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