Friends in High Places II (Complete)

>Day Hitch To Hike on Earth

>Be Twilight Sparkle

>You toss in your bed as the morning sun peaks into your window

>Celestia allows makes sure you rise and ready for your studies ahead and you great the golden dawn with a tired smile

>As you lift the pillow off your head, you look around to find that last night was not a dream

>You sigh a bit as you step out of the small cot

>A sound draws you to the kitchen area as you see the odd creature known only as "Anonymous" hurrying around for items

>He has a sack of some kind with many pouches and a smartly dressed strap on the back

>You imagine it is a saddlebag of sorts, but made for bipedal creatures

>He notices you with a grunt and a nod of his head as he continues

TS: Good morning, I think...

A: Leaving soon...

TS: Oh? Where are you going?

A: We

TS: Where are -we- going this morning?

A: Town

>It frustrates you at how he speaks

>You've met guards with more personality than this human!

TS: Thank you, again, for all of your hospitality. Quick question though, if you would?

>He stops for a moment to make eye contact with you

TS: Um, where's the little mare's room? I, uhm, need to -go-

>You let go a nervous chuckle at the topic itself

>Anon just looks at you with unwavering indifference

>He quickly holds up his hand and points towards the door

A: Outside and back

>You nod and head out the door with a bit of urgency

>An outhouse is not the worst, you hope

>As you wind around back, hope disappears as you behold nothing

>You stamp around as you pace quickly and decide that Anonymous must have pushed it a bit deeper into the woods

>You step into some bushes and pass through

>Nothing of particular size or shape catches your attention and you are starting to worry what could have happened to Anon's outhouse

>A quick gallop takes you back to the front where Anon is already standing outside

>You tip-hoof in place as your bladder threatens you

TS: Anon! I can't find the bathroom!

>He looks at you with a bit of puzzlement before waving you to follow him

>You are taken to the back of the house once again and shake your head in frustration

TS: See? Somep0ny misplaced your outhouse!

>A sound not unlike a choking cat rings from Anon in what must be laughter

A: There

>He points to a small hole dug towards one side of the grounds and you look up at him in utter confusion

TS: You can't be serious... it's... it's a hole! In the ground!

A: Don't fall in...

>He chuckles as he disappears to the front again

>Uncomfortably, you figure out the grand use of the hole and do your best to stay sanitary

>Urinating out in the open like this is so uncivilized that it makes your skin crawl

>There's not even a door to keep prying eyes away from you!

>Where do you wash your hooves when you are done?

>You sigh heavily as you finish up and ponder why anyp0ny would do this to themselves

>You make your way back to Anon at the front of his home

>He holds up a few pieces of some hard treat that smells nutty and sugary

A: Food. Good for energy...

>You take it from him in your magic and give it a bite

>While not delicious, it certainly stops the grumbling in your body

TS: Thanks...

>Anon draws a small pouch out his pocket and opens it

>The smell turns your nose around as you watch him

>He pulls out a few pieces of shoulder meat that looks sun dried

>Your stomach flops once as he puts it in his mouth and starts chewing with a depraved contentment

>You hold a hoof to your mouth as you try to keep your own food down

A: Oh... sorry... I forgot

>He turns from you and stuffs the meat pouch into his pocket once more before pointing his hand into the air

A: Good weather today

>With that, he starts walking off into a direction seemingly choose at random

TS: Do we have a map?

>Anon looks at you curiously before shaking his head

TS: What about a compass?

>Again, he confirms that you don't

TS: How are we suppose to find our way without tools?

A: Knowledge

>You sigh and drop the topic as he moves through brush

>As you walk on, you can not help but allow your scientific mind to take in all you see

>The flora is very simple in color, not too many flowers spring through the denser green shrub and tall trees

>The species of tree is, in fact, oak and it makes you wonder about other similarities that may be presence

>You sit and marvel at the tree for a moment and examine a bit of sap leaking from one side

>You realize Anonymous could not keep all these plants alive himself

>This place must be akin to the Everfree Forest

>A chill runs up your spine just thinking about the possibility of timber-wolves prowling about

>You turn about as you search for Anon, but find yourself alone for the moment

>A nervous chuckle escapes you

TS: No need to worry... Anon is probably right around this bush...

>You quickly maneuver through the brush only to find more forest before you

TS: OK, he'll notice I am not behind him any minute and call out to me...

>You stand perfectly still and your ears pivot about in search of any sound

>The forest answers in derisive silence

>You tap your hooves against the soft ground and continue to slowly circle around yourself

>The quiet forest begins to irk you and you are the first to sound out in protest

TS: Anon! Anonymous! Where are you!?

>You shout in no particular direction and await some response

TS: Anon!? You there!?

>You listen carefully for a moment before you hear the rustling of leaves

>A smile parts your muzzle slowly as the sound grows near

TS: Thank Celestia, I was starting to think...

>You look towards the noise and see a small creature approaching

>The black fur and white stripe are all you need to see before you begin running

>You know all too well about mephitis mephitis after your brief encounter as a foal

>You plow through the thick woods, searching desperately for a path or some sign of Anon

>A rock catches your hoof in your panicked gallop and sends your rolling down a short hill

>You land with a thud on your side and lay in place for the moment

>Everything hurts

>It takes a few moments, but you wobble to your hooves and blink the spots from your eyes

>Another sound catches your attention from behind

>You spin in place and lower your horn at whatever may be sneaking up

A: You stopped following... thought you got lost

>Anonymous stands before you again and for the moment, your heart soars

TS: Why didn't you answer me when I called out?

A: I don't like screaming...

>You don't even care about this silliness right now

>It's just great having somep0ny around again in this scary forest

A: We aren't much further

>Anon points to a small clearing in the trees and begins moving forward again

>You hold your curiosity in this time and allow the scenery to pass

>It only works for so long as you become comfortable with Anonymous nearby again

TS: So... who raises the sun?

>Anon's face twists a little as he searches for words

A: Who raises the sun?

TS: Yeah, that's what I asked. Where I am from, Celestia does it. She's the Princess of the Sun after all!

A: ... No one

TS: What? No one raises the sun here? But, how does it come up and go down?

A: I... I don't know... it does

>Anon shrugs and looks a bit embarrassed for the moment

TS: Well, OK, I see. What about the seasons? Who changes them?

>Again, Anon looks intense as he thinks hard

A: Stop talking...

TS: Oh, I am sorry? I didn't mean to offend you

>He grits his jaw and you swear he looks like he is going to cry

A: No one... everything here just changes. M-maybe time?

TS: And time changes by itself?

>Anon nods a few times without looking at you

TS: I know a lot about time, actually. I have a book here all about the theory of time travel. It was written by Starswirl the Bearded. He was pretty great, you know?

>Anon doesn't seem to reply

>Possibly, he does not actually know

TS: I could get it for you... um, maybe. If you want it? It's a really good read!

A: I don't...

TS: Oh, OK, you don't want it and that's fine...

A: No, I can't...

>You raise an eyebrow

TS: You -can't- want it?

A: ...Read. I can't read...

>He keeps a gruff expression on his face and does not turn to face you

>You are taken aback for the moment

>Maybe education isn't as common and freely given as in Equestria?

>Whatever the case, you do not push further

TS: So... nice day, right? No rain

>He nods carefully as he climbs over a tree branch

>You wiggle underneath the same and step out into a small clearing

>The trees are much less dense and the ground is more even

>Anon is frozen in place

A: There

>He points a finger to a grey road with yellow stripes

A: Follow...

>You do as commanded now, thankful for this small hint of civilization

>It is a bit more quite on your side as the two of you trek along

>Anon seems to fidget now and then towards the woods and you are uncertain what is making him so jumpy

TS: Hey, Anon? Who built this road? Or do roads just happen here too?

A: Someone...

>Well, that was almost an answer

TS: More humans built this road, right?

A: Yes

TS: What is it used for?

>As if the world was truly automated, your answer begins to sound from a distance

>The ground shakes lightly and you hear the rev of a very powerful engine

>In the distance, an orange colored machine peaks out from a corner and moves at a phenomenal speed

>It passes you so quickly, that the force traveling beside it booms in your ears and throws your mane backwards

>Anon, on the other hoof, dives to the floor and cups his hands over his ears

>After that extremely brief encounter, Anon is back to his feet and marching quickly towards the tree line

>You call out and chase him as he slips past a tree

TS: Anon! Wait! What was that! What is the matter!?

A: Don't want to do this... I am sorry

>He is still moving quickly and you begin to lose some ground to his agile stride

TS: Anon! Wait up! Don't leave me!

>He doesn't seem to respond and wears a frightened expression on his face

>As he slows a bit, you recover some distance

>By the time you reach him, you are far enough into the woods to lose the road

TS: Anon, please! Tell me what is wrong?

A: Too loud... too many people... I can't. I don't

>Anon sits and curls his legs into his chest

>You see he is scared to a level you would deem as, "irrational"

TS: Anon... Anonymous, look at me. You don't have to be afraid

>He grunts lightly at you as his eyes focus on your own

TS: I know this is asking a lot of you, but I need you more than ever to get to your human town

A: I... I can't

TS: Yes, you can. I know you can. I believe in you!

>You carefully approach him where he can see you and rub your head against his

TS: It's going to be OK. I'm scared too in this new world, but I trust you enough to help me through it. Will you trust me? Would you call me a friend?

>Anonymous looks at you with watery eyes

A: F-f-friend?

>The word sounds jagged and slightly unpleasant as he says it

TS: Yes, Anon... I would be your friend if you would be mine?

>He drops his gaze to his knees for the moment and nods into his legs

A: Alright... trust you...

>It takes him a minute to stand back up and calm his breathing, but he does manage to lead you back towards the road once again

A: Cars... cars are loud

TS: So, that's what it's called! It's a type of automobile. How can it go so fast?

>Anon shrugged to you and, given his current assumed level of engineering, you don't press the issue

A: Cars go fast... planes go faster... rockets go faster than planes

TS: So, rockets are the fastest?

>You understand what little rocket science you have read, the subject is not well studied in Equestria

>Anon nods to you

>You follow behind him once again as you walk through the wood and down the road

>It takes an hour, or so the sun would imply, of plodding along until you finally come upon a sight to behold

>Humans, like Anon yet so different, walk and drive and fill every conceivable space in their human town

>The buildings rise to the clouds and some even pass them on their way up

>All manner of electrical devices fill every sidewalk

>You try to take it all in before recoiling from the vast amount of information

TS: Anon... I... I don't know what to say...

A: Nothing...

>For the first time since you've arrived, you felt being awe-struck was the perfect answer

>You watched as the humans passed each other, as they went into stores, as they sat in their cars, and as they ate their lunches

>So many of them in so many colours with any manner of mane the imagination could conjure

>They didn't seem so different to ponies after all, at least, from what you could see

>Anon stood around by the entrance beside you with his body leaning away

TS: So... where do we shop for quills?

A: S-shop? I can't...

>You look at Anon as he flitters between facial expressions

>This must be very hard for him

TS: What if I just go ask another human for some help? You can stay here and be away from the noise?

>For a moment, Anon looked to you

A: We should leave...

TS: What? We just got here. I'm so close to going home

A: It's not safe... too many people. So many...

TS: I know you're scared, I understand, but I am a big pony and I can be trusted on my own

>Anon's face twisted for the moment as he began speaking in the loudest voice you have ever heard from him

A: No! It's not safe! We should go! They'll hurt you!

>He finished his sentence with a bit of spittle hanging from his mouth and his breathing was labored

>Anon stood there with a fearful look on his face and his hands outstretched as if pleading

TS: Like they did to you?      

>He stopped at your words and took them in

TS: Y-yes... they hurt everyone who is different

>You look at Anon and feel a sense of pity in your heart

>You wish there was a way to talk to him, to make him see that not everyone is bad

>He looks to you with a broken smile and points towards his home

>You look to him and shake your head sadly

TS: Anon, I must get my materials. I have to go home

>He clenches his hands together and continues to silently beg

>You turn slowly from him with pain on your face as you slowly begin to walk into the town

>You stop after a few meters and turn your head back

>Anon is just standing there with tears in his eyes and unspoken words on his lips

>This is how you will get home

>You must do this

 

>A week later in a cabin on a hill

>Be Anonymous

>Another one is gone, you think as you prod the fire

>Just another creature in your life who would drift by

>You hang a small metal pot with water on the pit and await for it to boil

>A week ago, your lonely cabin was so comforting

>Tonight, shadows cast silent haunts on the walls and the stillness in the air bothers you

>Sound is infrequent

>There is no rain these days

>You take a mild comfort in the sound of the popping fire wood at your feet

>It is lonely on your island

>Her name was Twilight Sparkle and she was a witch or a unicorn or something likewise fantastical

>She moaned like a child, yet spoke like a scholar

>She ate all your dried fruit and talked endlessly about nothing in particular

>And she was the nicest creature who ever spent time with you

>You stir your pot of water and add a few berries and a nice carrot you had found

>At least a soup will calm your stomach

>You look to the crater by your house and spy the prints of horseshoes in the dirt

>They made a nice sound on your floor

>A sort of clacking, clip-clop as she walked by

>You smile as you think about the lovely noise

>You stir the pot again and sniff the air

>For no reason you can understand, you use all the berries and the full carrot on this pot

>A third and eighth would have been fine for one person, but something tells you to cook more

>You look to the sky and see the stars hanging lazily in their place

>No shooting stars tonight

>You take your cup and scope at the boiling water

>All you need is one cup for dinner

>You sigh between a hot sip and blow gently at the steam

>A noise deep in the wood catches your attention for the moment

>You draw your knife and listen intently

>A moving object, not too far from you

>It's moving swiftly, like a bird, but the sound of beating wings is too low and too large

>You steady your resolve and crouch low by the fire

>A final rustling of the forest trees finds you face to face with something wholly unknown

>It is blue in colour, the body is familiar

>It hovers in place and looks around a bit before you see lavender eyes staring back at you

>The creature makes a quick dive to you and you stumble backwards a bit

>A face illuminates by fire light and you stare awkwardly

>A sudden voice startles you as you stare down the new beast

RD: Hey! Twi! I think I found that -thing- you're looking for!

>The trees and growth shake from all sides as the sound of beasts running approaches

>A new host of colourful aliens burst from the brush and surround you

F: Oh, my... there is somep0ny living out here after all

AJ: Well, ah'll be! Not ev'ryday ya' see a barn so nicely built

>This one points at your house

PP: We found the weird thing Twilight was looking for! Oh, can we name him!?

R: Darling, I am sure -he- has a name... um, what was it again?

>Then you see her stepping toward you

>He purple body blends into the darkness as her horn glows

>The alien who crashed at your door and changed the very sounds of the world for you

T: His name is, "Anonymous" and he doesn't like a lot of noise. So -please- use your indoor voice, Pinkie

>You stare at all the creatures before you in their crescent formation

>A small smile plays over your face as you see Twilight Sparkle move closer to the fireplace

A: You came back...

T: I thought it was only fair. I left without being able to say, "goodbye" to you! Friends don't leave friends like that

>A smirk crawls up one side of her mouth as she looks at you

>You want to stand up and shout and yell and raise your voice to scare away the shadows and quiet that has consumed your nights

>You want to run to her and hug her like a friend would and tell her how terribly quiet everything is when she was not around

>There is so much you want to do that you simply do nothing

>You finally stretch your hand out towards the pot and offer simply

A: Soup?

T: I would love some, Anon... the trip here was so exhausting. Oh, also, I brought some friends with me. I hope it's OK with you? I know how you don't like a lot of noise and I explained as many rules as I could for everyp0ny, but they were all interested in the story about the human's world that...

>You look at her with raised eyebrows

>She giggles nervously before cover her mouth with a hoof

TS: Oh, sorry... I'll stop

>You shake your head

A: No... please... continue

>You find a nearby bowl and fill it with soup

A: I want to hear it. Everything...

>You listen happily to Twilight's tale as the night rolls on and the fire fades

>For the first time in a week, your home feels right again

RD: Well, yeah, so that's about everything -we- did. Tell us about yourself!

PP: Yeah! Tell us, Mr. Human Anonymous!

F: If you want too, that is

R: Yes, we'd simply love to hear what you've been up too

TS: Now, girls, Anon doesn't like to talk all that much. He's more of a...

>You hold up a hand and stop Twilight midsentence

A: For my friends? I will try...

>Twilight's mouth hangs open in surprise before she smiles and sits comfortably

>You look to the sky carefully and smile

>It's always nice to have friends in high places