One Year: Day 365- Twilight Reads Out Loud

>365 days to go...

 

>It was a bright summer's morning in Ponyville. Birds singing. Ponies gathering their wares to sell in the Market. The sounds of commerce and community just starting the day.

>And at the storefront of Sofas and Quills, one of it's more regular customers was buying this week's supply of quills and scrolls. Including one particularly large scroll that was as big as the little dragon buying it.

>"Are you sure that scroll isn't too big for you to carry, Spike? I could always ask one of the supply ponies I have for the sofas to get it back to Twilight."

>The small dragon shifted with the large load he'd had collected under his pack and wagon. This was a particularly large order, but not the first time he's had to get a similar collection of scrolls.

>"Twilight's doing her semi-annual checklist of checklists and letter organizing. It's a huge job, so she needs the biggest scroll I can find for it! I just hope I don't get a claw cramp...like last year..."

>Even the thought of that much writting was already starting to cause a sympathy pain. But it was worth it, because this year, Twilight promised a dozen sapphire cupcakes for all his help!

>"Very well, Spike. Good luck with all those check lists!"

>"Thanks, Mr. Quills! Tell Ms. Chesterfield I said hi!"

>Such nice ponies, those two. Too bad they were cousins. At least they were close enough to enjoy a hug once in a while.

>Stepping out into the street, it was a short walk back to the library. Good thing too. Even with a wagon, this load was heavy for Spike. Upon getting there, Spike knocked on the door.

>"Twilight! I'm gonna need help getting all this in-"

>A loud pop following a teleportation spell brought the dragon and his wares inside the library, behind a small alicorn, her mane tossed about from what looked like an all night study session. Books were piled everywhere, and open to a large assortment of spell forms and equations.

>"Good news, Spike! You won't have to get those scrolls for me today! I found a spell last night I've been reading up on, and I think I have almost figured out how to cast it! I reorganized the to do checklist for today till tomorrow!"

>With a defeated sigh, Spike set to the task of finding a place to store all the extra supplies, while Twilight started rehearsing the incantations for the spell's beginning.

 

>Returning from the storage room, Spike was surprised by the blinding flash of a spell coming to life, illuminated runes swirling around the magical vortex taking shape around Twilight's body.

>Wings flared out, eyes glowing with power, Spike had never seen her using her power like this before. Not since she became a princess.

>"Wow, Twilight! That's amazing! What's this spell supposed to-"

>An arc of dark lightning shot from the tip of Twilight's horn as she twisted a little, her mouth open wide in a contorted look of pain. A second later, more dark magic started coming off the alicorn, hitting bookshelves and sending burnt pages flying about in the small tornado that had begun indoors.

>Something had gone horribly wrong with the spell while Twilight was practicing. A premature casting was now running out of control in this part of the world, and tearing her apart from the inside out, it seemed.

>"Oh my gosh, Twilight!"

>Spike rushed toward the center of the storm, trying to reach the pony he'd grown up with, to do something to help.

>But a moment later, a second bright flash filled the room, and knocked Spike back into the shelves. He slid down, with several book landing on top of him.

>Shuffling a little under the literary land slide, Spike opened his eyes, seeing Twilight standing in a small burnt crater. Out of breath, but seemingly unharmed. Blinking, she looked around, as several parts of the library were now missing, perfect sphere seemingly cut out of the tree, and replaced by what looked like piles of broken brick and cement work, a metal bin filled with a lot of garbage...

>And the weirdest looking pony she'd ever seen. At first, panic set in, thinking her magic had disfigured someone!

>"By Celestia, Spike! I think I hurt someone!"

>Rubbing his head, a groan escaped Spike's lips, while he rubbed his head with a claw.

>"No kidding...I'm gonna feel that for a week!"

>A second groan came from the mess of limbs curled up on what looked like a black stone slab where the floor used to be. Twilight backed off as it rolled over and the four limbs unfurled, looking like a minotaur...with a small head?

"Sweet cranberry jebus...did anyone get the numbers off that...truck?"

 

>Blinking it's eyes, the creature looked up at the ceiling, through one of the holes the spell had blasted, where a bit of what looked like a fire escape was wedged.

>And then it did the next rational thing that came to mind.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

>Jumping to it's feet, the creature turned, coming face to face with a small purple...horse...bird...unicorn...thing.

>"Are...are you ok?!"

>Blink.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Purple talking horse!"

>"Now just you hold on a second, I am NOT a horse!"

>Turning abruptly, the creature walked right into a stone column that was stuck into the stone floor, falling flat on it's back and knocked out, a bump on it head starting to form.

>Spike had gotten to his feet, and now stood over the prone creature, Twilight joining him a moment later.

>"Is...is that some sort of giant monkey?"

>"I'm...not entirely sure."

>The creature mumbled a little, rolling it's head to one side.

"...but I don't like the pink bow tie..."

>Both alicorn and dragon alike blinked.

>"Spike."

>"Yeah, Twi?"

>"Take a letter..."

 

>A couple hours later, the creature awoke, to find itself on a small bed, it's feet resting on the footboard. It's smaller eyes picked up a star pattern on the bedding. That oddly, it recognised.

"Huh...Orion the hunter. That's kinda nifty..."

>Thought number two entered it's head.

"This is not my bed. Why am I inside a tree in a little girl's bed?"

>"I am NOT not a little filly, I'll have you know!"

>Sitting bolt upright, the creature spotted six pastel colored horses, a white unicorn, a blur unicorn, and a fat purple iguana.

"Ok, that's it, I'm giving up drinking. It has officially screwed me up."

>A look of confusion went from one pony to the other, as the tall unicorn cleared her throat.

>"Hello, creature. I am Princess Celestia...do you have a name?"

>The creature seemed about to speak, but stopped for a moment.

"Anonymous."

>The purple unicorn bird thing had a look of disbelief on her face, if he was reading it right. They all seemed to have very human like expressions, which struck him as being rather odd.

>"You expect me to believe your name means 'no name given'?"

"If I said yes, will you let the matter drop? My dad always said 'Don't give the cops your real name if you can help it.' And I'm getting the feeling I'm in trouble, here."

>The creature's body took on a yellow glow, keeping it from moving as Celetia and the blue one with...a moon on it's butt? Looked him over.

>"Well, sister? What do you think? Could this be-"

>The older sister raised a hoof, silencing the younger winged unicorn. Stepping closer, the yellow glow subsided, and she spoke, her pressence giving a calming effect to match her demeanor.

>"Well, Anonymous, I have checked you over, and you do not seem like a magical creature of any kind. But you do seem to be in a crossroads, I'm afraid. Can you tell me what you are?"

"Umm...human."

>"Very well. Anonymous the Human...I've been able to determine you have one year left from this day. And then you will be no more."

"I'm sorry, say who to the what again?"

>"Anonymous the human will cease to exsist."

 

"Now wait just a minute...You mean I'll be..."

>"I am afraid so. Also...do you mind if I call you Anon? Your..name, is something of a mouthful."

>Anon just sat there, dumbstruck. How was he supposed to react to being told he was going to die? A few moments later, he pointed at the purple horse in the corner.

"You....This is all your fault! How did you bring me here? I have to get to a hospital! I need to...get..."

>A moment later, the human passed back out again from the shock of everything that had been going on. Surrounding him carefully, the other five ponies tried to comfort the now sniffling Twilight.

>"He's right, you know, this is my fault. I didn't read the warning about the verbal component to the spell."

>Celestia walked over to her star pupil, and rested a hoof on her back.

>"Do not worry, Twilight Sparkle. He will adjust, given time. My sister and I have heard of his kind before, and while alone they are generally harmless, they are highly adaptable."

>Lost in thought for a moment, Twilight spoke up.

>"Can...can we send it back to it's home?"

>"Him. Anon is a him. And not presently, I cannot. His arrival has locked him to this world for now, and he will need help if he is to survive. Applejack?"

>The orange pony stepped forward with a little bow of the head.

>"Yeah, Princess?"

>"I need you to contact Mayor Mare, and let her know we will be needing the use of the visiting dignatary villa on the edge of the town. It seems Ponyville will be having a...guest. He will have a few special needs, similar to the Griffin ambasader's. But he can also eat many fruits and such, as well as some things from Sugar Cube Corner. I believe Mr. and Mrs. Cake might be able to help him, Pinkie Pie?"

>A bouncing pink pony jumped forward, her voice brimming with excitement!

>"I'll go ask them right away! Anything for my newest, bestest friend Anon! OH OH! We can throw him a party!"

>Celestia laughed a little, looking at her subject with a smile.

>"Maybe in a few days, Pinkie. For the next few days, he will need the company of understanding ponies to help him adjust to life here in Equestria. Do any of you know a kind and well tempered pony willing to help him stay calm? He will need someone to be the buffer to the anger he's bound to feel."

>Fluttershy stepped forward, hiding quietly behind a small wall of hair and whispers.

>"I..I think maybe I can...if that's ok with you, your highness?"

 

>Celestia gave a gentle nod toward Fluttershy, then looked to Rainbow Dash and Applejack.

>"He will need protectors as well friends. I cannot think of two ponies more suited for the job than our fastest and strongest ponies. Wouldn't you agree?"

>Rainbow Dash puffed out her chest, and gave her wings a huge flap. Applejack clicked a hoof over another, leaning against a post near the stairs.

>"Ah reckon we can cover his backside for a bit, though he looks like he might intimidate a pony or two, ma'am. He's a couple o' hooves taller than us. Ah think even Big Mac might have a problem if he gets to be a handful."

>"Don't you worry, AJ! We can take him, I just know it!"

>Celestia waved a hoof at both mares.

>"You misunderstand. More ponies will be afraid of him than he will be of them, I'm afraid. You are to protect him if it comes to it. And he will try to isolate himself from others, because of his differences. Somepony will need to be generous of spirit to him to show we can be friendly. Rarity, do you think you can help with a fitting gift for him to be more at home in Ponyville?"

>The perfectly coifed mane of the owner of Carosel Boutique looked the human over, thinking to herself.

>"Well, his taste in fashion leaves something to be desired. I mean, denim leggings with a hoodie? Surely I can make him something better."

>Celestia nodded, and walked toward Twilight, who hung her head in shame...

>"Maybe...maybe I should look for a spell to send him home? If he only has a year..."

>"From what you told me, you were trying the Lifelight spell that Starswirl the Bearded worked on before his death?"

>"Yeah, but I'm not quite sure what went wrong..."

>"If it makes you feel any better, Twilight, another pony tried the same spell about 1000 years ago, and another human lived here for a time. One year, to be precise."

>Twilight rose her head, looking to her teacher and mentor.

>"What happened to him?"

 

>Celestia walked quietly past the bed where the human was resting, looking him over once more.

>"The pony that brought him to our world took care of him...after a year...he ceased to be in Equestria. When that happened...it broke the poor pony's heart She became more reclusive and resentful to others, thinking they did not appreciate her as well. The rest, my dear Twilight, I believe you know is history."

>Catching her teacher's meaning, Twilight looked over to Princess Luna, who spoke in a far more personal tone than she'd ever done previously.

>"The best you can do, Twilight, is be his friend. He will hate you, he will be angry with you. Curse you, and try to drive him away. Show him you never meant him harm, and someday, he may forgive you."

>Twilight's face fell at the explanation, and she nodded, her eyes closed in resignation.

>"I understand, your highness."

>Walking to the porch overlook of the library, both Princesses spread their wings, looking toward the distance at Canterlot.

>"We will be in touch with you over the next few day, Twilight Sparkle. You may have any member in Ponyville contact me about Anon's needs, and we will see that they are compensated for their services. When he wakes and has sufficiently calmed down...please inform him we would like to see him in one week's time, to see if we can help his adjustment along any further. Farewell, my little ponies."

>Several goodbyes where exchanged from the others. leaving Twilight and Spike looking at Anon a mix of fear and pity.

>"I...I wonder if he'll ever forgive me."