"You did absolutely fine, Anonymous. I'm very impressed with how you handled yourself."

You were sitting in the Royal Dining Hall once again with a plate of various meats and vegetables in front of you. The smell was absolutely amazing, but you weren't quite sure if you were going to be able to eat. The meeting had gone smoothly for the most part; all except for at the very end, when you must've said something that they didn't quite agree with. 'Having a talon an inch away from my throat tells me otherwise.'

"Ah, thus are the troubles of dealing with Griffons. They lack the tact of a more diplomatic race, but I assure you that their leader is perfectly fine. It's his subordinates that are the issue here. Griffonia is not a land blessed with the intricacies of political discourse, so they take disagreements very personally. Whatever the case, you did an excellent job. You were able to navigate a politically charged conversation, which is a skill many ponies lack. Not to mention how Applejack is in your debt, as you have given her a lenient sentencing, and avoided it backfiring with the Griffon diplomats."

You had managed to get Applejack on a sort of probation, being watched by the Crown at all times, and her farm was now technically Crown property. Whilst it is a major hit to Applejack's pride, she was going to get benefits from being a 'Royal Entity' now for her business. Now that you thought about it, you really did manage to get her a real sweet deal. You were sure that she wasn't feeling the same way, but it was the best you could do. "So, now what?"

"We shall relax for the remainder of the day. I had matters to attend to later, but I've decided to reschedule them. There is no need to put more on our plate. It's important to take time to rest, to stay in one's best shape. You feel the same, don't you?"

You nodded, weakly. You wished you were able to spend your time alone, but what would you do then? You did pretty much two things if you weren't being told what to do: wallow in bed, or think of your life. Should you try to explore the castle more, orgo down into Canterlot and explore the streets? You shrugged internally, not sure of yourself.

You stared at your plate still, before feeling a hoof gently place itself on top of your hand. You looked up, seeing Daybreaker now close to you, her eyes staring directly at yours. "You're uneasy."

You knew you couldn't hide your emotions from her. "Yeah..."

"I find it difficult to relate to most ponies. Being who I am, and what I've done, some things that ponies do confuse me. Their emotions elude me. Fear… Sadness… Anger. Sometimes I feel those things, but not for the same reasons as everypony else. However, as I have said before, you emanate Emptiness."

"Yeah, I wonder why..."

Daybreaker scooted closer to you, her eyes piercing yours even further. "You have your opinions and reasons for why you think you feel this way; I, however, do not think that is the entire reason. You're hiding something deep within yourself, and that is what I find most curious about you, Anon. I like being around you, because you're strange and interesting. You provide a different outlook on everything, and I want to eventually crack that deep shell you have locked away inside of you."

You chuckled, pulling back a little at the uncomfortable feeling you were getting from how close she was. "So it's like a game to you?"

"It's a goal," Daybreaker corrected, removing her hoof from your hand. "I can see potential in you. You have your outbursts, such as what happened recently. You don't back down at every opportunity to do so, nor do you fight pugnaciously. No; you adapt, and you make-do, something that does not come easy to ponies. Not without a significant catalyst to do so..."

"That's human nature for you..." You said with a smirk and an empty chuckle. "That's what we're best at."

Daybreaker said nothing, continuing to stare at you. She then turned away, looking at her own plate of various fish and vegetables, along with some fruit in a bowl. "I have overstepped many boundaries—with others, and with you. Most of which, I do not mind crossing. However, it is entirely up to you if you'd like to discuss this with me."

You felt your ears tingle in curiosity, watching her closely.

"Can you tell me about your home?"

Now that wasn't something you were expecting to hear. Luna knew some things about your home, but not a lot. Nothing about you specifically, atleast, and you avoided talking about Earth with anybody. You brought up a few things here and there, but never more than that. You didn't know why, but thinking about home just made you feel… sick? It didn't feel good, that was for sure.

However, without thinking, you began to speak anyway.

"I didn't like it."

Daybreaker looked at you, her ears perked. She carefully removed her stare from you, probably trying her best not to startle you too much. She stayed silent, eating slowly as you stared blankly at the legs of the chair she was sitting on.

"I didn't have much going for me. I let life pass me by a lot. It all felt so fast sometimes, like I wasn't moving fast enough to catch up to it. I had finally just gotten a job offer, and was ready to go to the interview for it. Rented a nice suit, was ready to go for it and then—"

You plopped your hand noisily onto the table.

"I'm here."

You weren't quite sure why you said anything. It felt like you were forced to, and that something had been compelling you to speak. Was that her doing? Was she able to use some sort of psychic field to get you to speak? The feeling was constantly there. You didn't like her, and you felt afraid sometimes, but you also felt… something else being near her. Something you didn't feel with anybody else.

"I, too, would be confused if that happened to me." Daybreaker said, one of her eyes glancing over to you. "You make your old life sound mundane, but the Anonymous I am with right now is an interesting individual."

This time, you genuinely laughed. "Nobody back home would agree with you."

"I doubt they would. Then again, most ponies don't agree with me to begin with. It takes a different kind of pony to see a different kind of man."

"Or, maybe you're just wrong."

Daybreaker nodded. "I could be. But, wrong in the sense of what? We aren't speaking of facts here; we're speaking of perception. How one pony sees you is not how everypony sees you. How you see me, is not how everypony sees me."

Really? You were sure that everybody thought she was a demon, just like you. Sure, some were less scared than others, but the general consensus was the same, even if they're fine with her leading the country. Not that they got to have a say if she didn't care for their opinion anyways, since she had enough power to wipe anybody out if she so pleased. That kind of made opinions on the matter meaningless.

You brought a piece of meat to your mouth with your fingers, chewing on the tender piece of beef with a smile on your face now. It was great to be eating meat again. Daybreaker turned to look at you now, same as before. "Perhaps you need a marefriend, Anonymous."

You immediately choked on the small piece of beef, hunching over the table as you pounded your chest to get the piece dislodged, coughing with another hand over your mouth. You looked at her incredulously, your eyes wide in shock. Did she just say that? Was she implying—

"Or a stallion. Or both. There's no ill-will to be had upon you if you choose that."

You stared at her still, your mouth gaping open. You brought up a hand, coughing again into your other hand. "F-first off, I like women... a-and second off, I don't think having a girlfriend would solve anything." You said, shaking your head. "R-really doubt it honestly."

"Perhaps not. Sleeping with somepony in your bed can be just the comfort you need. The feeling of a tender embrace, the smell of a companion, the slowed heartbeat of another against your ears. Luna herself has claimed that when one sleeps with another, they sleep easier, and have better dreams. Nightmares are almost nonexistent."

You sighed, wiping your eyes with your fingers. "Thanks, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be alone here. I don't even know if I like ponies, and I know for damn sure that ponies wouldn't want to be in the same bed with a human."

"Ponies bed all sorts of creatures." Daybreaker said with a nod. "I myself have. Species is not an issue in Equestria. I'm not sure if that is the same for your old world, though."

You cringed at the thought. "Humans are the only intelligent species at home."

Daybreaker chuckled. "Ah, yes, that would be quite an issue then."

"W-wait—" You stopped yourself, shutting your eyes closed as you brought both hands up in front of you. "W-why am I even discussing this with you? Talking about my sex life with my quote-unquote boss?"

Even more confusing, why didn't you care all that much inside?

Daybreaker shrugged, finishing her plate with one last piece of meat. "Ponies aren't as closed off with their sexual desires. Sure, they aren't eager to open up about it constantly, but they aren't as hidden away as you are. I can feel the awkward tension when I bring it up emanate from you. It's slightly amusing."

"Why would you care anyways? It's not going to change anything."

"Anon, a partner changes everything. I have seen whole nations fall because of a lovers’ spat, and I have seen kingdoms rise from the joining of two souls. It's beautiful. Carnal desires aside, love is important. Perhaps that is what is missing in your life."

You looked back at your plate, grabbing the cup of water beside you and downing it easily. You glanced back at her, still confused. "Then what about you? I don't see you trying to marry anybody."

Daybreaker laughed. "We are much different in that sense. You're free, Anonymous. If you were to choose a partner, it would have little effect on the world or kingdom, but effect your life completely. If I were to lets say, marry a pony, I would be changing the entirety of Equestria. All for the sake of finding solace in times of need. I am proficient by myself."

As she spoke, you felt something claw at your mind. A taste of dissatisfaction. It felt bitter on your tongue, and upsetting to your soul. It almost felt like you could taste her emotions in the air. Daybreaker looked at you with a smirk, the air changing from bitter to tangy. "Though, I still indulge in the carnal desires of a normal pony."

"D-didn't need to know that."

"You act as if I'm your mother talking about such things."

"Don't put that picture in my head..."

"Unless, that is something that you—"

"STOP!"

You closed your bedroom door, feeling a heavy sigh leave your lips as your shoulders heave slightly. You were finally done for the day, though the next would come all too soon. It was a cycle that you were getting used to, but things were changing. Your brain still itched from the interaction earlier today; not just the meeting with the Griffons, but talking with Daybreaker herself. Something had changed, but it didn't feel like something internal. Or did it?

"Fuck if I know..." You sigh, throwing yourself onto the bed lazily. Perhaps you were really warming up to her, but your inner hatred for the situation you find yourself in is keeping you from accepting that fact. It was that, or Daybreaker was using some sort of magic to slowly convince you into becoming a mindless slave, happy to serve. With her efforts lately though, would she really do that?

The discussion today wasn't something you liked talking about either. Finding love in another world wasn't as easy as books back home would make it out to be. You're human, and that alone made it weird for most ponies to even be around you sometimes. You didn't care for the most part, but you knew that it detracted from your 'attractive' score. You told yourself you didn't care, but that wasn't true.

Knowing you'd be lonely for the rest of your time here didn't feel good. That wasn't a feeling you could just whisk away either, not like other emotions could be swayed. Finding comfort in your dreams wasn't really an option anymore either, considering Luna could barge in at any moment as well. If you were going to have a tough time being a normal guy in Equestria, having everything that's happening now piled on top, you were sure that it would be nearly impossible to find anyone. Hell, at this point, Daybreaker was your wife.

You cringed at the thought. "Heh, at least she'd be warm though, right?" You said with a chuckle to nobody, flipping onto your back so you could stare at the ceiling. As you stared, your eyes began to fake patterns within the bubbles of the ceiling, your mind making up the shape of ponies, preoccupying your mind.

"What now, Anon? What now..."

You sighed heavily again. You needed to get your life in order. You could blame your predicament forever, but you needed to get past that. If that wasn't going to change, you needed to move on from it. No sense in trying to overthink things you can't control, right? "I need a damn hobby." You told yourself, scratching your head.

You knew you had a day off in a few days. Perhaps you could come up with something to do then?

You remember overhearing one of the housekeepers you passed by talk about an upcoming Wonderbolts show. That could be something you could do on that day. It'd help to get out, and to be on your own for a bit out in the world. These four walls in the room you laid in felt like prison bars at this point, keeping you in, physically and mentally. With a nod to nobody, you sat up.

"Wonderbolts show, that's what I'm going to do."

You pumped your first in the air, feeling a bit cringe for doing so. You shrugged though, it wasn't as if anybody was watching you right now. This was a moment of privacy you lacked most of the time. You stood up, rubbing your stomach. You never really attended dinner, but you felt hungry, which was another strange feeling on top of everything else that had been piling up.

Your mood lately has kind of suppressed your hunger.

"Oh shit…" You said to yourself as you stood up, about to make your way to the door.

"...Where do I buy tickets?"

You felt out of place most times, but you felt even more out of place now.

Around you in the dining hall you were surrounded not by normal ponies, but a gigantic rush of only bat ponies. It seemed this was their breakfast, and your dinner. It was astounding to watch so many of what you considered a rare sighting, all bundled up together. You stared at them, having to remind yourself that it was rude. However, you weren't the only one staring, as you were catching dozens of glances yourself.

It seemed that you were just as out of place in their eyes as they were in yours. You looked down at your dinner- a mash of vegetables and more meat, something you were planning to indulge in as much as possible while they still had stock. You noticed that a lot of the bat ponies had lots of fish piled on their plates. It seemed that rumor was true.

Now you didn't feel as out of place anymore.

As you were staring at the long line of Bats lined up for their food, you felt a shift beside you with a clanging of a plate. Someone, just sat next to you.

You turned your head towards them, coming face to face with Luna staring directly at you.

"I see that the bags under your eyes are finally gone, Anon."

You stared at her, your eyes unmoving. Even after telling her not to mess with your dreams, she did it anyways. It was one of your stipulations with her roaming in the dream-realm, as you wanted privacy and wanted to be left alone in all aspects of such magic. However, she decided that she didn't care apparently, and did whatever she wanted.

"I see that somebody doesn't know how to take no for an answer."

Luna didn't speak, instead letting the ambiance of the many ponies in the hall take over for a few moments. She ate a few things, as did you; your eyes staring at your plate with anger in your chest. Luna sighed afterwards, her hooves splaying out onto the table with a shake of her head. "I understand you're upset with me. If you knew what I knew, you wouldn't be as upset."

"What, that nightmares or whatever can kill you? Great dreams lead to a great life? Whatever, I don't care. If some sort of demon comes into my dream and kills me, so what? That's my freedom to choose if that happens."

"I'm not going to watch you throw your life away, Anonymous. No matter the argument, you cannot make me believe that would be the best course of action. I understand your argument, and your need for freedom, but your nightmares do not just hurt yourself; they will hurt others."

You had heard it before, but you didn't stop her.

"The same thing that took over my body—took over my life—manifested in the same exact way. It's possible that could happen to anypony, not just me, and you're included in that. Your action to defy your health can lead to a violent outburst into others' dreams and lives. I have witnessed firsthoof what an event like that could cause, and we were lucky to have been able to stop it."

You sipped your water, setting it down carefully before looking at her again. "I just fucking... I have nothing in my life right now, Luna. You meddling in it only hurts that. Everything up top is all cloudy."

"That was the point of me helping you." Luna said, your head turning to meet her eyes briefly. "I am trying to help you. From where I am standing, Anonymous, that is a rarity in your life right now. It’s not shameful to ask for a helping hoof. It doesn’t make you weak, or soft. Even if it did, why would that be a bad thing?"

You chuckled, shoving a piece of your dinner in your mouth, chewing angrily and swallowing fast, turning to her again. "You don't understand humans at all..."

"Then help me understand." Luna said, one of her hoofs landing on top of your hand. "You are the only human here. How am I supposed to understand you, if you do not let me see inside the walls that you keep up?"

You body stopped, your eyes staring at her hoof. She had a point, you were the only human in all of Equestria, probably ever. You knew firsthand that the differences between you and every other creature here were immense—not only physically, but mentally. Luna had told you beforehand that your 'dream bubble' wasn't the same as the others. Everything you do, say, everything that you are, is completely different from everything here.

It was a lonely feeling.

"Anonymous? Are you okay?"

You looked towards her, a look of concern flashing upon her face. You stared at her for a few moments before noticing a wet drop trailing down your cheek. You brought your hand up to your face, feeling a tear streaking from your right eye. Looking down at your hand, the wet tip of your finger glistening from the light above, you chuckled emptily. You looked back at her, giving a nod, and saying a phrase you were all too familiar with.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Getting up from the seat, taking a glance at your plate, you shook your head. You were no longer in the mood to eat, and you felt a little bad for having to waste such food. Without a second thought, you turned towards the exit of the room. You could hear Luna saying your name, but it was as if it were hundreds of feet away, drowned out by something. Your head felt like it was within a fish-bowl almost, your head swaying with an impossible weight seemingly attached to it.

As you walked down the corridor, blindly making your way to your room, you look down at your hands once again, seeing your fingers lightly tremble.

"I'm fine..."

Author's Note

We're back, after long delays.

No matter how tough life gets, colorful horses are there to cheer you up. Even if its a bit difficult to see the positivity in things, you'll eventually get past it. It's not the easiest thing when you're kicked in the ground multiple times, but when your old you'll have the greatest stories to tell.

Thanks to anyone still sticking around, you guys rock.