All Ends With Beginnings

You are Twilight Sparkle, and you are overflowing with ecstatic joy. It isn’t often you get to study new creatures, despite the fact there are so many in Equestria. What makes it better is that this creature is, supposedly, a Human!

An ape like creature thought to be mythical by most, and extinct by a select few who you would consider pseudo-scientific until a day ago! Standing corrected could wait! You were practically bouncing up and down the Celestia forsaken walls when you heard you were being given a chance to study it!

Although, not surprising being the Princess’s number one student, and for about seven months now, Princess of Friendship! It’s not only a perfect opportunity to learn about a new species, their culture, language, etc. But the chance to show this new species all the benefits of friendship with Pony Kind!

You take a sip from your cup, the tea warming your throat and soothing your tired vocal chords. Giving them a comfort greatly needed after all the work you’ve put them through, talking the ears off your two poor friends heads.

”I don’t know Twilight, Humans sound kinda’ scary! I mean, their myths are all about them being big bullies to one another! So many wars, mean Gods who slaughter their followers, and they eat meat! Oh those poor animals!” Your friend Fluttershy has been expressing a lot of worry about this trip. Anxious from both being only one of the three of you who would get to meet this new being, and the undoubted truth that these creatures aren’t exactly known for their good stories. The poor butter colored pegasus was shivering under her pink mane, how sad it was to see her in such a state.

“Everything will be fine Fluttershy.” You say, trying to console your timid friend.

“Even if this creature is harmful, he has the ability to walk around the palace. Which I should remind you is full of guards and the Princesses. Not to mention that these creatures had to rely heavily on their technology and numbers to do any real harm! I’ve read a lot on their myths and seen diagrams, their bodies aren’t all that impressive when it comes to individual prowess.”

You give a small smile to your shivering friend. She eases a bit but isn’t too swayed by your reassurance.

”W-well I know that Twilight. I-it’s just, we don’t know hardly anything about them! And what we DO know, is nothing but meanness and bullying! Hay, we don’t even have Rarity, Applejack, or Rainbow Dash on this trip! And we weren’t even told why!”

She had a point. You six usually did everything together, no matter how bad it was. Nightmare Moon, Discord, your brother’s wedding with Cadence, etc.

The few letters you’ve received from Celestia were of very little help of describing why you couldn’t bring those three specifically on the trip. A fact that greatly annoyed Rainbow. She complained up and down how dangerous they were in their stories, just as Fluttershy was worrying about, and she no doubt wanted to tag along just so she can make sure her friends are okay. You appreciate her loyalty but that mare can be so hot headed at times.

Taking another sip from your tea you spoke up again, “Princess Celestia was very adamant in her letters about only you me and Pinkie Pie coming on this trip. I’m certain she knows what she is doing, and has a good reason as to why Rainbow, Applejack, and Rarity had to stay, and why us three had to go.”

Speaking of your third friend, the party mare decided to jump into the conversation at this time. ”Yea Fluttershy! I mean sure these Humans fight all the time, but they also apparently throw just the most AMAZING parties! Lot’s of drinking and music and dancing and drinking and games and drinking and shows and food and drinking and clothes and sweets and did I mention the DRINKING! AAAHHHHH, I can’t wait to meet him slash her, so we can both be best best friends, and he slash she and I can make a bunch of jokes and laugh and have a big awesome party!”

Pinkie gasps at a sudden realization. ”OH-OH! And because they’re new, I get to throw a welcome to EQUESTRIA PARTY!!!”

You swear you hear a squee as your pink friend’s mouth grows into a large smile. One that seems almost impossible to fit on her face.
“Pinkie’s right Fluttershy, Humans may not be all that bad! Besides, who’s to say this Human won’t be good?”

The mare contemplates, putting a hoof to her muzzle. ”You maybe right Twi, I don’t know why I get so upset. Maybe it won’t be so bad? Besides, even if it is dangerous, I still have you two to help keep me safe.”

You smile. Fluttershy was such a worrier, you know this, Tarturus, Shy is literally in her name. Yet, she was the kindest pony you’ve ever met, well deserving of her element. You always enjoyed being around her and your friends. Her kindness is probably one of the reasons so was chosen to come along on the journey.
”SEE? You’re coming around you silly filly! You’re friends are always here for you, and even if they are party animals, we’ll show that bald ape the good ol’ one two if they try to hurt ya’!” Pinkie exclaimed.

A chuckle escapes your lips. Your Pink friend was always one to make you laugh even in the moodiest of times. She wasn’t just the life of the party, she was the party. While she can be annoying in someways, you don’t judge her. You’ve even learned to not question all the quirky and weird ways she seems to bend the fabric of reality. Boy wasn’t that a day when you tried to figure out how her tail twitching a certain way could predict objects falling from the sky? Maybe her laughter was also a reason for her to tag along?

The day dragged on from there, the train slowly making its way to Canterlot. You continue to talk to your friends and ponder how the meeting will take place. Princess Celestia was a little more vague when she wrote to you in her letters. She claimed she would explain everything when you three arrived to the castle. You run through everything she told you in the letters.

You don’t know how old this Human is, however Princess Celestia refers to the Human as ‘he’ and ‘him’ so, you know it’s male. She explained that he was found wondering the Canterlot Gardens at night and was found by Princess Luna whilst on one of her little night walks. She explains very strange behavior and being concerned about him. It makes sense to you. How would you react if you were thrown in some different world and had no idea how you got there? This brings you to your next point. How he arrived. Neither of the Princesses know how he arrived in the gardens, and none of the guards on shift seemed to know either. The Human also expresses that he doesn’t know either, or is intentionally leaving out how he did if he knows.

He was able to express this by the way, because he knows Ponish! Some how. Ponish is the lingua franca of Equestria and surrounding lands, so it isn’t shocking another creature speaks it, but he’s seemingly out of this world, so knowing the language is very strange.

So, you’re dealing with a male human of an undetermined age. Seemingly not from your world at all, with either no memory of how, or the method used to get him here. Or if he does, he isn’t saying, and he speaks ponish. Other than that, and the fact that he isn’t sitting in the dungeon right now for trespassing on royal property is all you know. This last fact gives you relief as it shows the Princesses at least trust him enough to not be in a prison.

Now to mentally run through the terms of your visit. Celestia has specifically requested the aid of Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and you, Twilight Sparkle, to come to meet and study this creature for the next week and see what you can get out of him and hopefully “offer him”.

“Offer him.”

A strange use of words. You assume she means friendship, or advice, or maybe even a way to get home? You don’t know any trans-dimensional teleportation spells. Even Starswirled the bearded couldn't take on such a task. Most of his spells like that failed.

Princess Celestia also requested that the other three of your friends stay behind. The previously mentioned Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. This confused you, and you tried to make it clear that whatever needed to be done, you could all do together.

Celestia would have none of it though. She put her hoof down expressing only you three came, excluding even Spike, your number one assistant. He also seemed very worried when he learned what you were about to go and do. All your friends did.

Applejack was more confused, being less aware of Humans outside a few tales. Rarity went on about being thankful she didn’t have to meet this “beast”, but lamented over you doing so.
Though she also asked of you to describe the details of the Humans clothing. An odd aspect of Humans was that they didn’t only wear clothes for special occasions, but all the time. The boutique owner WOULD ask to understand the thinking and design of alien clothing wouldn’t she.
As previously mentioned, Rainbow Dash was annoyed, maybe even a little mad she wouldn’t get to go on the trip either. She wanted to be there just in case anything bad would happen.

So, it was just you three. You, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, on a train, headed to the capitol.
You finish the rest of your tea and place the cup on the saucer in front of you with a clink. You stare out at the rolling mountains, their tops being covered in bright snow.

Celestia was beginning to set her sun, and Luna, beginning to raise her moon. You’ve seen them perform the spell before, during the summer sun celebration, how quick it seemed up close. But from far away is seemed like it was happening in slow motion. The sky was a gradient of a deep orange red color near the horizon to a purple that matched your coat as it moved higher in the clouds.

Your mind raced about everything you would do during this meeting. All the questions you’d ask and all the things you’d show him. Hardly a once in a life time opportunity, and you get to experience it. The quiet vibrations from the train along with the beautiful painting of a sky outside your window relaxed you.

Your eyes almost begin to close when you hear a very audible yawn come from beside you.
”Pfewie! I’m sleepy! Too many sweets in my tummy.” Pinkie yawned, rubbing her belly with a satisfied smile on her lips.

”Oh, I think I agree,” Fluttershy yawned as well, covering her mouth with her hoof. “what about you Twilight? Are you coming back to the cabin?”

You couldn’t deny it. Though you were extremely excited, today was a long day. All that packing and saying good bye to the three friends you left behind. A long with you three talking and eating you did while on the train. You let out a tired sigh. “Yea, I suppose it has been a long day. We should go to bed, we’ll have a longer one in the morning, what with studying a new species and all.”

You exit the dining car and head over to the first class cabin. Being a princess has it’s perks. Reaching your bed, you climb in and get snuggled up, closing the velvet curtain, shutting yourself off from the rest of the room. You hear Pinkie and Fluttershy climb into their bunks. After some quick good nights to each other, you drift off to sleep, dreaming of the days to come and all the information you’ll get to learn.
The next morning has barely even started. The sun hasn’t even risen over the horizon once the Train finally comes to a stop. You and your friends gather your things and step onto the platform. Canterlot’s buildings are towering over you, all of them works of art.
Walls of white with roofs of a soft lavender, with nice golden spires on a few of the taller ones. It gives you a feeling of nostalgia to be back here, it always does. Running around from shop to shop with your mom as a filly, going to Donut Joe’s shop with Cadence, watching your brother Shining Armor at drill practice. It was very homey to you. The cool morning air nips at your neck.

You take a deep breath and stretch, despite the staff’s more than satisfactory attempts to make you all feel as comfortable as possible, train rides were still cramped and sometimes tiring. Your eyes glance over the streets.

No pony is awake yet, it’s still so early in the morning. You, however, have a job to do, you look over to your friends, both of them struggling to stay awake.

“All right girls, let’s start making our way to the castle. We can all eat breakfast there after we meet with the princesses.”

”But Twiiiiiliiiight,” Pinkie protests, ”The castle is suuuuch a long walk! Can’t we get a coffee and breakfast at Donut Joe’s shop?”

“Pinkie, it’s half past five in the morning, he isn’t even open yet.”

Fluttershy yawns and rubs her eyes. ”Well Twilight, there must be some shop open. I’m liking Pinkie’s idea of getting some coffee first before we head to the castle. It really does take some walking to get there from the station.”

You place your hoof to your chin. Trying to remember of a shop that as open at this hour. You haven’t lived here in a few years, and the last time you did you really didn’t go to coffee shops, the royal kitchen was always open. Well...the more you think about it, there is one shop your dad loved to go to. And he always had work start early for him, maybe that was open? Mocha Mare’s was the name you believed.

“Actually, I think there is one coffee shop open, it may be a little bit of a detour from the castle though. You two sure?”

They both nod.

“Alright, let’s go.”

The three of you start making your way down the street, as time passes more and more ponies start to appear, getting ready for a new day. Opening shops, and turning on lights. All of them so groggy and tired. A few you are amazed are still standing on all four hooves.

You three eventually make it to the shop, which had conveniently just opened. You all step inside with sighs of relief. The aura of the shop was one of blissful comfort. Nice and toasty with the smell of freshly ground coffee beans in the air. The three of you order your coffee and sit down at a nice table, Pinkie nibbling on a small lemon pastry to hold her over until breakfast at the palace. The atmosphere was nothing but calm and serene.

If this alien Human really did come from a world of war and violence, he’d probably love the comfort this world has to offer. He couldn’t have landed in a better place assuming he really is in shock in coming to a completely different world. One could only imagine the horrors he’d encounter if he’d landed in the Badlands, or maybe even the Everfree. You considered all of you lucky he ended up here specifically then. It probably would’ve left a bad first impression with all those bandits or monsters after him.

Once all of you were done with your coffee, you start to make your ways to the castle. The little detour giving you three the much needed energy boost to complete the still early morning route. Perfect timing too, the sun was beginning to break the horizon, showing Celestia was at least awake.

Once arriving at the castle, you are greeted by a guard pony who was seemingly nearing the end of his shift with the heavy bags under his eyes. He gives a salute

”Princess Twilight and friends, I assume you are here answering the Princesses’ orders?”

“Yes sir, we are, would you mind taking us to see them?”

”Yes ma’am, the three of you please follow me.”

You all follow the guard inside the castle walls, making your way towards the royal dining area.

”The princesses are currently eating breakfast at the moment, you three all should have plates of your own waiting your highness.”

You smile and thank him.

“Thank you! Do you know if the Human will also be joining us this morning?”

”The Human is not awake yet, from what I understand, however even if he was, he’d probably be eating his breakfast in his own quarters. The Princesses wanted to brief you three before you actually meet this creature.”

“Ah, understandable, thank you.”

Once finally reaching the doors to the royal kitchen, the guard salutes and takes his leave. The three of you enter and bow your heads greeting the Princess sisters.

“Good morning your highnesses, we’ve finally arrived to answer your call to greet this mythical creature who has found himself here.”

Celestia looks over and smiles, her white coat was frizzled, probably from just waking up, her mane continued to just flow in an invisible wind, just as it always had.

”Greeting’s my little ponies, I’m glad the three of you have finally arrived. You’re work will be much appreciated!”

”Much appreciated indeed.” Princess Luna said in a very exhausted tone. “This Human needs all the help he can get!”

You cock your head at the night princess’ words. You notice that her usually starry and smooth flowing mane is disheveled and unkempt. The dark circles around her eyes we deep and sunken, her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

“I’m a little confused, what kind of help does he need? Weren’t we just supposed to study him?”

You knew you probably would be helping this creature in someway, settling him in, showing him friendship, teaching and exchanging ways of life, but Luna’s words made it seem like there was something more going on. You turn to Celestia for an answer, Luna burying her face into her hooves in frustration.

Celestia speaks up, ”I suppose I should brief you three on what exactly it is you will be helping us with when it comes to Anonymous. Please come and sit down though, enjoy the breakfast our chefs have made for you three!”

You all sit down, Pinkie eager to eat despite having a few extra sweets in her after your visit to the coffee shop. Fluttershy speaks up.

”What kind of help do we need to offer him?”

You can see the increasing worry on her face as she asks this question, and just after you managed to calm her down the night before. The Princess clears her throat and begins to lay out everything you three need to know before meeting this Human.

”You three are about to meet a creature previously thought to be fiction, I’m sure that much you know already?”

You and Fluttershy nod, Pinkie looks up from her plate and smiles wide, showing all of the whipped cream smeared on her teeth from her pancakes.

”Well, from what we’ve gathered from Luna’s and my own conversations from him, he has some...erhm, other troubles he’s been dealing with. Outside of being far from home.”

“What kind of troubles?” you ask.

”I believe I mentioned Anonymous, which is the Human’s name by the way, was found in the Royal Gardens by Luna about a week ago during a walk. Well, he wasn’t found in the uhm...best of state.”

You raise an eyebrow

“What do you mean?”

Celestia paused, what she was about to say would probably be very unsettling to here based on the grimace on her face.

”He was wandering the castle grounds, in a very panicked and startled state, when Luna approached him, she mentioned that he was, uhm, ‘beaten up’ you could say?”

”He was drenched in blood and was wielding a knife. He was covered in wounds and bruises.” Luna specified.

You and your friends gasped.

”Oh my goodness! What happened to him? Did he hurt somepony? Did he get into a fight?” Fluttershy was beginning to shiver, though you can’t say it was unwarranted, that sounded awful.

Celestia sighed again. ”No, at least not here from what we can gather. Where ever he was before ending up in the gardens, was apparently very dark, and very violent. Whenever we ask him what happened or how he got his wounds he’d stop talking or say something a long the lines of. ‘I don’t really know myself.’ Seeing him in such a state we had to throw him in the dungeon at first. We didn’t know why he was in such a state or the danger he posed. Given the fact he is out of his cell now you can tell we’ve come to the conclusion through our talks that he was most likely a victim of bizarre circumstance and not some criminal. We’ve managed to clean him up, and we’ve confiscated any thing that may pose a threat from him, but he is still very shaken and scared from where ever he came from. He’s even been having frequent nightmares. Some of which has caused screaming loud enough to wake myself up on occasion.”

This all sounded so horrible. What possibly could he have been through that was so bad? Was he a soldier in one of the wars Humans are known to fight? Or was he attacked one night by a group of thugs? Was it something darker? Your train of thought was cut off by Luna putting in her piece of mind.

”That would explain our distressed state at the moment. I’ve spent days trying to get into his dreams and help him with these night mares, but he seems to be resistant to any spell we try. Whenever we try to counsel him he will refuse to speak on these terrors!”

By the maker! Was it really all that bad?

Fluttershy was on the verge of tears, poor mare was quivering in her seat. Pinkie’s expression was no better. Her eyes were almost popping out of her skull and her hooves were covering her mouth. What ever this Human has been through, it was clearly horrible, he clearly needed some friends to help him through what ever happened.

“What ever we need to do to help we’ll do it Princess. Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and I are on the case!”

Celestia smiles at this, pleased by your determination.

”Thank you all so much. I’m certain you three will be able to help him out with all of his troubles. If you three are finished with breakfast, I’ll show you to his room so you can finally meet him. Sister, you need some rest.”

After finishing your plates and wishing Princess Luna good rest, the four of you make your way to Anonymous’ room.

You were filled with determination and optimism to make this Human feel welcomed to Equestria, and help him fight what ever haunts him. It was your duty as Princess of Friendship, and a duty you were more than happy to fulfill. As you three made it to the door of his room, Celestia stopped and turned her head towards your group again, preparing to give you and your friends some final words before you entered.

”Before you enter, please know I choose you three, and only you three for a reason. Twilight, you are the Princess of Friendship and my faithful student. I’m trusting you can get something out of him, anything is helpful at this point. I also trust you will show him the friendship he needs. Fluttershy, as the element of kindness, I know you will be able to make him feel comfortable and safe, as well as help the medical staff treat some of his wounds. Pinkie Pie, as element of laughter, you should be able to cheer him up and enjoy his time here, how ever long that maybe. We’re hoping this will also help tame his night terrors.”

Pinkie squeed, Celestia’s word getting her out of her funk.

”You can count on us Princess! I’ll help make those mean ol’ spooky-wooky nightmares go away!”

Celestia chuckles at Pinkie’s words.

”I’m sure you all will, please do your best, and good luck.” She opens the door and let’s you three walk into the room. You turn back before entering

“Don’t worry Princess, we’ve handled bigger problems before. We won’t let you down.”

She thanks you one last time before letting the door shut, allowing yourselves some privacy.

You three take a quick look around the room...empty.

“Hello? Anonymous is it? We’ve been sent by the Princesses to visit you!”

You call out. You don’t get an answer. Where is he?

The opening of the balcony makes you jump a bit.

“Eep!”

”Gah!”

Your head snaps to the balcony door, in it’s frame was the tall bipedal creature, the Human. He looked just like the drawings in your manuscripts. Wow, he was tall. Not huge, but the top of his head would come up to at least Luna’s horn if not higher.

You take note of his clothes. White hoodie, blue pants made of what looked like denim, and uh...what were those on his feet? Where they a kind of boot? They looked a bit different, they seemed to cut off at his ankles. His clothes appeared clean, like Celestia said, but you could see the off colored brownish pink that still stained his hoodie. There was a lot of it. Luna wasn’t joking.

”Uhm...Hello? Are you three the ponies Celestia said I would meet?”

His question snapped you back to reality.

“Oh! Yes, my name is Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and Element of Magic, and these are my two friends, Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter, and Fluttershy, Element of Kindness. We’ve been sent to study you, and hopefully help you with what ever is troubling you.”

He frowns.

”Oh, she told you about all of that stuff huh? None of you should really have to concern yourselves with my problems.”

You wave your hoof.

“Nonsense, as the Princess of Friendship, and an Element of Harmony, I’d be more than happy to help, and that goes for my friends too! We don’t have to talk about all of the bad stuff now. We should all start on a lighter note!”

You grab a quill and note pad from a near by desk with your magic and sit down, Pinkie and Fluttershy sit behind you.

“Please have a seat and we can get started!”

Anonymous shuffles his feet, looking a little anxious.

“Is there anything wrong?”

The Human in front of you closes the door behind him and starts to speak.

”Oh, nothing! Nothing is wrong, it’s just, I’m still getting used to this place. Talking ponies, magic, hell pegasi and unicorns and the like are all myths where I’m from, and I’m sure I’ve never heard of one talking.”

You scribble all of this down. So not only were YOU talking to a mythical creature, from Anonymous’ perspective so was he! Fascinating

“Really? That’s all very interesting. But, you don’t have to be afraid, to be honest you’re a myth to us as well! For millennia it’s been believed your race was a myth, but here you are!”

He gives a weak chuckle

”So I’ve been told...okay. I’ll sit down now I guess.”

You smile as he takes a seat right across from you and your friends.

”So what do you want to ask me?”

You open your mouth to say something but Pinkie interjects before you can get it out.

”Howdy! I’m Pinkie Pie, but Twilly already said that, and you’re Anonymous right? That’s a weird name, do all Humans have weird names? Or is it just you? You shouldn’t feel sad if you have a weird name, I love weird ponies! Weird ponies can be very funny sometimes you kn-”

You stick a hoof in your friends mouth.

“Pinkie! Calm down, please! You’ll get your chance to help, but right now we’re just asking questions!”

Pinkie just smiles. “Aw come one Twilight that’s boring, and we aren’t going to help him if we’re boooooring are we?” Pinkie put a lot of emphasis on the word ‘boring’.

Your brow furrows.

“We can help him with that later, and like he said, he doesn’t want to talk about that right now. This is the best way we can break the ice.”

Well, you say that, but the ice breaking has already gone off with a rocky start.

You give an awkward smile to Anonymous, who was just staring in confusion at the two of you. You laugh nervously and pick up your quill in your magic again.

“Ha ha, sorry about that, but Pinkie does bring up a good point. Your name is Anonymous correct?”

”Oookay? Yes, my name is Anonymous, but please you can call me Anon for short. To answer your quirky friend there, it isn’t a very common name. But Human names aren’t really anything like, Fluttershy, or Pinkie Pie, or Twilight Sparkle, or something. Save a few exceptions I suppose.”

You write all of this down. Fascinating.

“All right, I suppose we should get the obvious stuff out of the way. Do you have any idea how you got here?”

Anon rubs the back of his neck with his hand. Hands. A lot more dexterous than the claws Spike has, those must be so useful to have.

”See...I don’t think I know, or if I do I don’t think I fully understand. Or if I do understand, then it just raises so many more questions whose answers seem impossible to me. Or just very hard to accept.”

What? What the hay does that even mean? You grimace slightly

“I...uhm...heh, I’m not entirely sure what you mean. Are you saying you do know or you don’t know?”

He blows air out of his nose in frustration.

”Look, I need to be real honest and upfront here. Assuming you three have been told everything the Princesses know, I don’t know exactly how I ended up here, and I have my ideas, but it ties back into getting out of...where ever the hell I was before coming here.”

He lowered his head.

”Look, I know you’re here to help and I appreciate that, but I don’t want to bother any of you with that. I want answers too but let’s just...I don’t know, put a pin in that for now? It was...pretty rough.”

You had to blink. Apparently he’s been asked this several times before. Probably by the princesses. Maybe he’s been going over what happened in his mind over and over and he just doesn’t understand it. Maybe both. This wasn’t turning out as smoothly as you expected. Then again you didn’t expect to be interviewing a mythical creature that clearly came just came out of a dark place.

“Can you excuse me for one second?”

”Yea, sure. Do what you need.” He responds.

“I’m sorry Anon, I just need to discuss something with my friends reaaaaaaal quick.” You apologize as you push your friends into the bathroom. You sigh.

”Oh my, he seems very troubled.” Fluttershy starts, ”I don’t think I’ve ever seen any pony so nervous and confused...other than me really.”

“Alright.” You say. “I may need to alter the plan I had coming at this. Clearly, the something that happened before he was here was rather...abhorrent, and we really need to find a way to not upset him.”

Pinkie interrupts you.

”It’s okay Twi, we didn’t do anything, heck he even said he appreciates us being here! You know what I think? I think he needs a day of specialized one on one fun time!”

Dang pink mare can only think about having fun and partying instead of...wait. “Wait, Pinkie, what did you just say?”

”What? Oh you mean my One on Fun Super Special Get to know Togethers? (Trademarked) it’s a special party I like to plan when ever I meet a pony who’s a sappy sad sapperton or a weepy introvert! Why?”

Of course! A day alone with all of you! Having to be around so many mythical creatures must be just some unwanted stress. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her but that pink mare can be a, “Sweet Celestia, you’re a genius!”

”Heehee, no I’m not silly! I’m Pinkie!”

Yes, this is a perfect idea. All you three have to do is take shifts and get to know him personally one on one.

“Girls, I know what we’re going to do! Come on.”

The mares follow you out of the bathroom. Anon is still sitting on the floor looking into his lap. You clear your throat to get his attention. He looks up at you, waiting for you to speak.

“Anonymous, I have a better approach. All three of us talking to you and interacting with you is probably giving you a lot of stress, what with having to be surrounded by creatures you didn’t consider real until a week ago.”

Anon was giving you a puzzled look. ”Yea, I suppose that’s true? But what are you trying to get at?”

“Anon, for the next week, we will be taking shifts spending the day with you and getting to know you better. One on one.”

”Ermm...Okay? If that’s how you three want to do this? I don’t suppose I have a choice.”

You raised an eyebrow.

“No, no. I mean, only if you want to.” You specify.

Anon waves his hand.

”No it’s fine. It’ll probably help me ease into this whole...being in a different world here anyways.”

You smile.

“Great! So it’s settled. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy you two may retire to our bedroom, we can discuss who will spend the day with Anon tomorrow before bed!”

The two mares leave, making it just you and Anon there in the room. You walk over and take a seat right across from him, taking your note and pen in your magic again.

“Okay, now that that’s out of the way we can begin again. Also, sorry for taking a break so abruptly, I just wanted to find a way to make you more comfortable. Please forgive me if I end up asking any questions that make you feel uncomfortable.”

Anon puts his hands up. ”No, no it’s all fine. I understand. It’s not like you know anything about me anyways.”

“Well, let’s fix that! Now, next question...”

And so you began to interrogate Anon. Making sure to only ask general questions. Nothing too personal outside of, “How old are you?” Which, apparently he was 20. Even more interestingly, Humans could live up to be 80 or 90 years old where he lived, some have even made it to their hundreds! The whole day was just asking and explaining to each other about your worlds. Comparing differences, noting similarities. Apparently Humans couldn’t control the weather or raise the sun or moon. The weather worked by itself and the sun and moon rising were illusions caused by a spinning globe. What shocked you was their lack of magic! That doesn’t even seem possible.

However, through their own science, they were able to make remarkable, and some rather terrifying things. Life improving drugs, more efficient ways of travel, including flight. But also bombs, war machines, and these things called guns. Instruments that can fire a lead projectile at the speed of sound and tear through a human, sometimes at impressive range.

On and on, love or war, pony or not, you got a lot of information that would probably help you. Maybe even some ideas to share with the inventors and scientists of Equestria. The more and more you talked, the more comfortable Anon became with you. He never lost his somber mood, but he was able to crack a lighthearted joke or two, even if most of them were cynical.

What ever! It’s progress baby, and you could appreciate that much. Alas, time flies when you are lost in note taking and researching. You noticed how much darker the room was. You got up and brushed your self off.

“Wow Anon! I got so much information from talking to you! I really appreciate you sharing all that information with me.”

Anon shrugs.

”Don’t mention it. It really isn’t anything special. Like I’ve been saying, your world is probably far better. With all of the real magic and peace. Even if you get the occasional bad guy.”

“No, thank you really. This is all really good information. I can see you’re tired though. So I’ll leave you to sleep.”

You stop yourself before leaving, remembering the problem he has.

“Anon? Please get some good rest tonight?”

Anon looks at you. You can see the sadness in his face, but also a touch of appreciation.

”Thanks Twilight. I appreciate that. I’ll try. You have a good night’s rest too!”

You give him a smile and wave good bye, shutting his door. A sigh of relief escapes your lips. Today was a good day. A rocky start, but you were able to fix that.

You finally make your way back to your room that you were sharing with the girls.

Pinkie is the first to notice you.

”Hiya Twilight! How’d it go with Anon?”

“It was wonderful Pinkie! I got so much information on his world from him. He actually opened up a lot! He really came around after a few hours. Time just flew by. I’m more surprised we just sat in that room and talked, his world is so interesting.”

Fluttershy was the next to speak.

”That sounds wonderful, were you really able to cheer him up?”

“Well...not exactly, no. But, I was able to make up for the beginning of our conversation and really lighten the mood a little”

You yawn and stretch your forelegs.

“Sweet Celestia, it felt like only a few minutes. I’ve done nothing but talk all day and yet I’m so exhausted.”

You climb into your bed and get snuggled up getting ready for sleep.

”Wait!” Pinkie interrupts your blanket snuggles. ”Twilight, who will be hanging out with Anon tomorrow?”
Oh yea that.

“Oh! Right. Uhmmm, Fluttershy, you hardly got to make yourself known today, and you are very gentle and kind. You should be the next one of us to spend time with Anon tomorrow. Help with the treatment of his wounds as well.”

”I’ll try and do my best Twilight. He seemed so scared and frustrated.”

“Probably, just remember to not ask or bring up anything to personal. All right good night you two.”

They both responded with their own good nights and you drifted off to dream land.
~~~~