Anonymous in Nu-Questria 2

You were exhausted and coated in sweat as you collapsed on the deck and looked up at the patch of the night sky beyond the balloon.

The crisp night air felt good on your skin, and though your head swam from alcohol, you felt at ease.

They started doing shots as the hour grew late. That was probably a bad idea. Things got sloppy, and memories came in pieces.

Izzy was insatiable. She kept “accidentally” bumping against your legs while you danced, and her horn kept getting dangerously close to spearing you through the stomach. You quickly grew tired of this, so you ended up slamming a hayburger onto her horn.

She found this amusing and tried to make a game out of stacking as many burgers as she can on her horn. Then she presented it like a kebab to the other ponies.

When she got bored of her game, she started trying to goad Sunny into using her powers again.

The other ponies joined in. They started chanting “Alicorn!” over and over at her as she became increasingly flustered. This spurred you to lift her up onto your shoulders and parade her around just to increase her embarrassment. She tried to fight back the bouts of laughter to yell “Stop! Stop!”

As things started to get blurry, you think at some point you almost tripped over Pipp, then you jokingly yelled at her that she was “too short for this ride” and that you were going to “throw her overboard.”

You weren’t going to really do that, but Zipp had to fly up to you and give you a look like she was going to throw you over first. If Hitch hadn’t talked her down, man... you might have gotten in your first fight with a pony in a long time.

Ah, who cares? None of them will remember any way.

At this point, Izzy is the only one still dancing. Well, her wobbling, shifting movements might be considered a dance to some, but you think at any moment she’s going to trip over her own hooves.

Pipp had to rush to the bathroom to throw up. Sunny is probably still in there, holding her mane back. Poor girl.

Hitch and Zipp started getting strangely close to one another as they danced late into the night. Right now they are both leaning over the gunwale of the deck, talking quietly.

You wonder if maybe something else happened in the mall between them when they were alone.

You chuckle to yourself and lean up on your elbows.

“Hey! Izzy!” You say.

Izzy ignores you, lost in the music and dancing in her clumsy way.

You’re not sure why, but you’re feeling generous. You want to let Hitch and Zipp have their space.

You get up, swaying a bit from how dizzy you are, but you steady yourself.

You walk over to Izzy.

“Izzy!” You say.

“Anon!” Izzy says. She’s dancing with her eyes closed now.

“Anon! Anon! Anon! Anon! Are you groovin’? Are you feeling the beat? Woo! Yeah!” She says.

“Woo. Yeah. Let’s turn down the grooves a bit, huh?”

You grab her horn. Bits of hay and lettuce are still stuck to it.

Her head stays in place as her hooves continue to dance around.

You smile and shake your head. You exhale in an almost-laugh.

You grab Izzy’s cheeks and mush them together. “Izzy!” You say.

She looks at you with violet, surprised eyes and fish-like lips.

“Yesh?” She says.

You have to admit, she’s pretty cute, even when she’s a drunken mess.

“You wanna take a break for a bit, huh?” You say.

You release your hands from her face and pat her head gently.

Izzy’s face is already painted a deep rouge from her inebriated state, but you think she blushes more as she glances around and notices that she’s the only one left dancing.

“Alright!” She says with a chipper smile.

She trots around you, leaving the music blasting. You go over to turn down the volume a bit.

You then see Izzy plant her hoof in a discarded hayburger and start to lose her balance.

“Who-ah Ahh!” She screams as she flails with an uncoordinated flurry of hooves. She accidentally steps on her mane, twists her body and winds up landing on her side.

“Ow...” She says.

You let out a snort. “You alright, Izzy?” You say as you step over to her.

You crouch down and extend a hand. Her mane is all messed up and she looks at you with cheery eyes and a mouth twisted up in embarrassment.

“I’m okay! Fine!” She says in a slurred tone. There’s a yearning look in her eye as she languidly reaches a hoof forward. “I’m... feeling better now, actually.”

You roll your eyes, smile and pull her up to a sitting position.

Izzy brushes her mane back, turning her face a bit to hide from you shyly.

“Thanks... Anon.” She says.

“Don’t mention it.” You say. “But maybe it’s time to turn in, don’t you think?”

She sends a few strands of magic up her horn. An envelope of magic tugs your hand forward to her cheek. She giggles and nuzzles against it.

“Woah, woah.” You say. “Easy with the drunken magic...”

You let out a laugh and let her rub her face on your fingers.

You look over towards Hitch and Zipp. Zipp is extending her wing over him. Huh. Well then.

You then look back at Izzy. Her horn stops glowing and she wobbles slightly on her hooves as she opens her eyes. Her smile is very wide. She’s still bubbling with that same youthful vigor.

You know what? This might be one of last nights you have left. Why not?

You kneel down towards Izzy with a gentle smile. “Hey, Izzy.” You say. You push her mane out of the way with your hand.

You see her back legs almost buckle a bit. Her tail twitches upwards. Her eyes sparkle, reflecting the starry night.

“Y-yes, Anon?” She says.

“Look, about the whole cuddling thing...” You say. You put a hand gently on her withers.

She bites her lip. Her eyes grow wider.

Her head then suddenly stops wobbling. She inhales sharply through her nose. Her pupils shrink to pinpricks.

“Um, hold that thought!” She says quickly. She puts a hoof over her mouth and does a three-legged trot over to the side of the deck.

Oh...

You watch as Izzy rears up onto the gunwale and leans over the side.

You cringe and turn away. It’s hard to ignore the retching, so you just slip your hands into your pockets and stand awkwardly as she gets it out of her system.

At least she knows to hold her mane back.

A few moments later, you see her wipe her mouth and lean up. She starts to walk back towards you, and you see her eyes are watery and she has a sorrowful look on her face.

“You feel better now?” You say.

She nods despondently and looks down.

You kneel down and pat her back.

“Hey. I need you to do something for me, okay?” You say.

She looks up.

“Drink a lot of water, then go get some rest. I don’t want you feeling too bad tomorrow.” You say.

“Okay, Anon...” She says in a quiet, slurred voice.

You smile reassuringly and scratch her scalp with your fingers.

“It’s okay, Izzy. I’ve been there too.” You say.

You escorted her into the door to the cabins. She almost tumbled and fell a few times, but you steadied her.

As you stepped into the hall,you saw Sunny coming out of one the crew quarters. She looks at Izzy and immediately frowns.

“Oh no, not you too!” She says. She rushes to Izzy and hugs her.

“Oh Sunny...” Izzy says, starting to sob. “I drank too much! It was too tasty!”

“I know, Izzy. It’s okay.” Sunny says as she rubs her back softly.

Izzy closes her eyes and leans against her.

“Shh... just relax. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Sunny says warmly.

You’re in the lounge drinking some water and rubbing your temples as you take a breather on the small couch. You just know you’re going to have an awful hangover tomorrow.

There’s a few electric lights in the galley, but in this lounge there’s only a small reading lamp over by the corner. You turned it on and it put forth a dim electric light.

With the hum of the ship’s engines as they drift lazily along the mountain valley, the ship is once again peaceful. To you and the ponies, the ship is but a mote of stardust suspended in the night sky.

For now, at least.

You hear Sunny close the door to the crew cabins again and then start to come down the stairs.

You look up as she descends to the landing near the galley.

“Hey.” She says.

“Hey, there’s the alicorn...” You say back with a grin.

“Some party, huh?” She says.

“Yeah... I think we all overdid it a little.” You say.

“Yep. Just a bit!” She says with a nervous giggle.

She comes down and sits on the chair opposite of yours. She leans against the armrest with a big sigh. Her hind legs curl up, and she flops her tail over them.

She looks out the side porthole window and runs a hoof unconsciously over her braid.

You don’t really believe Sunny when she says she won’t stop along the way. No, there’s no chance.

But you have an idea.

You think you might be able to convince Sunny to put a stop to her heinous quest. To turn back to the safety of the Bay. You just need to show her a better way...

Sunny yawns wide and puts a hoof over her mouth.

“So... Hitch is on watch tonight, by the way.” She says.

“Yeah?” You say. “So... are you gonna turn in too?”

“I might in a bit.” She says with a sigh. “I just feel really guilty that I let Pipp and Izzy drink that much....”

“Well hey, they’re grown ass mares. They did it to themselves.” You say. “You don’t have to baby them, Sunny.”

Sunny shakes her head and raises her eyebrows. “So just because they’re ‘grown ass mares’ doesn’t mean I should let them get puke all over my nice airship.”

You chuckle a bit. “I suppose you’re right.”

She sighs and leans her head down on her hooves.

You lean forward.

“You know, it’s funny. You seem more worried about your friends getting too drunk than you do about those creatures we found.” You say.

Sunny shifts up a bit and points an ear towards you.

“If you hadn’t hadn’t used those crystals at the last moment, I’m not sure what would have happened.” You say.

She raises her head towards you. Her turquoise eyes are large and filled with purpose.

“What do you mean?” She says.

You fold your hands together and put then underneath your chin.

“It’s all so uncertain, isn’t it, Sunny?” You say. “I could have died today. You all could have. How do you deal with that? Never knowing what might happen?”

Sunny tilts her head. She then sits up and ponders this for a bit.

“I suppose... I just try to stay optimistic. I put my trust in my friends that we’ll pull through somehow, no matter how bad it seems.” She says finally.

“Yes, I understand.” You say. “But what if it doesn’t? Wouldn’t it be better to play it safe? After all, the odds are stacked quite against you, Starscout.”

Sunny narrows her eyes.

“You know what I would do in your situation?” You say, leaning back and casually draping an arm on the back of the couch.

“What’s that?” Sunny says, quirking an eyebrow.

“Well, I’d turn back. I’d go back with all the spoils you’ve collected, and then I’d show them the truth. What’s really out there.” You say.

“You mean... the creatures we saw?” Sunny asks.

“Yes.” You say.

Sunny skews her mouth to the side and quirks an eyebrow. “What exactly do you have in mind, Anon?”

“Well, it’s simple, really.” You say.

You point a finger up towards the main deck. “Those cameras Zipp has up there. I know she has the recordings. Plus, Pipp probably got a video off before her phone got stolen.”

You lean forward, elbows on your knees.

“All we have to do is show the ponies what they’re up against. Publish it on Flitter. You know how ponies are. When there’s a collective threat, they’ll pull together to make sure they defeat it. We just need to give them a reason to... ensure their safety.”

“Anon.” Sunny says in a stern voice. You got so caught up in your speech that you didn’t notice she’s glaring at you with a disapproving scowl.

“What?” You say.

She sighs and rubs her head. “Do you think I haven’t ever met people like you before?” She says.

“Huh? Wha-”

“You want all the ponies to fear these creatures? Why? So you can convince them to go to *war?*”

Your face pulls into a tight, mischievous smile. Well, when you put it that way...

“War isn’t the term I would use.” You say, leaning back in your seat.

Sunny takes a deep breath.

“Why. Why would you ever think that’s remotely a good idea?”

“Sunny.” You say with a sigh. “Let’s be reasonable. I don’t feel like dying out here. No one does.”

Sunny looks over to the side, keeping her resentful expression solidified on her face.

“You’re just like him.” She says.

“Like who?” You say.

Sunny lets out a long, deep sigh. “Someone I knew back home. Someone who knew how powerful fear and hatred can be.”

You try to think. Who is she talking about?

She turns to you and looks at you with very serious eyes.

“Anon. Did I ever tell you how my dad died?” She says.

Yikes. You remember the other ponies had mentioned in passing that she didn’t have any family. No one lived her lighthouse except her. You didn’t know she had a dead dad.

“Go on...” You say.

“My father was a researcher of the ancient world.” She says. “You knew that already. What you didn’t know is that he explored the world with a group of friends.”

You quirk an eyebrow.

“They had a ship they sailed the seas with. Every so often, he’d go out with them on a journey to find new places and try to unearth clues from the old world. The world ponies left behind.”

Sunny looks off to the side and sighs.

“I was too small to go with him then. I always wanted to go, just one time. But... I never did. Still, it was always so exciting when he came back. He would hug me and tell me all about his adventures.”

Her eyes start to get a bit glossy.

“Then, well... one day he didn’t come back.” She says.

Your expression turns grim.

“They found the wreckage of their ship floating a few miles out of the bay.” She says. “The fisherponies said it was probably a storm that took them by surprise.”

“Oh...” You say.

“They never found his body.” She says.

There’s a grim pause as you chose your words.

“I see.” You say. “So... in a way, you want to pick up where he left off.”

She turns to you. “Yes, Anon.” She says resolutely. “I do.”

She leans forward a bit. “I can’t just sit by and let the fear of the unknown hold me back. I would rather die trying to bring back harmony and peace to this world.”

You can tell she means it. Why is she so obstinate?

“Even if it means the lives of your friends...?” You inquire.

She remains steadfast. She looks you square in the eyes and doesn’t respond.

“You know what, Sunny? There’s a time and place for bravery. This isn’t it. What you’re doing isn’t that. It’s just plain stupid.” You say.

You regret it almost immediately.

Sunny scoffs. “Stupid, huh?” She says.

“How about crazy? Insane?” She says, raising her voice. “Why not mule-headed, ignorant, good-for-nothing?”

She grits her teeth angrily. A single tear runs down her cheek.

“Do you know how many times I’ve had to deal with people like you?”

You raise your hands up defensively.

“Look. I’m just telling you how I-”

“Fine. You know what? For what it’s worth: you’re right, Anon. You want to hear me say it? You’re right.” She says.

“Those creatures don’t want to be our friends. They don’t want to work with us for a better future. If you had shot them like you wanted to, it wouldn’t have mattered. Not one bit.” She says.

You furrow your brow at her.

Sunny sniffs. “So there you go. Happy?”

You let out a long breath.

“No, Sunny.” You say. “I don’t care about being right.”

Sunny purses her lips and fumes.

You look at her. “But you’re in over your head.” You say.

She huffs and turns from you. She strokes her mane, running a hoof over the rainbow coloration.

“I had it under control!” She says.

“Yeah... sure.” You say.

You get up and groan. “Look... I’m sorry I made you upset. I’ll see you tomorrow.” You say. You start walking over towards your quarters. You feel a headache coming on.

“You know what?” Sunny says, quickly leaning up in her seat.

You stop. You look back at her.

Her mouth wobbles a bit like she’s about to say something. Her eyes are filling with tears.

“It wouldn’t kill you to try and believe in something for once. Why can’t you just do that? Why can’t you believe in us?” She says.

Well. There it is.

“Well, I tried that once before. Didn’t work out so well.” You say.

“Why are you so sure this time won’t be different?” She says with a bit of vitriol in her voice.

You turn towards her, pointing a finger. “You want to know? It’s because whatever happened was big, alright? Really big, and none of the princesses, not Twilight, Celestia or Luna. Not Cadence or Flurry Heart. Not anyone or anything could stop it.”

Another tear runs down her cheek. She doesn’t wipe it away.

“You think you’re better than all of them combined? Fine. Go on and prove it. Then I’ll believe in you.” You say.

You slowly lower your hand. Sunny stares silently back at you.

Without another word, you walk to your cabin door. You throw it open and step inside. You lock the door behind you.

You feel horrible immediately.

You are Sunny, screaming into your pillow and pounding your bed with your hooves.

You sob for a good while. Then after that you you raise up your head and wipe your eyes.

Okay, okay. Calm down... just calm down.

You feel sobs bubble up in your chest involuntarily. You squeeze your eyes shut and try to hold them back.

Slowly they subside. You then reach back and grab your braided mane. With your teeth, you pull the mane bands loose one by one.

Your frizzy, tangled mane unfurls in a big heap behind your neck.

You sniff and wipe your eyes again.

Very slowly, you get up and walk over toward the desk with the small mirror on it. The ship moves under your hooves and you almost trip over yourself.

With a huff, you sink into the small stool-seat and lean forward.

Your eyes are red and puffy, you have horrible bags under them, and your mane looks so ugly right now you don’t know what to do.

You wince and your eyes well up again, but you force yourself not to cry any more. You burn with anger at those tear ducts.

Anon doesn’t deserve to make you cry any more, Sunny.

He... he doesn’t get to do that.

Yet you know that this is a lie.

You touch a hoof to your mane an push up the section of rainbow strands. It looks so gross you feel sick...

What he said still stings. You don’t deserve to have this. You haven’t done anything worth enough to stand where Twilight or the other princesses once stood.

You’re a mess, Sunny.

You stare forlornly into your own tired, reddened eyes.

Why are you like this? Why do you do this to yourself?

This entire time you’ve been just making it up as you go along. You don’t know what you’re doing. You have to go up in front of everyone and tell them how you’re going to do the impossible. You never tell anyone how you feel like a phony. Yet he knows.

Somehow he knows! And he just gets to sit in back and mock you for every little thing you do wrong. How is that even remotely fair?

Gah!! You scrunch your eyes up tight.

And even worse, he hates spending time with you, and everything you try to do just makes him mad and disappointed.

You take a deep breath and exhale.

You just wish... you could reach him. Like that time on the bench...

You turn your head over and notice your your mane brush.

Things seemed so simple back home.

You pick up the mane brush and start to run it through your hair in the rote, mechanical way you’ve done thousands of times. Slowly pulling the tangles apart, trying not to get it caught.

Yet it always does. One little knot always pulls your scalp. You’re used to it.

No pony is perfect. Isn’t that right, Dad? You told me what matters is trying. That’s what counts.

Because if you don’t... who else will?