730

>You are Anon.

>Not a very happy anon...  The sun beaming through your window makes sure of that.

>You roll over onto your back.

>No need for an alarm clock here.  You're as awake as you're ever going to be...

“Fuckin...”

>It rolls off your tongue as you throw the comforter of off you and sling your legs to the side of the bed, pressing your feet to the floor.

>It takes what feels like a century to shake the sleep from your eyes.  Still...  It seems you managed to come to life earlier than usual.  The sun is lower than it typically is.  Celestia must have had a few too many for once, or so you like to think.

>Walking down the short hallways, you catch the sight of the calendar on the refrigerator.

>The large red circle marking today's date gives you a second's pause...

>How long was it since you put that mark there?

>You don't bother to give it more thought than it deserves...  This early, only one thing manages to pass by your lips.  It should count itself lucky at this hour.

“Two years...”

>Two years since you came to this world.  Two years since you met those who took you in and helped you get on your feet.  Two years since your life started, oddly, new.

>You sigh in contemplation, flinging the cabinet door open and grabbing the loaf of bread.

“Two years since bacon...”

>The words are as cynical as they could be.

>You cut a thick slice and plop it in the toaster.

>Almost on cue, as you slide the handle down, you hear a knock at your door.

 

>Still a bit groggy, you wobble to the door.  It's not often you get a visitor at this hour, or any hour fr that matter.

>You open the door to see a gray mare floating only a few feet from your doorway.

“Morning”

>The mare looks up at you with a strange gaze.  One eye is dead on you, the other looking off in a completely different direction.

>”Wh- He... Hello.”

>She seems shocked.  Why would she be shocked? She knocked in the first place.

>”Um...” She digs into her saddle bag, pulling a letter out a piece of paper out of the left pocket; holding it in her teath.

>”Heresh 'odaysh 'eather 'epor'

“Thanks...”  You reach out and grab the piece of paper from her mouth as cordially as such an act can go.

>”No problem.  Nice to hand it to you for once!  Welp.... Gotta go!” She turns to make her way to the next house.

>You thank her again as she floats off.

“So it's that early, huh?”

>You're rarely up so early as to receive the morning weather report by hand.  Hardly anyone is.  You figure you have a fair bit of time before your obligation requires you.  Might as well get an early start...

>Then it hits you.  You begin to wonder what today's weather will be like, being that it's been two years and all.

>”Sunshine continuing until noon.  Rain scheduled to begin at sundown until dawn.”

>You beam at the news.

>Your work will certainly be done early because of the weather, but you get to enjoy the day until then!  

“Alright then.  Best make a day of it!” you snip at yourself.

>You go back to your couch and begin to lace up your boots.  You grab your now room tempurature toast and head out the door.  

 

>You start to head towards Sweet Apple Acres.  If luck holds, you'll finally manage one of those  cinnamon buns before Mac eats them all.  The very thought sends you to dream land.

>Just as an imaginer euphoria takes you, a familiar voice brings you abruptly back to reality mid stride.

>”Good morning, Anon!”  

>You know the voice all too well.  Plain and presentable.  Cordial, yet oddly frank.  Twighlight Sparkle.

“Morning, Twilight.”

>You raise a hand towards the library, keeping your stride as you would any other day.

>This time, however, you feel the soft, tingling embrace of magic envelop your arm as you do so, pulling you towards the library.

>Your feet skip along the rocks, then jump across the single step, then slide across the wood floors.  Toast held a little too firmly in the other hand.  Appetite, I bid you adieu.

“You better have a damn good breakfast, Twi.”

Her expression goes from welcoming to somewhat annoyed on a dime.

>”I do, but only in exchange for an explanation”

>Fucking shoulda seen this coming...

>You take a second to get your thoughts together.

“Twi.  I just don't want a party.  That's all.”

>”Pinkie said she wasn't going to throw a party for a 'party pooper'”  She says with a sarcastic tone.

>”I mean, why didn't you at least let her give you something?  It's a big day!”

>You lament a bit at the thought.

“Brew some coffe at least...”

>The grin comes back if only a little as she meanders back to the kitchen.

>”Black?

“Extra black, please”

>You hear a light titter from her direction.

 

>She comes back, tray floating delicately in front of her, laying it gently on the table.

>”You know you mean a lot to her.”

“I know”

>She put a lot of thought into today...”

>Twilight's voice becomes more serious.

“I know...”

>”So...?”

>You bide you time with what you can get from a swig from the mug.

>Twilight's stare never broke.

>You let out a light sigh.

“Two years...”

>Her ears perk and her stare goes to a look of curiousity.

“You know I'm a flake.”

>Her gaze goes back to stern.

“I came here on my own and I want to spend my anniversary alone.  Same as last year.  You know I tend to think about this kind of stuff a lot.  She won't want to be around me for that kind of thing anyway.”

>She sighs in irritation.  That cup of coffee never stood a chance after that.  She took it in one fell swoop.  Damn near took the steam with it.

>I'll never understand how she does that.

>She takes her cup in her magic whatever and heads back towards the kitchen.  You can tell she's not mad, just a little dissapointed.

>”She's been looking forward to today.  At least pay her a visit before you go and be a shut in for however long this is going to take you.”

“Okay...”

>She shoots you a glare for second.  “Promise.”

>You know all too well not to get on her bad side.

“I promise to visit before I get home.”  

>She lightens her stare back to a friendly smile, grabbing your cup still half full and bringing it back to the kitchen.

“H-Hey!”

>”Big Mac isn't getting any more full.”

>The joking manner in which she said that contrasts the seriousness of her implications.  

>You've spent too many mornings having to smell that scent without any satisfaction.

>You pick yourself back up and head towards the door.

>Before the door closes, you hear Twilight yell.  “It''s a promise!”

>Shit...

>You shrug it off.  It's going to be a while before the end of your work day, anyway.  Plenty of time.

>The sun hit's you just as hard as you exit the library.  You feel better after the coffee though.  That is until you hear that high pitched squeal.

>”Anoooooooooooooooonymous~”

>How the hell she managed to stay n the air for all of that, you will never know.

“Hey Pinkie.”  You try to put some cheer in your voice in spite of the hour of the day.

>”HAPPY ANNIVERS-”

>You throw a hand over her muzzle.

“Pinkie!”

>”Vff vrffyfrny nrrs!”

>You try to take inventory on who would have heard that.  Luckily, not too many peop- ponies are out this early.

>”I th-thhik she said “but everypony knows”

>You notice a gentle voice behind the bouncing bundle of pink pony.

“Oh.  Hey Fluttershy”

>”Fheh! Lehmeh hoh!”

>You remove your hand from Pinkies mouth with an apologetic look.

“Sorry Pinkie...  Just keep it down, will ya?”

>You try to say it in a voice she would get.  Stone cold serious.

>She begins to pout in an exaggerated fashion.  “Always the party pooper...”  Her face becomes dismissive as she turns her flank to you.

>Not that you don't know how to flip a script with this one...

“So what are you two doing out so early”

>Pinkie Pie snorts in a dismissive tone

>Fluttershy becomes anxious at this turn of events.

>”We-We're getting things together...”

>Pinkie shoots her a glare.

“Getting what together?” you say in an aggressive tone.

>”Nothing for you, of course!” Pinkie retorts instantly, never taking a second to look back.

>Pinkie begins to trot off.

>Fluttershy begins to fidget between you and the ever distant Pinkie Pie.

>Better not ruin what is already a pretty turbulent day.

“Pinkie...”

>She stops, still not looking at you.

“3”

>You see her ears perk up and her body go rigid.

“2”

>She looks back with sparkles in her eyes and a massive grin on her face.

“1”

>She charges at you, hooves out in front.   You catch her outstretched forelegs and begin to spin as fast as you can.  The faster you spin, the louder her giggles become.

>As you slow down, she laughs even harder.

>Fucking violin, this pony.

>You let her down gently.  You also notice that Fluttershy has a cheerier face on than usual.

“Better?” You ask bluntly.

>”Getting there” she says with her typical beaming face.

“Good.  So what's with the preparations?”

>Hearing this, Pinkie becomes slightly less vivacious.

>”Nothing you need to worry about”  Her voice is still jovial, but her face hides some light annoyance.

>You kneel down.  Trying your best to match her eye level.

“Pinkie.  I know you wanted to throw me a party, but you know I wanted to have some time alone tonight...”  You try to say it as even keel as you can.  Pinkie spending the entire time giving you that kind of look like you just told her that her punch tasted like alligator spit.

>You see that Fluttershy has lost her happy dimeanor, along with Pinkies.

>”Dummy”  Pinkie blurts it out so matter of fact that you're left speechless...

>Pinkie begins to trot off once again.  No point in trying the '3-2-1' thing again...  

>Fluttershy begins to follow Pinkie Pie, but shoots you a quick glance before meeting back up with her.  

>She gives you a genlte smile and a wink before meeting back up with Pinkie Pie.

>The fuck was that all about...

>I'ts only then that you notice that the sun is significantly higher than when you set off earlier.

“Fuck...”

>Time to book...

 

>You begin to jog over to Sweet Apple Acres. Going faster and faster as you start to get close.

>The closer you get, the more you can smell it.

>That unmistacable scent of cinnamon and sugar.

>When was the last time you had a fucking cinnamon bun?

“Two...  Fucking... Years!”

>You break into a full sprint as you make your way up the dirt road to the farm house.

>It smells so good...

>If warmth had a fucking smell...   This would be it.  The subtle aromatics coupled with that decadence...  It smells like heaven...  It pulls you in rather than you running to it.  You leap over the gate into the grounds in front of the farm proper.  Dashing towards the house.

>You're only feet away from the steps leading to the house and that rediculously inviting smell.  

>Then, HE walks out...

>You screech to a halt, looking with wide open eyes.  You are asking the same question a million times without saying a word.

>”Well howdy Anon!”

>Big Mac remains silent, only blinking as he stares at you blankly.  Applejack sprouts from behind him.

>”Shoot, we'd'a made more if we knew you'd be here so early.”

>Damn you Pinkie...  Damn you to hell...

>You drop to your knees.  The scent of a lost victory wafting in your face....  You are no longer a man.  You are a shell...

“Coffee...”

>”Whuzat, sugarcube?”

“Please....  coffee....”

>Applejack smiles and motions toward the kitchen.

>You'll take your victories where you can, you suppose.

 

>You pick yourself off the ground and trundle into the kitchen of the Apple house.  You take your seat and try to get yourself together.  “Breakfast at McDonalds” you say out loud.

>”Breakfast at what now?” Applejack asks, looking back at you inquisitively.

“Nothing...  Been a weird morning”

>”I bet.  She strains to get the words out, as if there was something in her mouth.

>That smell again...

>No...

>”I know you didn't want a party, but take it as a gift from all of us.”

>Don't cry...  Don't you dare fucking cry....

>She places the plate in front of you.  You just sit there taking the beauty of it in.  The steamy pastry sitting atop.  My god the smell is enough to...

>”You don't want it?” She asks with a smarmy grin.

>No words to say, dig the fuck in.

>Each bite is better than the last.  The sweetness of the frosting only hides the fresh waft of cinnamon.  The pastry itself is so deliciously moist.  My god.

>”So you run into Rarity yet?”

 

>All the sudden, this doesn't taste as good as you wished it could.

“nrfh yhff”

>She Putts both hooves on the table and lowers her eyebrows.

>You swallow what you can.

“Not yet”

>“Right...  You gonna?”

“...Yeah...”

>You notice Applejack is now sitting down, hooves crossed over the table.  Her eyes are directly on you.

>You notice you only have half a pastry of leeway left.  Something this good should not be used as a bargaining chip...

>“She'd love to see ya.”

“I'm sure she would”

>Dismissiveness creeps into the phrase against your intentions.

>Applejack goes back to a more stern demeanor.

>You brace for impact.

>She says nothing

>You're not stunned, just on guard

>She gets up, heading over to the counter to prepare some coffee.  She pulls out two mugs.

>Fuck.

>”So what's got ya so mixed up ya don't want to celebrate yer second year with us?”

>She makes her way back to the table, not even attempting any sugar, tray balanced perfectly in her teeth.

“I just wanna be alone tonight.”

>You reach for the mug.  Locking your sight on it.

>AppleJack lets a sigh pass.  Then looks right at you.  You don't return the look, but you damn sure know it's there.

>”Like last year?”

>You don't say anything.  

>”Didja buy your beer yet or is that for the way home?”

>You're done fondling the mug.  You take your first sip.

“Already bought it.”

>You glance up.  Her coffee is gone already...  How the fuck do these ponies do that?

>”How cheap?”

>You smirk a little.

“As expensive as you'll allow.”

>The jab goes the fuck nowhere.  Applejack's expression remains stone dead serious.

>”Look here, Sugarcube...” She begins softer than her expression would imply.

>”Y'all do on your time what ya will.  All I'm wonderin' is why you won't spend some of that time with the pony you've been spending every other night with?”

>You really wish you had a bigger mug of coffee right now...

>Applejack picks up on your unease and puts a smile on.

>”Homesick?”

>Some tiem passes before you asnwer

“No.”

>”So what's got you down?

>She's walking close to you now.  Staring right at you.  Nothing but concern in her eyes.

“I'm not down, AJ.  I just want to take tonight to reflect.  You know?  I'ts been great living here, and you all brought me in without a second thought.  Still though...  It's a good time to take some time for thought, know what I mean?”

>She smiles gently.  You can tell from her expression she gets it.  She takes your to press her forehead into your sides, nudging you towards the door.

>You really wanna finish that cinnamon bun.

>”Get a good day's work in, Anon.  It'll make ya feel better.  Just remember, yall aint the only one thinking on the last two years.”

>She closes the door after forcing you to exit.

>The smell mocks you...

 

You head to the barn.  Big Mac is getting himself fixed to the wagon.

“So where to today?”

>”South Orchard”

>You're almost relieved at the brevity.

>You reach for the rubber mallet Applejack fixed for you to help with apple bucking.

“Lead the way”

>You follow Big Mac to the South field.  Enjoying every second of blissful silence.

>You begin to drift into thought.

>The hammer feels a lot lighter than it did two years ago.  

>You've never been one for the kind of skilled labor Ponyville requires.  It's nice that you managed to find a place in all of this.

>Even better that you've managed to get into the kind of shape that this type of work demands.

>It's not retirement money, but it gets you by.

>You begin to approach the assigned grounds.  

>Big mac Stops and gives you that look.  The look that says 'You waiting for something?'

>This fucking guy...  You love this fucking guy...

>You walk to the nearest apple tree.  Rear your swing and twist yourself into the strike.

>The rubber head of the mallet bounces back off the trunk with serious force.

>The tree jitters enough to send it's payload to the ground.

>Looking up you notice that it only took one swing to free the ripened fruit from the branches.

>You love your mallet...

 

>You seem to slip into a zen like state, swatting at trees and moving on to the next.

>You begin to drift into thought, the menial labor seeming to handle itself.

>You recall your first day coming to Equestria.

>Your eyes opened to a blue sky, soft clouds and the warm embrace of sunlit fields.

>You sit up, shocked at the lack of a hangover.  The two usually went together...

>All around you, you see these pastel ponies.  Staring inquisitively at you.

>You try to form a sentence in light of it all to no avail.

>Some ponies chortle, while others gasp in amazement.

>There are only 2 things you know for sure.

>1: You feel too sober for this to be some kind of bad acid trip

>2: You're butt naked.

>Both are issues.

>One of them managed to break the crowd and engage you

>”Yo Anon!”

>The voice sounds right, but the line is all wrong.  Wait...

>You finish your swing and look up.

“Hey Dash.”

>”Hey!  I'm glad I caught you!  We got serious work to do in a little while.  I didn't want to go the end of the day without congratulating you on your 2 year anniversary and all.”

>You make it to the next tree and get your swing ready.

“Thanks dash”

>You hold back a grunt while you follow through

“-ppreciate it...”

>You move to the next tree with Mac following, gathering the spoils.

>You notice Applejack coming towardswith a fresh cart.  The two exchange loads and you go back to your work.

>You see a big one up next.  Time for some elbow grease.

>Rainbow Dash continues floating there just above your shoulder.  You see the sun just above here.  It must be getting close to noon.

>Big Mac comes over and bumps you back with his forehead.

>”Break time”

>You fucking love this guy...

 

>You lay the mallet down and rest the handle next to the tree.

>You can't help but feel like the shade is invitation enough.

>”So hey, Anon, got a second?”

>Where for art thou, Macintosh...

“Till Mac get's back, sure.  What's up?”

>She takes a second to look at you, sweating and panting.

>”Hang on.  I'll get some chow first.”

>You don't complain

>You see her dart off, rainbow tail fluttering behind.

>You start to remember back to two years ago...

>You saw something similar.

>Back in that field, you remember seeing the same sight as she flew back into town.  Zooming back as quickly as she left; cloth in mouth.

>You definitely thanked her while wrapping up what you needed to.

>You then remember that she asked if you were hungry.

“Fucking trip, that one”

>It doesn't take long for her to get back with a couple take out salads.

>She drops the bag next to you and takes a seat underneath the shade.

>”I only got a bit before we need to get the clouds ready for tonight, so eat up.

>You appreciate the food, but christ, you're tired of eating yard work all the time.  

“Thanks”

>Dash is already going at her salad like a damn lawn mower.  Taking only a brief minute to look up at you with inquisitive eyes.

>”You alright, Anon?  You seem... Off.”

“Same shit, different toilet.  Just been thinking about shit.  No worries.”

>She forces the food to the corner of her cheek.  You feel another lecture coming on.

>”You're an idiot.”

>A lot of people are calling you that today.  It doesn't bother you as much as it would otherwise.  You don't deny that it hasn't been your best day.  It's just...

>”Rarity wanted me to give you this, by the way”

>You spit leaves and carrots all over your legs.  You know you would be laughing if you just saw that.  God knows what Dash is about to do.

>You look over and are surprised to see her keeping a relatively straight face.  Well.  Maybe a bit of a crooked smirk has crept in, but it's still the kind of face where a point is being proven.

>You clear your throat and regain your composure.

“What is it.”

>She slides and envelop over to you with her hoof.

>”It's a letter, dumbass”

>You grab the letter and examine it.  It's Rarity's, alright.  You notice the subtle embroidery around the edges of the envelope, as if the quality of the paper itself wasn't a dead giveaway.

>You even notice the scent of lavender emanating from it.  It's fucking her alright.

>You fold the card and put it in your back pocket.

>”Not gonna read it?”

>Dash looks at you with a hint of dissapointment

>”Anon, I've been meaning to ask you something...”

“Later.  I should really get back to work.”

>Dash stares at you with a bit of frustration.

>From a distance, you hear an extended “Nope”

>You look over to see Applejack and Big Mac, both with smiles on their faces.  Obviously AJ's is a bit more jovial.

“...”

>You're a bit stunned.

>”We got the storm comin' through an' figerd yall could take today off.  All we need to do is prune the West field and call it a day.  Too little for three hands an' all.

>”Eeyup”

>Dash seems to light up at the notion.

>I fucking trusted you, Mac...

>“Good.  Let's get going, Anon.”

“Didn't you have cloud... whatever?”

>She begins to tug at your arm, pulling you towards Ponyville proper.

>”Sure, but this is important.  We're making time.”