- >”And as part of your further training, there is somep0ny you need to meet.” Princess Celestia said, as she wandered with Twilight through the library.
- >It was a few days after Twilight's Coronation, crowned as the newest Princess of the Equestrian Empire.
- >The golden halls of Canterlot castle glimmered in the early morning light.
- >Celestia's brilliant sun gently kissed the ground, giving warmth and life to the land.
- “Somep0ny new? Why haven’t I heard of him before?” Twilight asked, as she flexed her new wings, still trying to get used to them.
- >”He rarely ventures beyond his house these days. It has been a while since a new arrival has been brought to him. I'm sure he will appreciate the company again.” Celestia answered, as she opened the door to her chambers with her magic.
- >The bedroom was adorned with all the trimmings.
- >Gilded pillows, a four-poster king-sized bed, a balcony overlooking Canterlot, and even a fireplace.
- >”As I said, as part of your studies, you will visit him once a week, and do as he asks. His advice and knowledge are invaluable to somep0ny like you or I.”
- >Princess Celestia closes the door from which the entered.
- >”He will train you in many ways, and provide what I am sure will be entertaining stories. Heed his words well Twilight.”
- >Twilight nods, her mind filled with endless possibilities.
- >Who could he be?
- >A pony of renown like Star-Swirl the Bearded?
- >Another famous unicorn from Equestria's past?
- >Celestia's horn glows, a golden aura enveloping the door.
- >”The spell is simple enough Twilight,” Celestia said, as the door starts to open “Use it whenever you need to reach him.”
- >The door swings open, a warm spring breeze rolling into the bedroom.
- >Twilight steps through the doorway, it closing slowly as she passes through.
- >Celestia waves with a cheerful smile on her face, as she disappears from sight.
- >In the distance, there is a small house in the midst of some trees.
- >Twilight slowly trots towards the house, the wind caressing her mane and wings.
- >She can smell the scent of freshly baked wafts in the air.
- >Sniffing the air, and with renewed vigour, she continues towards the house.
- >The plains around the house seem to stretch in all directions.
- >Behind the house, there is a small lot of trees, their leaves providing a little bit of shade to the house.
- >Near the front of the house, lies a small porch, with a single rocking chair and table.
- >A few wind chimes dangle aimlessly in the wind.
- >Twilight feels perfectly at peace here.
- >As if it's a place of warmth, and safety.
- >Trotting up onto the porch, she slowly approaches the large door.
- >A single worn brass knocker rests approximately at Twilight's height.
- >Taking it in her magic, she knocks three times.
- >Footsteps from inside the house can be heard, as well as the sound of an oven door closing.
- >”I'm coming, one moment.” a deep voice rings from inside.
- >Twilight looks up nervously as the door slowly creaks open.
- >”Hello Twilight Sparkle, I have been expecting you. Come in, come in.” the creature says, stepping aside on it's two tall legs.
- >Twilight hesitates for a moment, before walking inside.
- >”Please, come on in. I'm baking some fresh bread.” he says, walking past her with a smile on his face.
- >”I was wondering when Tia was going to send you my way. She always was hoping for that perfect student.”
- Perfect student?
- >The man gently kicks off his slippers as he sits down in a chair in the kitchen.
- >”Mhmm. She speaks very highly of you, and I am glad we are finally able to meet. I hope we will learn much together.” he says smiling.
- >Twilight sits there, half stunned, half intrigued.
- >She trots into the kitchen, sitting in the chair opposite him.
- What are you? Who are you?
- >”What I am is not important. Who I am, that really isn’t either, although most of those that visit me prefer to call me Dad. You may call me Anonymous however. Dad works too.” Anonymous chuckles, stirring a cup of tea on the table.
- >Twilight glances around suspiciously, trying to examine her new surroundings.
- >”I will be in charge of helping you acclimate to your new role Twilight. Both as a future important figure in history, and as a new immortal. We will work, eat, and learn together, if you so choose.”
- If I choose? Twilight asks, reshuffling her wings.
- >”Of course. I try not to make my guests uncomfortable in any way, but I do come highly recommended.” he says, chuckling and sipping his beverage.
- “Recommended by who exactly?” Twilight asks, sniffing the warm scent of freshly cooked bread.
- >Anonymous gets up, grabbing a small book from a nearby shelf.
- >”Well, almost every immortal creature on Equestria, and even a few beyond it. You aren't the first to come under my care and tutelage.”
- >He flips open the book, turning it around to show Twilight.
- >Twilight peers at the open page, a young Celestia and Woona sit on the lap of Anonymous, smiling at the camera.
- >”Mhmm, it seems just like yesterday I was teaching her to fly.” he says, pulling the bread out of the oven.
- >Twilight sits there, mouth agape.
- “You must be ancient to have been have seen the Princesses as fillies!”
- >”Well, one cannot be old when one does not age hmm?” Anon says, slicing into the bread.
- >”You could say I've been around for a while. I've seen many things, met many different ponies and other creatures.”
- >”I am like a Guardian of sorts. I raise, and take care of , those who are exceptionally special or unique.”
- >”Including you.”
- >”So, if you so choose, I can help show you, and tell you all sorts of things.”
- >Anon sits down with some bread and jam.
- >Twilight simply nods in agreement at the strangers words.
- >”Enthusiasm. I like that.”
- >”This reminds me of a story...”
- >Anonymous flips open the book, staring at a page.
- >A few minutes pass in silence.
- “Well? Are you going to tell me or not?” Twilight asked, watching the man patiently.
- >”All in good time Twilight.” Anon replies, sipping his tea, and flipping through the book.
- >He continues to slowly turn the pages, one by one.
- >The small book, no larger than a diary, was stained with age.
- >And what looked like more than a few tea stains.
- >It's binding was cracked, and the pages yellowed.
- >But, he continued turning, and the amount pages never seemed to change.
- >Every so often, he would stop, chuckle or smile, and continue flipping.
- >Twilight just, sat there, watching this bath robed clothed enigma.
- >Who exactly was he?
- >Why did he demand to much respect?
- >Where did he come from?
- >When was he going to get on with the damn story?
- >”You know,” he finally said, “I raised your teacher.”
- “You wha-” Twilight said, her mouth hanging agape.
- >”Mhmm. One of my later arrivals. One day, she and her sister arrived on my doorstep. Similar to how you did, except they were about *He motions with his hands* yay big.”
- >”Rambunctious little fillies they were. So full of energy and life, it was adorable.”
- >The Man slides the book over to Twilight.
- >Years in the past...
- >Quite many actually.
- “Girls, girls quiet down, come on, into the living room.”
- >Anonymous, still wearing his usual robe and slippers.
- >He sets up the camera.
- “Girls?”
- >Anon heads back into kitchen.
- >C: “BLARGH I'M THE ALFALFA MONSTER” Celestia sputters, chewed green leafy bits flying all over the place
- >Luna sits in her chair, laughing away.
- >Anon cant help but laugh as well, grabbing a rag from the sink.
- “Thank you Tia. That was a marvellous display for a young Princess.”
- >She looks up at Anon, “Hehe, no problem Dad.”
- >Tia chuckles again, hopping down from her chair, and running into the living room.
- >Luna sits there, chewing on her Alfalfa.
- >Anon looks at her, smiling, and wipes up the mess on the table.
- “See? I told you it was good.”
- >Woona looks up at him, “Woona is eating because she wants to be big like Tia!”
- “Well, in that case, I'll make sure to make more Alfalfa soon.”
- >Woona looks at him with horror, and scampers off into the living room, under the threat of leafy greens.
- “Wait wait wait wait.” Twilight interrupts.
- “They called YOU Dad?” she quizzes “You aren’t even a pony!”
- >Anon looks up from his book, adjusting his glasses.
- >”Very astute Twilight. I knew Tia picked a smart protege.”
- “So, you raised them?
- >”I did indeed. From the time they were born, to the time they were ready to go out on their own.”
- >”It's funny how time flies.”
- >Anon sips his tea.
- “What we-”
- >”They were very well behaved. Well, young Tia was. Woona was the trouble maker of the two, but she came around with a little love and affection.”
- “How di-”
- >”I know your question? I've been at this a very long time Twilight Sparkle. I've heard and seen them all.”
- “Then wh-”
- >”-y did I tell you that story? Because you possess the same passion for learning and helping that your Mentor does.”
- >Twilight has a mixed look of annoyance and fascination on her face.
- >How did he know so much already?
- >”Come. Let's see what you know Twilight.” Anonymous rises from his chair, and holds open the door to the backyard.
- >Twilight, getting up, takes one last glance at the book.
- >A few scribbled notes, and a picture sit on the left page.
- >Trotting outside, Anonymous lets the door slowly close.
- >The now setting Sun bathes the fields in a orange hue, it's last rays giving way to the night.
- >”So, Miss Twilight. What do you know, hmm?”
- >Twilight turns to look at him.
- “Well, I can do tons of different spells. Hundreds even.”
- >”I was not talking about any spells Twilight.” he says, flopping down on an old, ratty looking couch.
- “I thought we were talking about my magic?”
- >”Nope. I asked what you know. Did you believe I was referencing your magic?”
- >Twilight scuffed a hoof at the ground.
- “Well, yeah, it's kind of my calling I suppose. I mean, I finished Star-Swirl's lost spell and everything.”
- >”I see...” Anon says, sitting there, staring at her.
- >Twilight stares back at him.
- >Nothing further is said between the two.
- “W-what?” she stammers out finally.
- >”Nothing. I am waiting for you.” he says, laying down.
- >”If you cant show me what you know, you can mow the lawn.”
- “Mow the lawn?”
- >”Mhmm. It's long overdue. You could save an old man some serious back pain.” Anon says, pointing to a rusty old push-mower.
- “But you said yo-”
- >”Oh? Is that something you know?”
- “Well, you did tell me th-”
- >”And how do you know I was telling the truth?”
- “Why would you lie?”
- >”Why would I tell the truth?”
- >Twilight's face scrunches up in annoyance.
- “Because nice ponies don’t lie to others.”
- >”Well, I'm not exactly a pony, now am I?”
- “You wouldn’t tell me what you are!”
- >”Nope. Because that is not important.”
- >”What's important is what you know, and you still haven’t answered my question.”
- “That doesn't even make sense!”
- >”It makes complete sense. I asked a question, you still haven’t answered me. And my lawn remains un-mowed.”
- >Twilight grits her teeth.
- >”Now now, why are you getting upset? I only asked a simple question.”
- “It's not that simple!”
- >”So,” Anon sits up, “You don’t know what you know?”
- “Of course I know what I know!”
- >”Then why couldn’t you tell me?”
- Twilight opens her mouth, and then closes it.
- >Why couldn't she answer him?
- >It was a simple question.
- >She knew lots of things.
- >She knew magic, she knew her friends, and learned all sorts of things.
- >But, why couldn't she show it?
- >The sun had now set, and the stars of night were slowly beginning to come out.
- >”Well, that was a riveting conversation. But, the sun is gone, and that means I am off the clock.”
- >Anonymous gets up from his sofa, and heads inside.
- “But what abo-”
- >”Think on it overnight Twilight.” Anon calls from inside the house.
- >She stands there, looking at the house, as Anon begins preparing dinner.
- “I know...”
- >Anon looks up.
- “I don’t really know everything I know?”
- >”I don’t know, you tell me.”
- “CRAZY!” Twilight yells, stomping into the Treebrary.
- “Absolutely crazy!”
- >She continues her stomping upstairs, towards her bedroom.
- >”Twilight?” Spike calls from kitchen, as he ascends the steps.
- >”Twilight what's wrong?”
- “The “Next level” Princess Celestia was talking about was working with an absolutely insufferable creature! All he would do is sit there, and ask these stupid questions.”
- >Spike hops up on Twilight's bed beside her.
- >”What did he ask?”
- “He asked what I knew.”
- >Spike looks at her blankly.
- >”That's not really that stupid of a question.” Spike says, kicking his legs off the side.
- >Twilight looks at him.
- >”I mean, he just wanted to know what you knew.”
- “But that's so broad! I know so much!”
- >”What did you tell him?”
- “I told him about my magic, and he asked if that's what I thought he meant.”
- >Spike looks over at her. “And?”
- “I said yes, and that it's my special talent. I told him about Star-Swirl's spell, and he kinda just stared at me.”
- >”Sounded like he just wanted you to continue?”
- “But, he looked at me all weird. Like I gave the wrong answer.”
- >”Well, did you?” Spike says, hopping off the bed.
- >Back at Anon's house...
- >Anonymous sat in his chair, watching the T.V
- >Same type program, different year.
- >It's like they just rehashed this stuff, but with different characters.
- >That was essentially true.
- >He wondered if he had been a bit harsh on Twilight.
- >Then again, all he did was ask a simple question.
- >One he wasn’t sure if she knew the answer too.
- >But, at the same time, he knew he had to get her introduced into this stuff as soon as possible.
- >Get her thinking.
- >Get her mind working in different ways.
- >It was always easier when they were kids.
- >They are always more willing to learn.
- >But her?
- >She has notions already about a lot of things.
- >She's been put on the spot.
- >And now, it was time for her to do something she had never done before.
- >Hopefully, it wouldn’t take forever.
- >Then again, what did time matter to him?
- >Back in the Castle...
- >Princess Celestia looks over a old photo from her nightstand.
- >Faded from time, the edges are frayed, but the picture remains.
- >It's of her as a filly, sitting on the lap of the only other creature beside her sister that she has called family.
- >He was a kindly man.
- >Smart, funny, and wise.
- >Always there when he was needed, and never intruded when he was not.
- >She smiled down at the photo, knowing Twilight was in capable hands.
- >How long would it take for the others to find out their father had a new child to rear?
- >How would they react?
- >Only time will tell.
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