Celestia and Anon part 6 [dissatisfying ending (sorry)]

Celestia sat on her throne, half-listening to a group of circus ponies lay out their woes. Like every day in the years since his departure, her thoughts turned to Anon.

 

>It's been so long since I've seen him.

>I wonder if he's still out there.

>He said they only live about eighty years.

>How old was he when he arrived?

>He could be well beyond his natural lifespan already.

>Would he even age the same way here?

 

"...so, we feel it would be best if you'll make an exception. The show wouldn't be the same without her, and we treat her as well as we would our own mothers."

"I'm sorry," Celestia replied, brought out of her reverie, "but I can't allow an exception to the law. You must let the bear go free, to live as it wishes."

"Very well, your highness. Thank you for your consideration."

As they left, Celestia gazed out of a window. The familiar sight of the hills and valleys of Equestria was laid out before her.

 

>Maybe I'm looking at him right now.

>Maybe he's looking back.

 

She was still Looking out of the window as Luna walked in.

"Greetings, Celestia."

"Luna! You're up early."

Luna slowly walked to the throne and embraced Celestia. "Were you thinking about him again?" She asked, sitting down.

"Thinking about who?"

Luna frowned at her sister.

Celestia sighed. "Yes, ok? I was thinking about him. How could I not? He's a unique being here. A mortal one, too." She turned back to the window. "I'd be mad to not wonder about his fate."

Luna nodded. "It's only natural to be curious, but I think you'll find out what happened to him, sooner or later." She stood, and began to walk to the door. "Oh, by the way," Luna stopped and smiled back at her sister "You have a guest."

Celestia focussed on Luna "A guest? Who?"

"Just an old friend."

 

>No.

>It can't be!

 

A familiar figure, stood up on two legs and clad in robes, shuffled through the door.

"Anon?"

 

 

It was unmistakably Anon, but he had changed. His hair had grown white, and migrated from hit scalp to his chin. His once soft, smooth skin was wrinkled and scarred. He stood hunched, leaning on a stick. Celestia rushed over to him, wings outstretched. She would have knocked him to the floor, if not for a wing wrapped around his back, holding him to her neck.

"Anon, I was beginning to doubt whether I'd see you again!"

"I told you you would, Celestia." His voice was now gravelly and harsh. "Even after all these years, I didn't forget."

"We have so much to discuss, you must come to my chambers immediately. Luna, can you..." She turned to find Luna already sitting on the throne.

"Go. I can handle things here."

Celestia smiled. "Thank you," she said as she led Anon away.

 

Celestia's rooms hadn't changes much since Anon had left. One or two new trinkets, and a different set of flowers, but otherwise it was just as he remembered.

"I like what you've done with the place."

"Oh, come on you." Celestia said as she poked him in the side. "Sit. I want to hear everything."

Anon took a cushion and placed it on a chest next to one wall. "Well," he said as he eased himself into the makeshift chair, "I started off following the east road. Luckily I found a town quickly. I must say, you have a very kind population here. I wouldn't have survived the first few years if it weren't for the generosity of your ponies. Anyway, I came to a town called Ponyville..."

 

They talked late into the night, as they had done so many times, so many years ago. They traded stories of friendships gained and loves lost, of quests completed and adventures gone awry. They talked of food and travel, architecture and culture. They talked of life itself.

"Ah, but I'm getting tired now. I don't suppose you still have a bed for me here?"

"I can do one better than that, Anon. Follow me."

 

 

The scent of flowers filled the air around the hot spring. Soft moonlight glistened off the slick rocks around the pool. Rare and beautiful plants concealed the sheer white walls surrounding the spring. A shooting star traced a line across the night sky as a hidden door opened and Celestia and Anon stepped out.

"Here, climb onto my back"

Anon wordlessly sat naked just behind Celestia's wings.

 

>Was he always this light?

>I've carried heavier saddlebags, I'm sure.

 

It felt like an age before she reached the pool, picking her way across the rocks with extra care. Once in the water, she laid down and let Anon float off her back.

"Celestia, this place is beautiful. How long were you planning on keeping it from me?"

"You're the third being to ever enter this room, you know. I don't bring you here lightly."

Anon went quiet for a moment. "I don't ache any more. Is this place how you stay alive so long?"

"No. I don't know the reason for that. The spring only helps with the pain."

Anon nodded, and closed his eyes. "Thank you, Celestia."

"It was the least I could do."

"Not for this, for everything. You created a world that allowed me to fit in, in spite of being the only one of my kind, and allowed me to explore it for a lifetime."

Celestia's vision blurred as tears began to form. "Anon..."

"Shh, Celestia. It's time for me to sleep."

Celestia nodded and laid next to Anon, resting her head on a rock by the edge of the pool. She closed her eyes and slept.

 

When she woke, Celestia found Anon was gone. Panicked, she sat up. "Anon?" No reply came. "Anon, if this is one of your tricks, it isn't funny." The spring was silent, save for the trickle of water.

 

>No...

 

Celestia rushed around the room, searching for a body she knew she would never find. Plants were torn  in her haste to pull them aside. Stones that had lain undisturbed for milennia were overturned, revealing only the soil or rock that Celestia already knew she would find. Finally, when all hope had faded, she ran into the center of the pool, submerged her head and emptied her lungs in a wordless scream.

 

Eventually, Celestia emerged into the antechamber. She stared through a mirror, unseeing, as she dried herself and donned her badges of office. She glanced at a clock on the wall. It was nearly sunrise. Duty called.