>Day Grey Skies in Equestria. >You are Anon. Princess Celestia has taken an interest in you. >When you first came here, she kept you locked away. >She learned that you didn’t mean any harm to ponies, and slowly granted you more freedom. >Your room is palatial. You feel like you are in a strange situation. >Neither arrested, nor free -In a sort of house-arrest mode. >Or perhaps like an unwanted guest. >The princess visits you every few days. >The servants treat you well enough. > >You are looking out your window. >”Good morning Anon.” Hello Princess. >You bow slightly. >”What are you looking at?” “Nothing… I’m just bored.” >She nods knowingly. >”I just need to make sure you are good. We’ve never had a ‘human’ in Equestria.” “I understand.” You turn to look out the window again. “How long will I be here?” >She scratches the floor. >”A long time Anon.” >”Maybe I can get you something to keep you entertained?” >”What would you like?” >A toy to keep you busy. “Can I have a guitar?” >”I’ll have one brought over.” >You turn to her. “Can you tell me why you hold me here?” >Celestia thinks for a moment. >”When I saw your memories, I learned that humans are an angry and warlike people.” >”I can’t have that spread to Equestria.” “But, I’m not like that.” >”We can’t be sure Anon.” >You hang your head. 1/9 >The guitar is delivered as promised. It’s smaller than what you are used to, but that’s ok. >You begin playing. >Slowly at first, you don’t want to get blisters. >You haven’t played since you were a child. You only know children’s songs. >You look out the window. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine” >A little off key. You make me happy, when skies are grey. >Better “You’ll never know dear, how much I love you.” >Good, now you’re getting it. “Please don’t take my sunshine away.” >”That was very good.” >You jump up. It’s the princess. “Sorry - I didn’t hear you enter.” >”That’s alright.” She points at your guitar. “Do you know anything else?” “Just a few more.” >You play for her. >She is pleased that you are happy now. >She leaves you to your things. > >Days pass. >You sit by your door listening. >Everyday around lunchtime, the guards change. >The afternoon guard usually leaves to use the restroom. He has digestive issues. >You hear his gut gurgle. >Its time. >You wait for him to leave. >You twist the handle. >Its unlocked. >You open it slowly. No one is there. >You walk out. >If you look like you know where you are going, maybe the ponies will leave you alone. >A guard pony trots by you. >You give him a slight nod. >He returns the favor. >All clear now. 2/9 > >You see Canterlot for the first time. It’s beautiful. >You walk around. >Ponies mostly ignore you. A few look you over before returning to their conversations. >You walk for hours. >Your stomach rumbles. >You should get back to - >”I’ve got him.” >A pony forces your face into the ground. >”Thought you could just run away?” “I was going back.” You protest. >”Sure you were.” > >You are in the dungeon. >It’s been a few hours. >You hear hooves clopping against stone. >”Here he is princess.” A guard pony says as he points to you. >Celestia frowns at you. >”Were your accommodations unpleasant Anon?” “They were fine princess.” You bow. >”Then why did you try to escape?” “I just wanted to be outside for a little bit.” >”You should have asked.” >You look around, avoiding her gaze. >”I have you locked up because you will frighten my ponies.” “Everything was fine. No one freaked out.” >”Do you want to stay here tonight?” >Its cold and drafty. “No, princess.” >”I should leave you here. Maybe then you will learn your place.” “Why do you hate me?” >”I don’t hate you.” “A person shouldn’t be locked away all his life. I need fresh air.” >She bites her lip. >She scruffs the floor. >”I’m going to pretend this never happened.” She turns to the guard. “Take him to his room.” >She begins to trot off. “Princess,” >She stops and looks back. “Thank you.” >She smiles. 3/9 > >A few nights later you are looking out your window. >The princess has ordered you locked away this time. >The moon casts a warm glow into your room. >You hear a knock. “Come in” >The door unlocks. >The princess enters. >You nod to her and she approaches. >”I’ve been thinking about what you said the other night.” “Yeah?” You say, still looking outside. >”I’ve decided that I’ve been unfair to you.” >You turn to her. >”I’ll let you roam the castle at your leisure. You can even go into the gardens if you wish.” >You can’t contain your happiness. >You jump up to - >No. You don’t hug her. >Silence. “Thank you princess. You won’t regret this.” >She nods approvingly. >”Have you learned any new songs?” “I have. One of the ponies dropped off some music sheets.” >You pick one up to show her. “Would you like to hear?” >She nods. >You play for her. > >A few days later. You are in the garden enjoying the sun. >A few brave ponies have come up to talk with you. >You entertain them with stories about your past life. >They tell you about Equestria. >The princess is in her balcony. She looks toward you, and you nod to her. >You mouth the words, “thank you” to her. >The ponies leave, and the princess descends. >”I’ve never taken the time to get to know you Anon.” >You are confused. “I thought you knew everything about me.” >”I saw your memories, but they were incomplete. I only saw part of what you know.” “It’s going to take more than a short conversation to understand me.” >”I’ll make time Anon.” >You spend the afternoon in quiet conversation. >You tell her about your old job, your family and friends. ”Do you think I will ever see them again?” >”I still don’t know how you came here. I don’t think you can go back.” >You look down. You miss your old life. >She moves toward you, and slowly places a wing on your shoulders. >”It’s alright Anon.” 4/9 > >The next night, you are summoned to the princess’s quarters. >A guard lets you in. >The princess is looking over papers. She looks tired. ”You called for me princess?” >”I did.” She puts away her quill. >”Princess Cadence is having a wedding in a few months. Do you want to go?” >She must be the pink alicorn you’ve seen walking around. “Will there be drinking?” >You haven’t had any alcohol since you arrived. >”Drinking, dancing, and everything else that happens at a wedding.” “I’d like that very much, princess.” >”You can call me Celestia… when nop0ny is around.” “Celestia,” it sounds strange to say her name without her title. >She motions a hoof for you to approach. >She gets up and sits by her fireplace. >You sit beside her. >The fire dances for you. It’s mesmerizing. >”Do you feel lonely?” “Sometimes. Usually I draw or play music to pass the time.” >”It’s hard being a princess.” >She takes off her crown. >”Ponies are afraid of me. Afraid of offending their princess.” “You seem like a very nice… mare.” >”I think I am. Still, they try to stay distant.” >She turns toward you. >”Are you afraid of me?” “You’ve never done me wrong prin-“ you stop yourself. “Celestia.” >She smiles. >She slides a slippered hoof toward your hand. >You dare not move away. >It barely touches your pinky finger. >”Have you ever loved someone?” “Once. We were happy together – or so I thought.” >You curl your toes. ”It didn’t work out.” >She nods. “What about you?” >She thinks for a moment. >”A long time ago.” >You both return to staring at the fire. >Some time passes in silence. 5/9 >Her hoof still barely touching your hand. >”I think I like you.” >The princess likes you? >You are just a normal person. What could you possibly offer her. “Why?” >She shakes her head. >”I don’t know. You’re... different? You don’t treat me like … you aren’t distant.” >She turns to you and smiles weakly. She’s waiting for your answer. >She is a princess. >But you can’t… not with a horse. >You move your hand back. “I can’t give you what you want.” >She looks down. Her lips curl into a frown. >”Can you give me a chance?” >You don’t know what to say. >”It’s been so long since I’ve cared for someone.” >You are truly speechless. >She moves a wing and pulls you toward her. >She moves her body to meet you. >Her purple eyes look deeply into yours. >She moves to kiss you. >So slowly. >Her eyes never leave yours. >You turn away. >She kisses your cheek. >She’s getting angry. >”You don’t care about me do you?” >Her horn starts to glow. >You feel your body freeze up. >She pushes you to the ground. >She puts her weight on you. >You can’t breathe. >She smells you and kisses you softly on your neck. >You feel her magic lowering. >You push her away. “Stop it.” >You back away from her. “You can’t just do that to people.” >She looks down. >”I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” >She moves back. “Can I go now?” >She nods. >You get up. >”Anon?” >You stop to look at her. >”I told the guard that you are free now. You can leave the castle if you want.” “I might do that.” >You walk toward the door. >You can hear her crying as you leave. 6/9 > >A few days later. You are thinking about what the princess said. >Your room is no longer guarded. >Ponies continue to bring you food and change your sheets. >You have gone into town several times. >Everything is so beautiful here. >Each night you return to your quarters. >The princess hasn’t bothered you since that night. >You’re thirsty. >You go to get some water. >You walk through the hallway to the kitchen. >Through a window you see a solitary figure in the garden. >It’s the princess. >You should talk to her. >She’s sitting alone and throwing crumbs into the pond. >Fish occasionally jump at the food she provides. “Celestia?” >She jumps up, startled. >”Oh. Hello Anon. I thought you left.” “I decided to stay for now.” >She smiles weakly. >You sit on the bench beside her. >She offers you a piece of bread, and you throw the crumbs into the water. “I thought about what you said.” >She keeps looking at the pond. “I… think I can try.” >She moves a hoof toward you. >You place your hand over it. > >This continues for a few weeks. >She visits you, and you talk for hours. >She’s careful not to invade your personal space. >She lets you take the lead. >”I don’t want to force you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.” She said. >And she follows through. > >It’s night. >Again the princess is in your room. >You play your guitar, and she sings along. >You’re tired. “It’s getting late.” >”Time just seems to fly by when I’m with you.” She smiles. >You tap your fingers against your guitar. >You bite your lip. “Do you want to spend the night?” >She looks at you. Her eyes are bright. >”Of course.” >She moves toward you. >You kiss her deeply. >You climb into bed, and she follows. >You move your hand and push her mane out of her face. ”I think I love you, ‘Tia.” >”I’ve waited so long to hear that.” >She presses against you. >Your hands move on their own. >You want to please your princess. 7/9 > >A few more weeks pass. >It’s the day of the wedding. >You put on your perfectly fitted suit. >Jesus you look good. >”We’re going to be late.” “Hold on, just one more thing.” >You brush your hair. >Perfect. >You can tell today is going to be great. > >This is a really confusing wedding. >Are all Equestrian weddings dramatic plays like this? >Princess Cadence is a bug pony, and the “real” Cadence looks disheveled. >The bug pony makes a powerful monologue. >Is she an alicorn? What is she? >Celestia pushes you aside. >”Now that you have so foolishly revealed yourself, I can protect my subjects, from you!” >They blast energy at each other. >The bug pony is too strong, and Tia is thrown back. >Fuck this is real. >What are you supposed to do? You can’t fight the bug pony. >”Get the elements of harmony,” Tia says to a purple unicorn. >They run off. >You tend to your princess as the bug pony continues her monologue. >Jesus she talks a lot. >”I’m fine Anon. Just get out of here.” “I’m not leaving you.” >The bug pony continues ranting about how powerful she is. >You can hear fighting outside. >Smaller bug ponies enter the room. >”And now that I can’t be stopped. It’s time to deal with unfinished business,” The bug pony says. >She charges her horn. >”Move aside monkey.” “No.” >”Just go Anon.” Tia says as she gets up slowly. >”I’m staying right here.” >The bug pony shoots her green magic at the celestia. >You stand in front of it, protecting your princess. >You can feel your insides burning. >Something is hardening inside of you. 8/9 >The bug pony stops and you fall to the ground. >”ANON!” Tia yells. >The bug pony laughs. >The door bursts open. >It’s the purple unicorn and her friends. >They are being carried in by the small bug ponies. >Celestia moves toward you. >She uses her magic. >”It’s not working.” >She tries again. > >Behind you, you hear a loud crash. >Princesses Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor have defeated the bug pony. >That doesn’t matter now. > >You are Princess Celestia. >Anon has foolishly tried to protect you. His frail human body couldn’t possibly stand up to Chrysalis. >Your magic won’t work on him. “Get a doctor!” you yell to Twilight. >She runs off. >His body is ruined by her black magic. “The doctor will be here soon, just hold on.” >Anon coughs. >His breathing is pained. >You embrace him. >”Do you remember that song I taught you?” >He coughs into his sleeve. He moves it away. >It’s red. “Yes Anon.” >”Can you sing it to me?” >You shake your head. “You’re going to be fine Anon.” >”You have such a nice singing voice. Please ‘Tia.” >You nod. >You take a deep breath. “You are my sunshine,” >He joins you. [Together] “My only sunshine.” >He smiles a red toothy grin. [Together] “You make me happy, when skies are grey.” >He coughs again. He doesn’t try to hold back now. [Wavering] “You’ll never know dear, “ >You feel his grip loosen. “How much I love you,” >He closes his eyes. “Please don’t take my sunshine away.” fin 9/9   Epilogue: >You are Celestia. You are at the hospital. >”He’s awake now.” The doctor pony says. >”Just make it quick. He needs his rest.” >The doctor lets you in. >Anon is lying on the bed. >His body is connected to several medical devices. >He turns to look at you. >He smiles weakly.  “How are you feeling?” >”I did good, didn’t I?” He ignores your question. “I… “ >It was stupid. >He shouldn’t have tried to protect you. >He is the only person you have cared about in so long. >You don’t want to upset him. “You did good.” You agree. >He smiles. >”Everything hurts.” “I’ll ask the doctor to give you more medicine.” >He nods. “The doctor said you will make a full recovery.” >He looks out the window. “You’ll need to stay here for a few days though.” >”Locked away again.” >You move toward him. >He brushes your mane. >”That’s alright. It was worth it.” >He pulls you toward him. >”As long as you are safe, I’m happy.” >You feel yourself blushing. >He always knows what to say. >”So… will our wedding have so much drama?” >He kisses you before you can react. >Oh Anon… fin [spoiler](for real this time)[/spoiler] 10/9