A Curious Motive

Anon walked down the busy city sidewalk with a wide grin. He found it amazing how so many people could be traveling in a variety of directions, but you might never bump elbows. Cars were jammed bumper to bumper in rush hour traffic. A symphony of horns rang out. The morning sun beat down on the world. It reflected across every skyscraper’s windows like mirrors, trying to blind you from every angle. It didn't deter Anon’s mood this morning. Today was an important day at work.

A shiver ran down Anon’s back. He could feel somebody watching him. He turned around to check, but no one was there. Literally no one, the sidewalk and road were empty. Silence dominated the city. He faced forward and found the same vacancy. He was all alone.

The street light above him started flickering lamp. He rushed to the next light, scared of the engulfing darkness. He could still feel eyes upon him. Anon wondered what they could want. He glanced around for the source. He found nothing on the dark streets or the ruined skyscrapers.

“What do you want!?” Anon yelled into the nothingness. He turned as he heard the collapse of a building. Dust flew up from the destruction. When it cleared it revealed a full moon. The light brightened the world below. The moon shimmered as if it were an image in disrupted water. A dark blue alicorn emerged. She landed in front of Anon.

“Princess Luna?” Anon asked.

“Yes,” she replied, “Hmm, I didn't think my company would twist your dream like this.”

“A dream.” Anon sighed in relief. “Weird how I chose you to save me.”

“Choose? You are mistaken Anon, I am actually here. I have the ability to enter others dreams.”

Anon thought for a moment. He couldn't tell if this was the work of his imagination, or if Luna actually stood in front of him. He frowned.

“This is a lose lose situation.” he said.

“I do not understand.” Luna cocked her head.

“I know you don't like or trust me. If this is all my dream I'll become paranoid you are here for real. If you're here for real I'm pretty certain you're just here to spy on me. So I'll make this clear.” Anon chose his next words carefully and deliberately. “Do not invade my dreams again, or else.”

A storm cloud appeared in the sky. Lighting flashed, and thunder roared out. Luna amplified her voice. “You dare threaten me!?”

Anon started to bet this was the real Luna. Unfortunately for her, Anon had grown tired of being weak. He wasn't about to feel that way in his own dreams.

Anon lifted his hand and a sun lifted into the sky. He pulled at the sunlight and burst apart Luna’s stormclouds. Luna gasped at the sudden control displayed by the human.

“If you want to spy on me, at least do it in person.” Anon stared her down.

Luna stood tall, but sweat formed on her brow. “Very well.” She opened a tear in reality and passed through it. After she left the world fell away into nothingness as Anon woke up.

======

The barn door flung open. Sunlight burst through causing shadows to take cover behind tools and piles of hay.

“Should be somewhere in here I reckon.” Applejack said. She stepped inside. “Only question is where?” She rummaged through the various piles of items.

“You have a lot of stuff.” Anon said, joining her.

Applejack continued digging through one of the piles. “Yup, but everything has a purpose.” She pulled out a poorly made dress.

Anon raised an eyebrow.

“Heh, this one's... nostalgic.” Applejack tucked it away. “Maybe it’s on the second level.”

Anon glanced around the barn. He spotted a piece of colorful padding with a buckle. It was buried under a stack of planks and other building materials. Some of the wood chunks stretched to the second level. Anon thought they might be used as foundation pieces for a new barn.

“I think I found it.” Anon called out. He walked over and pulled at the life jacket. The lumber kept it pinned. He tried again putting more strength into it. The life jacket stretched but eventually slipped out.

“Got it.” Anon examined the vest. It looked like it would fit.

“Watch it!” Applejack warned.

Anon glanced up. The planks of wood creaked as they shifted against each other. The whole stack toppled over. Applejack lept to push Anon out of the way. He rolled to the side and watched helplessly as the debris buried Applejack.

“Oh no.” Anon scrambled to his feet. He grabbed one of the planks and tried to pull it off the pile. The wood proved to be too heavy. Anon could only push it to the side.

Before he could grab another, something stirred under the debris. Applejack stood up causing multiple planks to slide off.

“Dang it, I told Big Mac not to put em' like that.” She touched at her head and winced. “That's gonna leave a bump.”

“A bump!?” Anon yelled. “What are you ponies made out off?”

Applejack turned. “What are you on about?”

“If I had been under that, I would be a pile of red paste.”

“Ain't no need to exaggerate.” Applejack broke free of the remaining mess. She turned to Anon. Her eyes widened. “Your arm.”

Anon glanced down. His forearm had begun to swell. A hoof mark formed in black and blue across his flesh.

“Better my arm than my whole body.” Anon said. He hid the injury behind his back.

“Y- you weren't kiddin’, you could have…” Applejack stared at the mess with a new understanding. “How do y’all manage being so… frail.”

Anon’s expression dimmed. The scratching feeling returned. He didn't have to be thIs weak, did he? The scratch turned into a clawing sensation. He clenched his fist. Applejack’s voice pulled Anon from his temptation.

“C’mon, we’re gettin' you to the hospital.” Applejack harnessed herself to a wagon in the barn. “Twilight’s swimming thing will have to wait.”

“I can walk.” Anon protested.

“Not fast enough. Now get in.”

Reluctantly Anon crawled into the wagon. Applejack ran off in the direction of Ponyville, leaving the barn in disarray.