Rainbow in the Dark

>Day You Only Live Twice on Earth

>Be Anon

>Your head throbs as Twilight Sparkle's magic fades from you

>The world spins in a dizzying hazy about you

>This is taking forever

>The magic finally wears off and you look around

>White room, small kitchen, unkempt bed, immaculate computer desk with your battle station prepared

>You smile

>Twilight really did it

>You think back to your time in Ponyville

>How long were you gone? A year? Maybe two?

>You check the calendar on your computer

>It's still 2011 + 1

>You even remember leaving in this same month!

>Time must work differently in Ponyville

>Or maybe it was all a dream!

A: I don't think so, narrator. FlutterRapist hurt me enough to know I was really experiencing that

>Oh, if you say so

A: I do

>You sigh with relief and stretch

>It feels wonderful to be home

>You can't help but think of Ponyville though

A: I know that feel

>The ponies may have had their annoying moments, but it was mostly enjoyable

>You look to your bed and decide to crash

 

>Be Rainbow Dash

>You wake to darkness and feel something covering you

>What did you do last night?

>You were just taking a nap on Twilight's shelf and now you have this splitting headache

>You lay in a ball wherever you are and blink the spots out of your eyes

>A heavy thing falls on you

>You scream and flail

RD: Ah! Something's got me!

A: Who said that?!

>Your eyes are suddenly exposed to the light and you see Anon

RD: Oh, hi, Anon. What're you doing in Twilight's house?

>You stretch your hooves and wings

A: Oh, wow, yeah... This is going to be tough to explain to the landlord

RD: What're you talking about?

>You look around and notice no books, Twilight or really anything familiar

RD: Was I sleep-flying again?

>You hear noises outside and rush to the window

>There are people just like Anon all over the streets

>You press your face against the glass in disbelief

RD: Anon, where in Equestria are we?

>You look on with your muzzle pressed to the cold glass

>Humans like Anon are walking everywhere and not a pony in sight

RD: Anon, I've got a feeling we're not in Equestria anymore

A: Yeah, you're onto something there

>Anon seems to be leading you on

>What's his deal?

RD: Anon! What's going on?

>He looks at you and shrugs

A: I think that Twilight somehow sent you back with me

RD: Sent back where, exactly?

A: Earth, my home?

>You stop and let it sink in

RD: If I'm on Earth... How am I suppose to get home?

A: I, uh, I am not sure

>Anon scratches his head and you feel him smiling dumbly with you

RD: I-I can't be here! I need to report for cloud-busting in the morning!

A: I am sure that'll be the least of your problems

RD: W-what am I gonna do!? Where can I go? Why is this happening to me!?

A: Look, I can see you are neck deep in the stages of grief, so I won't stop your from getting to the end. For now, you can stay here with me until we figure something out

>Tears form at the corners of your eyes

>Don't let 'em see ya cry, Rainbow

>Don't let 'em!

RD: Fine, Anon... fine...

>You fly from the window and to the bed

RD: I'm just going to sleep until everything goes back to normal

>You bury your head in a pillow

>It's not nearly as soft as a cloud

>You spend the next five or so minute tossing and turning

>You roll on your back and look for Anon

RD: Anon, I don't know if this'll work...

>Anon is not in sight

>You suddenly become a little desperate for his company

RD: Anon? Hey, Anon! Where did you go?

>Nothing

RD: N-nothing? Where'd he go?

>You flutter off the bed and dart around the small place

>It takes a second to get from one end to the other

>You search through some draws and cabinets before darting to the window again

>You see other humans, but not Anon

RD: First he tells me to stay here and then he just disappears

>You consider if Anon is a shape-shifter and hiding in plain view

>Shaking your head, you realize this is silly

>Anon doesn't even have a horn

>You hear water running for a brief moment and Anon appears in a doorway

A: Fwoo, how I missed indoor plumbing

RD: Anon!

>You rush to him and latch onto his chest

A: Oh, yeah, it's me?

RD: Why'd you leave without saying anything?

A: I didn't leave? I just went to the bathroom. Magic always goes right through me

>You hold onto Anon

A: I... I don't remember you being so emotional...

RD: Hey, this is weird for me! I-I don't like being so far from my friends

>You look up at Anon with watery eyes

>His face changes to melancholy as you continue to stare

A: Oh, Dashie... there's no need to be so sad. I promise we'll get you back home. Just, um, just smile for now?

>The word "smile" echoes in your head

>Pinkie would tell you the same thing

>But, she'd make a pun out of it

>You lose to the sad thoughts and start weeping

RD: Anon, tell me to, "Smile and not look so blue"

>Anon doesn't get it

A: But, Rainboom, you are blue?

>You weakly pound his chest with your hoof

RD: That's the joke! That's what Pinkie would have said

>You start crying in miniature torrents

A: Uh, no, no. Now, don't cry, BlueFast. It's going to be fine! I swear!

>You don't know what's come over you, but you are terribly afraid of being here

RD: My friends are all counting on me to watch the weather. They all wanted me to help them this weekend on a party. I promised so much. What will they think if I don't show up?

>You feel Anon's hand on your back

A: I am sure they won't be mad at you. I bet Twilight is already working on getting you back to Ponyville

RD: Y-you think?

A: I... I know

>He wraps his arms around you and hugs you tightly

>You will never yell at Pinkie for doing this again

RD: Thank y-you, Anon. You're so nice. I see why Fluttershy liked you

>He squeezes a bit tighter suddenly

A: Oh, oh yeah, -her-

>Anon loosens his grip and takes your to the bed

A: Shh, shh. No more tears now. Only friendship

>He lets you go gently on the mattress

A: You're lighter than you look

>Anon fidgets around you as you lay on your back

A: Neat, you don't even leave a dent on the bed

>You have no idea what he's talking about

>You wipe away the last tear from your eyes

>Things are going to get better

>Anon said so, it must be true

RD: Do you think it'll take Twilight a long time to figure out where I am

A: If I know Twilight... They will notice you're gone by the morning and she'll figure out exactly what to do

RD: Rarity was suppose to come with me to the... the, uh, bathhouse I go to. I hope she won't be angry

A: Don't worry so much. You're friends are adults, I think. They'll understand

RD: Yeah, you're probably right

>Anon holds up a metal case and flicks something across the room

A: Was there ever any doubt?

>His crazy ways remind you of Pinkie Pie

>You miss that crazy gal

RD: I think I need to take a spin around the town. Clear my head a little

>Anon looks a little concerned

RD: Oh, sorry, I forgot you couldn't fly. We can just walk around if you want?

A: It's not about that. It's about you being a pegasus here

RD: Oh, let me guess. Humans think we're mythological creatures and seeing me would make them all crazy and curious

A: Y-yes, how'd you come up with that?

RD: I was roped into a conversation with Lyra while trying to get a drink one day. She's super-creepy about humans. Not that you're creepy. I mean, she studies humans... Yeah, it's a mystery

A: Was she the one who kept trying to sell me the tennis rackets?

RD: Ah, no, she's the one that really liked humans. She talked about "fingers" and "hands" all the time. Somep0nies, huh?

A: I suppose

>You roll backwards on Anon's bed and move over something hard

>You uncover it to discover some black, square... thing

RD: What's this?

>Anon takes it from you

A: TV remote

>He presses a red button and another machine comes to life

RD: Whoa, cool. Color TVs are so expensive. Can't even get good channels outside of Canterlot

>You see a human on the TV dressed in a suit much like Anon wears

>His face isn't green though

>You suppose Anon's real face isn't green either, just the mask

Weather Man: And tonight looks like low winds and light rain for the central area. Expect some delays on the roads before 8:00

>Your mind takes a moment and relaxes from this report

RD: Ohh~! A weather-human! Where're their wings?

A: Humans don't get wings

>You ponder this for a moment

RD: Oh, I thought you were just an earth-human, like Applejack... except not a pony

A: No, sadly, humans don't get wings or horns... well... no, we don't

RD: So... how is that weather-human suppose to move the clouds and bring the rain from wherever humans get rain?

A: Oh, it's just gonna happen. These people are usually wrong about the weather anyways

>You don't understand how that's even possible

RD: C-can we change the channel?

>Anon presses another button

>You see a strange looking human with puffy hair and a suit almost like Anon's

Giorgio Tsoukalos: "Ancient aliens"

>The man smiles, eyes squint and he stretches his arms across the screen

>Anon quickly changes it

>As the sound enters the picture, you see a human male sitting while a human female stands over him

Human Female: Yesterday, you said you'd call Sears

Human Male: I'll call today

>She smiles

Human Female: You'll call now

>He smiles

Human Male: I'll call now...

>Anon laughs

>You are slightly confused

A: There's never anything on TV anyway. I think this is the first time I turned it on in months

RD: We don't get channels in most of Cloudsdale. TV is mostly just for unicorns to send broadcast messages to the public

A: Eh, gotta be better than this dribble

>You roll along the bed a few more times and end up on your stomach

RD: This bed is too hard. How do you sleep like this?

>Anon looks you over for a moment

>He suddenly jumps onto the bed

>You pop up into the air

RD: Anon! Watch it, will ya?

>You break your fall with a flap of your wings and land gracefully

>Anon laughs for a moment and rolls unto his back

RD: Do all humans wear your clothes?

A: Not most. This suit is for the more... respectable types of humans

RD: And what about that goofy mask?

>Anon sits up in bed quickly

A: Goofy? I'll have you know my face is a finely crafted and extremely important face

RD: Looks like your head's a green blob of jelly

A: My face is the face of the masses!

>Anon stands on his bed and announces his words carefully

A: I am a representative of all who have staked a claim on the internet!

>He falls to his butt and folds his legs in

A: So you see, my -face- is meaningful and not at all goofy

>You look him over and roll your eyes

RD: As long as you say so, Anon

>You lay down on your back beside Anon

>He's a good friend and all, but you are desperately home sick

>Anon lays his body beside you

>You feel his cool clothing against your skin

A: I'm making my specialty pancakes in the morning. I'm a chef, you know. I think you'll like them

>That was so utterly random

>You miss Pinkie Pie so much...