----- = Break between posts
--- = Break in scene
 
>"Anon, the Luckstead outpost just called. They finally have running water!"
>That brought a smile to your face, and you stood from your seat at the dining table.
 
>You are Anon.
>And you were the founder of Anopolis.
 
"About goddamn time! What the hell was the problem in the first place?"
>The gryphon huffed once, as she stood in your front doorway. "Uncoupled piping got overlooked. Friggin amateurs."
>You rolled your eyes.
"Shit happens. I'm just glad we don't have to send any more water out their way."
>For the last three months, you had been sending them caravans with barrels full of clean water from right here in town.
>It meant sending ponies with them, and quite frankly, everyone was needed here to help further expand Anopolis.
>The name was a tad misleading, however, as it was only the size of a small town. Even smaller than Ponyville.
>"I hear what you're sayin'," she replied, walking inside and allowing the front door to close.
 
>Her name was Matilda, and she was one of the first Gryphons to join your cause.
>She and a few others were a part of a roaming bandit gang, robbing any unlucky son of a bitch to try and cross the Badlands.
>They had actually attempted to rob your fledgeling caravan as well, but were wowed by what they found.
>Handheld lights that didn't need fire nor glowing insects.
>Small handheld fire starters that ignited with the flick of the thumb.
>Tiny handheld cannons that shot metal balls faster than you could blink.
 
>It was the latter that contributed to stopping the robbery in the first place.
 
>But it was your stories that ultimately made them your allies.
>Tales of a realm where magic didn't exist.
>Where buildings touched the clouds and giant metal machines flew across the sky.
>Where carts didn't need pulled by ponies to move.
>Where almost any disease could be nullified or cured.
>And that he could do the same here with their help.
 
>At least they appreciated the story. Unlike some other ponies.
 
-----
 
"I'm telling the truth, goddamnit!"
 
>Be Anon from 6 months ago.
>And Twilight is being a total bitch.
 
>"Anon, it's so obvious that you're lying, it's sad." Twilight was frustratedly glaring at you.
"How are you gonna tell me about my own fucking homeworld?"
>"How are YOU gonna tell ME about a world like yours without magic?" she countered. "It's impossible to do any of that without it."
"Just because your puny pony brain can't understand it doesn't make it a made-up story!"
>You were becoming quite irate yourself.
>Twilight scowled. "I don't appreciate you insulting my intelligence, Anon."
"And I don't appreciate you calling me a liar!"
>"If you didn't lie, I wouldn't have any reason to insinuate such a thing." She then adopted that know-it-all sneer of hers.
>Oh now you're fed up with her fucking shit.
 
>"Anon? Where are you going Anon?"
>Twilight followed you into the guest room of her castle, where she offered you residence since your arrival.
>You said nothing, favoring instead to pull a backpack from underneath your bed and setting it on top.
>"Answer me Anon!"
>You then proceeded to pack a spare suit inside, as well as toiletries, and other items you'd need for traveling.
 
>That's right. You were gettin' the fuck outta dodge.
>Not gonna deal with purplesmartass any more.
 
>"Why are you packing? Are you leaving?"
>You make your way out into the main foyer, and towards the door.
>"Anon, wait!" she called.
>You stopped in front of the door, before turning back to Twilight.
"What?"
>"This whole thing is just silly, Anon. You don't have to leave over this."
>"Just admit you were fibbing and we can sweep it all under the rug and start fresh. What do you think?"
>You gave her a hand gesture that told her exactly what you thought, before pushing open the door and walking away.
>"Anon, stop! Where are you even gonna go?"
>You turn back and give her a final determined look."
"To prove your snobby ass wrong."
 
-----
 
>Be present-day Anon.
 
>"Go figure." Matilda shrugged, sipping from her glass of water. "Ain't nobody around here is familiar with any of this like you are."
>She sat across from you at the dining table of your home, as you finished your dinner.
>Cabbage stew with chopped carrots, and a dinner roll. You were already almost finished with the stew, having not touched your roll yet.
"Well finding the aquifer might be hard, but the pump itself is pretty simple."
>You dip your roll into the stew, before taking a bite.
>Matilda shook her head. "I wasn't only talkin' about the pump."
>You pause, before swallowing.
"What all do you mean then?"
>"You know damn well what I mean," she replied, tapping the side of the cup with her talons. "You just wanna hear me give the same ol' spiel that everyone else is givin'."
"Really, what the fuck are you talking about?"
>Matilda rolls her eyes. "About how Anon's a 'genius' and a 'visionary' and how he's gonna 'lead us all to prosperity' with his 'amazing technological breakthroughs'!"
>You don a cheeky grin.
"Oh yeah, that sounds kinda familiar."
Matilda wore a smile of her own. "Fuck you."
"Maybe later. I need to go down to the wagon lot and cancel the next shipment to Luckstead."
>You stand up, taking the empty dishes to the sink.
"But we could after I get back. I've always wanted to do kinky shit with a cad-bird-thing."
>You look back at Matilda, who is currently emulating holding a phallic object in her talons, before taking a fierce bite out of it with her beak.
 
>It made an audible clack.
>You cringe.
 
>This elicited a sinister cackle from the gryphon, before she herself stood from the table.
"I'd better take off too. It's gettin' late, and I gotta wake up early to get that apartment insoluted."
>You cock an eyebrow.
"Insulated?"
>She scoffed. "Sure. Whatever keeps me from freezin' my tail off at night."
>You both then head out the door, only to part ways.
>"Talk to ya later Anon!" she called as she flew away.
 
-----
 
>The night sky was beautiful.
>Not as many stars were visible from in town though.
>Not since the town adopted your designs for electrically-powered street lights.
>You sigh. It was a little sad, seeing the familiar effects of light pollution in a place like this.
>But it didn't matter. Only progress mattered.
 
>You then look back at your own home.
>You had a simple one-floor home, no bigger than anyone elses.
>You had opted for living a less luxurious lifestyle, despite many ponies urging that you deserved it.
>There was quite a following for you, beginning even that day you left Ponyville.
 
---
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycgYycnF6-g
 
>Welp.
>You fuckin' did it now.
>You're now homeless.
 
>...
 
>This fucking sucks.
 
>Be Anon from 6 months ago.
>And why couldn't you just swallow your pride, Anon?
>Where the fuck are you gonna go now?
>How the fuck are you gonna prove her wrong?
>Are you gonna build a fucking skyscraper?
>You? Anon?
>You should just turn back now and apologize, and HOPE that she takes you back.
 
>"Hey Anon!"
>Hmm? Who was that?
>You look around for the source, only to find none other than Pinkie Pie hopping towards you.
>Great.
>Fucking perfect.
 
>"Where ya goin' Anon?" she excitedly inquired, jumping in circles around you. "Are ya goin' camping?"
"No."
>"Are ya goin' on a sleepover?"
"No."
>"Are ya goin' back to school? School is for fillies, silly!"
 
>You groan.
"Pinkie, leave me alone."
>She stopped bouncing. "Somethin' wrong, Anon? You need to turn that frown upside down!"
>She then got uncomfortably close and wrapped a foreleg around your shoulders.
>"And Pinkie's gonna help you do it!"
 
"You wanna make me happy?"
>"Of course Anon!"
"Then help me prove Twilight wrong."
>Ponka cocks an eyebrow. "Twilight's usually never wrong!"
"Well she's wrong about me, and where I come from."
>Pinkie releases her grip, before sitting in front of you, waiting.
 
>You sigh, before beginning your tale about Earth.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzvsrnQxFA
 
>Be present-day Anon.
>You walk down the cement sidewalk, hands in your suit pockets, observing your surroundings.
>Seeing inside the windows of some houses, you could see ponies living their lives.
>Eating dinner together.
>Reading books next to an electric lamp.
>Dancing to the radio.
>A couple of them notice you, and wave.
>You have back with a smile.
 
>It was a strange feeling, being revered like you were.
>You don't feel as though you deserve all of the devotion these ponies give to you.
>They tell you again and again how your stories, your gadgets, make them feel empowered.
>It was also important to note that not a single unicorn lived in Anopolis.
>It wasn't your choice. There were simply none that wished to join.
>The majority were actually earth ponies.
 
>Many claimed that you gave them a sense of purpose in life.
>That your "vision" inspired them to go above and beyond with their lives.
>You couldn't understand, but you wouldn't question it.
>It made ponies happy, what you were doing.
>And it made you happy as well.
 
>You eventually made it to the wagon lot, crossing the cobblestone road to the administrative building for the yard.
>You enter to feel a cool breeze against your skin.
>Very different from the heat of the badlands outside.
 
>"Anon!" called the stallion behind the desk. He was a mossy green pony with a stetson and green bandana around his neck. "What brings y'all 'round here?"
"I haven't missed the caravan yet, have I?"
>He shook his head. "Boys're gettin' ready right now, out back. Why?"
"No need anymore. They got the pump working in Luckstead.
 
>The stallion's eyes widened. "Well got-dang! Ah'm sure they'd be mighty happy t' hear that they ain't have to cart all the way to Luckstead tonight."
>You nod to the pony before entering through the rear door of the admin building to the outside, where a group of stallions were loading three carts full of barrels.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MhVg1AUiiw
 
>"That's awful!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Friends don't call each other names like that! Not unless they're fun nicknames of course, but 'Liar' isn't a fun nickname at all!"
 
>Be Anon from 6 months ago.
"Well it's what happened. So now I've got to prove myself. Somehow."
>"Well don't you worry, Nonnie! Because Pinkie Pie's gonna help you!"
 
>You raise an eyebrow.
"How're you gonna do that?"
>"I have no idea!" she said nonchalantly. "But I'm sure we'll think of something!"
"Well, all I need to do is prove to her that you don't need magic to make things work. So what are some things that need magic to work?"
>Pinkie put a hoof under her chin, humming in thought.
>"Well, pretty much everything!" she finally exclaimed. "The sun and the moon, the weather, the seasons, medicine, flying-"
"I get it. But what about air conditioning? Refrigeration? Radio transmission?"
 
>Pinkie Pie gave you a blank stare.
"Insulation? Vaccination? Electricity?"
>Pinkie cocked her head to the side, before giggling.
>"I have no idea what any of that means!"
 
>You've got to be fucking kidding.
>Not even electricity?
 
"Pinkie, what if I told you that there was a way to make light, without fire or magic?"
>"Like lightning bugs?"
"I- no. Without fire, magic OR lightning bugs."
 
>Pinkie Pie took a sharp gasp, eyes wide. "How?! Tell me tell me tell me tell-"
"ALRIGHT!"
>She silences, and you massage your temples.
"I'll tell you. But first, we're gonna need a few things.
 
---
 
>Be present-day Anon.
>And it's seven in the morning.
>You know this because your alarm clock wakes you up at this time every morning.
>You get up out of bed, stretching out and yawning, before going to your closet.
>Hmm, which suit would you choose today?
>You think you'll go with the black suit.
>An oldie but a goodie.
 
>As you're putting on your pants, however, you hear a familiar sound outside.
>The clock tower bell is ringing.
>And it won't stop.
 
>This can't be good.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8V8B-_PPg
 
>"Bandits!" cried a female voice, followed by the loud clanging of pots and pans. "Bandits to the west!"
>Oh fuck not again.
>You quickly don your pants and shoes, leaving the shirt and suit behind.
>On your nightstand is your own flintlock pistol, which you grab.
>You then dash straight out the front door, as do several other stallions from their own homes.
>On many of them are saddles, with mounted flintlock rifles.
>It was an idea you had come up with, seeing how ponies lack hands.
>They were mounted to a saddle, and instead of a trigger, the pony could pull a wire with their mouth to trigger the release.
>They couldn't reload, of course, but with the bayonets mounted on the ends, they didn't really need to.
 
>The sun shines on the horizon, casting deep shadows everywhere.
>The stallions ready to fight were already gathering at the edge of town.
>You were quick to join them, and immediately, there was a change in morale.
 
>"Do you see 'em?" said one stallion. "Out by that hill!"
>You looked, and sure enough, backed by the sun were the silhouettes of several charging creatures.
>They were less than a kilometer away.
 
>"Want me to scramble the Carrion Birds?" came a familiar voice from beside you.
"Not yet, Matilda. Maybe we can scare them off."
>"If they're the same as last time, that ain't happening."
 
>This isn't the first time you've had trouble with bandits.
>As your province grew, so did the interest by other factions in the badlands.
>One faction in particular has been a particular threat to your way of life.
 
>The Bubalus Tribe.
>They were a nomadic tribe of Buffalo that roamed the Badlands.
>You knew next to nothing about them, other than the fact that they absolutely hated you for your technology.
>They viewed it as unnatural, and therefore wanted it gone.
>Wanted you gone.
 
"People of Anopolis! Ready!"
>There came a torrent of cheers from the group of stallions.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPB2sVUXGI
 
>"THAT IS SO COOL!"
 
>Be Anon 6 months ago.
>Also three days later.
 
>You and Pinkie ended up going back to Sugarcube Corner.
>You needed an egg beater, along with a few other objects.
>Once you had what you needed, you began assembling what would be the generator for your test project.
 
>You were currently hand-turning a crank that was wired to a modified light bulb originally designed to be powered by magic.
>It had a crystal gem at its base, where apparently the energy for the bulb came from.
>A little tweaking, however, and it was now flickering into fruition as you spun the hand crank.
 
"See? No magic needed."
>"How can you do that?!" Pinkie inquired. "Are you sure there's no magic?"
"I PINKIE promise there's no magic."
 
>Pinkie's eyes went wide.
>"Oh PLEASE can I try? Pleeeeeeaaase?"
 
>You shrug, passing her the crank.
"Alright, I don't see why not."
 
>"YES!" Pinkie Pie grabs the crank and begins spinning it rapidly, to the point where the bulb shown brightly and didn't even flicker.
"Be careful Pinkie, you don't want to spin it too-"
>"OOH what happens if I go even faster?" She spun at an incredible speed, and the bulb grew even brighter.
"No Pinkie, DON'T-"
 
*BANG*
 
---
 
>"I'm- s-so- SOOOOOHOHOOORY!"
 
"Hey Pinkie?"
 
>"Y-Yeah nonnie?"
 
"Did I tell you not to spin it too fast?"
 
>She inhales through her nose. "Y-Yes."
 
"And what did you do?"
 
>"...I spun it too fast."
 
"And what happened?"
 
>"...It BLEHEHEW UUUP!"
 
>You are Anon.
>And Nurse Redheart was currently wrapping gauze around your arm in the Ponyville Hospital.
>Your arm was one of the many places that needed stitches after being cut by broken glass.
>Pinkie herself even had a few bandages wrapped around her forelegs, head, and torso.
>Your suit was in ruins, by the way.
>Which fucking sucked.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKMDNFMPuJ8
 
>"Now tell me again," began Nurse Redheart, "how did this happen?"
>You explain to her the crank and the lightbulb, and the nurse pony shakes her head in disappointment.
>"I thought crazy experiments were Twilight's forte?" she said.
 
>"Nonnie's experiments aren't crazy!" Pinkie replied. "They're super cool! He turned a lightbulb on WITHOUT magic!"
 
>That caught the Nurse off guard. "Without magic? I find that a little hard to believe."
 
>"No it's true!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Tell her Nonnie! About electing Trixie!"
 
>You sigh.
"Electricity?"
 
>"Yeah! Electricity!"
 
>You turned to look at the nurse.
"I made a hand-powered generator, and that powered the lightbulb."
 
>The Nurse stared hard at you. "And what, is the magic in the generator then?"
"No, there is no magic."
>"Then how does the generator work?"
"By spinning a magnet across a conductive wire coil. That generates electrical current, and is then used to power the bulb. Simple."
 
>Nurse Redheart gave you a blank stare for a moment.
>"...What do you mean, conductive?"
 
>You groan.
"Something that electricity can pass through!"
>You struggled to keep in mind that this was a new concept to the poor mare trying to understand.
 
>"And electricity is power?"
"Yes."
>"And it then powers the bulb?"
"Correctamundo."
 
>"...Huh. That's actually really, really clever!"
 
>"I KNOW, right?!" Pinkie Pie replied. "Anon's like a super-cool wizard! Only WITHOUT the magic! Which I know sounds really UN-cool because wizards are SUPPOSED to do magic, but if Nonnie was a wizard he'd be the COOLEST wizard EVER!"
 
>Despite the headache induced by the ramblings of a mad pony, you couldn't help but feel a little bit prideful after hearing the compliment.
 
>Wait a second.
>Suddenly, YOU'RE the one grinning.
 
"I have PROOF!"
 
-----
 
>The other ponies look at you in confusion.
 
"I can FINALLY prove to that SNARKY-ASS PRINCESS that I'm NOT a liar, and SHE'S an ASSHOLE!"
>Pinkie Pie wrapped her forelegs around you in a powerful hug. "Oh Nonnie, you did it! Now we can all be friends again, YAY!"
 
>Nurse Redheart shakes her head with a playful grin across her face. "Well good luck with whatever that means. Oh, and Anon?"
 
>You turn back to the nurse pony.
"Yeah?"
 
>That's a really cool discovery you've made here, that e-lec-tri-city. It could be used to make a lot of ponies' lives much easier."
 
"Mhm it sure could."
>Like you give a fuck about that right now.
>All you care about at the moment is marching over to Twilight's fru fru playset and showing off REAL human ingenuity.
 
>"Well you two are good to go," Nurse Redheart tells you. "Be back in a couple weeks so we can remove the stitches, and don't do anything too strenuous."
 
>"Will do Nurse Redheart!" Pinkie replied. "Come on Nonnie, let's go visit Twilight!"
 
>You don a sinister grin.
"Yes, let's do that."
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VhBgEyauGI
 
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN IT DOESN'T PROVE ANYTHING?!"
 
>Be Anon still.
>And you feel like choking out an alicorn.
 
>"I'm sorry Anon, but it doesn't prove anything you said." Twilight stood at her castle's entrance, barring you and Pinkie access.
 
"I have a FUCKING GENERATOR, RIGHT HERE!"
>You hold out a hand-powered generator, with a new lightbulb attached. You begin to turn the crank, and the light flickers to life.
"HOW does this not prove EVERYTHING I'VE SAID?!"
 
>"Anon, that lightbulb worked perfectly fine when it was powered by magic. And look at how fast you have to crank it to make it work! It's horribly inefficient."
 
>You can't believe this bitch.
"Not EVERYTHING is powered by hand! We use fuel to move the wheel automati-"
 
>"You expect me to believe that entire CITIES can be powered with, this?" she interrupted, extending a hoof to the device. "Face it anon; you've been caught."
 
"This, is PROOF. You wanted PROOF."
>You were seething with fury at this point.
 
>"Anon, you're acting like a baby right now," Twilight stated.
>She then looked on at you with that cocky-ass grin of hers, before extending a wing to gesture towards the interior.
>"I've left your room as it was, Anon. All you have to do is admit you were lying."
 
>"Um, Twilight?" interjected Pinkie Pie. "I think you should stop badgering Anon. He looks really, REALLY cranky."
 
>Cranky?
>Cranky doesn't even BEGIN to describe how you feel.
>Your head is swelling and you're becoming slightly lightheaded as your raging inferno of fury slowly gets the better of you.
 
>"He's just throwing a tantrum because I won't believe his nonsense," Twilight pompously stated, before directing at you, "like a CHILD, Anon."
 
>And there it goes.
>The last straw.
>You felt something click in your head, and in an instant, all of your rage was replaced by something else.
 
>Determination.
 
"Then I'll give you MORE proof!"
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNYeNzRtQ_Y
 
>Both Twilight and Pinkie give you confused looks.
>"What are you on about now, Anon?" Twilight questioned in an exasperated tone.
 
"You don't think a city can be powered without magic?"
>You sneer at the feeble ponies before you.
"Then I'll just have to MAKE one!"
 
>Twilight cocked her head to the side. "Wait, what?!"
 
"YOU heard me, you horse-faced THUNDERCUNT! I'll build my OWN city!"
 
>You begin to pace back and forth in front of the ponies.
"I'll build a city where NO ONE will be forced to live on the CRUTCH that is magic!"
 
>Twilight rolled her eyes, while Pinkie watched with wonder.
 
"I'll have every home powered by ELECTRICITY! And NO home will be without LIGHT!"
"And I'll have CLEAN, FILTERED WATER pumped ALL over town!"
 
>You look over at Pinkie Pie.
"Every home will have a radio, that plays music, for EVERYONE to dance to!"
>Pinkie gasped, starry-eyed and smiling.
"And ponies will be able to talk to eachother from far away, INSTANTLY, and WITHOUT MAGIC!"
 
>"Impossible!" Twilight cried.
 
>You looked over at her, sneering yourself.
"And wanna know the best part?"
 
>"..."
 
"No longer will the power be in the control of unicorns! In a city without magic, EVERYONE is EQUAL!"
 
>You concluded your speech, panting.
 
>"...Finished, Anon?"
>You didn't reply, too busy breathing heavily after your rant.
 
>"Um, Nonnie?" came a quiet Pinkie Pie.
>Wow that was a first.
"What?" you spit out between breaths, turning around towards Pinkie.
 
>...Oh.
 
>You hadn't noticed the crowd of ponies that had formed during your rant.
>A large congregation of ponies that just stared at you, like an exotic animal.
 
>You turned back to see Twilight shaking her head in disappointment.
>"Are you done making a fool of yourself, Anon?" Twilight inquired.
 
>For a moment, you almost were ready to just give in.
 
>Until, from somewhere in the crowd, a pony started clapping.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBVqmagU9dU
 
>Be past Anon.
>And you're wearing the cheekiest grin you can muster.
 
>Following that one clapping pony was another.
>And another.
>And two more.
>And you get the picture.
 
>There wasn't a pony there that wasn't clapping wildly for you, Pinkie Pie included.
>Well, except for the horce-faced thundercunt.
>You turned back to get a load of her reaction, and boy oh boy was she saddlesore.
 
>"Why are you encouraging him?!" she shouted to the crowd. "Anon can't make ANY of that happen without magic!"
 
>You didn't even bother to reply.
>You simply held out the generator, spinning the crank and making the lightbulb glow.
>The crowd OOH'd and AAH'd before you.
>"He's not using magic either!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "Nonnie made it with his own two hands!"
 
>With that, the crowd burst into an even fiercer cry than before.
>It actually made you wince, having not expected a reply so boisterous.
 
>"PINKIE!" Twilight growled, furious.
>"Twilight, Nonnie's onto something super-duper cool!" Pinkie replied. "I don't think he's fibbing, honest!"
>"He HAS to be!" Twilight replied. "Nothing makes sense! The way he talks about his cities and technology, it can't POSSIBLY be efficient enough to power it all! He HAS to be lying about SOMETHING!"
 
>Suddenly, there was a cry from the crowd..
>"I want to live in a world without magic!"
 
>And there came others as well.
>"Me too!"
>"I wanna do things like unicorns can!"
>"I wanna live in Anon's World!"
 
"Then JOIN ME! And together, WE'LL MAKE IT HAPPEN!"
 
>The crowd went fucking berserk with cheering and chanting your name.
 
>You looked at Twilight, who was absolutely flabbergasted.
>Taste those salty tears, Twilight.
 
>"Anon, stop it!" she pleaded.
"Stop doing what? Stop being fucking AWESOME?"
>"STOP ENCOURAGING THEM!" she spat. "You're gonna start a RIOT!"
 
>You shook your head.
"I won't start a riot."
 
"I'll start a revolution."
 
-----
 
>A departure date had been set.
>Noon, tomorrow.
>Everyone who wanted to be part of a magic-free lifestyle would meet in front of the castle.
>Things packed, goodbyes said.
>Nothing magical. At all.
 
>As the crowd dispersed, Twilight was positively livid.
>"ANON! You CANNOT TAKE OUR CITIZENS!"
 
>You shook your head at her.
"I'm not taking them. They're following me."
 
>"You know what I meant!"
 
"You don't own these ponies, Twilight. If they want to follow me to help me build my homage to 'fuck you', you can't stop them."
>"I can stop you from building it in EQUESTRIA," Twilight countered. "As a Princess, I can deny you the permits!"
 
>You look off to the horizon.
"Then we'll build it outside of Equestria."
 
>"Where?" Twilight inquired. "There's only one piece of land in the CONTINENT that isn't owned by a kingdom, and it's uninhabitable to all but a few nomadic tribes and bandits! You won't last a week out there without magic!"
 
>You turn back to her, shaking your head.
"You still don't fucking get it, do you?"
>You took a step closer.
"By myself, I made light. With help, I can do more than you can even IMAGINE."
 
>"Ooh! I'll help you!"
 
>You both turned towards the pink pony with surprise.
>"Pinkie?! You're actually buying into his tall tales?"
 
>"They're not tall tales, Twilight!" Pinkie shouted back. "I think Nonnie can do it! And I think you're being a big meanie by telling him he can't! Friends are supposed to trust each other!"
 
>"What will the Cakes at the bakery do without you?" Twilight countered. "Are you just gonna abandon them for Anon's wild fantasy?"
 
>"They'll understand," Pinkie replied, "because that's what friends do! They support each other, just like I support Nonnie! And like YOU should support him too!"
 
>Oof, right in the feels.
>Good feels, though.
 
-----
 
>Twilight was speechless.
>For like a second or two.
>"I-I can't believe what I'm hearing. How does NOPONY understand the fallacies of Anon's argument?"
>Then, to you, "You're gonna put everypony at risk because you don't want to come clean?"
 
>You take a step closer to her, crossing your arms.
"You could have stopped this. All you had to do was apologize."
>You then turn away from her, pacing around.
"But now the ball's rolling, Twilight. Anon's World will be built, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
 
>You were tired of talking to purpledunce.
"Come on Pinkie. We have supplies to gather and plans to make."
>"Aye aye, Nonnie!"
 
>You never looked back once.
>Not as she cried for you to come back.
>Not as she slammed her castle doors.
>As far as you were concerned, that was the last time you would ever see Twilight.
 
>And at the moment, that was fine with you.
 
---
 
>Be Anon still.
>And it's late at night.
 
>You look over at the small table covered with notes, tools, and other miscellany.
>You were currently in Pinkie's bed, in her room.
>And Pinkie laid in an inflatable mattress on the floor, having given you her own bed.
 
>Yeah, get that image out of your head, perv.
 
>You look over to the pink pony who was still awake.
"Hey Pinkie?"
>"Yeah Nonnie?"
"Thanks for sticking up for me back there."
>"No problem Nonnie, it's what friends do!" she replied. "And Twilight's just being a mean-ol' grouchy-pony."
"Well regardless, I appreciate it. You're the only pony I can call friend in the entire time I've been here."
>"Aww, thank you!" she said. "I'm really glad we're friends, Nonnie!"
"Me too."
 
>Silence.
 
>"...Hey, Nonnie?"
"Yeah Pinkie?"
>"Can you tell me more stories about your home?"
 
>You crack a smile.
"Sure."
 
-----
 
>Be Anon.
>And holy shit you didn't expect this kind of turnout.
 
>You were carrying a backpack full of tools on your back, as well as a couple bags full of other supplies.
>Pinkie hopped alongside you, carrying saddlebags of her own.
>When you got to the meeting place, there was a huge crowd of ponies waiting for you.
>Stallions, mares, colts and fillies alike.
>All of them carrying bags.
>Some of them having brought carts, and were being loaded onto by others.
 
>You counted maybe fifty ponies.
>And you couldn't see a single unicorn.
 
>When the group caught sight of you, they immediately began clapping and cheering for you.
>"Anon! Anon! Anon!"
 
>It actually made you shed a tear.
>A MANLY tear, mind you.
>But a tear, nonetheless.
 
>Suddenly, you were approached by a familiar white earth pony.
"Nurse Redheart? You're coming too?"
 
>"Well SOMEPONY has to make sure nopony dies," she replied.
"Is that so?"
>"Aaand, I also think that what you're doing here is a good thing," she added. "You're giving a lot of ponies hope, myself included. I'd say that for now, you've proven yourself. And that's enough for me."
 
>You smile.
>"Happy to have you aboard, Nurse Redheart!" Pinkie cheered.
>The pony in question chuckles. "Happy to be here, Pinkie."
>She then rejoined the crowd, and after a moment, so did you.
 
>Ponies all around smiled and saluted you when they saw you.
>No matter what they were doing, be it moving their supplies onto wagons, or saying their goodbyes to loved ones.
 
>Suddenly, you could feel something grab onto your leg.
>You look down, surprised, and saw a small filly with a red bow on her head.
>"Ah wawna go too!"
 
-----
 
>"Applebloom! Where are ya?!"
>And there came the voice of the other applehorse.
>Very quickly, Applejack broke through the crowd to look at you, and then Applebloom.
>"Let go of him right now, young lady!"
 
>"But ah don't like magic!" she replied. "Ah don' wanna live in a world with it!"
>"You just don't wanna go t' school, lil' missy," Applejack countered.
>"That too!"
 
>You chuckled.
>Applejack groans.
>"Yer too young t' make this kind of decision, Applebloom. An' we need y'all on th' farm."
 
"So you're not coming with us?"
 
>Applejack shook her head. "It ain't fer lack o' want, Anon. Ah like th' sound of no magic just like any other earth pony. But we make a good livin' out at th' orchard, an' we can't do nothin' that'll jeopardize it."
 
>You nod in agreement.
"I completely understand."
 
>"Ah do wish y'all th' best o' luck though!" she exclaimed with a smile. "And don't think ah won't make 'Anontopia' th' next Apple family road trip, if only t' see all them fancy doo-dads an' doo-hickeys y'all are gonna build."
 
>"Aww, I'm gonna miss you Applejack!" Pinkie cried, before wrapping her forelegs around Applejack in a hug.
>"We'll miss y'all too, Pinkie," Applejack said, returning the hug.
>This lasted for a few seconds more, before Applejack finally disengaged.
 
>"Speaking of which," Pinkie began, "are the girls around? I wanna say goodbye to them too!"
 
>"Oh Darling, do you even have to ask?" came Rarity's voice.
>One by one, the rest of Pinkie's friends came to join Applejack.
>Everyone except Twilight.
>Go fuckin' figure.
 
-----
 
>"Rarity! Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!" Pinkie gave each of them just as friendly a hug as Applejack. "Where's Twilight?"
>The others gave each other worried looks.
 
>"She, wasn't able to accompany us," Rarity replies. "Princess duties, and what not."
 
>Pinkie looked disappointed. "Aww... Can you give her a goodbye hug for me when you see her?"
 
>"Sure thing, sugarcube," Applejack said with a faint smile.
 
>"So Anon," Rainbow Dash began, "you're going to live in the Badlands? I gotta say, that's pretty cool."
"The what now?"
>"Uh, the no-ponies-land owned by nopony?" Applejack replied, cocking an eyebrow.
>"A cesspool of ruffians and brutes!" Rarity exclaimed. "I bet they don't even bathe regularly."
 
>Oh, so THAT'S what it was called.
>You remember checking the maps with Pinkie last night, and your destination was a borderless region in a desert.
>It didn't have a name on that map, which you thought was perfect.
>A blank slate to carve your legacy into.
 
"Oh, yeah! Right! The Badlands, a.k.a. Anontopia!"
 
>"I hear a lot of scary monsters roam the Badlands," Fluttershy said softly. "Are you going be okay?"
 
>"Don't worry!" Pinkie said. "Nonnie has a plan!"
 
>That, you did.
>You had a rudimentary knowledge of how firearms worked, and had drafted up plans to make a simple flintlock pistol, as well as a rifle.
>You would need to reach a blacksmith to have the parts crafted, but with them, you could easily fend off anything the Badlands could throw at you.
 
>"Well," Rarity chimed in, "our top priority above all is that you remain safe."
>"Aww, you girls are the best friends a pony could want!" Pinkie cried.
 
>Suddenly, Rainbow dash got uncomfortably close to you, causing you to lean onto your heels.
 
"Uh, Rainbow?"
 
-----
 
"Rainbow, you're in my personal space."
 
>"Look," she said sternly, "Pinkie's our friend, and we don't want anything happening to her. Now I need you to PROMISE that you'll keep her safe, got it?"
>You put your hands up.
"Jeez, calm down Rainbow Dash. She'll be safe, I promise."
>"Good." Then, she added, "...Now take this."
 
>She took your hand, and placed a brass key in your palm.
>You look at it in confusion.
>"It's to a chest," began Rarity, "already on one of the wagons. We all had decided to donate supplies to your cause."
 
>Rainbow stepped back. "I packed flight goggles, to help with the dust storms."
>Dust storms?
>"I crafted several blankets," came Rarity, "to help combat the frigidity of the night."
>Frigid nights?
>"I-I added insect repellant," said Fluttershy, "to keep insects from biting ponies."
>Biting insects?
>"An I brought y'all plenty o' seeds t' grow food with," Applejack said. "I mean, it's mostly apples... Well, all apples... but who don't like apples, right?"
>Apples?
>Oh man, this was starting to sound a lot more dangerous than before.
 
>"You girls are the best!" Pinkie exclaimed, hugging each of them once more.
 
>Meanwhile, you were lost in your own thought.
>A desert was a dangerous place.
>And you weren't exactly a survivalist.
>Honestly, you were only thinking of bandits when you thought of the risk.
>But monsters, weather, insects...
>You were having second thoughts.
 
>But then you looked around you.
>At the ponies that were dropping everything in their lives to follow you.
>Even more, to follow you into one of the most uninhabitable regions in the continent.
 
>...Because they believed in you.
 
>"Anonymous?"
>You look over to Rarity, who was levitating an embroidered envelope to you.
>"This is from Twilight. She told me to deliver it to you personally."
 
>Honestly, you don't want to read this.
 
-----
 
>"...Uh, Anon?"
"Yeah Applejack?"
>"You gonna read that there letter?"
 
>It had been a moment of silence since the letter was given to you.
>Obviously, they expected you to read it right there.
>You looked at the envelope, inspecting the details.
>Even though it was just pony to person, Twilight saw fit to be as formal as possible with the send-to information, as well as even a royal seal.
 
>That just served to piss you off.
>A simple blank envelope would have worked fine.
>But no, she felt the need to lord her rank over you with this.
>It was probably just a notice that we couldn't get permits to build in Equestria.
 
>You look up at the five ponies, as they looked at you.
"Nope."
>And with that, you slid the letter into your suit pocket.
 
>The others gave you a mix of confused and disappointed looks.
>"Well... alrighty then," Applejack said after a time.
>Rarity was the next to speak. "Anonymous, I believe it's time to end your petty feud with Twilight."
 
>Your eyebrows rose, and your teeth clenched.
"Petty?"
>"Now hold up," Applejack began. "Now, we ain't sayin' that Twilight ain't in th' wrong fer callin' y'all a liar an' whatnot."
>Rarity finished for Applejack, "But there's absolutely no reason to end a perfectly-good friendship over something so trivial, don't you agree?"
>You shook your head.
 
"I don't know how it is here in Ponyland, but when you challenge someone's integrity on Earth, it's a big fucking deal."
>"We get that, Anon," Applejack replied. "But y'all were good friends before! Can't ya just settle it already?"
 
"Did Twilight send you?"
>You took a deep breath.
"Don't answer that."
>Very calmly, you released the air in your lungs, before crossing your arms.
"It can't be settled. Not yet."
 
>"And why ever can it not, Anonymous?" asked Rarity.
 
"She thinks I'm lying. She won't think otherwise until I prove it to her."
>You turn your back to the group.
"When that happens... then we'll talk."
 
-----
 
"Regardless, I have to go through with this, for proof or not."
>You turn back to the ponies, and gesture to the crowd around you.
"Look at these ponies. Yesterday, they lived normal lives. Steady lives. Secure lives."
"People with careers, homes, families. And today, they're getting ready to leave all of that behind."
"...For me."
 
>You were beginning to choke up as you heard the words come out of your mouth.
>But you choked it down, and with a deep breath, you continued.
 
"I opened these ponies up to a world of untapped potential, and they need me to guide them."
"Without me, they'll surely fail."
 
>The other ponies solemnly nodded.
>"We understand," Rarity told you.
 
>You then began walking away, and towards the west.
>Where the Badlands were located.
>Pinkie also followed you, with a final goodbye to her friends.
 
"A land without borders and a town without magic! The possibilities are ENDLESS!"
>Other ponies noticed you walking away, and slowly, they began to follow you.
 
"By the time we're done, the Badlands will need a new name!"
>"YEAH!" cried the ponies following you.
"There's NOTHING we can't do without magic!"
>"YEAH!"
"Next stop, UTOPIA!"
 
>You were very surprised to find yourself being lifted off the ground.
"Fuck what's going on?!"
>You looked back to see two pegasi carrying you over to one of the wagons, dropping you off onto a few crates that formed a bench.
"Th-Thank you!" you called back to them, still rattled by the sudden bout of flight, before looking forward.
>Ahead of you laid the plains, bordered on the right by the Everfree.
 
>Beyond that was the future.
>And it was gonna be a good one.
 
-----
 
>Be present-day Anon.
>You remember it so fondly.
>The cheers of the crowd on that fateful day.
>The day you embarked for No Man's Land, in search of a home.
 
>Today, you heard that very same cheer as the last of the buffalo ran as fast as they could from Anopolis.
>The stallions around you cried out in victory, jumping for joy even.
>Not a single casualty.
 
>"You're letting them get away?!" you heard Matilda screech from behind you. "They're gonna spill the beans about what kinda defenses we have!"
>You turned back to the gryphon, grinning.
 
"It will be a message to the others of their tribe. With any luck, that will be the last we see of the Bubalus tribe."
>Matilda groaned, shaking her head.
 
>"Sometimes Anon, I hate how passive you like to be. One of these days it's gonna come back to bite us in the tail feathers."
>You chuckle at the analogy, and Matilda shot you a dirty look. "Oh, and like you ain't full of weird sayings."
>As the other stallions were dealing with the bodies, you began to stroll back into town, with your gryphon friend walking alongside you.
 
"What weird sayings do I use?" you ask, amusedly.
>"Oh boy, where do I even BEGIN?" she exclaims, voice dripping with exaggerated exhaust.
>"Well for starters, what does 'put a sock in it' even mean? It sounds lewd."
 
>You are now imagining all the lewd situations that required 'putting a sock in it'.
>Pic related.
 
"It's a PG way of saying 'shut the fuck up already.'"
>"And there's ANOTHER one! What the hell does 'PG' mean?"
"It's a way of rating motion picture and their suitable audiences. From back in my home country. PG is Parental Guidance, PG-13 is the same, but for those age 13 and up. R is for adults of 17 and up, and X is for adults 18 and up."
 
>You were now imagining what constituted an X rating.
>Pic related.
 
>Matilda froze, and you looked back at her, stopping.
"Something the matter, Matilda?"
 
-----
 
>"...You're not an adult until 18 years old?"
 
"That is correct. Why?"
 
>"...How old are you, Anon?"
 
>The question caught you off guard.
"Twenty six. Why the sudden interest in my age?"
 
>Her eyes widened, and she shook her head.
"That's just a long time waitin' to be an adult. It's almost half of your life."
 
>Now you were confused.
"What? No it isn't. Humans tend to live into their eighties and nineties. Hell, HUNDREDS if you live healthy."
 
>Matilda stared hard at you, taken aback by what you said.
"How long do gryphons usually live?"
 
>She began walking towards you, and you were walking into town once more.
>"If you're lucky? Maybe forty."
>That made you do a double take.
>She looked back at you with a knowing look. "No kidding."
 
"...How old are YOU, Matilda?"
 
>She sighed, giving you a weak grin.
>"...Twenty six."
 
>That caused YOU to stop walking this time.
>Matilda's your age.
>Middle-aged.
>...Wow.
>She caught the look you had, and nodded solemnly. "Exactly. I'm past the half-way mark."
 
"I see."
 
>The rest of the walk was fairly silent.
>Some ponies came up to congratulate you on your success.
>You returned the hoofshakes and hugs, but your mind was elsewhere.
 
>Humans used to be like that.
>Modern medicine and lifestyle changes led to an increase of life expectancy.
>Things that gryphons obviously did not have.
>The thought saddened you.
 
>You think that Matilda picked up on it, because she patted you on the back. "Hey, it is what it is. I'm not an old maid yet Anon, I've still got bite in me."
"I know. It's just... a reminder of why I came here in the first place. To the Badlands."
>"They ain't so bad anymore," Matilda commented pridefully. "Gonna need a new name soon."
"Did you have any ideas?"
>She shrugged. "I was never good at pickin' names." Then, after a moment of hesitation, "Wanna know what the Carrion Birds were ORIGINALLY named?"
 
>This you certainly wanted to know.
"What was it?"
 
-----
 
"Uh, erm..."
 
>Matilda shot you a furious stare. "Anon, don't you DARE laugh!" She raised a fist as though to hit you, and you put your arms up defensively.
"I'm not laughing! Just, ack, clearing my throat!"
>"I'll clear your throat FOR you if you don't cut that out!"
 
>Be Anon.
>And you are trying so hard not to laugh right now.
>The Payday Gang?
>Seriously?
>GG Catbird, 10 outta 10.
>You got a good look at her face, and saw that she was red in the face.
>From embarrassment or anger, you could not tell.
 
>The two of you had found yourselves walking through a small park that was nested between two apartment buildings, about fifty square yards.
>An artificial river bordered it on all sides but the one open to the road, and lush green grass coated the patch of land that was at one point barren.
>There were a couple of benches sitting under large oak trees, and wordlessly, you found yourself sitting at one end, with Matilda on the other.
 
"I mean, it's not... it's not THAT bad."
>Matilda rolled her eyes. "We're bandits! Thieves! After our PAY DAY? It made sense!"
 
>You clear your throat once more.
"Well it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, to be fair."
 
>She huffed. "They said it wasn't intimidating enough. It was Jess who came up with the name "Carrion Birds"."
 
>The Carrion Birds were Matilda's gang.
>A band of rogue gryphons that roamed the badlands and stole from anyone that crossed their path.
>You can remember the first day you and Matilda had met.
 
>You weren't nearly as on good terms then as you were now.
 
---
 
"Alright everyone, let's make camp for the night!"
 
>Be Anon from 6 months ago.
>And tonight was the first night you'd spend in the Badlands.
 
>And spirits weren't high.
 
-----
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBkRe_m21Z0
 
>The sun hovered just over the expansive horizon as the caravan came to a halt.
>Since departing from Ponyville, you had made several stops at other towns, gathering supplies and crafting tools.
>Among those tools were rifles, crank-powered lights, and a jack for supporting a wagon to replace a wheel.
>If it weren't for the knowledge and skill of some of your followers, you alone would never be able to do any of this.
>Blacksmiths, carpenters, physicians, farmers....
>You needed them just as much as they needed you.
 
>Your original group of fifty had almost tripled in size, as word of your exodus spread across the land.
>Every day, more ponies came to find you, and to join you.
>More ponies meant that your town would need to be even bigger.
>And it also meant more mouths to feed.
>Luckily, many ponies brought their own food, and other, especially generous ponies had donated entire wagons full of food and water.
>But that would only last you so long, and you needed to establish renewable food and water.
>How you would do that, however...
 
>Well, you were working on that.
 
>All around, campfires were being lit and tents were being pitched.
>Ponies all gathered around to sing songs, talk, and have dinner.
>Pinkie was currently entertaining a group of small children with jokes and funny stories.
>And all the while, every pony you passed offered you a seat in their campfire ring.
>After the first couple weeks, you had to start turning down offers, for fear of being kept awake all night.
>Instead, you sought to retire into one of the covered wagons, to catch some well-needed sleep.
>And very quickly, you passed into slumber...
 
---
 
>You woke to the sound of a crate being smashed.
>"Shit!" came the hushed voice of someone you did not recognize.
>You rolled your eyes, irritated that your sleep was interrupted.
 
-----
 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-c2yC703yw
 
>"You could have woken someone up!" came another quiet voice.
>"Sorry, sorry! I stubbed my fucking toe on it!"
 
>That caught you by surprise.
>Ponies didn't have toes.
>...Who were these people?
>You peak your head out slowly from the covered wagon, to see just who it was outside.
 
>You counted five gryphons, currently unloading the contents of one of the topless wagons.
>It was a wagon filled with food.
>Fuck.
 
>You were being robbed.
 
>"Just hurry up!" said one gryphon, as she held out her talons. "I don't know if anyone's gonna wake up after that, let's just take what we got and leave!"
 
>Then, a female voice could be heard above you.
>Frighteningly close.
 
>"I see you, bub."
>Pic related.
 
>Very quickly, you dive back into the cart as a talon arcs down to claw at your head.
>Having narrowly avoided her claws of imminent death, you scan the wagon for anything you could defend yourself with.
 
>Oh, that'll work nicely.
 
>The gryphon that attacked you dropped down into the cart, a ravenous look on her face.
>She wore a black stetson atop her head, and a red bandana around her neck.
 
>Way to adopt the western bandit stereotype.
 
>Fairly soon, she was joined by two other gryphons waiting outside, grinning sinisterly at you.
>The one in the cart eyed you like a piece of meat, before her gaze dropped to what you held in your hands.
>"You gonna fight us off with a stick, String Bean?" she taunted you.
 
>You shook your head and donned a cocky smile.
"This isn't just ANY stick."
 
"This, [spoiler]is my BOOMSTICK![/spoiler]
 
>You lowered the barrel towards her head, and pulled the trigger.
 
-----