One of the benefits to not establishing a career in a new town yet is that you're often free to just fuck around. It helps that I could easily just sell off some old Equestrian bits to collectors if I needed some extra cash. I wonder if the museum here or in Zephyr Heights would be interested in acquiring some. As for today, my messing around mostly consisted of flying around in my pegasus Anon variant, burning energy, and looking for inspiration for my next vlog. Well, that and looking for someone to pester.

Sometimes, the people you didn't know you wanted to pester find you. More specifically, they walked out of the movie theatre, heads huddled in discussion of the movie as they stopped in front of an old movie poster. There was Sunny Starscout, Zipp Storm, and Izzy Moonbow—three of my four favourite mares. Clearly Horns was a pre-reunion movie, and now anti-unicorn propaganda. They didn't even notice me when I swooped in under the overhang, and landed upside down on the overhang.

"Hey, girls!" I exclaimed, waving down at them. It was my first time witnessing Sunny suddenly sprouting an ethereal horn and wings, and I found it really funny that it was when I managed to startle it out of her. "Sunny! Good to see you're on point today." I looked from her to Zipp and Izzy. "Izzy, Zipp, so good to see you."

"Anon, how... nice to see you,"Sunny lied through her teeth. Yeah, I can get being bitter about being startled into magicking up. Still, she wasn't actually displeased to see me. My bug powers told me as much. "Do you have a permit to do that, or is Hitch going to going to have another fit and introduce more new by-laws?"

The pale pegasus flicked her baby blues my way. "I... uh... don't think the updated Maritime Bay ordinances accounted for that," she said hesitantly. Rather, she seemed somewhat impressed as she took out her phone and snapped a picture. "Thanks, you just won me five bits."

Giving her a wink, I smirked. "Hoof to heart, I do my part." I'd have high-hoofed her, but it would've meant making her take flight or hanging perilously by just two hooves. Technically, I wasn't in league with her, but when I found out that she'd gotten into a little bet with Hitch that there was no way I'd find a loophole in the new ordinance, I took it as a personal challenge not to let him win. The new ordinance outlawed defying gravity by walking/standing perpendicular to a completely vertical surface. It said nothing about standing upside-down on horizontal surfaces. "Is that how it goes?"

The gleeful smile on Izzy's face was infectious. "So what's up, Anon?" she asked, unable to restrain a giggle. "You know, besides you? Wait, no, I can do better than that. Did you just want to hang out?" Before too long, we all broke out into laughter. "Really, though. What's up?"

With a shrug, I carefully pulled my phone from its pouch and navigated to a comment that stuck out to me on my last video. "I was wondering if something like this was doable?" I asked, carefully passing the phone down to Sunny. "I'd already been considering getting some portrait photos done of the most important ponies from my time, and donating them to the museum, and I figured, why not do a whole show like the pony there suggested."

I mean, technically, user RainySkies' entire message was, 'As a shape-shifter, wouldn't it be too easy to only do a half-flanked transformation to more easily blend in? I don't think I can trust that you only do things in full as it were. Not that I think you're a bad pony or anything and want to trick us. Uh... Well you don't have to answer that, but I was also wondering if you could do a performance at the museum to show everyone what the important ponies at the time were like. I'm sure Sunny would like it too. I'd like to be there if you make an appearance, too. Wouldn't want to miss it.'

A bit of a ramble, but it was a really good idea—the museum bit. Half-flanking disguises was a terrible idea. It didn't really even boil down to the quality of the disguise. Doing things in halves tended to have... weird side effects. I think the word Izzy uses is jinxie. Actually, that could make for a quick vlog that I could do.

After a few moments consideration, she passed my phone back to me. There was a glint of excitement in her eye. "That's not actually a bad idea," she quickly agreed. "You've already shown you knew the Guardians of Friendship, and you do owe some story-time... Oooh, we could do both!"

Making sure to keep a firm grip on my phone, I released the overhang and dropped to the ground with the grace of a cat. "If you can work things out with the museum ponies, I can help tell the story," I said with a nod. "Oh! Zipp, you think Pipp would be interested in joining in? She's a much nicer voice than mine, and I'd be more than happy to write everything down."

"Oh! Can I make the props?" Izzy begged as I began to take flight. When I nodded, she began to squeal. As I flew away, phone still in hoof, the trio waved me off. "I hope you're ready for an art-attack!"

Oh, God; it's a good thing I can't get diabetes.

Rather than head to the motel, the sea-cave, or the roof of Hitch's second home, I instead decided to just fly slow loops around the city for a bit. There was a lot to consider, not just in making some sort of presentation for the museum, but also for my next vlog. There was a lot I had to say on the matter, and several different ways I could do it. The most effective way was through demonstration, but that would work contrary as to the purpose of these vlogs.

I don't want to traumatise anyone, I thought as I ploughed through a low-hanging cloud. Besides, I also don't have another changeling around to help if I fuck up.

After taking a few moments to think, I began to steadily climb until I reached the main cloud layer. Weather here was wild, but after a careful tentative step, I found out quickly enough that I was still capable of cloud walking. Though I still hated the way it felt, I could not fault the evolutionary choice that allowed changelings to at least blend in with pegasi. Can the pegasus ponies today not walk among the clouds? Have they not tried? I considered mentioning it directly, but why not do it subliminally instead?

Slowly lowering myself down and rolling onto my side, I held out my phone and turned on the camera app. Once I was sure the clouds and sky could be seen stretching out behind me, I hit record. "Hey everypony, sorry I haven't gotten around to recording a new video sooner," I apologised with a quick snicker. "Your—hopefully—favourite changeling queen has had her head in the clouds regarding a few things. So before I get on with today's question, I just wanted to let you all know that I've got something very special planned, so keep an ear out for certain happenings at the museum regarding ancient Equestrian history."

Glancing out across the empty cloud vista, I sighed. "User RainySkies had a question that I might be misinterpreting a bit, so I'd better address it from both angles." Rolling onto my back, I used my free hoof to take off my glasses and clip them to my harness. "Rainy asked whether, as a shape-shifter, doing a half-flanked transformation wouldn't make it easier for me to blend in, suggesting that I can't only do things in full."

Transformation magic rolled up my frame, leaving me leaner, taller, with a charcoal coat and a mane to match my bug form's. My eyes reverted to their slit-pupil state, which probably only looked slightly menacing. "By half-flanking, I'm assuming they mean only giving myself a coat and hiding my buggy bits," I explained, "And while I certainly could go around looking like this, it just doesn't feel like me, you know? Back when I lived in Ponyville, however long ago that was now, I had a little sister. Technically for a time, we were two ponies in one body, but that's sidetracking. Anyway, when we were separated into two beings, I continued using our shared appearance, though she didn't wear glasses, while I often switched things up, adding wings or a horn. It took a while to get used to seeing my natural form in the mirror."

I reverted back to my preferred disguise, and put on my glasses. "Honestly, being me—being Emerald Flicker's big sister—is as close to 'half-flanking' a transformation as I can get," I explained, rolling back onto my side. "As a practitioner of 'old magics' and shape-shifting, 'half-flanking' is synonymous with carelessness, which equates to dangerous. There's a reason you'll never see me transforming if I'm in the pub..."

Letting out a wistful sigh, I wiped a tear from my eye. "I still remember our twenty-first birthday... Emerald and I got so drunk that I can't even recall what I was trying to transform into... All I remember is foals screaming, the waitress passing out, and getting banned from the Tasty Treat in Canterlot. Anyways, I suppose what I'm trying to say is 'Don't drink and do magic; you never know who'll lose their skin.'"

~ 02 ~

A few days passed without much worth mention. Following the release of the newest vlog, there were a few super creepy DMs asking to see pics of me without my skin. I blocked all the offending parties and put a warning out on my channel that I didn't appreciate ponies asking for creepy pictures. It wasn't like I even lost my skin in the story I shared. That was my legs and half my jaw.

In the time since my discussion with Sunny, planning the presentation kind of got out of hand. First, I found a pony from Bridlewood who sold some edible goods that Hitch definitely wouldn't have approved of. Then, I remember eating one brownie, and the next morning I woke up in some pony's basement—Sunny's, go figure—with an epic poem retelling a good portion of relevant Equestrian history. After that I had to go and rewrite it in a script they could actually read, since no one used sun and moon-glyphs anymore. It was all in the Latin alphabet, which made me wonder when that transition occurred. Was it Sunset? I bet it was Sunset.

Izzy and Pipp had come up with another idea that would save me a lot of energy on the day of the presentation. Instead of just transforming into ponies as was relevant to the part being read, they had me transform and pose for photos in various forms mentioned in the poem we'd all read. Another pony would run a slideshow on a projector screen behind us. That way, I would only need to change my voice when reading a character-relevant line.

After all the photos we ended up taking—including several with me in different spots for a collage of all the famous ponies in the story—I ended up having to crash super hard. Something I'd found since my awakening was that my capacity for magic had withered some whilst I was sealed away, although I imagined the more I exercised it, the closer I would get to when I was at my peak. That meant more transforming and other magic, I guess.

That brought us to today. Although many of the photos taken were submitted to the Maretime Bay Museum, the event itself was hosted outside. That was because a stage, canopy, projector screen, and seating for an audience had been set up before I arrived. The others—Sunny, Pipp, Izzy, Zipp, and even Hitch—had shown up even sooner, presumably for said set-up.

Stepping up onto the stage with the others, I looked out at the crowd. A lot of the foals of Maretime bay were present with either parents or guardians, as were many community leaders. I think I saw that Canterlogic mare, Phyllis Cloverleaf, seated with the leaders of Zephyr Heights and Bridlewood—Zipp and Pipp's mother, Queen Haven, and a huge unicorn named Alphabittle, if I'm not mistaken. There was a pegasus in greens and purples that reminded me of that Mane-iac character from Spike's old comics. Even a few social media ponies were there with their phones out. I wonder which one's Rainy.

To begin the event, Sunny stepped up to the podium. "Thank you so much for coming, everypony!" exclaimed Ms. Starscout, whose enthusiasm was eclipsed only by the reappearance of her ethereal wings and horn. "I'm so happy that we could all come together to learn a bit about ancient Equestrian history from somepony from that era! Put your hooves together for Anonymous Flicker!"

There was a half-hearted applause, but I didn't let it get me down. As I dismissed the disguise I'd flown in wearing, eliciting some startled gasps in the process, I found I had to lean down to the microphone. That was the hazard of being taller in my natural form, though. "Hello, everypony, as Sunny said, I'm Anonymous Flicker, but you can just call me Anon," I said. As soon as I noticed the mic was wireless, I wrapped it in a levitation field and lifted it up so that I could wander the stage. "Some of you may already know me, but for those of you who don't, I'm the idiot who stepped out of that time capsule, scaring the living daylights out of the town a few weeks back."

Much to my surprise, there was some laughter at that self-deprecating comment. "Yeah, not the greatest first impression," I agreed with a toothy smile. "Colour me surprised when I step out into a world where alicorn demi-goddesses lie forgotten, and some of the greatest heroes of my time are but a hoofnote, known only as the Guardians of Friendship."

As I passed Pipp in my wanderings, I levitated the mic over to her. "Anon's been kind enough to write out the history she remembers in the form of a poem," explained the young Princess of Zephyr Heights. "Anon, and all of us, will take turns reciting the poem, while ponies of import will be shown on the screen behind us. There will be a short Q and A at the end, so be sure to stick around."

Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria,
There were two alicorn princesses named Luna and Celestia.
With alicorn magic, they controlled moon and sun,
Each thought they did hard work, while the other had fun.

Under Celestia's sun,
Ponies danced and they played.
Under Luna's moon,
The same could not be said.

Ignored by her ponies, Luna had enough.
Pleading with Celestia met only rebuff.
One solemn morning, the moon remained in the skies,
And Luna regarded her sister with a stranger's eyes.

No longer was Luna the name of the voice.
Nightmare Moon left Celestia with no other choice.
Ancient relics did grant her a powerful boon.
The night sister was banished onto the moon.

For one thousand years, her sister would sleep,
Ruling alone she could not help but weep.
A glimmer of hope helped stave off her fears,
Nightmare Moon would be freed in one thousand years.

For one thousand years, she plotted and planned,
Her sister's freedom would soon be at hand.
When the banishment curse was almost done,
The princess raised up her young chosen one.

Young Twilight Sparkle and her assistant Spike,
Trained by the Sun, young siblings alike.
Prophecies warned of the Nightmare's return,
But nothing of friendship, did she want to learn.

To oversee a fair, the Sun sent her student,
And to make some friends she insisted was prudent.
The student was incredibly far from amused,
Of this ominous plot, she was not disabused.

Yet through her day, many ponies she met,
As she set out to manage this fete.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity too,
With Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy to round out their crew.

When the Nightmare returned, and the sun would not rise,
The fellowship set out to claim an ancient prize.
The Elements of Harmony, once used by the Sun,
Would soon free the sister, when their friendship won.

Honest Applejack was hardworking and proud.
Loyal Rainbow Dash was speedy and loud.
Kind Fluttershy was caring and demure,
Pinkie Pie's Laughter was innocent and pure.

Generous Rarity, her beauty renowned,
These were five Elements that had been found.
The power of friendship provided a spark,
In Twilight the sixth element, Magic, did mark.

Their power united in time for noon tea,
Nightmare Moon was banished, and Luna was free.
The Moon was reluctant, though the Sun showed delight,
This royal family, did new friendship unite.

Twas not the last friend to be made from a foe.
Twilight's many friendships would certainly grow.
The God of Chaos, Discord, he was so absurd,
Trixie the showmare sought vengeance with nary a word.

Twilight's brother Shining Armor, he was soon to be wed.
To dear Princess Cadance, his heart of course led.
The wedding was nigh, but all was not as it seemed,
For food for her Swarm, Queen Chrysalis dreamed.

A princess replaced, a sister disgraced,
A battle against time, two would soon face.
An invasion had come to great Canterlot,
On this beautiful day, a battle to be fought.

The swarm could not withstand the breadth of their love,
And far from the capital, the changelings they did shove,
Shining and Cadance's love was abound,
No finer wedding would ever be found.

Against a dark lord, Twilight would fight,
Yet Spike saved the day, much to her fright.
The Chaos God Discord, with record unclean,
Was taught by kind Fluttershy, not to be so mean.

With the power of friendship, magic's will did bend,
And to alicornhood Twilight did ascend.
A new princess rose and joined the throne,
And the magic of friendship she continued to hone.

The hungry centaur, of all magic he dreamed,
Made naïve Discord think he could be redeemed.
But nothing could slake his magical thirst,
This villain yet, was clearly the worst.

Yet magical trials had left them prepared,
And to face him together, the fellowship dared.
Thus the ignoble centaur met his defeat,
Back in Tartarus, he returned to his seat.

In a town far off, a young mare assured,
Cutie marks stifled equality among the herd.
Her magic was strong, to challenge even Fate,
From ponies their cutie marks she did separate.

Ideals and Friendship would come to blows,
The young mare retreated where no one knows.
Challenging fate was to twice be her crime,
When later she came back to unravel time.

Yet Twilight convinced her of friendship's shimmer,
And under her wing she took Starlight Glimmer.
An apprentice to friendship, Trixie she redeemed.
Spike then met Thorax, a changeling who dreamed.

A foalhood friendship Starlight then nursed.
Her friend to the end was the scholar Starburst.
The princess of love, with alicorn foal she was blessed,
Flurry Heart's power certainly impressed.

Yet all was not well, more than met the eyes,
Starlight found Ponyville housed bugs in disguise.
With Sunburst, Trixie, Thorax and Discord by her side,
Into Chrysalis' domain the quintet did ride.

No more could he stand his poor people's plight.
Their villainous ways, Thorax claimed were a blight.
He gave his love freely to the hungering queen,
A new form Harmony rewarded him, free from Hunger's machine.

The changelings were freed, offered a new way.
All but the queen changed by the end of the day.
Of revenge on Starlight, the lone queen did whine,
Never did she believe Thorax's way would be fine.

One summer morning, to their door came a box,
Held safe inside was something that talks.
Inside was Anonymous, their new ward and friend,
But that is where this story for now must end.

The audience was respectful and quiet throughout the recitation. Even when, on the screen behind us, Queen Chrysalis appeared on as I remembered her before the event—a shell of herself and half-maddened by starvation—ponies refrained from screaming. I hoped the stark difference in our appearances would reassure them that I was healthy and not about to pod somepony. The recital went swimmingly, and at the end, when we all stepped up to take a bow, we were met with applause.

~ 02 ~

In my rented motel room, I relaxed on my bed as best I could. My phone sat before me, opened to ClipTrot. The app was cycling through several clips of the Q and A session at the end of the presentation. Although I knew deep down it was just me acting the part, for a while, it felt like those ponies were still alive, enjoying the new world with me.

It wasn't all great, though. It'd only been several hours since the presentation had been streamed, but some were already using it as material to make memes. I think my representation of Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony might've been a bit too overplayed. After all, one user had taken some Guardians of Friendship figurines and used clips of voices to create a rather vulgar animation stereotyping the girls... Each of them only said one thing over and over again... Apples, darling, books, awesome, and party... only for dear Fluttershy to end up bleeped out.

Others had turned Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and the Elements into a type of image macro already gaining the title Advice Ponies. In one, Cadance's face was accompanied by the caption, "Love-eating bugs invade? Let's force-feed them love til they go away!" In another, Luna was made to seem like a psychopath with the caption, "Nobody likes my night? Nobody gets to live." There was even one of Discord—in a pose I don't remember striking for the camera, no less—proclaiming, "I swear, I'm the only normal one here."

That last one gave me chills, and I even found myself hesitantly calling out to see if that devil would come a-knocking. He didn't of course. For all the times I'd met him, it'd never once been a case of Speak of the Devil and he shall appear. Probably for the best. Even though he'd mellowed out a lot before I left, he was still plenty hectic. I wasn't sure I wanted to find out what he'd be like after however long it'd been... if he even existed in that form now. I never did ask any of the Embodied Concepts like Discord, Harmony, or Hunger, what sort of life-cycle they had, if such an idea even applied.

I saw that I had a notification on ClipTrot saying I had a new direct message. I reached over, backed out of the feed, and made my way over to the messages tab. It was a message from that RainySkies pony that inspired the whole show. I wonder what they want.

'I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the history lesson,' I read. 'If they all were even half as cool as you made them seen, you must've felt really lucky to be surrounded by such ponies. Sorry that some trolls are making a big joke of it all.'

Shrugging to myself, I typed out a quick response. 'Ponies gonna pony. Sure as earth ponies grow, pegasi fly, and unicorns cast spells, there'll always be trolls that do what they know. I'm just happy that ponies got to have a glimpse of what my friends and family were all like.'

Closing the app and returning the phone to its charging cradle, I flopped back so that my head was resting on the singular pillow, and my horn was at risk of scratching the headboard. I gotta find a better place to live, I thought tiredly to myself as I tugged the comforter over my body. No way the hotel's gonna let me construct a proper pillow nest in here... especially not with all the space I'd need. Still not sure what they're gonna say when they find out I patched a leaky pipe with hive resin.

Author's Note

My head hurts so much after writing that poetic retelling of seasons one through six of FIM.