Anonymous in Nu-Questria

You are Sunny Starscout.

You knew what would happen if you showed him that letter, but you did it any way.

It feels so stupid now. Were you supposed to give him more time? Were you supposed to just forget about it?

No. No that’s not it. It’s... almost like he wants to feel this way. He’s been doing it from the very start.

Ever since he woke up he’s been nothing but difficult and mopey. You know all humans aren’t like that. That doesn’t make sense. There has to be humans with different personalities, just like ponies. So why is he like this? Why?

You shake your head and snort. You wipe your eyes.

Even leaving him alone with Izzy for three days didn’t help...

You bite your lip as you remember your friends are waiting for you. You look up at your airship. You feel that gentle stir of pride as you remember all the work and hardship you and your friends endured to bring it to life. And now it’s right there! Just floating right by the lighthouse.

You never thought you’d see something that amazing in your life. Never thought you’d accomplish this... but you have!

And the person that helped make it all happen, who stuck his neck out for you and faced his greatest fears, is now still just depressed and mopey as the day you found him.

Why?

Doesn’t he care?

You hit the bench with your hoof.

You want to just slap him and make him look. Look! You’re helping everypony in the world! We’re making it a better place! Is that not meaningful? Isn’t that something to want?

You clench your eyes and grit your teeth. You want to scream! Your lungs are full of air that wants to be shouted out loud.

But instead you just... gradually calm down.

You slip off the bench and onto your hooves. You turn your ears to the calm breeze floating out from the bay. The familiar scent of brine stings your nostrils.

You begin to walk.

The streets are empty now. It’s very quiet and still. Everypony has gone back to their homes. Your hoofsteps echo against the brick buildings all around. For once your home town feels... lonely.

Curse you, Anonymous! His sadness is infecting your brain! You should be so proud right now. Today was an amazing day!

All those ponies were there, taking pictures. Pictures you’ll see in the newspaper tomorrow. We all made history! We’re going to explore the world!

And yet, you’re feeling depressed. Ugh. Just like him.

You stop walking. You stomp your hoof.

No.

You take a deep breath. You raise your head up and throw your braided mane over your shoulder.

You start galloping forward.

You aren’t going to take this away from me, Anon. Not this time. You know deep down in his heart he yearns for friendship. True friendship. Just like you. He’s just a skeptic. A realist. He needs to see it for himself.

Who better to do that than you? Huh?

Your head bobs and your hooves push harder and faster. Watch out Anon! You can’t run from your past, and you can’t run from-

“Hey Sunny.” You hear a stallion voice say.

Your eyes go wide and you skid to a stop. Your hooves scrape against the pavement.

You whip your head around to see a human sitting on a bench, holding a bag of potato chips.

He’s picking them out with his fingers and eating them one by one.

You feel a hot wave of rage. You grit your teeth and yell.

“Anon!”

You trot up to him, glowering at him hard.

He looks at you, but doesn’t seem to react. He eats another potato chip.

You smack the bag out of his hand with a hoof.

“Hey-” He says.

“What are you doing?!” You shout.

He shrugs slowly. “... Eating chips?” He says.

“No!” You scream.

You jump on him. You pin his shoulders back to the bench and you raise your head above his.

“First you give me this big long speech about how you’re so sad and that you’ll never be happy in this world and that all that ever happens is you getting hurt again and again. Then you just walk off and leave. Now I find you and... you’re just sitting here eating chips?! What is wrong with you?!” You shout.

You breathe deep and hard. Your face feels hot. He is shrinking his head back.

“... I was hungry?” He says.

“Gh!!” You fume, gritting your teeth.

No. No. He’s doing it again! Think, Sunny, think...

You sigh. Your face trembles a bit, but the anger subsides.

You look at him for a moment, held there by your hooves. He looks so powerless and afraid now that you’re actually standing above him. Maybe he just needs some more assurance.

You lean forward towards him. You look at him directly in his small, beady eyes.

“Anon. You have to stop doing this. It’s... it’s not healthy.” You say.

He looks sad. He glances down.

You shake him with your hooves so he looks at you.

“Hey. I’m not done. This world... I know you don’t find it all bad. You can’t lie to me, Anon.” You say.

You lean back from him. You realize that you’re sitting in his lap, your hind legs straddling him. To the wrong pony this would look kind of weird. But no. Forget it.

You sit up and fold in your front hooves.

“Why can’t you just try to appreciate what you have right now instead of... always looking at the negatives?” You say.

“I uh...” He says.

He looks around. He’s stalling. Trying to find an excuse, probably.

It’s getting hard to balance like this. You put a hoof on his chest.

To your surprise, he reaches up and touches it.

You feel your heart skip a beat. He slowly grabs your other hoof too. His fingers are warm and soft. He helps you balance in the air.

“I’m afraid, Sunny...” He says. “That’s why.”

What is this feeling you’re having right now? There’s something fluttering in your chest. It feels weird, but... you don’t want him to let go.

“What are you afraid of?” You ask.

You notice your breaths are coming faster. Your tail twitches. You shove your feelings down and keep a straight face.

He takes a deep breath and looks at you for a moment.

“Hurting someone.” He says.

What?

“Like... who?” You say.

He looks very conflicted.

“Someone that I love.” He says.

You swallow.

He takes your hoof off his chest. He holds both hooves in his hands now. There’s a storm of emotions inside you. That fluttering is building up to a roar.

“Sunny... I-” He says.

Oh, for the love of sunshine.

You lean forward and kiss him.

You don’t mean for it to happen. It just does.

You shove your muzzle right in his face and lock lips. Your fur brushes smooth skin. His lips are salty and a bit sweet. The breath from his little nose is hot against the corner of your mouth. His hands squeeze your hooves softly.

You break from the kiss. Your head is woozy and you feel very light-headed. He is staring at you in shock.

Horseapples! This is bad. He’s going to get even more sad now. You just-

Wait. He’s... smiling?

Now he’s touching your cheek. His fingers are running along your face. Why can’t you move? You’re smiling too? You feel so confused... but how your heart soars!

Anonymous rubs your neck gently, right below your mane. Then he pulls you forward and hugs you very close to his chest.

You just... let him.

You curl up your hooves and lean your head against his shoulder. His long arms are supporting your back. You feel like you are enclosed inside him. Encapsulated. Why... why does it feel so good?

You want to say something... you open your mouth a bit, but... then you don’t. You don’t need to say a thing. His head is leaning against yours now. His face is pressing into your mane.

You let him hug you. You feel his warmth. You feel the long, drawn-out sadness deep inside him. And inside that sadness you see a little human child. Stranded and alone. You feel like you want to pick him up, put him on your back, and carry him home.

Oh Anon... so that’s where you were hiding all this time.

You say nothing as his hands slowly loosen around you.

Still you say nothing as you lean back from the hug.

Your eyes meet.

You nod at him. He slowly nods back.

You turn and slip down from the bench. Your hooves find solid ground.

He rises up. He puts his hands inside his pockets.

Together you walk back to the lighthouse to greet your friends.

Tomorrow will be a big, brave new day.

No matter what happens, you will face it. Together.