How many friends have you made today?!

Anon sits comfortably on his couch with a book that he borrowed from the local library. The sound of glass breaking could be heard deep within his house. With a long tired sigh, Anon puts his book down and gets ready for the inevitable. You see, when Anon first arrived in Equestria, everything was rather hectic. The ponies were in an epic battle with a god of chaos at the time, and they thought he was one of his friends. Anon didn't care when they shot him with a rainbow, he didn't care when they apologised afterwards when it didn't disintegrate him. No, Anon just didn't really seems to care about anything that was happening.

After some time for integration. Anon found a job working with a local candy maker by the name of Bonbon. It’s said that the reason her business grew as large as it did was because of Anon working there. Ponies were cautious of him at first, but there was just something special about the candy he made. Perhaps it was the way his hands worked the ingredients, maybe it was his calm attitude towards everything?

No pony is really sure about what goes on in Anon’s mind. For the past year he has stuck to a schedule. He wakes up early, heads to work. Afterwards he sometimes checks a book out at the library and then he just reads alone in his home. Many ponies never seen Anon out with a friend since his arrival. He just likes to keep to himself, and most just think it's a human thing.

Why has Anon kept his distance from these ponies you ask? To be honest, he was interested in making friends for the first month of his arrival. That was until he noticed something strange. He found that every so often, these ponies would somehow get themselves into trouble. Whether it was some wayward colt or filly galavanting into the Everfree. Or even one of the adults getting into some kind of epic battle.

Anon just wants his peace and quiet. He found that being friends with these creatures would make his life more than a bit complicated. So Anon just sits alone in his house most of the time with a good book in hand. Some ponies would say that his life was unfulfilled, but Anon was content. That brings us back to the present though. Somepony is breaking into his house and he knows all too well who is responsible.

You see, even Anon couldn't have a normal life in Equestria. There was one pony that always wanted him to get out and make some friends. He put up with her, but he would be lying if he didn't admit that it annoyed him at times. With a long sigh, Anon gets up to make some tea for his guest and himself. Anon can hear the sounds of a pony rolling around upstairs. She must have had a bad landing this time.

Anon sets a pot onto the stove to boil and brings out his good tea set. While he avoids ponies for the most part, if they choose to come and visit then he would be a good host. Again, Anon just didn't want friends, but he wasn't mean to the ponies because of that. The sound of hooves could be heard coming down the stairs as Anon puts the finishing touches on the two cups of tea.

He takes his seat and waits for her arrival. The door opens widely as the princess of Equestria herself strolls right in and takes her usual seat. She smiles upon Anon with her usual motherly look.

“Hello Anon.” She says with that smooth angelic voice of hers.

“Celestia.” He answers back.

She looks down to her cup of tea and pick it up with her magic. With a single sip she gives it a nod and sets it back onto its saucer.

“You know me too well, Anon.” She compliments.

He did know her too well. Within the first few months of his arrival, Celestia showed up to meet with him. After that day she kept coming around for some reason. Always asking him the same question, over and over again. It annoyed him to no end, but it was something he accepted as part of his routine. Celestia comes crashing through one of his windows and then they talk over some tea. She likes a little drizzle of honey over adding sugar. Something about not mixing well with the taste.

“I’ve gotten more practice recently.” Anon answers in a neutral tone.

That was true. Celestia’s visits have become more frequent over the past few weeks. It feels as if she is here almost everyday.

“Well it definitely shows.” She takes another sip of her tea just before getting to the next part of the routine. “So, Anon.” She pauses so she could set her cup down. “How many friends have you made today?” She asks innocently.

Anon let out a long and tired sigh. There was the question. She asks it every time she comes here. She knows as well as him that he has not made any friends since his arrival. This has been his routine. Celestia come crashing through a window and always asks that question.

“None.” He answers with his usual tone.

Her face never falls at his answer. She just gives a curt nod and takes another sip of her tea.

“Very well. May I ask how your day has been?” She asks.

Also another thing Celestia liked to do as well. Always asking him about how his day was or even about his past. He usually kept to himself but sometimes he would share stuff just to shut her up.

“It was good. I helped Bonbon make another candy from my world.”

“Really?” She asks interested.

He nods while rising from his seat, walking over to a cupboard and pulls out a bowl. He takes his seat once again while setting the bowl onto the counter for her. Celestia looks into the bowl with a raised brow. What she saw in the bowl she couldn't really explain. They looked like little colorful worms of some kind. She has never seen a creature such as these before. Anon picks one out, and without hesitation, pops it into his mouth.

The princess' will is strong, never being swayed by many things in this world. Great evils that whisper sweet nothings fall on deaf ears to her. Threatening royals that try to push her around get a taste of why she is the princess of this nation. But there was always one thing Celestia couldn't handle very well, that was icky things. It was one of her well guarded secrets. She couldn't help her face as she turned a bit green at the idea of eating a worm, a colorful one no less.

“Try one.” Anon offers her one.

Anon never really showed much emotion, but he had to admit that he knew Celestia’s secret of avoiding gross stuff. So he tries to exploit it as much as he can. He would never admit it, but it makes Celestia seem more human in many ways. She is usually viewed as a goddess of this land, so to see a side of her that nopony else knows about kinda makes him feel happy. The small grin on his face making that apparent.

“I’m not eating that creature!” She says appalled.

Anon chuckles a bit as he eats another, savoring the cringe Celestia gives him.

“This isn't a creature, Celestia. It’s candy.” He pops another one into his mouth.

Celestia felt her brow raise as she looks into the bowl again. Now that he mentioned it, they didn't move as if alive. She picks one up with her magic and brings it close to her muzzle. Taking in its scent, she could smell the various flavors at each color. Red seemed to be strawberry, while the blue smelled like blueberry. It definitely did smell delicious. Hesitantly she pops one into her mouth and chews it a bit. She was pleasantly surprised. It was so odd that the texture had give and yet still held its form, unless you really gnawed on it.

It was sweet and the different flavors mixing together really threw her for a loop. After savoring it for a bit she swallows it. She knew Anon had talent, and ever since his arrival he has been recreating treats from his world quite often. But this was different. His usual work was just variations of former candies. This though, this was new, this was something she had never experienced in her long life. This was going to become the next big thing.

“Anon, this is amazing.” She praises him, breaking from her stoic attitude.

Anon shrugs. “They aren't that hard to make, but thanks for the compliment.”

That was always something odd about Anon. Usually ponies would take joy in basking in another ponies praise. Anon was different though. He always seemed to demean himself, just before he accepts the praise. Almost like he is trying to lessen the value of it. It is something that Celestia knows well, she does it quite often as well. She looks down to the bowl again and takes another out, popping it into her mouth.

“What do you call them?” She asks between chews.

“Gummy worms.” He answers.

“Why worms?” She asks.

He shrugs again. “Human kids are kinda weird. Usually the coolest kids are the ones that do the grossest stuff. The grossest thing you can do is eat a live worm.” He can see Celestia turn green again as he chuckles to himself. “It’s actually more common than you think. Anyways, I guess someone just took that idea and made it into candy. The foals seem to get a kick out of the idea of eating a worm, even if it is candy.”

Celestia couldn't deny that fact. The younger generation did seem to do some rather rambunctious things. To simply play off that idea and to even detour them with a more practical means is genius. Foals all around would come to candy stores to eat a candy worm.

“That is rather ingenious, Anon.” Celestia admits. “How much have you made?”

“A few pounds today. I had to teach Bonbon how they are made, minus the secret ingredient.” He grins at the end.

Celestia rolls her eyes. She knew that her little ponies would never stab Anon in the back and deny him his pay for something he created, but he always kept a single thing secret from all his ingredients. Something that makes them come together. She couldn't blame him though. She still remembers the stories he had told her about his world. A place where more times than not, someones kindness was taken and used up. She shakes those thoughts away. Anon is here now and that’s alright by her.

“You never did tell me the secret ingredient.” Celestia asks with grin, popping another worm into her mouth.

“Do you really want to know, Celestia?” Anon asks.

She nods some and leans forwards a bit and offers him an ear. He gets the gesture and leans in as well, placing his mouth next to her ear. Whispering just enough for only her to hear.

“Nothing.”

Celestia feels her ear flick a bit as they retake their positions. Her face shows confusion as she looks at his ever present grin but soon turns to a knowing smile.

“I see.” She gives a nod. “You never held back the ingredients, did you?”

Anon laughs at that. “Yup, I just told Bonbon that it was missing one thing that was my secret ingredient. I never did add anything, she had everything all along.”

Celestia shakes her head some in amusement.

“Very clever.” She admits.

He shrugs. “Not really, but I do have my moments.”

Celestia finds her gaze wandering over to the clock on the wall. They have been talking for a few hours now. She lets out a little disappointed sigh as she look back to Anon.

“I need to head back to Canterlot.”

Anon looks over to the clock and gives a nod. “Looks about that time.”

Anon and Celestia both rise from their seats and make their way to the front room. Anon opening the front door for Celestia as she steps out into the yard. Anon closes the door behind himself as she looks towards Canterlot. She comes trotting up to him and gives a bow.

“As always, thank you for allowing me into your home.” She says with grace.

“Well, unless I invest in the giant net for my house. I don't think I could stop you from coming by.” He says jokingly.

Celestia can't help the giggle she gives him. “Remember what I said Anon. Try to make some friends. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on your progress.”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Get going before Luna freaks out.”

With one last smile, Celestia spreads her wings and flies off towards Canterlot. Anon has been here for over a year now and never made a single friend. Celestia has been the only pony that comes around almost daily. They talk for hours and they shares memories with each other. They never need to worry about the other judging them. Ideas are exchanged, jokes are made and they have fun with each other.

Anon feels his smile fade some as he thinks things over a bit. A knowing smile slowly returns as a small chuckle builds inside of him. He just shakes his head as he looks into the sky and watches Celestia fly.

“Today, I didn't make a friend.” He says. “Then again, I had one all along.”

While he couldn't see it himself. Celestia’s smile grew a little more as she kept her gaze on Canterlot castle.

“See you tomorrow, Anonymous.”