A Curious Motive

Anon walked down the line of animals who stood at attention.

“We have that one,” He pointed at a mouse, “and that one,” a squirrel, “that one too,” a rabbit. He paused at the next one in line. “Is that…” He bent down and poked at the rabbits antlers. “A jackalope?”

“Do you have those too?” Twilight asked, her quill hovered above the check box.

“No.” Anon laughed. “In our world they’re a myth. Made up. What's next? Do you have a cockatrice or manticore here as well?” Anon joked.

“Oh my goodness no.” Fluttershy said. “They would be too aggressive to be around the other animals.”

Anon stopped laughing. “You- you seriously have creatures like that just wandering around?”

“They usually stay in the Everfree Forest.” Twilight said.

Anon turned to face the edge of the Everfree. “Sound like I was lucky to only run into the cragadile.” He traced one of the scars the creature left.

“They are very territorial.” Fluttershy shooed a distracted pig back into line. “At least you avoided the timberwolves. They hunt in packs and don't-”

“I could use a break.” Anon interrupted. He felt his heart race. He tried to keep his breathing under control. “Maybe tea?”

“That sounds wonderful. Discord wanted to try to make it today.”

Twilight winced.

“Discord?” Anon asked. A shadow covered him. He looked up and his eyes went wide. A strange amalgamation of animals towered over him. It’s red eyes burning into his.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.” Discord snapped his fingers and they were teleported away, allowing the animals to fall into chaos.

=======

Anon's eyes peeled open. His vision blurred. He heard someone step out of the room as he rustled awake. He blinked a few times to clear his eyes.

He was in a hospital. White walls and floors reflected the light coming in through the window. A machine monitoring his heart rate beeped in the background.

He sighed in relief. “Just a dream.” He sank back into his bed. He tried to move his right hand but it was restricted. He lifted it into view. A cast covered his hand. He jolted up and checked his other arm. Another cast stretched from wrist to shoulder.

The door opened and a white pony with a faded pink mane stepped in. Anon froze. The pony waved another one in. This one being a lavender unicorn with wings.

“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked.

Anon stared at the pony.

“Can you understand me?” Twilight pointed at herself.

“I don't understand.” Anon said. His statement having more meaning than just a reply to the creature.

“Language barrier. Luckily, I have the perfect spell.” Twilight's horn lit up and she made her way to Anon. The heart rate monitor beeped rapidly as Twilight closed the distance. Anon flinched back, fearing whatever the pony was up to.

Twilight took in Anon’s look and stopped. She ended her spell and took a few steps back. She waited until his heartbeat returned to normal.

“Maybe I can explain with pictures?” Twilight said to herself, more than to anyone else. Her horn lit up again and she formed crud images of Anon and herself.

The images tried to speak to another and a red X covered the illusion. The next time she showed her horn touching Anon’s head and they tried taking again. This time a green check mark followed.

“I think... I get it.” Anon said. He reassured himself the pony meant well. Why else would they patch him up, he thought. Still, he had to take deep breaths as Twilight inched closer. The glowing horn was mere inches away when he closed his eyes.

Anon felt the touch of the horn and knowledge poured into his mind. First the Equestrian alphabet, then the way it sounded, followed by each word and It's meaning. His body pulled something else from the spell. It pooled inside him and encased itself.

Twilight grunted as she tried to keep the spell going. Beads of sweat formed as a level of overglow appeared. She lost consciences for a moment as a massive surge of magic was used. She stumbled to stand but nurse Red Heart helped her up.

“Are you okay?” The nurse asked.

“Just took more magic than I thought.” Twilight replied. She glanced up. “Did it work? Can you understand me now?”

Anon rubbed at his temple with his free hand. “It worked. Alicorn Princess.” Anon found the correct words to describe her in his new mental dictionary.

“Oh yes, yes, yes I did-” Twilight fainted mid hop. Nurse Red Heart caught her almost waiting for it to happen.

“She okay?” Anon asked.

“Fine.” The nurse replied. “Magical exhaustion, not the first time she has been in here for that.” The mare rested Twilight onto a bed in the hallway. “I am going to take you to the doctor so he can explain your injuries. You will have to wait for Twilight to wake before asking more pressing questions. She is going to want to answer them, trust me.”

Anon simple nodded. Having a new language crammed into his head had him exhausted. Nurse Red Heart wheeled the bed out of the room, leaving it with the smell of disinfectant.

======

“These are all the things Twilight asked I am hesitant to answer.” Anon let a scroll roll out on the conference table. The rooms windows were tinted making it difficult for light to push through.

Celestia wrapped the list in her magic. The glow from her magic created the brightest light in the room. With her height and elevated seat compared to the others she appeared regal and intimidating. She sipped at her tea as she reviewed the list. She levitated a quill and slashed through three topics.

“Nothing I wouldn’t mind my subjects knowing,” Celestia explained, “but I would prefer they figure it out. The rest Princess Twilight has already theorized on.” Celestia levitated the scroll back to Anon.

“She theorized on phones?” Anon asked. “You realize they can communicate across the world instantly.”

Celestia chuckled. “The idea of communicating long distances has already been created. Do you think there is a distance limit when Spike sends me a message?”

“It's not the same.”

Celestia sighed. “The means are not the same, but the theory is. Concepts are what I am concerned about. If Twilight had the idea to ask a question it means she had the concept already in mind. Almost anything she can think to ask I trust her with the answer. Do you understand?”

“I think so.” Anon swallowed. “That brings me to my second list.” Anon hesitated bringing out the scroll. “These are all the things I thought Twilight was too worried or too ignorant to bring up.” He let the scroll roll open. Words he took so long to write popped out. ‘Atrocities, deterrence, genocide, nuclear weapons.’ Each one had a short description of the meaning, and historic examples.

Celestia took her time reading through the scroll. She showed no emotion. Anon clenched and unclenched his fists as time passed unbearable slow. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Celestia. She eventually set the scroll down.

“Anon, do you remember when I asked you to explain how you got here?” Her voice sounded impartial.

“I remember.” Anon said as he stared at the table.

“Now I need to know why.”

Anon clenched his eyes shut. “Our world was running out of natural resources, and we had damaged the environment beyond repair. We initiated many projects to solve the issue. The main focus was space exploration and colonization, but we had recently discovered something new. A way to push into other worlds, possible other dimensions. The ultimate goal was to find a planet rich with resources and move in. We weren’t far in the project. I was the first human test subject. The plan was to push me through and pull me back, it failed.”

“Did it?” Celestia's voice took on a sharp tone. “You completed your ultimate goal, a world rich with resources.”

“I was suppose to go back!” Anon stood up and stared Celestia down. He fought back the stinging feeling in his eyes.

Celestia’s fierce expression lightened. “You’re right… I am sorry.”

Anon whipped at his eyes and sat back down. A moment of silence passed before Celestia spoke.

“What are the odds of humans repeating the process that brought you here?”

“Slim to none.” Anon said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they shut the whole project down after what happened to me.”

“Anon do you like it here, in Equestria?” Celestia levitated a cup of tea over to her guest.

Anon grasped the cup in his shaking hand and took a sip. The warmth flowed throughout his body. He took a deep breath and relaxed. “That’s a weird question.”

“The list you gave me includes humans most powerful weapons. To surrender information of this nature would be considered treacherous by most. Are you worried what humans might do if they find Equestria?”

Anon hugged at himself. Celestia had seen right through him. He didn’t want to paint humans in a negative light but he had to inform her of the possibilities. Yet here he was about to condemn the human race as heartless savages. He wanted to think better of his own race but he knew how desperate earth had become. Anon felt a comforting warmth envelope the room. Celestia’s horn emitted a soothing light. She ended the spell and smiled.

“You have nothing to fear.” She said reassuringly. “Although human weapons are dangerous we have magic that can defend us. With this information we can be ready if anything would happen.”

Anon felt a weight lift off his chest.

“As long as this is everything?” Celestia asked as she got up.

“That’s everyt-” The clawing sensation inside Anon went wild. It wanted out, it needed out. His eyes widened in realization. Just how powerful would a single human be if they obtained what he had? What kind of threat would it pose?

“Something the matter?” Celestia had moved to leave. She held the door open.

“No.” Anon whispered. He got up and walked past Celestia in a haze, the door slammed shut behind them.