Chapter 43 Die Dead Enough
 
>That voice…
>That terrible voice…
>That voice has haunted you ever since you came into this world
>That fucking voice…
>You see that Twilight is horrified beyond words, and stiff as a board
>Her friends are similarly stunned
>Turning to look, you see the origin of that horrible voice
>In your gaze, a being of pure chaos appears
>It was the statue in the garden!
>Just like last time, a sick feeling comes over you, and you know instantly that this is Discord, and he’s bad news for Equestria
>“Finally! The fun can start! Care to join me, Anon?”
>He smirks at you
>Something about that pisses you the fuck off
>Gritting your teeth, you start to charge towards his floating body
>Instinct takes over, ignoring the few bodily aches you still have
>That wave of energy starts filling your being, black aura surrounding you
>The dress blues you were wearing magically change into your tigerstripe uniform
>Within seconds, you’re within striking range of him
>Strangely, he’s not moving
>In fact, it’s almost like he’s waiting for you
>“I guess you’re not ready quite yet.”
>As you make your jump to reach him, time seems to slow down
>“Ah! I know just the trick!”
>Before you know what’s going on, his right hand glows, and he swings at your head with unbelievable force
>Discord sends you flying backwards, and a strange pain rings throughout your skull
>Beyond physical pain, your mind is straining, and images start forming as your eyes shut
>The desert…
>A1C Blakely asking stupid questions
>The explosion…
>You realize that it really happened, and the realization hit
>You died that day
>What’s worse, you somehow know that you weren’t supposed to die then
>You were deployed, and applying for the Air Force Academy
>Of course, you didn’t get in due to your death, but had you survived…
>Perhaps that’s why you were so divided in your recollection when you first got here
>A disruption in the temporal flow?
>Whatever it was, your untimely death seemed to create a dual person within you, as both an enlisted airman, and the experienced officer you were going to be
>The former faded as you grew in your fighting ability, being suppressed by your flight skills you must’ve obtained as an officer
>That officer memory must be fading fast, because you’re forgetting a lot of your training quick
>The loss of your piloting skills…almost depresses you beyond all measure
>Almost
>Instead, a fury builds inside of you
>And in an instant, you realize how it all began
>The memory of you falling…it all started then!
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xNmF2E_MXw
>He had somehow managed to get you killed in your world, only to drag you into Equestria
>Just as he had promised so long ago, you had entered a world of chaos
>“Anon?”
>Opening your eyes, you see that it’s Twilight
>You’ve woken up hot, and your body is covered in a cold, cold sweat
>“Anon, talk to me!”
>All that shit you went through, all the misfortune you’ve suffered, hell even the night that caused you to massacre those ponies
>All because of HIM
>“Anon, what’s happening to you?!”
>Rage builds inside of you, manifesting itself as that black aura
>Jumping to your feet, you sprint back into the fray, oblivious to Twilight’s frantic screaming, oblivious to everything in the world, except for Discord
>He’s the cause of the war with the griffons, the rise of the diamond dog army, Trixie’s unnatural power, the dragon attacking Canterlot
>He’s the reason for every skirmish you’ve fought
>You don’t know for sure, of course, but you can feel that it’s true
>Swiftly, you hit him in the head with the power to stun a normal pony
>He, however, is unfazed
>You hit again, and he laughs at you
>You can’t hit hard enough
>Losing momentum, you fall about ten feet to the ground
>Undeterred, you jump again, this time leading with your foot aimed at his mouth
>Too late you realize that you can’t kick high enough
>Discord catches your leg and throws you back to the ground
>Hard
>“What’s the matter, Anon? I thought you were Equestria’s finest warrior!”
>Fuck him and his taunting bullshit
>Suddenly, you get an idea in your head
>Fighting him head on has proven impossible, so…
>Focusing, your M9 appears in your right hand
>“I LOVE magic tricks! Now let me show you mine!”
>Ignoring his taunting, you take aim and empty the magazine
>To your horror, none of the bullets hit
>“Did you see that? I bent the air around me to make those bullets miss me! HAHAHA!
>You can’t shoot straight enough
>“My turn!”
>With unbelievable speed, he flies down and disappears
>Before you can react, he reappears from under the ground, and uppercuts you, sending you flying again
>As your back hits a tree, you feel it almost split
>How the hell did this fight get so one-sided?
>Pain searing within you, getting up becomes a struggle
>Discord blindsides you with a left hook, knocking your ass back on the ground several feet away from the tree
>Disoriented, you look up to the now reddish sky, reminding you of a combat zone you were in
>Nighttime fighting was rampant, and huge portions of the city were on fire, giving the sky that signature red appearance
>For there to be such a color in the atmosphere, shit must be seriously whack
>Out of nowhere, Discord slams down onto your stomach, stomping on it
>You can’t take pain enough
>Almost to the point of blacking out, you roll away from him
>Getting on your knees, you attempt to make it to your feet
>That turns out to be the wrong action to take, as you feel some unnatural movement inside your guts
>You bend over, puking up blood
>This pain is by far worse than anything you’ve ever experienced
>He floats over to you with a smirk on his face
>“Look around you Anon. Notice anyone missing?”
>You almost don’t do as he says in defiance
>However, your curiosity gets the best of you
>Looking around, indeed you find that you and Discord are the only two beings in the garden
>“They’ve abandoned you, Anon. Left you for dead. Now tell me, what kind of friends are they? You’ve been there for them for so many things, but when you need them, where are they to be found?”
>A depression starts to kick in
>It slowly starts to spread, as you realize his words
>Everything’s so…cold
>A grey feeling expands over your being
>This land, you thought it was different…
>Wait
>It’s not what it seems
>Everything starts to warm up
No
>That depression fades away quickly
They wouldn’t abandon me. I trust them completely.
>“Hmm… Your mind is stronger than I thought it would be at this point…”
>You suddenly remember
They’re getting the Elements of Harmony to set your ass back to stone!
>You try to stand again, only to find yourself back on the ground
>The air is thick, but the oxygen feels thin
>“I’ll just have to do it by force then!”
>Your heart is beating like a drum, not knowing what he’s trying to do
>Looking up, he’s standing right in front of you
>Pointing an…index finger (or what you suppose it would be) at you, it’s glowing steadily
>Before you can do anything, he pokes your head
>BOOM
>You hear an explosion envelope you
>As you fall to the ground, everything around you turns to black
 
>“We’re almost there girls!”
>Twilight Sparkle ran desperately, the Element of Magic barely staying on her head
>Everyone else ran close behind her
>When they all reached the garden, they witnessed a terrible sight
>Discord poked Anon, sending him into a trance, face-down into the ground
>“ANON!”
>He doesn’t answer
>Discord looked over to see the mane 6, the Princesses, and Shining Armor had all come out of the castle at this point
>“What have you done to him?”
>“Me, dear Twilight? Nothing. He’s having a bit of an internal conflict!”
>He chuckles
>“It’s part of a game that we’re playing. Anon here will eventually come out, but who he’ll be, I don’t even know! HAHAHAHA!”
>“Not unless we use the Elements of Harmony against you!”
>“Oh? And you’d let your poor Anon stay in that limbo for all eternity?”
>“Excuse me?”
>“That is part of the rules. As long as I’m free from that stone prison, Anon can return. If I’m cast into stone, he’ll never wake up!”
>Twilight opened her mouth, but couldn’t find any words to say
>Discord flies into Canterlot, intending to have a little fun while waiting for Anon to return
>“Twiley, it’s ok. I’ll hold off Discord with the Princesses until he comes back. Understand?”
>She nods
>“Alright. Tell us the moment he wakes up so we can move out of your way”
>She desperately hoped that her brother and the princesses could avoid the same trap as Anon
>She hoped even more that Anon would wake up, and stop turning grey
 
>Ice is flowing through your veins
>As you wake up, you notice dry air, sand beneath you, and the scent of explosives on your lips
>The pain you’ve been feeling is gone
>Standing up, you realize quickly you’re not alone
>Looking all over, you see that you’re surrounded
>By griffons, diamond dogs, and changelings
>Oh. Fuck.
>Everyone you’ve ever killed, they’re now around you
>There’s quite a sizeable crowd, one that’s not quite endless, but as close to it as you can see
>All of them smile all of a sudden
>They know they’re about to have some revenge
>You smile too
Come for another round of ass kicking?
>Looking around, they’re all eager to get this on
>You don’t have time for this
Just line up 2 at a time, and we’ll get this show on the road. I have more important matters to attend to, so anyone who doesn’t want to die a second time should not engage in combat with me
>A round of laughter follows
>A bluff on your part
>However, you must get back to Equestria, and you need to go back quick
>The crowd starts to move in to you
>You get in your fighting stance, prepared to give it your all
>No way are you going to let them over-power you
>A griffon makes his way towards you, now within reach
>Focusing all your energy, you direct a punch at him
>It knocks him down…
>…but he quickly gets back up
>Oh.Shit.
>You don’t see your black aura around
>Your eyes widen, as you realize how fucked you are
>Either they can’t die, or you can’t use your powers
>Or both, perhaps that one
>Either way, you’re not going down that easy
>You still know how to fight, you’re just missing your super strength
>A diamond dog grabs you from behind and starts chocking you
>Immediately, you raise your right leg and push it all the way back, kicking him in the groin
>Letting go, he bends over
>Perfect
>You grab his head and quickly knee his nose in
>One down, a million to go
>At this point, everyone’s making their way to you
>Instinctively, you know that it’s game-over if they corner you
>Instead of staying put, you start running through the crowd
>Any arms that try to grab you are quickly dislocated
>More often than not, a paw scratches you deeply, drawing blood
>A fist to your face leaves you disoriented, and you can feel yourself being grabbed
>Before you can do anything about it, they’ve got you by all your limbs
>It’s that game-over scenario you were thinking of only moments ago
>Holding you up, individual enemies come over to inflict pain on you
>A dog punches your face, fucking up your left eye
>A griffon stabs you with his claws, ripping your guts up
>A changeling transforms into a manticore, stinging you in the neck
>As your neck swells, your body starts to give up
>How is this happening?
>How can you be here?
>You can’t accept that you’re going to die here
It wasn’t supposed to end like this!
>Closing your eyes, you suddenly fall to the ground unsupported
>“It doesn’t have to end, Anon.”
>As you open your eyes, all those enemies disappear
>What takes their place is a horrific creature
>Taller than yourself, it has the appearance of having two pony bodies, but sharing one human-like head
>It’s body black, the face a dead grey, and you suddenly realize
>That’s your face
>Its hair is much longer than yours, but that’s your face, if it had been underground for a few days
>Terrified, you get up and try to take a few steps back
>Due to your newly-sustained injuries, that doesn’t go too well
>Instead, you fall, landing on your back
>It creepily walks towards you
>“Just let me take over for a little bit, and you’ll end up back in Equestria with all your little friends”
>Crawling backwards, you don’t want this thing anywhere near you
>Though your mother always taught you to never judge a book by its cover, you knew this thing was evil
>Closer, and closer it comes to you
Get away from me!
>“It’s just one moment, and then it’s like nothing ever happened”
>The creature is now in striking distance, but you have no desire to touch it at all
>A disembodied hand comes from behind it, about to touch you…
>The sound of an M1 Garand, and you feel some relief as it recoils from getting hit
>“Get your ass off the ground and get away from it!”
>That voice calling you from behind…it sounds…
>No time for that, you get up, turn around, and run
>There’s much less pain this time around
>Probably the adrenaline running through your body
>Another couple of shots fired
>You don’t turn to see if they hit, you just run like hell
>You don’t know what you’re running from
>You don’t know where you’re running to
>But anything away from that thing is a good start
>Running on strangely-firm sand, a little ways ahead, you spot the silhouette of somebody in front of a colorless void
>The scenery literally ends at that void, along a straight line
>Two more bullets wiz by your head and into the creature
>This time the thing emits a high-pitched wail, loud enough to make you feel a little sick
>Running towards him, he seems rather familiar
>By the time he’s close enough to be fully seen, you think you know him
>You run up next to him and try to say something
Hey, uh, me? What’s going on here?
>“There’s not much time! You have to run into that void in front of you!”
>He does look very much like you, but one thing is off that you can tell: his age
>From what you can tell, he’s about 10 years older than you
>And what he’s wearing excites you
>A flight suit, with captain bars on the shoulder
>You surmise that this is who you would’ve been, had Discord not been responsible for your death
So, Captain, what’s the plan?
>“You need to go through the void ASAP to save Equestria.”
But I can’t. I couldn’t fight against Discord. When I did-
>“Airman! I don’t care if you can’t fight him, you gotta go now. Everything will work out how it’s supposed to, if you believe it.”
>Yup. That’s you. Idealistic and believing
>Yet, something keeps you
>He shoots three more times, and you hear the distinctive PING
I can’t go back there without something. I have to be able to do SOMETHING when I get back
>Annoyed, he puts in another clip
>“You know, this is my last clip. I tell you what: I’ll help you look like you’re under that thing’s control, giving you the opportunity for a surprise attack.”
>That creature starts charging towards the two of you
>He fires twice, slowing, but not stopping it
>“How you decide to use that sneak attack, is all up to you. Understood?”
>It’s the little things in life that reassure you
Yes sir. Thank you, so much for the assistance
>You salute him, knowing he’ll likely fade soon after you leave
>He returns your salute, then remarks, “Get going before I hit you upside your head with this rifle!”
>You turn, running full speed towards the void
>Once you step into it, it’s like running straight off a cliff, complete with the sickly falling feeling
>Faster, and faster, you fall, eventually blacking out again
 
>You wake up with your head on the grass
>You’re back in Equestria
>The first thing you notice is a return of some of the pain Discord inflicted on you
>As you get up, you notice that you’re colored grey
>What the fuck…?
>Your wounds are no longer bleeding, but they’re still somewhat there
>In front of you are Twilight and her friends, noticeably carrying what must certainly be the Elements of Harmony
>You almost speak out, when Discord lands next to you
>“Ladies, are you ready for the real fun to start? Anon here seems to have finally awoken!”
>He thinks you’re brainwashed!
>Now to wait for the perfect time to attack…
>You put a snarl on your face, showing aggression towards your friends
>“As you can see, he’s now more driven than before, living only to settle our score.”
>“What do you mean, Discord? What game is this?”
>“No games my dear, forget how I got here! Forced into a body of stone, I could feel every pain in my bones. As you can probably tell, it was a torment worthy of Hell! And it was you, Twilight Sparkle, that petrified me to my very core. Now you’ll be disposed of by the one you most care for!”
>She looks on with denial
>“Anon, please tell him that he’s wrong, that you’d never side with him.”
>Sensing that the moment isn’t right, you answer with a growl directed at her, and take a step
>“No…Anon…please!”
>It kills you that you have to do this, but the time’s not quite right…
>You power up, feeling all your aggression manifest itself
>“Beg all you want my dear unicorn, for when this day is over, you’ll wish you were never born!”
>He puts his arms around you, chumming it up with you
>NOW
>Slipping out of his grasp, you punch him in the side, where the kidneys might be on a human
>That actually seems to have hurt him, as he’s caught by surprise
>The color in your body has returned to normal, you notice
>You follow up with a quick series of jabs and you’re about to pull his head down to meet yours
>Discord suddenly grabs your hand and hits you in the gut
>He then throws you to the ground, and kicks your chest
>It becomes quite apparent that he’s pissed
>“You ingrate! I gave you what your soul wanted! I know you want chaos and power deep down! Where do you think your magic comes from?”
>He raises his hand
>You suddenly feel much weaker
>Drained, even
>“I chose you, Anon, for I saw the chaos you could’ve spread, the anarchy that you could’ve reigned over. Instead, you choose to befriend those boring ponies!”
>You stand up
I never asked for any of this. I would’ve been happy to live in my world. Thanks to you, I’ve found myself in a better land, in a happier place. Perhaps I did crave destruction in my old world, but Equestria is my new home, and I wish for nothing more than peace for everyone here.
>You frown at him, taking your fighting stance
And if I have to be the one to maintain it, so be it!
>Discord replies, “If you want your death so much, I’ll be glad to oblige!”
>His speed shocks you
>As you blink, he grabs you, picking you up like a cat
>In his hands, you’re completely helpless, his hands large enough to restrain you
>“Such a pity. You really had shown plenty of potential. The only thing left…”
>You feel massive pressure over your body
>“…is to start anew. Farewell, Anon.”
>He’s crushing you with apparent ease
>Breathing is impossible now
>You’re going to die of constriction
>Every friendship you’ve made…every bit of happiness this world has given you… to end this way?
>And Twilight’s fate…?
>No
>You realize that she might not survive this without you
>Rage builds within you, and you feel a kind of magic coming back to you
>Not the same as before, but feels like your own kind
>There’s no aura, but that suits you fine
>Your body resists Discord’s constricting
>Strength returning, you see that he doesn’t know what’s going on
>Even better, you notice his head is rather close to yours
>Without thought or warning, you proceed to head butt him rather hard
>This catches him by surprise, but he manages to hold onto you
>Again, you head butt him
>He recoils, still fazed from the first hit
>Once more, you head butt him, almost stunning yourself
>Third time’s the charm
>He drops you and puts his hands to his head
>Perfect opportunity
>You tackle him and start pounding him into the dirt
>This sudden development visibly shocks Discord
>Punch after punch, you ensure a great deal of pain is inflicted
>Regaining his senses, he snaps his fingers and you are lifted up by a black cloud
>He wipes some blood from the corner of his mouth, and stands up
>Anger in his eyes, he turns to you
>“I don’t know how you managed to over-power me, but we will finish this on another day!”
>No
>You’re not letting him go
>As he starts to fly, you break out of that cloud and jump
>In what could only be described as a billion-to-one chance, you grab his tail, feeling the pain of a thousand needles as you tough it, and drag him back to the ground
No, Discord, this ends NOW!
>Landing hard on the ground, you proceed to slam him down
>Still holding to his tail, you lift him and again slam him down to the ground
>It’s almost cartoonish how easy it is for you to continue pulling him down
>He still resists, but he never manages to shake from your grip
>You glance at Twilight and her friends, still holding onto the Elements of Harmony
>They’re unsure of what to do, but from what you see, they can’t hit him with the Elements if he’s constantly moving
>Discord almost slips out of your grasp
>Almost
>And you realize what you have to do
> A sacrifice may be needed, but you don’t care
>You are more driven than before
>Though you have no trouble holding onto him, pulling him towards you requires all your strength
>No matter
>You live just to settle this score
>Dragging him back, you square yourself with him, your head behind and to the side of his
>Your right arm holds him around his neck, your left around his chest
>On your right arm, you can feel the nearness of his breath
>Still putting up a struggle, you keep holding on for dear life
>You whisper in his ear
I introduce you to your death
>His eyes widening, he resists even harder, but comes nowhere close to hitting you
>You look over to Twilight, seeing that she’s stunned at what you’re doing
NOW TWILIGHT! USE THE ELEMENTS OF HARMONY!
>Bracing yourself, Discord doesn’t give you a break
>…
>She still hasn’t used them
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! USE THEM NOW!
>Tears form in her eyes
>“I can’t get Discord without hitting you! I’m not going to turn you to stone!”
>She should tell you something you don’t already know
>Shock hits you, as you feel him bite down hard into your arm
>Blood starts dripping fast
>You do not let go, fearing what will happen
I CAN’T HOLD ON ENOUGH!
>Dropping the two of you to the ground, you hope you can keep holding him for a little longer
>Still, you know that you can’t stay down enough
>“There has to be another way!”
>There’s no time for this
>You can’t take pain enough
>At this rate, Discord is going to break loose
>You can’t bleed fast enough
>Looking into her eyes, you try one more time
I’M DOING MY DUTY AS A SOLDIER AND SACRIFICING MYSELF FOR THE GOOD OF EQUESTRIA! IF YOU DON’T GET HIM NOW, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!
>That seemed to wake her up from that bullshit
>Her tears flowed down her face, showing you that she knew what she had to do all along
>Denial caused her to hesitate
>But not anymore
>She forms up with her friends, and they start to glow
>In a fury, Discord shouts
>“YOU WON’T KEEP ME PETRIFIED FOREVER! I CAN’T DIE DEAD ENOUGH!”
>You head butt him in the back of his, shoving his face into the dirt
>Bracing yourself, you’re sure to keep your eyes open to confirm that you both are hit
>A bright flash, and a rainbow beam comes towards you
>It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen! In fact, you-
AAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
>It feels like you’ve gotten hit by a truck
>Feeling stone growing on Discord, you instinctively let go and roll away from him
>He gets up, only to be frozen where he’s at
>A look of hatred from him glares down at you
>Before you know it, he’s completely encased into stone
>Mission accomplished
>Now to get back to the girls, go home, and-
>As you get up, you realize your feet are heavier, and a sharp pain emits from them
>In fact, you can’t move your toes
>Looking down, you realize two things
>First, your tiger-stripe uniform has reverted back to your Air Force blues
>Second, and more concerning, your feet have turned to stone!
>More worrisome is that it’s painfully spreading to your ankles
>You realize what’s going to happen, taking a glance over at Discord
>What a pathetic way to be frozen
>That’s not for you. At least for you, it seems you have the time to be petrified in a dignified posture
>Quickly, you change your lower body to the position of attention
>Everybody runs over to you
>Twilight Sparkle, her friends, the Princesses, and Shining Armor
>They immediately see what’s happening to you
>The petrification slowly works up to your knees
>You feel something in your pocket, and go to reach it
>It’s that magical MP3 player from that long time ago
>You decide to play a last song
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZemYl9lWqk
>Twilight looks to you with tears running down her face
>“Girls, quick! We have to use the Elements of Harmony again!”
>They swiftly get into position and, in a blur, hit you again with the spell
>You’re hit by another rainbow bus
>Still standing, when the dust settles you realize that the petrification is up to your thighs!
>So, it seems there’s nothing stopping this from happening
>But you had already figured as much
>Twilight, realizing this, breaks down into tears
>“Why did you make me use the Elements against you?”
>Looking at her, you speak your mind
Twilight, my dear, this is a lesson every soldier’s love has to learn. Every soldier has the duty to lay down his life in the name of his country, and doing anything less than that is disgraceful. I did the only sensible thing to do, knowing full well that something like this could happen. I swore that I would do everything in my power to keep Equestria safe, and this just happened to be the only way I could do it. I’m sorry, but this is the life of a soldier.
>Everyone looks onto you, your waist now turned to stone
>Time for your goodbyes
Applejack, I want to thank you, for being an honest friend. You gave me my first job here, and though I wasn’t the best of help, you continued to help me until I got on my feet. Even better, you helped me when I had to train my troops by giving them quarters. You’re a true friend, through and through.
>She sniffles
>“’Twaren’t nothing, Anon. I’m glad I could have ya help out at the orchard.”
>Looking towards Rarity, she looks like she’ll break down any second
Rarity, you’ve been a generous friend. Clothing might not mean much to everypony, but to me, it’s everything, and you know it. My uniforms, the uniforms of my troops, hell, even those non-combat clothes…in a world without humans, you’ve certainly taken your time to help me out. You’ve shown me you really do care about your work, and I thank you for giving your best thoughtlessly.
>“Anon, you’ve been a great customer, and I’ve always hoped the best for you”
>Next you look towards Pinkie
>She’s already bawling
Pinkie Pie, it’s always been one hell of a party with you. I’ve always enjoyed spending time with you, as well as enjoying your pastries. Your boundless energy is impressive, and reminds me of myself when I was a child.
>Even though you had a shitty childhood, you sometimes found the time to have fun
It’s been a pleasure being your friend, because you’ve always found a way to make me laugh.
>“Anon, I…”
>She can’t finish her sentence, crying a fountain instead
>Fluttershy has the saddest look on her face
>It’s about to break your heart
Fluttershy, you took care of me when we first met. You take great care of your animal friends, and you helped nurse me back to health when I was injured from the timber wolves. You’ve been a quiet one, but no less than a great friend. I don’t know many who’s shown such kindness to me as you.
>“Anon...you’ve been…”
>She chokes on her tears
>Though the effect seemed to slow down, it’s still crawling towards your stomach
>Shit, gotta hurry it up       
>Rainbow Dash, she seems like she’s fighting the tears
Hey, Rainbow, don’t you cry. We had some good times as well. We flew side-by-side when I first was in the F-22. Even better, you helped train my Pegasus troops how to fly. I remember that bottle of Applejack Daniels we shared, don’t you?
>“Yeah, that…(sniff)… Was the best bottle I had.”
It was. You’ve been my most loyal friend here, rivaling only the loyalty of my men. In another life, I could see myself flying beside you. You’re the best wingman anyone could ask for.
>“You mean, you could be my wingman!”
>She has a slight smirk, but you could tell she was breaking down inside
>You turn your head towards your would-be brother-in-law
Hey, Shining Armor. I just want to thank you for your service. It’s been a pleasure serving with you. One day, you’ll make a better leader than I ever could be.
>“What? No, I could never compare to you.”
Give it time. I see a lot of potential in you, much more than there is in me. There’s a reason you’re the Captain of the Guard, even when I showed up. I reached my peak long ago, but it’ll be quite a while before you do, and when you do, you will outshine all that I’ve done. I truly believe it.
>“Sir, I don’t know what to say.”
Just tell me one thing. You still remember where I told you I wanted to be buried?
>Through teary eyes, he responds, “Of course I do. And I’ll make sure you’re put to rest there!”
Thank you, so much, Captain.
>Though he successfully fights back his tears, you see that it’s taking everything he has
>His wife grabs your attention, as she softly weeps
Princess Cadance, you’ve helped me immensely with your magic. It’s because of you that I could finally allow myself to love Twilight Sparkle. I don’t know how things would’ve turned out without that, but you’ve certainly been an irreplaceable part of my and Twilight’s life. Thank you so much.
>She nods, unable to speak
>Princess Luna grabs your attention
>She’s not crying, but she’s clearly troubled by what’s happening
Princess Luna, I consider you a close friend. We haven’t spent much time together, but when we did, it’s been fun. You’ve made nighttime such a beautiful thing, and I truly appreciate all the help that you’ve given me. I realize I have kept my distance, but that is only because of rank. I serve you and your sister, and according to my customs, I’m not allowed to fraternize with you. I realize only now that I should’ve disregarded this part of my training.
>“Anon, you’ve shown more faith in us than I’d expected. I cannot express my thanks to you for your service.”
You don’t have to.
>The petrification has worked up your stomach to your chest
>Now, you feel compelled to talk to your love
Twilight Sparkle, please come over here
>She follows your request, and raises herself onto her hind legs
>Embracing her, you speak softly
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Even though this is to be expected for military members, I apologize for making you do that. It took me everything to ask you to marry me, and when you said yes, I honestly was the happiest living thing in Equestria. I have quite a few regrets, but the one that weighs most on me is that I can’t live a normal life with you.
>You look deep into her eyes
I love you, Twilight, and I always will
>She leans in closer to you
>“I love you, Anon, now, and forever.”
>You both passionately kiss
>An eternity passes in a minute
>Pulling back out of her lips, you feel the petrification spreading to your chest
My friends, there are a few last words I have to say. A tout le monde. A tout mes amis. Je vous aime. Je doit partir.
>Twilight asks, “What does that mean?”
Literally, it’s French for “To the world. To my friends. I love you all. I have to go.” It’s just like the song that’s playing. I’m not always good with words, and I think music can communicate better than I can. Just know that I’d love to stay with you all, but please, just for me, smile when you think of me.
>The petrification process spreads to your shoulders, and down your arms
>It’s now or never
Princess Celestia, I didn’t forget about you, I just wanted to have one last word with you
>Her head down, she approaches you
Princess, it’s been an honor serving you
>You raise a salute to her, and no sooner than you do, does your elbow turn to stone
>For the most part, you’re frozen in a position of attention
>You don’t intend on dropping that salute
I have you to thank for my integration. You made that spell so long ago, so I could talk with you all. What’s more, you gave me the opportunity to serve in the Royal Guard, and you did your best to make the right decisions. I want you to know that I don’t harbor any ill-will towards you. I thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
>Tears form in her eyes
>“How can you go on like that, knowing the terrible things I’ve done to you? You’ve been so loyal to me, to Equestria. Tell me, what kind of country deserves this much loyalty? I have given you every reason to join Discord in his destruction, but you still fought for us. Why?
>She still doesn’t understand
I believe in this land. A place where there’s peace and harmony, that’s the sort of place that deserves soldiers like me protecting it. Certainly more than a country that uses its soldiers for political agendas. I cannot deny that you’ve acted more rationally than my world’s leaders, and you’ve been fairer than they have. For this, I gladly give my life, and await the Elysian Fields.
>Your hands now petrified, your throat starts to painfully stiffen
>Breathing is difficult, as you struggle for one last sentence
Farewell, everyone. I’ve enjoyed my time here because of you all!
>Your mouth freezes in place almost immediately after you close it
>Fear of your impending death starts to take you
>You wonder, will you dream?
>Or is this the end?
>Looking at all these ponies, you’re touched that you’ve earned tears over your death
>Celestia still in front of you, you decide to stare straight to her
>You think of the dignified position you’re in, and can honestly appreciate it
>As it gets up to your nose, a final thought pops into your head
>It always did seem to take forever for magic to work on you
>This must be why it’s taken a while for you to be petrified
>Thank God or whoever for small favors
>In your final moments, you remember one last detail about yourself that evaded anything
>Your name
>In death, your name returns to you, or at least the one that you were born with
>And you quickly realize that name no longer means anything to you
>After all, you’re now Captain Anon, Hero of Equestria
>Your last comforting thought is that you’ve earned a soldier’s death
>It spreads to your eyes, and rather quickly, everything goes dark
 
>The Princesses had lowered the sun and raised the moon a little while ago
>Though it was technically nighttime, a little sunlight still shone in the horizon, enough to make half the sky a summer red
>Twilight Sparkle cries heavily at the foot of the statue
>The others, though still in shock at their loss, cannot comprehend the pain she feels
>She’s been glued to that statue for a few hours, and shows no sign of moving away
>To her, the stoic look on his face as he salutes is too much for her to handle
>“Why did…(hic)…you make me…(hic)...”
>She had finally had him back…
>And now, he’s gone again
>And she can’t bring him back
>All that she can think of is never leaving his side
>Everyone else stood only a little ways away, trying to figure out what to do
>Shining Armor spoke up
>“I think we should move Twilight, at least away from him. She’s hurt pretty bad, and we need to let her grieve, but we also need to remind her we’re still here for her. She’ll need some rest before long, so let’s get her to bed”
>Everyone nodded in agreement
>He cautiously approaches her
>“Hey, Twiley… I think we should get back to-”
>“It’s all my fault”
>“Huh?”
>“I hit him with my spell. I could’ve…(hic)…avoided hitting him, if only he (hic) hadn’t been so stu-stu-stubborn (hic)”
>“Twiley, he did what he had to. I’m sorry that this happened, but if I were him, I would’ve done the same thing. Such is what is sometimes demanded of us in the Royal Guard”
>She turns to him, frowning
>“WHY HIM? It’s ALWAYS been him! Why couldn’t somepony else have taken his spot?!”
>Princess Celestia cuts in
>“TWILIGHT SPARKLE! That is NO WAY for a student of mine to talk!”
>Startled, her frown turns to apprehension
>“Princess, I-”
>“That’s ENOUGH! Would you have another pony bear your pain to fulfill your selfish desires?!”
>“No, I didn’t mean-”
>“Because that’s exactly what you said!”
>She breaks into more tears
>Celestia calms down a bit and moves closer, putting a wing around her
>“Twilight, if you need anyone to blame for this unfortunate turn of events, I’m completely responsible. I should have seen this happening, and I should have prevented this. It’s my fault that Anon had to sacrifice himself to save Equestria… It should honestly have been me.”
>Twilight shivers from her mentor’s touch
>“I apologize for speaking harshly to you, but to wish this fate on another is something I cannot tolerate, though I understand you were only speaking from pain. I just wanted you to be careful with what you say. Do you understand me?”
>She nods, agreeing with her
>“Now, Twilight, I need you to rest. I’ll make the preparations for his…memorial…and you need time to recuperate. We’ll talk more tomorrow, ok?”
>“Yes, Princess…”
>Slow to get up, Twilight slowly walks away with her friends, Shining Armor trotting close by
>Princess Luna comes near Celestia
>“Sister, what are you going to do?
>Facing the statue of Anon, she replies
>“There has to be a spell to revive him, and I’m going to look for it. He doesn’t deserve this hell, not by a long shot.”
>“You must be aware that no spell in Equestria is likely going to revive him, yes?”
>“I know that. Which means I’ll need to take a look into a different kind of magic”
>“Understood. I will assist you however I can”
>“Thank you, Luna”
>Standing up, Celestia felt an intense drive to get Anon back, and she promised herself that she would find a way to do just that
 
>Everything is black, so, so black
>All around you is an abyss without defining features
>Other than there being a floor you can’t see
>It’s not dark, as you can see your hands in front of your face clearly
>Is this death, or only your death?
>Still being sentient doesn’t suck by itself, but it appears there’s nothing for you to do
>That’s the sucky part
>You get bored rather quickly of just looking around
Hello? Anybody around here?
>Your voice echoes around
>Nobody answers
Well, looks like I’m stuck to myself forever
>It might not be so bad
>Except that it could be much, much better…
>The sound of something approaching startles you
>You try to find the source of it, but nothing seems to be around
>As it gets closer, it sounds like a couple of ponies dashing towards you
>Though you’d love to have some company right around now, you’re on your guard
>Not that they can really do anything worse to you; you’re already dead
>Getting closer, you can actually see the outline of a grayish horse…
>…With 8 fucking legs!
>Wait… you’ve heard of something like this
>You feel no fear as it speeds towards you
>You call out to it
Hello. Are you the one they call Sleipnir?
>It comes right in front of you and stops
>When you hear its deep voice, it sounds more like the voice is in your mind, a sort of telepathy
>“Not many call me by that name anymore. Most call me other names like Death, or Shinigami, or Thanatos. It’s a strange feeling being called by my real name”
So what happens now?
>“Upon death, I escort the spirit of the deceased to their afterlife, which may or may not contain deceased family and friends”
>Some level of excitement rises in you
Will I be able to see the members of my team?
>“In time, you will. You’ve led a good life, despite your upbringing, and never consciously killed without reason. Though at times you’ve made my job hard, it would’ve been harder had you not acted as you did.”
>So…basically you bought a ticket to heaven
>Good enough
If that’s the case, let’s get going. I don’t want to keep you waiting
>It doesn’t move
>You wait about a minute for it to start moving
>It remains motionless
With all respect, what’s the hold-up?
>“There’s no easy way for me to say this, so I’ll just say it. You’re not dead yet.”
>Bullshit      
I’m here, am I not? I must be dead
>“Unfortunately, you’re only petrified, and as such, I cannot escort you to the afterlife”
>The tone it speaks (in your mind) tells you that you’re not going to win this one
>An uneasy feeling settles itself in your gut
Where do I go from here then? What can I do?
>It gives a look that seems to pity you
>“In your case, you are an outsider to Equestria. Normally, outsiders are left here in limbo, and must wait for their stone bodies to be destroyed to move on.  But considering your actions in Equestria, and what might happen in the future, I’ll give you another option: if you so choose, I can put you in a sleep until you are unpetrified”
>Wait…
Did you say I’ll be unpetrified?
>“I mean to say, that you will be asleep until unpetrification, which may never happen. There’s always the possibility, but for one such as yourself, I cannot guarantee that it will happen. The choice is yours.”
>A few questions pop into your head
Will Discord be able to affect me if I choose to sleep?
>“No, not anymore. He can only possibly affect other planes of existence, but we’re keeping an eye on him so a case such as yours cannot happen again”
>That gives you a little relief. No more nightmares
Will I dream?
>“I cannot say for certain. What I know is that you will be unconscious. You may very well dream, but I haven’t given this option to many, you must understand. Death usually is a one-way trip. Only in extenuating circumstances, such as yours, is this third option available”
>Interesting…
If my body does happen to be destroyed while I’m unconscious, what happens?
>“I shall wake you, and guide you into the afterlife”
>So there isn’t a risk
>He’s just offering to make this unfortunate business less painful than it could be
>Still…      
One more thing. How are Lucky, Star Shine, Blazin’ Blue, and Lightning Strike? Are they at least happy?
>“They are doing fine, Anon. All of them know the aftermath of their sacrifices up to this point, and are proud to have served with you”
>Wait
So they know that I’m no longer alive?
>“They are aware, yes”
I know I cannot visit them, would it be possible that they could see me?
>“Unfortunately not. Once one has crossed into the afterlife, he cannot go back.”
>Well, it was worth a shot
>And at least you’ll see them eventually
Ok. If that’s the case, I’d like to rest until I’m unpetrified. I think I could use a rest from all the excitement that I had in Equestria
>Lying down, you suddenly think of Han Solo frozen in carbonite, and playfully wonder if you’re going to experience hibernation sickness upon waking up
Sleipnir, I hope the next time I see you I’ll have died as an old man
>“Goodbye, and good luck”
>Eyes getting heavier, you feel confident that you’ll wake up to see Twilight Sparkle
 
>A few days later…
>Twilight Sparkle looked outside the window
>Everypony attending the ceremony below is waiting for it to start
>Twilight herself is feeling a bit hesitant
>“Uh, Twilight?”
>Spike had entered, catching her a little off-guard
>Turning to him, he continues
>“I just wanted to say that it’s about to begin.”
>She gives a slight smile
>“Thanks, Spike. I’ll be down in a second.”
>Gathering herself, she finally walks down to the garden
>Seeing the sight of a thousand ponies for one person…
>The weight of seeing him petrified…
>He’s still at attention, giving a salute
>She walks towards her seat in the front, next to her friends, and her brother
>Princess Celestia appears before her, looking exhausted
>“Good afternoon Twilight. How are you doing today?”
>“Hello Princess Celestia. Today’s not too bad, but I still miss him greatly.”
>“I understand. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about after this, but please take your seat for now.”
>“Yes, Princess.”
>As Twilight takes her seat, Princess Celestia goes towards the podium
>“Welcome everypony. Let us begin.”
>She turns to the statue of Anon
>“This is Anon. He is a hero among heroes. A captain in his own world, he was brought to us by Discord, hoping to have him help reign chaos in our world. However, Anon has shown us his true colors as he selflessly sacrificed himself to stop Discord. We would owe him our highest honor, but I’m certain he would refuse, as he has in the past. There has never been anything like him in Equestria, and I would say there never will be. Truly unique and faithful, I will not find anyone like him in over a thousand years. Normally, I’m the teacher, but in this case, I find myself as the student, as Anon has taught me of how to be a better Princess. I’ve learned that terrible things can happen, but as long as you trust those around you, you can make it through anything. I think we can all learn something from Anon, so I ask you to please reflect for a moment in silence about what Anon could have taught you.”
>She pauses, silently reflecting on herself
>She had been good, and bad, to him, and when she had wronged him, he still remained on the side of peace and harmony
>A few minutes go by in complete silence
>It’s a warm day, not a cloud in the sky
>The Pegasi had made certain it would be a nice day
>Afterwards, Princess Celestia breaks the silence
>“The reason that Captain Anon is here in the castle’s garden is because this is where he requested he be put to rest here. It’s the very least we can do for one as selfless as him. Everypony, please look to the skies.”
>Everyone follows her instructions
>“In addition to being a soldier, Anon was also a flyer with his airplane. For those of you who haven’t seen him flying, the machine that’s to his right is his airplane.”
>Surely, not everyone had the chance to see his flying, and somebody had suggested that somebody should fly it over his memorial
>Anon’s closest friends all agreed that it was not a good idea, instead choosing to keep it by his side
>“His service in the air is unforgettable, and with it, he brought the customs of his military. One of those customs, he told Shining Armor, is the missing man formation”
>As if on cue, four Wonderbolts fly over the crowd, in a V formation
>When they reach the crowd, the one on the leader’s 3 o’clock pulls up, breaking formation
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-oDsHKUR68
>The end of the ceremony approaching, Princess Celestia walks over to the petrified Anon
>She places a rose by the pedestal he was put upon, and slowly walks away
>Princess Luna does the same, followed by Twilight and her friends
>Gradually, everyone goes up to lay a rose by Anon’s stone body
>Head down, Twilight slowly walks away from Anon, from her friends
>Following Princess Celestia, she’s led to an empty room
>Her mentor closes the door, and double-checks that they are the only two in earshot
>“Twilight, I want to ask for your forgiveness.”
>“Princess? What for?”
>Looking rather down herself, Princess Celestia continues
>“I should have seen Discord would be behind this, but I didn’t. I also banished Anon, taking away time the two of you could have had. If I hadn’t-”
>Twilight interrupts, “Princess, you can’t keep blaming yourself. Anon forgave you, and I forgive you as well. No pony is perfect.”
>Celestia gives a small smile
>“You might be right. I should stop blaming myself, but I think it will be a while before I can forgive myself. So, let’s change the subject. Do you know why the Elements of Harmony turned Anon into stone, but couldn’t free him?”
>“I had considered this, and the only thing I could come up with is the notion that the Elements saw him as a foreign creature to our world, and thus viewed him as if inherently he would disrupt the peace and harmony in Equestria. For this reason, they wouldn’t unpetrify him.”
>“You’re closer to the truth than you think, Twilight. I think there was still a little bit of Discord’s influence inside him, which is what the Elements saw as a disruption to harmony, which allowed him to be affected by the Elements. However, as he turned to stone, I believe his body regained the magical properties of his own world, meaning that our magic would have no effect on him. There has always been a subtle example of this, as our magic always took longer to affect him, or it would hit him harder than normal. Now that his physical and spiritual connection to Equestria is severed, we cannot revive him with our magic.”
>Twilight looks down, tears threatening to fall
>“So, there’s no chance of him coming back…”
>“I said no such thing, Twilight.”
>She looks up, confused
>“But you said-”
>“I said with our magic. We may be able to find another kind of magic in his body, if we study the properties of his world using his body. And I would predict that it would take four alicorns to perform a spell to reawaken him, one of which who has a special connection to him.”
>Twilight nearly chokes on the last part of that sentence
>Who could have a more special connection to him than her?
>“So, where are we going to find such an alicorn?”
>Celestia smiles
>“When you’ve completed your current studies, you may find a life-changing lesson.”
>She starts to walk away, offering no further explanation
>Twilight feels a good amount of confusion
>What exactly did the Princess mean?
>She doesn’t understand, but still is filled with hope
>Some day, she’ll know
>Some day, Anon may return