wasn’t expecting that.”
- “I’m not stupid enough to try and go toe to toe with him and no offense, but you both don’t compare to me.”
- >”We may not be as strong, but our spirit is unwavering,” he boasts.
- >”Someone has to defeat him. So we’ll find a way together.”
- “Do you really believe that?”
- >”I do.”
- “Are you willing to die for that belief?”
- >She shrugs, “Isn’t exactly plan A.”
- >You laugh lightly at her joke.
- “I admire that. Foolish to be sure, but admirable. A part of me hopes you might succeed.”
- >Light steps in, “With that I would like my answer. What’re you doing here?”
- >You never did give an answer. It’s only polite.
- “I came to talk to Nightma- Luna.”
- >”Perhaps I could stay.”
- >She looks at you quizzically, “I think this is a bit too personal. It’d be best to leave us, until next time Light.”
- >He bows to her will, “As you wish Princess.”
- >His absence leaves a void, “Come, let us sit.”
- >You sit down on a seat across from her, her eyes upon you.
- >”What troubles you?”
- “What doesn’t these days?”
- >”We know what we’re doing Anon. We’ll know when the time’s right.”
- “Make it count.”
- >”So what is it you wished to discuss?”
- “The war mostly, mainly the confrontation here in Canterlot.”
- >”The Brother’s War. A catchy name, I’ll have to write it down in the scrolls.”
- “I need to know who fought alongside him, other than p0nies.”
- >”Griffons mostly. They were the first force to breach the castle walls simply because they flew over them.”
- “Yeah I fought a few myself.”
- >”I remember hearing about a mass of Minotaurs, Diamond Dogs and other wildife from the Everfree Forest breaching the gates as well.”
- “What did you see?”
- >”I was tasked to the throne room to defeat Anonymous’s brother. I was not enough.”
- “So you didn’t see any of them yourself?”
- >”I get the impression you want to ask something specific.”
- “You got me. I try to keep a low profile about this.”
- >”Go ahead, I promise your secret’s safe with me.”
- >You take a deep breath.
- “Was Chrysalis there?”
- >”That name sounds familiar, but not in the battle.”
- “You’ve met her?”
- >”No, but it was many years ago when she staged an attack on Canterlot.”
- “Nah, that doesn’t sound like her.”
- >”I’m certain of it now. She and her horde infiltrated the castle in an attempt to capture the city.”
- “She- She’d have to be pretty desperate to try that again.”
- >”She was close to you wasn’t she?”
- >You nod and look to the floor.
- “No one tends to care about specifics after war, so when I didn’t come back, not many questioned it.”
- >”You won that war though.”
- “I was at Chrysalis’s mercy and she spared me… twice.”
- >”Ouch.”
- “Not easy for a guy to take let me tell you.”
- >”I wouldn’t doubt it.”
- “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
- >”I’m sorry that I can’t help more.”
- “Don’t sweat it. You were my last lead though. Looks like I’ll never find out.”
- >”Have you considered talking with Octavia?” she pipes up.
- “Why does she sound familiar?”
- >”She’s only the most famous classical musician in Equestria. She has seen better days though.”
- “That girl with the violin?”
- >”Cello, but yes.”
- “That seems kinda pointless. She’s a musician, what the hell would she know about it?”
- >”Forgot I mentioned it then. If you don’t take the initiative then it’s your fault.”
- >She knows how to push your buttons, but she’s right. You never know.
- “Which way to the dungeon?”
- >”Right this way.”
- >She stops at the door, a shuddering surge of magic surrounding her.
- >Her skin turns black and mane a starry mist.
- >”Can’t be raising suspicion.”
- “Of course.”
- >The dungeon’s about as damp and dreadful as you’d expect.
- >The guards salute to the disguised princess as she passes.
- “You have the respect of the guards.”
- >”I have respect, of whom it doesn’t matter.”
- >She really is good at acting.
- >”Guard!” she shouts to the jailor and he comes galloping over.
- >”Yes Ma’am.”
- >”Show us to Octavia’s cell, Anon wishes to interrogate the prisoner.”
- >”Yes Ma’am.”
- >The cells are surprisingly empty save for a few, a shivering mare presented before you.
- >”Leave us. We wish to work in private.”
- “Unless you’d like to join her?”
- >He takes off the other direction slowly, but there’s no mistaking the hurried nature of his departure.
- >”After you.”
- “Ladies first.”
- >”Such a gentlecolt.”
- >Octavia backs into the corner as you lock the cell behind you.
- >”I swear I don’t know anything.”
- >”You will speak when spoken to!”
- “But you just spoke to her.”
- >”Don’t tempt me Anon.”
- “What a buzz-kill… Guard, food and water!”
- >”Right away sir.”
- >You kneel down next to her, Octavia flinching at your hand.
- “I’m not like the others Octavia. I’m not going to hurt you.”
- >”That’s what the last guard said. That’s what they all said.”
- “Fine, I am like the others, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
- >”Half-truths and lies.”
- “It can’t be both dear,” the guard slides the tray through the bars.
- “Here, you need it,” you say pushing the tray closer to her.
- >The hunger burns in her eyes as she stares down at the toasted bread and cold water.
- “Go ahead, take your ti-“
- >She snatches the bread in a flash and eagerly devours it. Must’ve been hungry.
- “Drink up, don’t want to get the hiccups.”
- >It doesn’t take her long to finish up the last few drops, the plate barren.
- “Uh guard? Another please.”
- >”Why?” she asks as you replace her tray.
- “Just being a friend, we’re friends now right Nightmare?”
- >”Buck off.”
- “The best.”
- >”I’m just a prisoner. What do you want?”
- “I want to know more about you. Specifically, war stuff.”
- >”I don’t really like talking about it.”
- >No shit, it’s war.
- >”I wasn’t much of a fighter, but when Anonymous took over I joined in the fight against him. I picked up my instrument and did what I did best.”
- “How’d you end up in here?”
- >”We were ambushed. They flooded in around us and had us on the run before I could think.”
- “You should’ve hid better.”
- >”That’s the thing, we were well hidden. No one ever went into the sewers.”
- >”Sounds like someone wasn’t on the same team.”
- >”You’d be right. I always wondered what I did wrong to end up in here, and I only recently found out we had a mole.”
- “Who?”
- >”My best friend,” she sips her fresh cup. “Vinyl Scratch.”
- >”What is it with musicians?” Luna comments.
- “How’d you find out?”
- >”The guards were talking about her. Apparently she’d fallen into the rancor pit and there was only one way out.”
- “Wait wait wait. Hold on a second.”
- >”What is it?” Luna asks.
- “Anonymous has a fucking rancor pit?”
- >”Focus Anon.”
- “A RANCOR pit. With a motherfucking rancor? Jesus fucktits, I am jelly.”
- >”Anon!” she slaps you in the face.
- “Oh sorry, I lost my composure. Thank you.”
- >”Anytime.”
- “So Octavia, anything else?”
- >”Sorry, all I know is that I wasn’t her only mark. She got nice and comfy with Anonymous’s brother too.”
- “She was with him the entire time? So she knew everything that he’d done.”
- >This is great. If you can find the letters then you can discover what happened to Chrysalis.
- >”I almost forgot,” she says as you’re about to leave, “There was an escape attempt a while back. It sounded like there was fighting outside.”
- ”It’s alright, I-“
- >”The guards came to check on me, but one of them was different. He attacked his partner.”
- >”I never forget how she looked, her black skin and emerald eyes, the crown atop her head. Only this time she tried to help me.”
- >Luna speaks to you, “It was her. Anon, she was there! …Anon?
- >Your emotions battle within yourself, a mix of hatred and relief.
- ”Vinyl knew where he went and who he met.”
- >You look to Luna as she continues your thought “And if she was keeping tabs on him for Anonymous…”
- “Then she must’ve kept communication with him.”
- >”Which means that Anonymous...”
- >Your blood boils hot, a passionate rage that you haven’t felt for decades.
- >He played coy. He pushed you along, and all this time he…
- “Knew.”
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Dead Anon: Chapter 7 (Knowledge Is Power)
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