Different: A Young Anon Story (Part 2)

>The two of you jump as lightning leaps across the sky and thunder rocks the alleyway you sit in.

>Did the storm come back?

>Suddenly, there's rain.

>Rain everywhere.

>You take your blanket and sling it over Chrysalis's head as you stand up, the rain coming down hard around you.

"C'mon, we can't stay out in the storm like this."

>"Where are we going?"

"You can stay with me tonight. I have a bed, but my blanket is getting soaked so we can't really use that."

>"You... you'd let me stay with you?"

>She gets to her feet, the two of you standing underneath your blanket, hiding from the cold rain.

>Her eyes were wide, and pleading.

"Of course. That's what friends do."

>When you say the word "friend" she nuzzles into your chest, a few tears trailing down her face.

>"Thank you."

>She looks up to you with those eyes of hers.

>You couldn't help but feel even warmer when looking at them.

>"Do... do you want to be friends with me?... are you sure?..."

"Why wouldn't I want to be?"

>"It's just... I don't keep friends for long, Anon. They... they seem to end up leaving me..."

"We're different from everyone else, Chryssy. That makes us the best kind of friends."

>You let the blanket fall onto the two of you as you bring her in for a hug.

>It was the warmest you had ever felt in this cold, wet city.

>Warm and safe from all the bullies and cruel caretakers.

>So warm, that you barely even feel those tiny fangs nip at your neck.

 

>You flinch a bit at that.

"Hey!"

>"Oh," she says, her ears turning downward. "Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I just... a changeling thing, I suppose."

>You frown as you rub the spot on your neck that she bit, but whatever pain you felt is long gone.

>Weird.

>Another clap of booming thunder rocks through the air, and you jump a bit.

>Getting out of the rain would probably do you and Chrysalis some good, now that you think about it.

>You get up from where you sit with her, but you suddenly feel a little tired.

>Then again, it was getting pretty late...

"C'mon," you say to her, wrapping your blanket around her like a patchwork shawl. "We're gonna catch a cold if we stay out for too long."

>Chrysalis nods, tugging at your blanket so her horn slips through one of the holes that rests on the cloth.

>As you both run through the rain, you can't help but feel really good about today.

>You think you may have made a really good friend.

>Maybe. You hoped so.

>You try not to smile too much though. Your eye was still sore, and it hurt to smile after the beating Mahonie and his friend gave you.

>Laughing too, it kinda hurt to laugh a bit.

>Eventually you both make it about a block or two away from the orphanage.

>Chrysalis stops trotting after you, scuffing a hoof on the ground a bit.

"What's the matter?"

>"Well... uhm... you're sure you wanna let me stay with you?"

"Of course!" you say with a smile.

>Ow.

>Hurts to smile.

"All we gotta do is hide you!"

>"...hide me?"

"Yup!"

 

>You motion for her to follow you as you walk onward to the orphanage.

>"But why?"

"Well the pony in charge, her name's Miss Caretaker by the way, she's kind of... mean."

>"Mean?"

"And fat. And dumb. REALLY dumb, but she's mean too."

>"Oh."

"Yeah. So we gotta sneak in all quiet like and stuff! Otherwise she'd throw you out, I think."

>Chrysalis lets out a disappointed pout, but you give her a reassuring smile.

>Ow.

"See that window up there?"

>You point to a small cracked window on the third story of the orphanage.

>"The one that's a little bit broken?"

"Yup. That's where my room is."

>You run over to the street lamp that sits behind the building and begin climbing up to the top of it.

>"Anon?"

"What's wrong?"

>"Well... how am I supposed to get up there?"

"Can't you fly? You have wings."

>She frowns again as she tries buzzing her wings a bit.

>"I can't fly in the rain, it makes my wings wet and... it's really hard, and I never really learned how to..."

"You can't fly in the rain?"

>Chrysalis shakes her head sullenly.

>...

>Sliding down the lamp post, you walk over and turn away from her.

>"What are you-"

"Hop on my back! I can carry you up."

>"Isn't that a little... well, what if you fall."

"I won't! Now c'mon, we're gonna catch cold."

>Chrysalis looks from the window and back to you, but shrugs and hops onto your back, wrapping her forehooves around your neck and pressing her cheek to yours.

"Comfy?"

>"Mmhmm."

"Okay. Let's go."

 

>Climbing the lamp post is a bit harder with Chrysalis on your back.

>She's not real heavy, but you're used to just climbing by yourself, not with a pony on your back.

>Well, a changeling.

>Whatever those were.

>Still, didn't really help that she was clinging onto you for dear life.

>Reaching the top of the pole, you look up at the window, still far too out of reach.

>Luckily for you, the fire escape was close by, and you shakily stand up, balancing on the pole carefully.

>"Careful.."

"I am being careful, I'm not gonna fall."

>You did this all the time! Why was she so worried?

>You bend your knees, then spring forward, barely missing the fire escape as you cling to a rail with your hands.

>"Careful!"

"I am, I am!"

>"But you almost fell!"

"Did not!"

>"Did so!"

"Did NOT!" you say as you pull the two of you up onto the escape.

>"Did SO!"

>She's puffing her cheeks at you once more, her tiny fangs poking out of the front of her mouth.

>As you both bicker a bit, you finally make it to your window, opening it up and helping Chrysalis inside.

>Once safely in the orphanage, you close the window back up and lock it.

>"This is your room?" she asks, sitting on her haunches as she looks around curiously.

"Yup. This is home."

>"But it's so small."

"So?"

>"You don't have a big room with drapes on the walls?"

"Uh... no?"

>"Why not?"

"Because I'm not a princess."

>She blinks at you, then giggles to herself.

>"Well of course not, you're a boy! Boys can't be princesses, silly!"

 

>She prances around your small room as you wring out your blanket in the corner.

>It was gonna take forever to dry. Looks you won't be using it tonight to sleep with.

>Chrysalis stops hopping around in front of the dusty wardrobe near your bed, looking back to you with a curious expression.

>"What's in here?"

"Just extra clothes and a pillow."

>"Oooh, can I see?":

>You give a shrug and nod to her, still wringing out the rain water from your trusty blanket.

>With a small flash of her horn, Chrysalis opens up your wardrobe and peers inside.

>"You said there was only clothes in here.."

"Yeah, there's only clo-"

>Chrysalis looks back to you, a stuffed rabbit in her mouth.

>...

>You... may have forgotten that Mr. Cottontail was in there...

>"Yah haff ah shtuff'd bunn'ah!" she says, the doll still in her mouth.

"Hey! Careful!"

>You zip over to her and snatch the old rabbit from her mouth, patting his stomach and checking for any new holes in him.

>Chrysalis is still happily smiling at the toy in your hands.

>"I like rabbits! We had a few in a pen at the hive! What's his name?"

"What?"

>"Doesn't he have a name? I named my rabbits, after all."

"Oh... uhm... his name is Mister Cottontail..."

>"Because of his fluffy butt?"

>She gets a giggle out of you there, one that she joins in on as well.

"Yeah, cus' of his fluffy butt. What about the rabbits you had, what did you name them?"

>"Oh I named them lots of things, but mommy called them 'lunch' a lot."

>She giggles.

 

"You ate rabbits?"

>"Well," she begins, "We don't normally eat bunnies, but we had to. Mom said we were having a..." she ponders for the word to use, "...shortage. Yeah, that's it!"

"A shortage? Of what?"

>"You know, a shortage of love!"

>A shortage of.. what?

>Did she say love?

"Uhm... what does that mean?"

>"What does what mean?" she asks back, cocking her head as some of her hair trails in front of her face.

"I mean what do you mean by a "love shortage"? What does that mean?"

>Chrysalis looks just as confused as you.

>"I mean we had a love shortage, you know?"

"No, I don't know. Love shor-"

>"We didn't have enough love for a while, so we had to eat something else! Rabbits are good, but it's not the same is love, really... you get a lot fuller on love, I think."

>Now you're the one cocking your head to the side.

"You... eat love?"

>"Yup!" she says, smiling happily, those fangs of hers poking out of her mouth still.

>Eats love... you're not too sure what all that means. Does she eat things that love her? Or does she... eat the love? How DO you eat love, anyway?

>Actually that's a good question. Ask that.

"How DO you eat love, anyway?"

>Chrysalis begins to speak, but turns her ears downward and looks to the ground for a bit.

>"It... depends..."

"Depends on what?"

>"Well... it depends on whether or not the.." she puffs her chest, mock imitating someone. "Whether or not the giver of love is willing or non willing to relinquish it."

 

>She stops her imitation and fidgets in place a bit.

>You keep looking at her fangs, and bring a hand to your neck. You could still feet the imprint of two tiny fangs on them.

>Not meaning to, you take a step back from her slowly.

"When... when you bit me earlier, did-"

>"Wait! I'm sorry, really! I didn't mean to, I was- It was-..."

>Her head sinks, and she takes a deep breath.

>"I ran away from the hive a month ago. I haven't had any love since then and... when we were under that blanket and you called me a friend, I..."

>She winces a bit and smiles sheepishly at you.

>"Sorry..."

"But- how does that- I don't know-"

>Suddenly the door to your room bangs loudly as a hoof smacks it.

>"Anonymous! Are you in there?!"

>Mrs Caretaker!

>You scramble over to Chrysalis, picking her up and leaping into your wardrobe with her and closing the door to it quickly.

>"Anon?" Chrysalis begins to ask, but you put your hand over her mouth to make her quiet.

"Shh!" you hiss out a bit, your heart thumping loudly inside your chest.

>The door to your room swings open loudly, and you can hear the clop of hooves.

>Oh boy... they sounded like angry hooves.

>If she found you then you'd be in for a beating, especially since you mouthed her off this morning.

>And if she found Chrysalis?

>...

>Your body is frozen in place as Mrs Caretaker stomps around your room, grumbling and saying swear words under her breath.

>Chrysalis looks just as frightened as you, her eyes wide and scared.

 

>The hoof steps get closer now, and you hold your breath, not daring to breathe at all.

>After what seems like an eternity, the sound of Mrs. Caretaker's hooves leaves the room, as she closes your door with a loud slam.

>Both you and Chrysalis let out a sigh of relief, finally safe from being found.

>"Who was that?" she asks as you pull your hand from her mouth.

"Mrs. Caretaker."

>"The one you called fat and dumb?"

"Yup. That's the one."

>"Is she gonna find us? What if she throws me out and doesn't let me stay with you?"

>You give a smile and hug her, making her give a tiny eep.

"Don't worry. I'll think of something, always do!'

>Chrysalis hugs you back, her ears flicking the side of your head.

>Then you feel Chrysalis breath onto your neck, before she pulls herself away.

>"Sorry!"

"You were going to bite me again, weren't you?"

>She frowns, nodding.

>...

"What... what happens when you don't eat love?"

>Chrysalis frowns further, not answering your question.

"Is it really bad?"

>She nods.

>...

"Does it hurt?"

>"Does what hurt?"

"You know..." you point to her fangs, and then to your neck.

>Her ears perk up a bit and her eyes widen.

>"You'd let me?"

"Does it hurt?"

>"Well.. a little, yes."

>You didn't want anything really bad to happen to her. She was your newest friend, after all.

>And she said she hadn't had any in a month...

>...

"Okay."

>Chrysalis blinks.

>"Really?"

>You nod to her, as her pupils grow in size and her mouth hangs open a tad, growing a grin.

 

>Chrysalis quickly hops into your lap, but you put a hand onto her mouth again to stop her.

"Wait."

>She puffs her cheeks in protest.

"What happens to me when you eat my love? Do I... get it back, or..."

>"Well, do you love me?"

"Ew! No! You're a girl! Girls are gross!"

>"But you said-"

>She stops, then thinks.

>"Well... am I your friend?"

"Yeah."

>"Really?"

"Well, I called you my friend a few times, so I assume you're my friend."

>"But do you WANT to be my friend?"

>Oh well that was easy.

"I don't really -have- friends, Chrysalis. And you're nice, and not like all the other ponies here so... yeah. Yeah, I want to be your friend. And if that means you gotta bite my neck a little bit, then I don't think I'd mind."

>The tiny queen to be smiles eagerly, and you put your hand down from her face.

>She crawls up to you as you lean your head to the right, waiting for her to just get it over with already.

>Then you feel it, her small fangs piercing your skin and sinking into the flesh of your neck.

>You begin to gasp, but your breath escapes you as your body relaxes.

>You felt... funny.

>Not haha funny, just... funny.

>A small green glow pulses from where Chrysalis is biting your neck, and you wince at a sudden sting.

>How long was she going to do this?

>Why did you feel so... tired?

>You weakly bring a hand to the back of her head, your fingers limply trailing through her mane.

>The glow brightens, you hand falls, and everything goes fuzzy, and finally you sleep.

 

===

 

>A groan emits from your throat as you wake up.

>What... happened?

>Is this your wardrobe?

>Why were you in your wardrobe?

>You rub the stiffness out neck and head, and then you feel something strange.

>Two small indents were on the left side of your neck. Why on-

>You sit up in surprise as the memories of last night come back to you.

>Chrysalis.

>You let her bite your neck so she could eat your love... you're till not all too sure how that works, really.

>But now she was lying in your lap, curled up in a ball and snoring softly.

>She looked pretty happy, now that you think about it.

>That made you smile.

>Your stomach begins to rumble, and you contemplate going downstairs to grab some food.

>Then you remember that you're trying to stay away from Mrs. Caretaker. Heck, Mahonie might even try to have a go at you after the stunt he pulled in the alley.

>Come to think of it, this place... this place wasn't very nice.

>You -knew- that, of course, but what else were you going to do? If you left, where would you go? And even then, you'd be all alone.

>But now you had Chrysalis. Even she ran away from her home. Why not you?

>You gently shake Chrysalis to wake her up, and he raises her head to look at you, yawning.

>"Good morning!" she says sleepily, smiling.

"We're running away."

>"Hmm?" she asks, still half asleep.

"I've always hated this place. It's mean and cramped and full of bullies. I think we should leave."

 

>Chrysalis looks worried, as she bites her lip a bit.

>"But... but Anon, where would we go?"

"Anywhere we would want to go! There's a place south of Fillydelphia called Manehatten. Maybe we could go there?"

>"Maybe... what about food? Or money?"

"Well it's not nice, but we could always... you know. Steal it."

>"Just take it?"

"When we had to, yeah. I'm sure we could do odd jobs and stuff for bits. Then we could get food and stuff the right way."

>Chrysalis is lost in thought, thinking over your proposition.

>Even to you it sounded like a longshot, but anything was better than living in this place.

>"...okay.We'll run away together!"

"Great!" you proclaim as you bring her in for a big hug, a happy smile plastered onto your face.

>Chrysalis giggle happily and returns it.

>Running away together. Going on an adventure to places you'd never seen before.

>Scary, sure, but as long as the both of you had each other, you think you could do it.

>You two were different from everyone else.

>And if you two stuck together, you imagine you could take on the world.

 

End of Part Two