- >Every moment you are awake you can still feel the intense heat on your face.
- >The area where your nose used to be still feels as though there is a nose there.
- >Sometimes you forget what it's like to have hair.
- >And your vision fades by afternoon every day.
- >You are Anon
- >Burn victim born again in Equestria.
- >Whatever god there was must have a sick sense of humor.
- >You could have been reborn normal.
- >Sometimes you wished you had never woken up again in that forest.
- >You stare at your disfigured face in the mirror.
- >How do those holes in the side of your head pass for ears?
- >You swallow with difficulty and put the stocking cap on your head.
- >It helped to shield you from the sun's potent glare.
- >And masked a portion of your shame.
- I'm heading out Fluttershy!
- >She calls out a goodbye from upstairs and you leave the safety of the cottage.
- >It had taken weeks of her encouragement and convincing kind words to give you the confidence to go outside.
- >You would make her proud by doing errands on your own today.
- >Instantly the sun's rays are upon you.
- >You take your sunglasses from your pocket and put them on with shaking hands.
- Fire...
- >The distorted flesh of your face twinges and prickles.
- >Fluttershy's method comes to mind and you breathe deeply to fight your rising panic.
- Not afraid. Not afraid.
- >It seems to help
- >You set off down the path with your head down and hands in your pockets.
- Not afraid...
- >"Look at it's face..."
- >"Is that skin?!"
- >"How does it breathe mommy?"
- >Pony's words pierce the holes where your ears used to be.
- >You look down and push up your sunglasses again against what should be a nose.
- >This was expected.
- >It was like when you first arrived again.
- >That time ponies had run off screaming of a demon.
- >Twilight Sparkle had tried to send you into the abyss with her magic.
- >Even Pinkie Pie gagged every time she looked at you still.
- I just want some fruit...
- >You walk up to a stand.
- >The unicorn working it gasps and backs away.
- Can... Can I get some fruit?
- >She stares at your 'nose' in obvious disgust, "g-go away please!"
- >You place a couple of bits on the counter and look at your shoes
- Just a few kiwis please.
- >"Don't touch my stand!"
- I just want some fruit plea-
- >Magic force slams into your chest.
- >You lose your wind and tumble back into the dirt.
- >The unicorn fruit seller magics her stand closed and runs away.
- >The rest of the market follows suit.
- >You stand up and pick up your sunglasses that went flying off.
- >The whole area is empty aside from you now.
- >You sigh and shuffle off with your stomach growling.
- >Sugarcube Corner smells so strongly of sweets, it's one of your favorite places.
- >One of the only smells you can smell anymore.
- >The only two customers get up and leave as soon as you enter.
- >You walk up to the counter where Pinkie Pie is.
- Hello, um, I'd like to buy a cupcake...
- >You place some bits on the counter.
- >Pinkie Pie smiles at you.
- >It looks incredibly painful and forced.
- >You see the fear in her eyes.
- >She talks without moving her teeth apart
- >"Suuuuure, a cupcake?"
- >You nod and smile a little.
- >Smiling kind of hurts.
- Yes please.
- >Pinkie Pie's face cracks.
- >Her smile fails and she bends down.
- >She vomits into a trash bin behind the counter
- >"I'm *hurrgh* I'm sorry, I can't do it... I can't even look at you!"
- >Just one cupcake...
- Fluttershy said you would serve me food.
- >Pinkie Pie wipes her mouth, "m-maybe you should go out back? I think there's some old cake in the dumpster..."
- >Not that again.
- Okay.
- Thanks.
- >You turn and walk out.
- >"Wait!"
- >You turn back and hurt yourself with a small smile.
- Yes Pinkie?
- >She uses a rag to lift your bits, "you forgot your bits."
- Well I'm going to be using your dumpster, so it's only right I pay.
- >She forces another smile and thanks you.
- >As you leave the shop you hear the coins clank into the trash bin.
- >Being a dumpster used mainly for cardboard and baked goods, this receptacle isn't so bad.
- >You find a clean looking and mostly intact piece of cake to eat.
- >If only you had some milk to wash it down your dry throat.
- >Something hits your back.
- >You turn and see two fillies.
- >Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara hold rocks in their hooves.
- >"Quit picking trash you freaky monster!"
- >Diamond Tiara hurls a rock.
- >It hits your sunglasses, shattering them and making you drop your cake.
- >It's a little past noon, so like every day, your vision has faded to blurriness.
- >The fillies yell and toss more rocks.
- >You cover your head and run.
- >Ponies cheer the two on as you run through town back to the cottage.
- Not afraid! Not afraid!
- >"Chase it back to the Everfree girls!"
- >"It's leaving!"
- >"Hit it's head!"
- >You may have been disfigured, but you can run fast.
- >Eventually you leave the tossed rocks and chants behind.
- >You gasp for dry air and call out for Fluttershy.
- >You are Fluttershy.
- >Anon sobs into your mane as you rub his back.
- Shh shhh...
- >It was a huge responsibility tending to Anon.
- >It took a lot of work to get him to go out of the cottage.
- >And all your hard work had been for naught.
- >"I don't have to go b-back out there do I?"
- No sweetie. You can stay here. With me.
- >He completely depended on you.
- >He trusted you.
- >He loved you.
- >When Applejack had attacked him that first day, it had been you that saved him.
- >When those ponies had chased him into the forest that night, it had been you that had invited him into your home.
- >The Element of Kindness.
- >Months of boosting his confidence.
- >Telling him true beauty was on the inside.
- >He was like your pet.
- >And you hated yourself.
- >The Element of Kindness.
- >Forced to be kind to a creature that terrified you.
- >A creature that disgusted you.
- >"Thank you Fluttershy..."
- >He makes a sickening sniffling noise and rubs into your mane.
- >"I love you..."
- >You gag behind his head and wince, forcing yourself to rub his back.
- I know Anon.
- I know...
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The Phoenix Man
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