All Ends With Beginnings

Another ‘bus stop’, another map, a new direction. You found yourself just outside the city.

Again a feeling of emptiness.

Again a a feeling of emptiness.

For the city that was. Your determination was keeping you strong throughout everything, even if you only just arrived. The night seemed to last forever though. The moon hasn’t moved since you’ve arrived.

The city, much like the school and suburban neighborhood, looked like it had seen the bad end of one of Discord’s “pranks” and then left abandoned. Some doors and windows were boarded up, even had bars over them.

Some of the windows that weren’t covered showed signs of life with light coming out of them. Though you were reluctant to trust it.

You never thought you’d see the hour where the light proved to be more worrying than the dark.

Though in a way you were thankful, as the streets were light up, if only occasionally, by the lamps. The buildings seemed to tower over you.

They reminded you have the skyscrapers in a city like Manehatten, or even your castle back in Canterlot, but so much bigger. Even with a map the streets seemed to be just a confusing maze with the occasional sign to tell you where you were. A few of the buildings were different, some boutiques, some hole in the wall drug stores.

At the intersections of streets, wires would hang across the lamp posts with boxes hanging off of them that would occasionally flash on one of three colors. Red, yellow, or green.

h

Some of the paths had those cars blocking the way but were hardly and obstacle for you to climb over, unless they were larger or on fire. In which case you had to find another way around. Which usually wasn’t an issue. You scrunched your muzzle as you looked at the map again. This map made less sense than the last one you found in the neighborhood.

You felt like you were going in circles at some points. How did Anon live in a city like this? The roads and paths in even the largest cities back home had some logic behind them, yet were still able to feel natural.

Here it’s all the same sized blocks, with the same buildings, hardly changing. You thought back to home.

The welfare of Twilight, and her friends. Your sister. Anonymous was probably still in the woods unconscious. Moonrocks. Anon was still in the woods. There you go with not thinking. You were usually a lot better than this but you just were not on your ‘A’ game today.

Thinking of poor Twilight Sparkle going through all the same horrors as you were was depressing. Poor mare probably wasn’t expecting any of this to happen. You could only hope she was healing and comfortable in a hospital bed, surrounded by her loyal friends. You left your sister back at the castle in a state of confusion.

You just canceled the get together she had planed because of an unexpected emergency. She must have also gotten a letter from Twilight’s friends as well.

She had to. Oh no. What if she had decided to visit Twilight and see her in such a state? What if she decided to go and search for you after realizing you went to go look for Anonymous? What if she found the location of Anonymous and the book?

The location MUST be obvious by now! The veins, the peeling away of natural land and living matter, only to reveal corroded metal that shouldn’t be there?

Anon’s body out cold and motionless. What if she tried to break you out like you did Twilight? While you didn’t want to stay here any longer than you had to, Twilight said you had to live through Anon’s troubles.

Anon said the same thing in the school.

You quickened your pace down the quite street. The wind having completely died and leaving you in a familiar heavy silence. You could only hope your sister didn’t find the book until you’ve reached Anon again and find out at least what had happened to him to cause him to write all of this. You take one more turn and reach a large clear area. A park was in the middle of it all, a proud clock tower and statue dominated the area with their size.

You noticed something a little off about the statue. Was...was that Human on top of a pony?

…

You were going to have to remember to ask Anonymous about that.

Well, you were down town. Which according to the map meant you were half way to South Elroy Street. You think. You took a seat in the park near a fountain so you could better read the map.

South Elroy seemed to be another seven blocks away, and though you’ve been lucky so far, you don’t know if any obstacles would be in the way.

*dong dong dong dong dong*

The crashing sound of a bell made you jump a little bit. You looked up at the clock tower. The hour marker pointed to the numeral five.

Five? Like five in the morning? You looked back up in the sky. The moon was in the wrong position. Anonymous mentioned the moon on his world moved by itself.

And if that were the case they should really do something because the moon was not in the correct place at all. It was still at its highest point in the sky.

You shook your head and looked back down at your map.

Your your yourrrr map.

You could feel a migraine coming on. You blamed all of the physical trauma.

You grumbled and rubbed your flank. The number of times you feel on your butt, you swear. It didn’t help the writing in the map was written APPARENTLY for ants.

Even with this part of the city being more well illuminated you had to squint and lean in just to read.

A soft glow from a light source behind you illuminated the map thankfully and helped with the ability to read the extremely fine print.

“Ah. Much better.” You let out with a sigh.

You dead panned. Where was that light coming from?

You looked behind you, and instantly regretted the decision to do so. Looking back at you, if you could say it could look, was another humanoid creature.

Its skin pulled impossibly taught across its body and appeared sickly. It lacked any clothing and muscle for that matter. Its flesh tightly gripping its bones. It appeared malnourished.

The distinctive lack of any facial features was what really shocked you.

No eyes, just sunken sockets. No nose, nor nose holes, just indents caused by the impossibly tight skin. Teeth from the skull inside made an impression against the flesh wrapped around its head. No openings no holes, no cartilage, no hair.

Just skin pulling against the bones, the features of the skulls protruding and leaving impressions. Hints as to where the openings should be.

And the faint light source that helped you in the reading of your map?

Came from the faint flame of a candle the monster was holding in its hand. The light from which it was seemingly using to inspect you.

You scrambled.

Moving away from the demented being before coming to stop after you ran into something else. Looking up, you could only stare in horror from the feet of another one of these creatures.

It brought its free arm up and swat at you. Despite the lack of any muscular development, it managed to throw you a full meter away, knocking the wind out of you.

Rolling to a stop, you scrambled back up and ran towards the closest bastion of safety you could. A tree with low branches. Better than nothing. Doing your best, you scampered up the tree and held on for dear life.

Humans may be monkeys but they lived on the ground. They couldn’t reach you from here...right? The two creatures you ran into gazed at you form the ground.

Even without eyes, their stares managing to pierce your very being. And after a few seconds they...started to walk away?

Minding their own business as if nothing happened or was out of the ordinary?

“What in the name of...”

”You’re still here?!”

A familiar voice was calling out to you.

Your looked forward toward the statue at the center of the park. There, holding the hind leg of the pony statue, was Anonymous.

Still wearing that blindfold too.

“Anonymous! You’re okay! Thank the heavens. Anon, what are these things? Why aren’t they attacking like the monsters previously? And speaking of, what in Tartarus WERE THOSE!” Anonymous stayed silent for a moment.

”Even after all you’ve been through you’re still here. Why? I’m honestly shocked you made it out.”

“Anonymous, please, I am not in the mood nor condition to fool around. This is serious, there are monsters in these streets and you are in need of help. I’M in need of help. We can help each other, but first we must find a way to get past these things!”

Anon motioned his blind gaze towards the monsters on the ground and then back to you.

”Just a bunch of fools. All of them going through the motions, they think they can navigate the chaotic streets of this city and life with just a flame, wick, and a small amount of wax.”

W-what? “What?”

”But look at me, at both of us. We are not so lucky to have a light to guide us.” Anon spat in disgust at one of the creatures.

You looked back over at the creatures and jumped down off the branch. More of them seemed to be roaming these streets, but all focusing on themselves.

You looked back toward Anon in confusion.

“You mean that they don’t want anything to do with us? Why? Anonymous please tell me what is going on!”

”Yes. Now, I answered YOUR question. Answer mine. Why are you still here?”

WHAT DID THAT MEAN?

“ANONYMOUS! I am NOT in the mood for this over the top and ominous language. You know very well why I am here! To help you. You asked for my help, and I care for you greatly. All of this will be made easier if you just tell me what is going-”

”Will you SHUT UP!?”

You flinched and shut your muzzle.

”Do you have any FUCKING idea what you’re doing? How much STILL being here hurts? Don’t think I’m not reliving every moment of this place a long with you. This. Is. My. Hell. I had to live through this TWICE before, and just like you I thought I could use this idea of myself to fight through these demons my first time through this horrible shit hole! You’re in MY world, through MY eyes. And every time one of you four legged SHIT STAINS come through here and make me ‘open up’ this world I have to relive it EVERY SINGLE TIME! And look at you! You’re injured! So much good “helping me” did you huh? I don’t have to be as nice as I’m being right now you know?”

“Anon, you don’t need to be so harsh! Look, I-i’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. We don’t need to insult each other and fight. I don’t mean to hurt you I just want to help!”

”I don’t give a damn. Just leave!”

“No! I am going to help you! I don’t precisely have a way to leave either you know!”

Anon glared at you. You can feel the anger through the blindfold. Then he paused and regained his composure.

”Yes you do...you just have to do what I did to get out.”

“What?”

”Look. Just leave. I still have my own persona to deal with.”

And with that, Anon walked behind the leg of the statue and seemed to vanish in thing air.

“Anon wait! Please don’t go! What do you mean just do what you did? How would I do that? Anon, please, I’m scared and in danger! I’m alone!”

You tripped over the raised concrete path through the park. He was gone, again, just like that. And all you two did was fight.

“We just want to help you...so we can be friends again…” You picked yourself up. You felt defeated.

Why was he acting so differently? Why on the earth you stood on was he being so hostile? Was he some fake? Created by the world to scare you or fool you? Beat you down mentally?

Or was this actually his true self and you were actually friends with a fake monster?

No. That couldn’t be, that wasn’t.

Anonymous was acting harsh and rude but he is clearly in a dark place, he had to be. You sounded like you were making excuses.

But you also had a monster in you. You also used to be filled with hate and spite. But you were in a dark place, and you needed help. You were finally able to get that help and managed to move past it thanks to the love and dedication of those around you.

And here was Anon, in a dark place, and like he said it hurts him just as much and clearly doesn’t want to go through this again.

Who would you be if you couldn’t show the same dedication and love that managed to help you change? Were these similarities not why you two were friends? Why Anon was compelled to befriend you in the first place?

You picked your map up off the ground. You wouldn’t let this darker Anonymous distract you. You would remain loyal!

You knew what Anonymous was really like. He helped you through so much, you HAD to do the same for him.

You looked around you. Those creatures were becoming more numerous. But they seemed to ignore you. Just don’t run into one of those things again and you should be fine.

Seven blocks. Seven blocks between you and your next goal. You slid the map back in your pouch and started walking. The power of friendship saved you. And bet your flank it was going to save Anonymous as well.

~~

Darkness surrounded you. It was a familiar feeling at this point. And then. Light.

A ringing could be heard.

“Ugh. Fuck, what happened?”

You placed a hand up to your head.

You were Anonymous.

And your temples were throbbing. Memories came flooding back. You were in White Tailed Woods.

Why? Oh yea, you were running away. Something terrible happened. Twilight had read your journal and saw the horrors inside it.

Quite literally. How the hell that happened you weren’t sure of but she had apparently been sucked literally into the book and lived through the same horrors you did shortly before showing up to this strange horse world.

Fuck what else happened? Luna tracked you down and begged to help you after she found out. She pleaded with you but you didn’t want it. Look at what happened to Twilight you couldn’t put your closest friend through that!

Hell the incident with Twilight was just proof that there were things you couldn’t get help with.

But, she finally convinced you, you didn’t feel as though you’d be able to convince her any other way. Oh Luna, you hoped she was okay.

The light began to blur and faint shapes could be made out. Furniture. You rolled over to your side.

You grabbed your stomach as it began to twist inside of you. You felt like you were going to blow chunks.

“Ohhhhh, shit, I don’t feel good.”

You rubbed your eyes and blinked. Your vision was beginning to become clear again. You sat yourself up, making sure you didn’t move to quickly and lose your lunch.

You really shouldn’t have eaten so many sweets at Pinkie’s party. But you learned very quickly that, when in party mode, saying no to Pinkie Pie was a near impossibility.

You took a look around. You were...wait.

“My apartment? What the fuck how could I have...oh. I must be back in the journal.”

But why here? The first memories you had of being in the journal was waking up in an alley way. Why where you back here?

You slowly picked your self up and leaned against the couch. The room looked just like it did when you last left it. Minus one mess, but you didn’t want to think about that.

Fuck, if Luna is in here with you and she found out about that...even if she sees and survives everything like it was nothing, you wouldn’t be able to look at her. You gathered your self and stumbled into the bathroom turning on the faucet, splashing cold water in your face.

Alright focus.

Luna didn’t seem to be in the apartment with you. Your suite was small enough that it would have been obvious.

You’d have to find her. You stared into the mirror. God you looked awful, how long were you out?

Your hair was a mess, you’d grown some stubble on your chin…Your blindfold was stained?

Wait...no...it couldn’t be. You reached your hands over your eyes. Nothing. The reflection looking back at you in the mirror furrowed its brow.

”You have got to be shitting me.” Your reflection spat out in shock.

YEA NOPE YOU WERE OUT OF THERE! Not him again. Even if he was who he was. You ran out the bathroom and to front door.

Locked. Shit. You banged and yanked on the door knob, trying to get out.

”Where do you think you’re going?” You paused and slowly craned your neck to look behind you. The other Anonymous was right behind you.

”We clearly have some business to take care of. You have some explaining to do.”

Fuck.

~~~~