Anon 47

At the break of day Felix found himself swiping low hanging vines away from his face. His irritation with thick foliage growing stronger with each creeping plant that he must fend off. “Stupid Zebra and her stupid extortion...” He continued to grumble until he spotted Zecora’s bizarre residence. “I, Felix, Have arrived.” He announced. Cautiously he approached the door and knocked. Zecora Opened the door and met Felix with a glare

“Must you be this conspicuous? It is really quite ridiculous.” Zecora let him in and eyed the saddlebag suspended from his side “What is in the satchel? Possibly something for Battle?” Felix just rolled his eyes.

“Not even close. Just a lunch and a couple of snacks.” 47 emerged from a room Felix was unfamiliar with.

“Show us.” Felix complied without hesitation. He took out a sandwich and a few other goodies and placed them on the table before offering the limp cloth to 47 for inspection. Zecora watched Felix as her friend searched the back for any sort of hidden compartments. “Seems you have been trustworthy to say the least.” Felix gave a nod

“I really don’t want to die.” The stallion gave a nervous laugh.

“Is that the only reason?” 47 inquired. His height made it easy to loom over Felix like the shadow of death.

“W-well you also are hurting those awful ponys...” He tried his best to maintain his composure but failed miserably.

“I find if works to be honest, also capable of holding a promise.” Zecora said with an appraising gaze. 47 looked at her with a cocked brow. She responded with a nod. 47 handed Felix his saddlebag

“So you’re trustworthy. Does that also mean you’re an asset?”

“A what?” He tilted his head in confusion. Zecora seemed unsure as well. ‘Anon’ just sighed

“Can you be of use to us?” Felix though for a bit

“Well if you pay me I can be anything you want.” Zecora held in a laugh. 47 just gave her a look dirty minded zebra.

“So your life is not worth enough to you?” Felix remained steadfast about the subject.

“Not in this regard.” A professional appearance showed through his cowardice “When you have me come out to the everfree under threat of death and then make me do stuff, you take away any potential I have for making bits.” He took a breath “There for I am not helping myself or my family. I am as good as dead to anyone I actually care about.” This sudden burst of logic seemed to shock both Zecora and 47. “Like I said, if you pay me I am happy to do whatever you two want. But I am not going to keep being used...not like this.” He seemed content with that last part added. There was a long silence before zecora spoke up.

“We may have not been completely Fair. From now on we shall pay you for your air.”

“I will take that as a yes” Felix said, letting out a breath he did not know he was holding. 47 seemed indifferent.

“So we called you here because we have procured an object from the cult.” 47 said calmly. “Care to have a look and see what you think?” Anon motioned to the doorway he originally came through to meet with the others.

“Well lets have a look.” Felix moved his way past 47 and into what looked like a storage room. The window was covered by a thick cloth, the room lit by candle light. In the center of the room sat a sparkling sphere resting comfortably on a silk pillow. “oh wow...beautiful...”

“Have you any idea what it could be? What it was, we could not agree.” Zecora chimed in.

“No idea, but if you got this from the shipment that I was in than it is magical. Powerful too.” Felix’s gaze was locked on the orb and its crimson luminosity.

“They would charge you with guarding something magical and powerful? Are they that foolish?” The agent found himself admiring the orb as well.

“Foolish, maybe. You are the only ones to have stood up to those bullies. They underestimate you both. Clearly the two of them have some kind of synergy. Like a team but better.” Zecora looked away bashfully at the comment. The three soon took seats around the small table, Anon knelt down on his knees as usual as the ponys sat. It was very strange to 47 to witness them sitting like humans. “So is that all you called me here for? to identify that object? If so im sorry to say but I have no idea.”

Zecora let out a sigh “I was afraid of such a thing. Perhaps you can mingle and get one to sing?”

Felix though for some time before answering “Well I could, you are paying after all.” He gave a smile.

Crickets and noise causing insects joined into the night time orchestra for an audience who was forever late. “So we are paying him now. Have you forgotten about the camp?”

Zecora huffed “I have not, nor should you. Give a moment and look through his point of view. Do not be blinded by emotion. With simple coin we own his devotion.” 47 seemed confused at the statement.

“Emotion? No. If we can sway him with money then someone else can.”

Zecora snorted “The same could be said about death. Anyone can threaten to take his last breath. We must be fair and kind. And only then will he mind.” He thought on Zecora’s words for some time.

“You are wise, for a zebra.”

“And you, for a human.” She said with a snicker. She lifted the lid of her hidden floor compartment to reveal a large hoard of golden coins. Anon was taken aback with the sheer amount she had hidden away. “I have no use for these. But you can trade to pony folk with ease.” She smiled and began counting an amount to put into Felix’s saddlebag.

“Resourceful. Just one of those coins would go a long way with my people.” 47 said as he watched her scoop a large sum into the bag. “Such a difference in value...So how do you think Felix is faring? I mean they are sure to notice the difference in cloaks. There is no way they could believe that pony to be a killer.”

“Heeey, Felix right? I see you earned your bones, good job man!” Praise and admiration was heaped upon him as he made his way down the eery halls. The castle of the two sisters was anything but welcoming. And yet, here was Felix, being welcomed as a hero. He also notice that some ponys were forced to pay others. They had betted that he would never kill another pony. Secretly they were right, but for the fact his life is on the line he will leave them to their ignorants. he brushed his dark mane to the side as he tried to remember the way down to the lower caves. Where most of the slaves were kept. Before he had a chance to actually find his objective Felix turned a corner To find Alcipper and two of her underling trotting down the path. The mare caught sight of Felix and picked up pace.

“You cause the commotion!” Well i’m dead. I am so dead. Game over man, Game over. Felix began to visibly shake. “This iz good hearing!” She met him with a grin. “Congradulations”

“Thanks..?” Felix was genuinely confused at this point.

“Some of us were worry that you may be trator but then you get your first kill! So, how was it? Fast and brutalz, or nice and slows?” Alcipper was absolutely giddy. “Wait, Stallion or mare!? Or...foal!?” She hopped with glee. “tell tell!” She was like a kid in a candy store.

“uh...what?”Felix asked in a perplexed manor.

“Tell us about your first kill!” Alcipper waited with a shark tooth grin. The fact she was baring teeth at Felix made him almost faint. He took a breath, “It was just some stallion. I-I just knocked him down and stomped his head a few times. It popped like a grape.” As he finished telling his fabricated story, Felix attempted a big grin.

Alcipper looked him over for a moment before huffing “Hardly fun. Come. Walk with me.” She waved the other two off with a striped hoof. “Begones.” They promptly left. She began leading him down the path she had just come from. “Why you in such a hurry to come this way?” Alcipper inquired.

“I was just going to see one of the bishops down in the caverns.”

“Oh? Whyz that?” She said with a cocked eyebrow.

His eyes darted from left to right as he tried to recognize where he was at. “Well I was curious why the zebra took that shipment. We had plenty other caravans before...why now?”

“We think she was after the magical item inside.” She lead The stallion through a, cast iron, barred door. Then down a dimly lit spiral staircase of etched stone. The flicking touches illuminating the way down.

“Magical item? like a making wand?” Felix said, feigning ignorance.

“Whatever they knows.” She said with a smirk. She showed him to a table that held grisly looking tools that had been stained from repeated use. “This is work stations. Write all down on paper. Age, genders, all. If they live after you are done, send them to the minez. We always have work for them.” She smiled “And have fun.”

“But what about the magical thing!?”

Her eyes shifted to Felix’s “what about it..?”

“Are we just going to let her keep it? I mean who know what she could do with that thing.” Felix moved some of the tools around on the wood table until they were all lined up and perfectly straight. “What if she explodes the castle or something?” Alcipper rolled her eyes.

“Every times you talks, you become less attractives.” Felix was not prepared for that statement. Not one bit. His face showed that he was very uncomfortable “She will not be blowings anything up. Unless this zebra is versed in strange and obscure magics she will have no ideas.”

Zecora inspects her foreleg “Is she insane or, am I really so bland?” Anon looked at Felix in a deadpan manner.

“Hey, that was all I could get out of her without being suspicious!”

“I was not being sarcastic.” 47 dropped the stallion's saddle bag in front of him. Some of the bits that lined the bag. Felix’s eyes grew wide. “This information was helpful. You are free to take your money and leave.” Felix wasted no time taking his money and leaving. “Well looks like you were right. Gambles are too risky. Next time we should just kill whatever is in our way.” Zecora let out a sigh.

“That is rarely how things work here Anon, You must manipulate. You can not use force and intimidate.” 47 motioned to himself

“I am a mythical creature here. I can’t manipulate.” Zecora gave him a smile and nudged him with her hoof

“What I hear is that you need me. Do you agree?” 47 met her pale green gaze and frowned “Come now Anon, you must not be some glum. We must see that all those ponies reap what they so, to the full sum.”

Felix trotted back to ponyville with his head held high. This is so much money! Finally something goes right for a change. Now we can pay the rent and get Arora new toys and a new school bag, oh! And cherry deserves some flowers and… His mind raced with prospects that had never thought possible. He even considered moving to a high end house once he started making more coin. The sun was beginning to dip behind the canterlot mountain when he made it home. The moment he opened the front door he was met by his daughter “Daddy!” he was already in her vice like grip of a hug.

“There there, Diddy is here.” Oh celestia, I have spent too much time around Zebras. He looked down to see her beautiful smile and bruised eye. wait what!? “What happened Arora!?” The little filly looked away and puffed out her cheeks

“Just some pony’s at school being mean...”

Cherry Berry had entered the room at this point,“ Cheerilee had sent all the fillies home that were involved. She also said she she would talk with the parents of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. This should only be a one time thing.”

“But what if it’s not?” Felix inquired, clutching his daughter close to his breast. “Why if one of those little bit-punks tries to fight with Arora again?”

“She will suspend them from class” Cherry said, matter-of-factly.

“If the parents don’t punish the fillies it will happen again. You know that dear.” Cherry let out a sigh

“Well I got paid today.” He said, taking off his saddle bag.

“T-two hundred? In a week?” She snatched up the bag and quickly counted only to find exactly 200 bits. Felix had stashed the remaining hundred somewhere in the everfree for an emergency. “This is enough for food and rent for the month!” She beemed

“I know, this temp job pays well. The hours are strange and erratic but I can deal with that.” He looked down “And you little lady, need to stop getting in fights.”

“It is taken care of. Stop worrying.” Felix knew better though. Bully’s don’t just stop. I will need to do something about this myself

Zecora took a pouch of crushed root to her brew and stirred, 47 Just watched her from across the room. He still admired how dexterous she was with her hooves. Such a strange movement in the shoulders to perform that sort of action. They must be double jointed in multiple areas. The way that she stands bipedal supported his theory. The way she swayed her hips with each push or pulling motion. Then again she was glancing back every now and again. She was clearly putting on a show. 47 did not mind at this point, it makes her happy. Why not. As long as she is happy that is all he cares about at this point is keeping her happy. After all she did take him in. And feed him. He began to to think of all the kindness she had showed him. Much like the church. Zecora likes to take gambles, maybe I should take one and tell her the truth about my real life. How I am not from here. How there is another world other than this one. She may take it well. She may not. If she does not I should have a backup plan. “Anon?” 47 realized that he was just staring at the ground in though. The zebra’s words snapped him back into reality. She was only inches from his leg. “Are you ok?”

“I am fine Zecora, just thinking about what you said about taking a chance. I think I might take my chances with something.” He said, meeting her gaze. She flushed and looked away

“Oh, how forward of you. Perhaps it is an act that requires...two?” 47 smirked and shook his head a bit.

“It is about me. This may come as a shock to you but I am not from around here.”

She snickered “I know this. Perhaps there is something I missed?”

47 looked at Zecora with is classic deadpan expression “I mean that I am not from here, not from equestria.” It took a moment for his words to sink in, but when they did Zecora almost fainted.