It's for the Best

Chapters

A Shining Sun
A Tense Lunch
Onboarding
Thief
Home Is Where the Heart Was
The Elements of Harmony
Liar
Trust
It's for the Best

A Shining Sun

Author's Note

This story takes place in an alternate universe where Celestia never sent Twilight to Ponyville.

As always, I appreciate any and all feedback!

A Shining Sun

Anon puts an arm up to shield his eyes from the midday sun. It's something he hasn't had to do in years. It's something he hasn't missed.

The tall, well-built human emerges from an unassuming hotel in Canterlot. A quick glance at the street in front of him tells him everything he needs to know. It's loud, it's crowded, and it's filled with untold amounts of joy. Ponies are dancing in the streets. Pegasi are flying every which way, both to take care of business and just for the sake of doing it. Everypony relishes the sunlight which, despite having been returned to Equestria about a week ago, still has yet to get old to them. Anon can't help but groan as he tries to stick to the sidewalk and begins to slink his way toward Canterlot Castle.

Of course, his practiced, unassuming gait does little to hide his presence. The fact that he towers above most ponies is bad enough, but there are two other factors that cause him to stick out like a sore thumb. The first is his clothing, which consists of a well-tailored suit. Said suit is jet black with blue and purple highlights, colors that aren't exactly popular in the current moment. Though, it's not like he has much of a choice. His wardrobe isn't that large to begin with, and he doesn't exactly have "casual" wear. The second factor is his reputation. After all, they don't call him "The Moon's Enforcer" for nothing. As far as the general populace is concerned, he's been their second greatest fear for the past four years. Their greatest fear was, of course, the master he served. The mare who ruled Equestria with an iron hoof. The mare that defeated her sister on the day of her return. The mare that shrouded the land in eternal night.

Nightmare Moon.

As her face flashes through Anon's mind, he can't help but smile. Four years ago, he woke up in a strange land, angry and confused. He was lost in a deep forest, and as he wandered, he realized that the sun never rose in this land. It wasn't too long until he stumbled upon a group of ponies wearing dark armor and carrying large spears. Their eyes, which were much more accustomed to the dark environment, saw Anon long before he ever saw them. There wasn't much of a struggle. Soon, he found himself apprehended and brought to a nearby castle, which he would later learn is called the "Castle of the Two Sisters." The ponies weren't very talkative, and most looked quite miserable all things considered. However, when he was brought before a grand, navy-blue throne, he understood immediately what was happening.

Sure enough, a tall mare made her presence known to him. Her coat was jet black. A moon was emblazoned on her flank, and she wore menacing-looking blue armor. Her wings were large, and her horn was long. Her mane and tail flowed in a nonexistent wind, and she was generally much larger than any other pony Anon had seen in that castle. She stared at him with intimidating blue eyes, a cold, cruel expression bearing down on him as he was forced into a kneeling position by the other ponies. Whoever this mare was, she was clearly the one in charge. Seeing her made Anon's heart begin to race, and he felt his breathing grow ragged. He understood immediately the threat she posed. She could kill him ten times over, and she wouldn't even break a sweat. She didn't even know what he was. She looked at him like he was worth less than the ground she walked on.

And she was the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen.

Anon breaks himself out of his thoughts as he finally reaches a gate, signifying that he has arrived at Canterlot Castle. Two large stallions wearing golden armor stare daggers into him. A quiet fury is evident on their faces, but neither dare to say a thing. Anon does have a formal invite, after all. Slowly, and with an obvious reluctance to their movements, the stallions open the gate, allowing Anon to enter the castle premises, cross the small drawbridge, and walk into the castle proper.

The entrance hall is large and grand. The marble walls and floors have obviously been touched up in the past week. He can see his own reflection in the floor. Beautiful tapestries depicting Equestria's two rulers line the walls. Iconography of both the moon and the sun has been erected in several places. His footsteps echo through the grand rooms and corridors. In the past, that echo made him feel strong.

Now, he just feels very, very small.

He knows exactly where he's going as he traverses the castle's many winding halls. He's had to come here for quite a few... "diplomatic" matters before, and this whole building is like a second home to him. After the Castle of the Two Sisters, of course.

Once again, Anon finds his thoughts drifting back to that day four years ago. Although he was knelt on the ground, he didn't lower his gaze. He met the cold, distant stare of Nightmare Moon with a stare of his own. He didn't care if she killed him. His old life was terrible, anyway. What little family he had died when he was young. He had spent most of his days homeless, holding no love or respect in his heart for anyone around him. He worked odd jobs here and there, but most people that met him saw him as little more than trash on the side of the road. In the end, he had to do whatever was necessary to survive. He stole from people, wealthy or otherwise. He got involved with groups he shouldn't have. He went places he wasn't supposed to. He hurt people, and people hurt him. Eventually, he grew numb to it all.

As a result, he felt a bit shocked when Nightmare Moon told the ponies holding him down to back off.

"I thought I sensed something strange out there," she ruminated. She examined Anon thoroughly, clearly deep in thought. Her voice was cold and commanding. It carried a sort of arrogance to it that made Anon's skin crawl, yet something about that stirred up feelings he couldn't explain. "I can tell that you're no beast, at least. There's a modicum of intelligence behind those eyes. Tell me." She leaned forward in her throne as she narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you?"

Back in the present, Anon passes by a pair of castle staff. Two thin-looking mares, who had been happily chatting amongst themselves, immediately shut up and squeeze together on the far side of the corridor. They greatly increase their pace as they pass by Anon, their terrified eyes never leaving him until he is behind them. They remain quiet until they disappear around a corner, at which point Anon can hear their sighs of relief. He simply rolls his eyes as he continues on his way.

As he gets back to recalling that night, he begins to shake his head. He'd prefer not to think about how the next few moments of that conversation went. He's never really liked authority, and not even the strange feelings building in his chest would keep him from disrespecting someone who thought they were better than him to their face. Nowadays, he's not very proud of what he said to his lady.

Ultimately, she took the offense about as well as one could expect. It took less than a second for her horn to become enveloped in a blue magic, and not a second more for Anon to find himself being blasted by said magic. The display of power was more for the ponies around him than anything else. Surely, the unbelievably large and forceful attack was overkill. Once the spell faded, nothing of Anon would be left.

And yet, when the spell ended and steam gently rose from Nightmare Moon's horn, Anon still stood. Confused and dazed, perhaps, but almost entirely unharmed.

"What witchcraft is this?!"

"Couldn't tell ya." Anon, realizing that he was meant to die, gave her a cocky smirk as one final act of defiance. "Guess you'll have to get your hooves dirty, Miss Moon."

He took a step in her direction, and the ponies surrounding him immediately stepped forward and pointed their spears to his neck. To his surprise, however, Nightmare Moon held up a hoof.

"Release him." Without a hint of hesitation, they did exactly that. Once again, Anon was caught off guard. "So." She leaned back in her throne yet again and rested her helmeted head in her hoof, her cruel expression now filled with amusement. "Your kind can resist magic?"

"Lady, I didn't know magic was real until about thirty seconds ago."

"...Interesting." A wicked smile made its way to her face, and once again, Anon felt his heart skip a beat. "I might have a use for a creature like you."

"Peh, how many times have I heard that?"

"Now, now. As Equestria's one true ruler, I am well aware of the image I have created for myself. Yet, even I can be pragmatic sometimes. I can think of more than a few tasks someone like you might be able to handle."

"What's in it for me?"

"Well, if I am to continue having you work for me, I suppose I'll need to provide you with some food and shelter. That should be enough."

"And if I refuse?" She didn't say another word. Instead, her smile only widened as she silently waved a hoof. For a third time, the ponies under her command pressed their spears to Anon's neck. "...Point taken."

"You agree, then?"

Anon stared at her for a moment, and his defiant, aggravated look slowly turned to one of silent respect. A single chuckle escaped his lips.

"Sure. Food and shelter is more than most people have given me. What do I need to do?"

Anon's reminiscing is cut off as he reaches an unassuming door at the end of a long corridor. Two guards stand at attention outside the door, each glaring at Anon with poorly hid disgust. He ignores them as he walks right past them and into the hallway beyond. This hall, although still grand and imposing, is much less so than the ones he was just in. He knows this to be the living quarters of the princesses, which includes their bedrooms, a dining room and adjoined kitchen, two grand bathrooms, and even a small library. He stops in place for just a moment as he takes a deep breath. When he begins to walk again, it feels like the echoing sound of every single step he takes is a cannon going off. He doesn't want to be here. He didn't want to respond to the summons he was sent last night. And yet, he can't run from this. That's not who he is anymore.

Eventually, he reaches a set of double doors. They're made of wood, and the carvings on them must be the work of an incredibly skilled craftsman. It's a miracle that this door wasn't defaced at some point in the past four years. Taking only the briefest of moments to steel himself, he throws the door open and lets himself into the dining room.

The room itself is quite spacious. It's circular, with a domed ceiling and plenty of windows. The sunlight pouring through said windows makes the white walls and flooring seem to shine. Those walls, which were likely plucked bare of the tapestries that used to hang there years ago, have yet to be refurbished, but they have at least been cleaned. Of course, the most notable part of the dining room is the long table located directly in its center. A dozen chairs are pressed up against it, with five on either side and one on each end. A pure white tablecloth is draped over the table, and a variety of fresh dishes are spread out across it. The smell is incredible, but Anon can't find it within himself to enjoy it at the moment.

Because there, seated at the two ends of the table, are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

A Tense Lunch

The air in the dining room is heavy. Anon looks at Celestia, who greets his stare with a smile. He then glances at Luna, who avoids his gaze altogether. This is fine by him, as he'd rather not look at her right now, either. Without saying a word, he struts up to the table and takes a seat. Seeing the lineup of food in front of him, he immediately starts making himself a plate. Such behavior is, of course, incredibly rude, especially when dining with the nation's two leaders. However, neither of them bring it up. It seems that Anon has no intention to either, as he makes no effort to speak before he starts digging in. After a few more awkward moments, Celestia clears her throat.

"So. Anon."

Anon grabs a napkin and wipes his face before speaking, indicating that he at least has some manners.

"Yes?"

"How have you been? I imagine this week must have been a bit of an adjustment for you?"

"You could say that."

"How are you feeling?" Celestia speaks with a low, albeit optimistic tone. It's clear that she is well-practiced in the art of conversing, but her warm demeanor falls flat to Anon. He's been tricked by fake smiles before in his old world, and he's not about to be tricked again.

"Well, the lady I served and loved with all of my heart isn't with me right now, so I suppose I'm not feeling the greatest."

"Anon, you are no longer burdened by her rule. You can do whatever you want now!"

Anon freezes for a moment before locking eyes with Celestia. His expression is dark and cold.

"And just what, exactly, do you think I want?"

"Well, surely there are things you haven't been able to do since you arrived in Equestria. You can travel wherever you want, make friends with-"

"Let me stop you right there." Anon holds up a hand. There is a quiet fury in his eyes, which Celestia does not fail to notice. "I already got to do plenty of traveling. I don't need to see those sights again, especially not with this stupid sun constantly beating down on me." Anon turns slightly in his chair to emphasize his discomfort with the rays of sunlight pouring through a nearby window onto his person. "And before you say a single thing about making friends, why don't you think about my reputation, hm? I'm a household name, Celestia. Parents tell stories about me to convince their kids to stay in at night. I don't need to be friends with ponies like that."

Anon goes right back to eating after he says his piece, though Celestia doesn't end the conversation.

"With enough time and effort, I'm sure they'll see the real you."

Anon nearly spits out his food at her words. He covers his mouth with a napkin again and tries to recover for a moment before letting out a deep, cruel-sounding cackle.

"The real me?! Just who do you think I am?!"

"I'm sorry?"

"I'll tell you who I am, Celestia." Anon takes another bite of his food before pointing his fork directly at Celestia, who hasn't eaten a bite since he entered. "I'm 'The Moon's Enforcer.' I'm Nightmare Moon's right-hand man. I'm a menace to your country. I'm the trash you find on the side of the street." Anon turns back to his plate and mindlessly stabs into his food yet again. "And I hate you."

"...Be that as it may, you cannot continue like that."

"Hah! And why not?"

"We granted you a pardon, Anon. Don't think we can't take it away if we suspect you're trying to undermine our efforts to rebuild."

To Celestia's dismay, Anon's mouth contorts into a wicked, cocky grin as an arrogant chuckle escapes him.

"Actually, you can't."

Celestia's warm smile, an expression that she is extremely used to wearing, finally fades. She tilts her head back ever-so-slightly and narrows her eyes at Anon. When she speaks, her voice is stern and commanding.

"Is that a threat?"

"It's an observation. Go ahead, sunbutt. Try to act mean. You don't hold a candle to Nightmare Moon." Anon, clearly having fun getting a rise out of Celestia, takes another bite of his food before continuing. "Unlike her, you can't just take what you want. You have an obligation to 'uphold justice' and 'preserve the peace.' You need your subjects to trust you. To like you."

"What's your point?"

"You pardoned me with the excuse that I only did what I did because I was 'coerced' by Nightmare Moon. Of course, literally everyone knows that's a load of crap, but I was pardoned all the same. Meanwhile, she..." Anon doesn't look away from Celestia, but he does point his fork towards Luna. "...Was pardoned for the same reason. Because she was 'influenced' by Nightmare Moon."

"I still fail to see what you mean."

Anon clicks his tongue in annoyance.

"If you retract my pardon, you're admitting that I'm legally responsible for my own actions regardless of the circumstances surrounding them. Unless you plan to make exceptions to your own rules only a week after taking the throne, you'd have to say the same for Luna."

"That isn't even remotely true."

"Isn't it? The stares I receive from every single pony I walk by tell me all I need to know about their feelings regarding my pardon." Anon finally turns to face Luna. His cocky smile disappears entirely, replaced by a look filled with nothing but emptiness. "I wonder what kind of stares you've been getting."

Luna keeps her head down. She hasn't looked up from her food since Anon arrived. She took a few nervous bites here and there, but she has long since abandoned her meal. Her eyes are tired, and it's clear that this entire scenario has left her extremely uncomfortable.

"That's enough, Anon!" Celestia firmly slams a hoof onto the table, but Anon doesn't look away from Luna. "I have been trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but now you are officially testing my patience."

"Why invite me here in the first place? I have a feeling there was more to it than just lunch." Once again, Anon speaks to Celestia without taking his eyes off of Luna.

"...Fine. I'm only going to ask this once." Celestia leans forward, her voice as serious as it's ever been. "Where do your loyalties lie?"

Anon responds without skipping a beat.

"With Nightmare Moon."

"Nightmare Moon is gone."

Anon leans forward as well, but not towards Celestia.

"Is she?"

Finally, Luna looks up from her food. She locks eyes with Anon, fear evident on her face.

"I am NOT Nightmare Moon!"

"..." Finally, Anon backs off. He leans back in his seat, closes his eyes, and sighs. Doing so causes the tension in the room to lessen just a bit, and Celestia slowly leans back into her seat as well. "...What am I to you?"

"W-what?" Luna's voice is quiet and uncertain.

"How much of my lady was you?"

"I... I don't know."

"Do you remember it? Any of it?"

Luna looks up at Anon once again. Her expression carries a sorrow that Anon has previously only seen on the faces of his victims.

"I remember all of it."

"Then answer my question. What am I to you?"

Luna opens her mouth to speak, but she quickly clams up. A few weak stutters leave her before she finally finds her words.

"I-I want you to be free."

"Hm?"

"I want you to be free from the shackles I... I-I mean Nightmare Moon, put on you. I don't want any of her legacy to taint your future."

"...That doesn't answer my question, though."

Luna once again tries to speak, but she is interrupted by Celestia.

"Stop. That's enough." Although she doesn't raise her voice, the forcefulness behind her demand is almost enough to make Anon shudder. "I think it's time for you to leave. We have other business to attend to."

"Hm. I'm not sure I-"

Anon is interrupted by the door to the dining room slowly opening. Standing in the doorway is the small outline of a unicorn mare, who lowers her head a bit as she sheepishly enters the room. Anon turns in his chair to get a good look at the new arrival, and he finds himself rising from his seat as he sees who it is. The purple unicorn sees him rise, and she narrows her eyes at him when she does so. Unlike most of the other ponies he has met this week, she doesn't recoil in his presence. Anon narrows his eyes right back at her as he does his best to contain his rising frustration at the mare's arrival. Throughout his entire life, he has never met anyone who makes his blood boil as much as the mare standing before him right now. It takes everything in his power to keep himself calm and collected while she confidently makes her way closer to the table.

This mare is Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn responsible for taking away everything Anon loved.

Onboarding

Anon is silent as he quietly rides the train to Canterlot. His attention is split between the view outside the train window and the couple of other passengers in the car with him. The light inside of the train car is a bit jarring compared to the bleak darkness that is the eternal night outside, and he isn't a fan of how visible he is in this train.

A quick glance at the other passengers confirms what he suspected: They're so nervous, his presence hardly matters. They steal a glance back at him every now and then, but they always divert their gazes first. Nightmare Moon has only been in control of Equestria for a few weeks, but she was brutally efficient in establishing her rule. Of course, the country still needs to function. Massive changes are taking place, sure, but business still needs to be conducted. Food still needs to be produced. Ponies still need to do their jobs. But unlike before, there is a constant tension in the air. Nopony really knows what to expect or do next, other than that they should probably obey their new ruler's orders. Are the ponies on this train on some sort of business? Are they trying to reconnect with family in the face of a new, darker era? Or perhaps they're simply running, unsure of where to go, but knowing that they can't stay in one place?

Anon doesn't really care. He wasn't hired to ask questions, after all.

Eventually, the train makes it to the capital of Equestria. Well, for now, at least. With Nightmare Moon deciding to refurbish the Castle of the Two Sisters and take up residence there instead, it is likely that the area surrounding the castle, which she is currently developing using the labor of her "eager" subjects, will become the new capital before long. Anon steps off of the train. There aren't that many ponies around, and thanks to the moon never moving from its place in the sky, he has no idea how long the ride took. Hours, for sure, but he doesn't know how many. Either way, he's here now, and even from the station he can see his objective on the far side of the city.

With practiced ease, Anon slinks into the shadows. He knows exactly how to get around unseen. It's probably only a matter of time until he knows the ins and outs of this city, but until then, he doesn't need to do anything fancy. It's incredible how quiet one can be with a practiced walk, controlled breathing, and some good timing. Soon, he makes it to the fourth sector of Canterlot. He doesn't really understand the differences between the sectors, but he knows perfectly well that this is where he needs to be. After all, he was told to look for the building with three spires in the northwest section of the city, and right in front of him is the only building that meets that description. Carefully, he reaches into his back pocket without making a sound and pulls out a sheathed, albeit polished, silver dagger.

Nightmare Moon had asked him if he was proficient with any weapons. He's never used anything other than a knife, so she gave him exactly that. However, there is apparently more to it than that. He removes the sheath from the dagger and observes the fine craftsmanship of the blade. When he tilts it at a certain angle and the moonlight hits it just right, it has a strange, blue shimmer to it. According to Nightmare Moon, it's enchanted. The enchantment is weak and does little more than slightly heat up the blade, but the point isn't the enchantment itself so much as the fact that the dagger is enchanted at all.

Anon looks at the area surrounding the building carefully. He doesn't see any guards or pedestrians, which means this is his best chance. Feeling somewhat foolish, he stays close to the ground and creeps closer to the building while keeping his arm outstretched, the dagger held carefully in his hand. After he is about fifty feet away from the building, the dagger makes contact with something.

"I guess this is it," he thinks to himself. "The 'invisibubble' I'm supposed to destroy."

Now having confirmed the presence and location of the invisible barrier, Anon puts the sheath back onto the dagger and covers it with his hand. Then, taking a deep breath, he steps forward. Sure enough, he passes straight through the section that had stopped the enchanted dagger, and his hand covering said dagger worked like a charm. Now that he is mostly out in the open, he quickly darts into some shrubbery growing alongside the building. He hears the front door, mere feet away from him, open. A unicorn stallion with a white coat and black, slicked-back mane walks outside. He glances around nervously before carefully making his way towards the invisibubble. He presses his hoof out in front of him, and it does make contact. He looks back towards the door, and from the shadow being cast thanks to the lights inside, Anon can tell that someone else is just outside of his vision. He sees the shadow nod, and a spherical area around the building, right where the invisibubble would be, shimmers very briefly. In that instant, the stallion hops outside, then nods again. There is another shimmer, and the unicorn continues on his way. The door closes once more, leaving Anon alone outside. He takes a deep (yet still quiet) breath. If he's going to do this undetected, he's going to have to wait for a while. Not only does he not know if or when that stallion is coming back, he has no idea what the pony that let him out is up to. Best to lay low for a little while and get a bit more information.

As he silently listens for any voices or movement, he begins to recall the conversation he had with Nightmare Moon before being sent here. It was right after he agreed to work for her.

"What do I need to do?"

"You're going to quell a little rebellion that's been growing over in Canterlot. Apparently, those fools in my sister's 'School for Gifted Unicorns' think they can keep secrets from me. You are to show them how idiotic of an idea that really is."

"You... want me to fight off a rebellion?"

"Not quite. I don't trust you enough to do that." Nightmare Moon makes a whistling noise, and a servant arrives from a nearby doorway. Anon notices that all of these ponies are wearing dark clothing or armor, each blue, black, or purple in color. Most are completely stoic, and those that aren't appear either angry or extremely nervous. The servant carries a rolled-up scroll and presents it to the alicorn, whose horn begins to glow with magic. She takes the scroll from her, unfurls it, and presents it to Anon, revealing what appears to be a map of a city with a specific building circled. "This is Canterlot, and that," she says as she points to the building, "is the school. My sources tell me that they are maintaining an invisibubble to protect themselves, preventing us from shutting it all down. That's where you come in."

"The heck is an invisibubble?"

"You really don't know about magic, do you?" Nightmare Moon looks genuinely surprised and mildly amused before continuing. "It's like a barrier that prevents magic from passing through it. Spells, enchantments, you name it. However, this one is particularly strong. Because all creatures are inherently magical, this one prevents anypony from passing through it."

"I think I see where you're going with this. You think that since I can resist magic, I can pass through it."

"You catch on quick."

"And you want me to disable the invisibubble so your forces can stop the rebellion?"

"Precisely."

"...Alright."

"Hm!" Nightmare Moon raises her eyebrows, the amused smile returning to her face. "You're a bit more agreeable than I was expecting."

"This type of work isn't really new to me."

"Perhaps you'll be more useful than I anticipated. I take it you aren't afraid to get your hooves... er, hands, dirty then?"

"Not really."

"Excellent. Tell me, what weaponry are you proficient with?"

"I thought I wasn't supposed to go in guns blazing?"

"If you do, you will likely die. Which is why I'm sending you, of course. You couldn't be more expendable."

Surprisingly, Anon seems to find her words humorous.

"Alright, fine. Well, I'm good with knives. That's about it."

"...Very well, then." She makes another whistling noise and yet another servant enters the room. This one is carrying what is clearly a sheathed dagger. "This should do fine. It has an extremely weak heating enchantment, just so you can determine where the invisibubble is."

"If you can enchant it, can't you give me anything better?"

"And risk you dying and losing it?"

"Fair point, I guess."

"Now hop to it. You're looking for the building with three spires in the fourth sector of Canterlot, near the northwest part of the city. Show this to the stallion at the train station in Ponyville." Nightmare Moon magically floats what appears to be a small, silver badge in the shape of a crescent moon towards Anon. "This will get you free passage to and from Canterlot."

"Thanks."

"Now get out of my sight. Come back successful or die trying. The choice is yours."

Back outside the building, Anon finds himself reaching into his back pocket. The badge she gave him is still there. A small smile makes its way to his face. Never before has anyone ever been so direct in their lack of concern for him. Everything else aside, he has to give Nightmare Moon this: She's honest. That's more than he can say about...

Well, he can't afford to think about that right now. The stallion from before is returning.

Anon watches closely as the stallion makes a low whistling noise. Once again, the door opens just a tad. After a moment, the invisibubble shimmers, the stallion passes through, and the shimmer returns for just a second before stabilizing once more. The stallion awkwardly shuffles inside as quickly as he can, and Anon hears a female voice quietly greet him at the door.

"This should last us a few days."

"Thank you."

The door closes once again. Anon nods to himself. Hopefully, they weren't planning on running any more errands any time soon. After waiting for nearly fifteen minutes to ensure nothing more happens, he carefully stands up and makes his way to the nearest window. To his dismay, all of the shutters are closed and he can't see inside. He has no way of knowing what it looks like in there or how many ponies he'll have to face. Heck, he doesn't even know how to take down the bubble!

Slowly, he makes his way around the building. If he's lucky there will be a... yes, a backdoor! As stealthily as possible, he opens the door just a smidge and peers inside.

As far as he can tell, there is a hallway here. Also as far as he can tell, said hallway is empty. Plus, he sees a slightly agape door on the other side of the hall leading to a dark room. Perfect. Now he just has to make a break for it in three... two... one...

With an ease indicating years of experience, he throws the door open, enters the building, and then closes the door while making only the slightest of creaking noises. He slinks against a wall, crosses to the other side of the hall, enters through the open door into the dark room, and then closes said door. He's in. Breathing a sigh of relief, he walks a bit further into the dark room and finally allows himself to relax his tense muscles. Now, all he has to do is figure out what is making the invisibubble.

Suddenly, there is light.

Immediately at attention, he turns around to face the door he just came through. Sure enough, someone is standing in the open doorway. It appears to be a purple unicorn mare, who stares at him with shock and unease.

"Who the hay are you?!"

Anon's eyes go wide. Did he really get caught already?!

"I... I... uhh..."

"Scratch that, what the hay are you?"

The unicorn steps into the room, clearly on edge, yet to Anon's surprise, not acting particularly aggressive. In fact, she looks more curious than anything. Anon nervously clears his throat.

"I-I'm a human, ma'am." Maybe he can play this off?

"Oh, you speak our language! Good. Now, how did you get in here?"

"I... just walked in?"

"That's impossible. Moondancer is maintaining our invisibubble, so nopony should be able to... wait. Unless 'humans' are resistant to magic!"

Whoever this girl is, she's incredibly sharp. She determined that from two sentences? Well, apparently she is a "gifted unicorn," and a rebel at that. She's got to at least have a decent head on her shoulders.

"I, er, wouldn't know anything about that."

"Okay, next question. Why are you here?" Finally, her eyes narrow. It appears her curiosity is giving way to her suspicion.

"I was, er, lost!" This is never going to work. "I really have no idea where I am or how I got here. I don't know what all this magic stuff is about, and I'd never seen a... pony... until a few hours ago."

Slipping in half-truths might help him here.

"And you just so happened to wander into this specific building?"

"I thought no one was in here. It was so quiet."

It's fine if they think he was breaking in, so long as they don't learn his motivation for doing so.

"But what did you want?"

"...F-food, mostly. I-"

"Well why didn't you lead with that? C'mon, follow me."

The unicorn smiles and turns around, waiting for Anon to follow. Realizing it would be more suspicious to not go with her, he follows suit. At the very least, she accidentally told him exactly what he needs. He needs to take out this "Moondancer."

"Thank you, Miss..."

"Twilight. Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?"

"Er... Fruit... Basket."

These ponies all have strange names, so why should the fake name he comes up with on the spot be any different?

"Fruit Basket? Really?"

Dang it.

"It's a human thing."

"Oh! Well, you'll need to tell me more about your 'human things' later. I've been a researcher for most of my life, as well as Princess Celestia's student. Though, I suppose lately, I've been focusing on trying to get rid of Nightmare Moon and bringing Princess Celestia back."

"Where did she go?"

Twilight hesitates for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Well, Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon a little over a thousand moons ago. Then, a few weeks ago, she finally returned. Princess Celestia thought she was ready for her, but... she wasn't. Now she's the one trapped on the moon, and we're forced to live in this dreadful eternal night. At least, until we can rescue her, that is."

"Strange."

"Tell me about you, though. I want to know your story!" Anon glances down at the unicorn. With an extremely forced smile, he recalls how he woke up confused and lost. However, he pretends that this happened in Canterlot. "Woah. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. This is probably the worst possible time to end up in Equestria. Hmhm, at least you wound up here with the rest of the good guys, right?"

"...Yeah, right."

As the pair make their way through the winding halls of the school, Anon notices many strange happenings. Ponies gathered in strange places, supplies of food, spears, paper, and other materials being carried to and fro. It's clear that, although this was once a place of learning, it is now undoubtedly a rebel base. Though, what they think they could ever accomplish against Nightmare Moon is beyond Anon. If she was able to overthrow the former princess and government all on her own, she must be pretty strong.

Eventually, Twilight brings Anon to what was once the school's cafeteria. There are a small handful of unicorns seated at various tables, each muttering to each other in hushed voices. They all glare at the newly arrived pair, but Twilight simply directs Anon to a table before darting behind a nearby crate and returning moments later with a few apples being levitated by her magic.

"Here. It's not much, but it's from some farmers over in Sweet Apple Acres. They're some of the few ponies willing to help us rebels out."

Twilight slides an apple over to Anon.

"Thank you."

She smiles at him as they both quietly begin to eat. Anon can feel sweat beginning to form on his brow, but he does everything he can to hide his anxiety.

"Once we're done, I'll have to introduce you to everypony. We're all a bit on edge, so it would be nice if they all got used to you being here. You could very well be the secret weapon we need!" Twilight's thoughts are interrupted by the door to the cafeteria opening once again, revealing another unicorn mare that looks very similar to Twilight but with a red mane and yellow-gray coat. Her horn is constantly emitting a faint white light. "Ah, that's one of them now!"

Twilight waves the mare down, who carefully approaches the table.

"Who is this?"

"This is Fruit Basket. He's a creature who can resist magic!"

"Okay, but what is he doing here?"

"He was displaced from his home, no doubt the work of Nightmare Moon. He was starving, so I took him here."

"Ugh, Twilight! Your bleeding heart is going to be the death of us!"

"What do you mean?"

"What if he's a spy?!"

"A... a spy? Moondancer, you can't be serious. Just look at him! He wouldn't hurt a fly!"

Twilight gestures towards Anon, who simply gives Moondancer a blank stare.

"You can't be sure of that. Did you even search him?"

Moondancer makes her way towards Anon with a fire in her eyes as Twilight tries to get her to calm down.

"Moondancer, we need all the allies we can get! We can't just keep antagonizing-!"

Twilight cuts herself off as Moondancer's horn begins to glow brighter. Anon feels something in his pocket start to tingle as his dagger is taken off of his person. Moondancer proudly lifts it into the air, leaving Twilight speechless.

"Harmless, huh?" She locks eyes with Anon, who no longer shows any kind of emotion. Not anxiety. Not fear. Not anger. Just... nothing. He's been in this situation before. "Care to explain?"

"It's for self-defense."

"Hm. And I suppose the strange sensation I got earlier of someone poking at the invisibubble was just a coincidence the-"

Nopony has any time to react. In an unbelievably quick movement, Anon grabs the dagger out of the air, slashes in Twilight's direction, and brings a knee to Moondancer's head. Twilight, surprised by the assault but only grazed by the dagger, falls to the ground in shock. Moondancer, who took the hit but is still on her hooves, growls at Anon. Her horn starts to glow brightly again, and an attack not too dissimilar to Nightmare Moon's envelops him. However, like before, he is completely unaffected and takes the opportunity to close the gap. All Moondancer can do is watch in horror as Anon descends upon her. In less than a second she's on the ground, completely unconscious. It would have been extremely easy for Anon to kill her, but he figures Nightmare Moon probably wants the mare that gave her so much trouble to be taken alive. Either way, the faint light that was coming from her horn dissipates, indicating that the invisibubble has been destroyed and his task is complete. Keeping up his momentum, he darts towards the door. He only briefly looks back. The other ponies present have realized that something just happened incredibly quickly, but they haven't quite pieced together what.

The last thing Anon sees before escaping into the hallway is the horrified look of betrayal on Twilight's face.

Anon snaps back to reality. The look of pain and horror on Twilight's face is replaced by one of cockiness, a quiet anger visible behind her eyes as she approaches the dining room table.

"Ah, Twilight. You're right on time." Celestia sounds almost relieved for Twilight to be there, as her student's arrival gives her an even greater excuse to make Anon leave. "Anon, I'm sure you have other places to be."

Twilight also turns to Anon. When she speaks, her voice sounds older and more jaded than he remembers.

"I doubt that. It's not like he has any friends to be getting back to."

"..." Anon simply begins to walk towards the door, but not before taking one last glance behind him. He locks eyes with Luna, who doesn't look like she's all there anymore. Then, he locks eyes with Twilight, who meets his gaze with just as much passion and hatred. After a moment's hesitation, he turns back towards the door. "...She was just as much of a pony as any of you are."

His words hanging heavy in the air, Anon finally departs from Canterlot Castle.

Thief

Anon slowly trudges down the streets of Canterlot. It's the middle of the afternoon now, but the energy in the city hasn't faded whatsoever. Ponies are still joyously celebrating their newfound freedom, even days after acquiring it. Those that aren't in a state of joy are still grinning ear to ear as they go about their business. To Anon, it all just seems forced and unnatural. It doesn't help that the only time those smiles fade is when they see him passing by. Try as he might to blend in, the tall, well-built human can't exactly hide in plain sight. It certainly didn't make his job as an "enforcer" any easier, and it apparently isn't helping his new pardoned life either.

Mindlessly, he returns to the hotel he had been staying in. It's a run-down and shoddy little place, but it's the only hotel that would let him stay. After the third hotel he went to rejected him, he considered just threatening his way into a room, but these ponies seem to have grown a massive ego the second Nightmare Moon was taken down. They no longer treat him with the respect his status under Nightmare Moon afforded him, and instead look at him like he's trash.

Isn't that a familiar feeling?

"Hahaha! Well well well, color me impressed. You actually did it."

Nightmare Moon looks down at Anon from her throne, her head lazily resting on a hoof. A wicked smile is plastered across her face as her blue, intimidating eyes stare directly into Anon's. For his part, he simply stares back at her with an unreadable expression.

"Is that really so surprising?"

"That wasn't meant to be a real mission, human. It was meant to be an execution."

Anon blinks.

"Excuse me?"

"You annoyed me, and the punishment for that is death. However, I thought it might make for a bit of fun to send you on a job you certainly couldn't accomplish. Trust me, if I were so inclined, I could have gotten through that invisibubble very easily. If I was feeling particularly cruel, I could have just starved them out. But by sending you in there, I could break their spirits. What is this mysterious assailant? What terrible forces does Nightmare Moon command? They would still kill you, of course, but their nerves would be shattered. It would make it all the more satisfying when they finally fell."

"..."

"Imagine my surprise, then, when I was informed that you not only took out the invisibubble, but you also escaped with your life. My soldiers capitalized on that, of course. That little rebellion is a thing of the past now. Still, that's entirely thanks to you."

"When I say I'll do a job, I do the job."

"...Hm. Interesting. Perhaps you are worth keeping around." Her mouth curls into a sharp, toothy grin. "What is your name, human?"

"Anon."

"Very well. Anon, then." She makes a sort of whistling noise, and a servant quietly approaches from a nearby hall. She wears clothes made of varying hues of blue and purple. Her coat is white, and her purple mane and tail are tied into buns. "Rarity, show the newest member of our ranks to his quarters."

"Which ones, your majesty?"

"...Give him my sister's old room, just down the hall from mine."

"Of course."

The mare gives Nightmare Moon a bow before looking towards Anon. Her expression is perpetually blank, which throws Anon off.

"She'll show you where you will be staying. I'm providing you with nice accommodations. I expect you to repay me in kind."

Anon stares at her for a moment. Mere moments ago, she said that she sent him off to die. Now she's giving him a nice room? Did he really make that strong of an impression on her? Anon is so lost in thought, it takes him a second to recognize the growing feeling of warmth in his chest. Did he actually impress her?

It feels nice.

"Th-thank you, Nightmare... er, my lady?"

"Hmhm, good to see you know your place. Now, both of you, shoo. I expect you to report to me first thing tomorrow morning. I have more for you to do."

"Yes, your majesty," Anon and Rarity say in unison.

Without any further delay, Rarity sets off down a nearby hall. She doesn't even acknowledge Anon, but he follows her regardless. She is showing him the way to his room, yes?

The two continue for some time, causing Anon to realize just how large and labyrinthine the castle is. On top of that, there are more than a few places where it looks a bit dilapidated. In fact, the parts that don't look like they're falling apart seem to have been refurbished only recently. However, Rarity looks like she knows where she's going.

Despite that, it's a long walk to wherever they're headed. Rarity never says a word, nor does she even glance in Anon's direction or emote whatsoever. Anon knows a cold shoulder when he sees one. He's quite used to the feeling, after all, and although he would normally not care either way, he still doesn't really know much about his situation. As such, he decides to break the silence.

"So. How did you end up here?"

"..."

"...Alright, be that way."

"Tsk." For the first time, Rarity's expression changes. She's gone from completely emotionless to extremely frustrated. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself involved in."

"What do you mean?"

"Nopony is here by choice. Either we bend ourselves to her will, or her magic forcefully does it for us."

"Magic?"

"A minor mind control spell. It works better when the victim is stressed, and since we're all in constant danger of immediate execution at the hooves of an alicorn, you can understand why we might be a bit on edge."

"And I take it that since you're telling me this, you haven't had your mind controlled?"

"No, I haven't. You would though, if not for your weird magic resistance."

"What makes you say that?"

"She doesn't need a valid reason. I can tell she doesn't like you."

"I disagree."

"Peh. How would you know?"

"The fact that she's open about her feelings is all I need. Plus, apparently I'm getting some sweet quarters."

Rarity lets out a sigh of frustration.

"Yes, you are. And all you had to do to get it was destroy our only hope of salvation."

Anon opens his mouth to speak, but he closes it again. This isn't an argument he wants to have. Not here. Not now.

Eventually, the pair make it to a grand hallway. There are only two doors in this hallway. One is marked with a large crescent moon, while the other has no markings at all.

"That one is yours," Rarity says while pointing to the unmarked door. "If you don't want to die, I suggest you wake up at the crack of dawn."

"W-wait, how will I know when that is if it's always night?"

Rarity has already turned and started to walk away.

"That's the question, isn't it?"

Without another word, she disappears around a corner. Anon, now alone with his thoughts, simply shakes his head and enters his new quarters. The room is large and circular, with all manner of furniture. There's a vanity, a large dresser, a few cabinets and shelves, even a walk-in closet. It's a lot to take in, but most notable to Anon is the massive bed in the center of the room that looks like it's fit for a princess. Getting to sleep on a mattress at all is a luxury for Anon. Never in his life has he ever even dreamed about getting to sleep in a bed like this. As a result, he doesn't hesitate for a second before throwing himself onto the wonderfully soft sheets and drifting to sleep in mere moments.

When he awakens, the first thing he does is clean up and try to remember the way back to the throne room. However, it's like the halls themselves have shifted around. He's not sure if his memory is poor or if he's just losing his mind, but either way, a weight begins to settle in his stomach. He really doesn't want to be late, and he doesn't even know how long he slept for. There was no clock in his room, and with no sun outside, it becomes easy to lose track of time.

However, just as he starts to feel a nervous sweat begin to form on his brow, he turns a corner and slams face-first into-

"Y-your majesty!"

Anon looks at Nightmare Moon, and for the first time in a long time, a wave of dread overtakes him. She slowly turns to look at him, her eyes narrowed and angry. When she speaks, her voice is calculated and intimidating.

"...You're early."

"I... I am?"

Her eyes briefly glance out of a nearby window, which provides a few of the perpetually moonlit Everfree Forest.

"I suppose you wouldn't know that. Hm. I'll have to get you an alarm." To Anon's surprise, she turns away from him and continues in the direction she was going when he ran into her. "Walk with me." After just a moment's hesitation, Anon hastily scrambles to her side and begins to walk. He doesn't dare speak first. "I am impressed, Anon."

"You are?"

"I received a full report on the status of the school about an hour ago. Your actions, as well as your intel, allowed my soldiers to capture every single one of those rebellious fools." Anon's mind briefly drifts back to the previous night. For some reason, his thoughts keep lingering on that terrible, horrified look he was given before escaping. "Well, all except for one, it seems."

"One got away?"

"Twilight Sparkle. My dear sister's faithful student." Nightmare Moon clicks her tongue. "I can already tell she's going to be a thorn in my side."

"..."

"Regardless, the operation was a success, and the rebellion is no more. I even got a few of them to... 'come to my side.'"

"And those you didn't?"

"I'll leave that to your imagination."

Nightmare Moon laughs a dark, cruel laugh. To her surprise, Anon joins in. And unlike her other "loyal" subjects, he sounds shockingly genuine.

"Good. They probably had it coming."

"...Yes. Yes they did." Nightmare Moon glances at Anon. A tiny, slightly less cruel smile has made its way to her face as she looks him up and down. "And today, we'll see if you can keep up that momentum. I have another job for you."

"You name it, I'll take care of it."

Once again, Nightmare Moon looks at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"...I think I like you, human. Hmhm, this should be interesting." The two continue walking down the hall as Nightmare Moon explains what his next job will be. "Today, I'm sending you to a little rock farm in the middle of nowhere."

Anon exits the old hotel after having gathered his few belongings. He no longer has any business in Canterlot. He isn't sure where he should be, but he'd rather not spend more time here than necessary. Too many ponies for his tastes. Too much noise.

"HI!"

Speak of the devil.

Anon barely makes it down the street before a mare throws herself in front of him. She's bright pink, with an equally pink, poofy mane to match. A glance is all it takes for him to be able to tell that this mare has energy in spades. What's surprising, however, is that she had the gall to approach him. Does she really have no idea who he is?

"Uh... hi."

"It's nice to finally meet you properly, Mr. Anon!"

The mare holds out a hoof. Anon raises an eyebrow, a look of distrust on his face as he carefully reaches out and shakes said hoof.

"So you do know who I am."

"Of course I do! Everypony knows who you are, silly! Besides, we've met before! I'm Pinkie Pie, remember?"

"I know. You were one of the mares that killed Nightmare Moon."

"K-kill is a strong word. Besides, we met way before that!"

"We did?"

"Yeah! Back at my family's rock farm!"

"...Oh."

The rock farm. He remembers that job. It was the second job Nightmare Moon ever sent him on. Apparently, she wanted to relocate them. She needed the Pie family to act not as rock farmers, but as stonemasons. A lot of structures needed to be built in a lot of places, she told him. Apparently, the Pie family is quite talented at that, and she wanted them to be on it full-time. However, they ignored her demands. As such, she sent him there to "convince" them to do as she commands, and to perhaps make an example out of them.

They wanted nothing to do with him, of course. The two owners of the farm weren't willing to budge, but they were also too old to really stand up for themselves. As a result, that responsibility fell to their four daughters. Of them, one was unwilling to engage with Anon at all, and merely hid behind her sisters. Meanwhile, another had a very short temper and demanded that he get off of their property. He refused, and she seemed as though she was about to get violent. It wasn't until the pink one interrupted and tried to mediate that she backed off. Of course, Anon wasn't ordered to negotiate. He reaffirmed his demands, telling the pink mare that he had no intention of budging on them. He assumed her chipper attitude was an act to get him to lower his guard, and he wasn't falling for it. One little threat later and her mane seemed to deflate like a balloon. That was all the justification her angrier sister needed to throw herself at him, but one quick sidestep and a slash of his dagger was all it took to bring her to the ground. Not dead, of course. She can't be a stonemason if she isn't alive. However, the cut was deep enough and long enough to make her think twice about doing that again.

Then, the fourth Pie sister, who had a purple mane and blue shirt, silently kicked a large boulder in his direction. He had almost no time to react. He saw the boulder coming, but that was it. He wouldn't be able to get out of the way. In that brief moment, he realized just how out of his depth he truly was. If a regular farmer like her was capable of a feat of strength like that, what could a guy like him possibly hope to accomplish?

There was the sound of a large crash. Anon felt something massive slam into him.

But he was still alive.

He opened his eyes. He had been brought to the ground, and surrounding him on all sides were the settling remains of a shattered boulder. He looked down at himself. That hurt. Like, a lot. However, it should have killed him, shouldn't it? Anxiously, he stood back up. He looked at the mare that threw the boulder at him, who for the first time, appeared mildly surprised (by her standards anyway). Out of curiosity, he reached for a boulder lying next to him. To his shock, he picked it right up. It was definitely heavy, but it looked too heavy for him to carry. And yet, he lifted it anyway. With a shrug, he tossed the boulder in the mare's direction. Reacting quickly, she punched right through it.

Which was exactly what Anon was expecting. Having followed the boulder through the air, she found him already directly on top of her. Just like he had done with Moondancer, a swift kick and a bit of technique was all it took to knock her unconscious. He looked down at his hands. He didn't know where that strength and resilience came from. Is this world just... softer than his old one? Or perhaps there's something more to his magic resistance? He shook his head, deciding that it didn't really matter. Either way, that information was going to be useful.

With that, the two aggressive sisters were taken care of, the peppy sister was too drained of energy to resist, and the quiet sister never even tried. He had succeeded, and the farm's owners reluctantly agreed to listen to his demands on the condition that none of them be killed.

Back in the present, Anon looks down at that peppy sister, who has clearly gotten her energy back.

"Yeah, I remember you."

"Great! Now come on!"

With a level of force he wasn't expecting, she yanks him down a nearby road into what appears to be a large party. No, not like the celebrations happening around the city. This is a real, proper party, with ponies dancing left and right, food and balloons and streamers and anything else you could imagine as far as the eye can see.

"What is all this?"

"A party! Duh!"

"..."

"You know, to celebrate our freedom!"

"Pinkie, I don't think I'm welcome here."

"Why not?"

"Because you're celebrating your freedom from me."

"No, we're celebrating our freedom from Nightmare Moon!"

"You mean the mare that I served dutifully for four years? The mare that I loved?"

"W-wait, you loved her?"

"And she loved me."

"I... wow, I didn't know that." For a moment, Pinkie looks conflicted. However, her smile quickly returns to her face. "Well, either way, we're here now! The princess pardoned you, remember?"

"For better or worse," he mumbles.

"And that attitude is EXACTLY why you should be here! Come on, have a cupcake! Celebrate a little!"

Anon, whose patience has been wearing increasingly thin, suddenly kneels down and places himself mere inches from Pinkie's face. When he speaks, his voice is low, serious, and mildly threatening.

"You listen to me. I have nothing to celebrate. My lady is dead because of YOU. You and your stupid friends. Yet, you expect me to PARTY with you? Why?"

Pinkie looks back at Anon silently for a moment. She isn't smiling, but she isn't frowning either. Eventually she speaks up again, her voice filled with just as much energy as ever.

"Because I forgive you. Parties are better the more partygoers you have, after all!"

"That doesn't mean I forgive you." Pinkie can see the quiet, burning rage rising in Anon's eyes. "You stole everything I care about."

"...You did it first."

"..."

Without another word, Anon stands up, turns around, and walks away.

Pinkie makes no effort to follow him.

Home Is Where the Heart Was

Anon rises to his feet as his train comes to a complete stop. There are many ponies trying to get off with him, but they all make an effort to keep their distance as best they can in that confined space.

He breathes a sigh of relief as he steps outside, taking in the fresh evening air of Ponyville. Of course, his peace is immediately disrupted by the dozens of ponies getting off and on the train, each giving him a hard look as they pass. He doesn't really care, though. He's used to it.

Anon slowly makes his way down the winding dirt roads of town. A few pegasi fly overhead on their way to who-knows-where. Much like in Canterlot, ponies are celebrating left and right, though due to the much smaller nature of the town, it isn't nearly as noisy. In fact, Anon would guess that a larger portion of Ponyville's population is busy with work than Canterlot's. Some ponies are clearly shopping or going about their daily business. Others are tearing down the numerous stone walls and watchtowers that Nightmare Moon had constructed. Given its proximity to the Castle of the Two Sisters, Ponyville was a strategic defensive location, she told him. Anon scoffs at the sight of her hard work being torn down. These ponies can't appreciate anything she did, it seems. Even if it was for their own benefit.

Anon's pace comes to a gradual stop. He stands in place, simply observing the town around him. Apart from the ponies all avoiding him, he has to admit that it reminds him a lot of the town he grew up in. Even with all the deconstruction going on, it feels quiet. Peaceful. It makes him feel...

He shakes his head. He can't dwell on the life he left behind. He was reviled there too, after all. People like him can't afford to look back.

Still...

Anon sighs. He needs somewhere to go, and if Canterlot was anything to go by, he's going to be hard-pressed to find somewhere to stay in Ponyville. He did quite a few jobs here, and if there is any town he is likely to be kicked out of, it's this one. But then, where will he go? Without Nightmare Moon to house him, where could he possibly stay?

After contemplating for a few moments, he nods to himself and starts walking down a familiar road. This road leads to the Everfree Forest and the Castle of the Two Sisters, which, as far as he knows, should now be abandoned. It's where his room is. It's where his lady was. It's possibly the only place nearby he won't get kicked out of.

It's the closest thing he has to a home.

"I'm back, your majesty."

"Hm? You're early."

Anon enters the dining room of the Castle of the Two Sisters. The only pony present is Nightmare Moon, who quietly dines on some of the finest food Equestria has to offer. Anon has been working for her for several months. In that time, she has slowly grown to trust him more and more, to the point where he and he alone is allowed to enter the dining room during her dinner. Earlier today, he finished his most recent task with flying colors.

"I was afraid I wouldn't. Those Apples are a rowdy bunch."

"Trust me, I am aware. If it weren't for the fact that they produce a substantial amount of the nation's food, I would have had them dealt with ages ago." Without looking up from her food, Nightmare Moon uses her telekinesis to pull out a chair next to her. "Sit."

Anon obeys, happily taking the seat. To his surprise, she slides a second plate of food towards him.

"Th-thank you, lady Moon."

"Hm." She doesn't acknowledge his thanks beyond a simple grunt. "I take it you were successful, then?"

"I was. I personally saw to it that they're planting the correct types of apples."

"Nightingale Apples. A product of my own creation, able to be grown even in perpetual night. Peh, imagine having such an ego that you would refuse to grow such a thing even when living in my eternal night. They'd sooner let Equestria starve."

"They said that they don't trust food you had a hoof in creating."

She chuckles at that.

"Then let them starve!"

The pair continues to dine in relative silence for a few minutes until Anon eventually speaks up again.

"Um... my lady?"

"Speak."

"Why are you letting me dine with you? I thought you preferred to eat alone."

"...I do. However, you're the closest thing to good company I've had since taking the throne." For some reason, Anon notices an almost imperceptible twitch in her eye when she speaks.

"I... th-thank you, lady Moon."

Anon has always considered himself immune to flattery. All it has ever been is a lie, a ploy to get him to do what others want. However, he knows Nightmare Moon. She may be evil, but she isn't a liar. As a result, he feels his cheeks begin to grow hot.

"Keep it up, and there may be more in store for you."

"H-huh?"

"Don't let it get to your head, though. I expect results. Fail to deliver, and I will see to it that you are properly... disciplined, shall we say?"

"Y-yes, my lady!"

She gives him what seems to be a genuine smile that causes his heart to skip a beat.

"I look forward to it."

Without another word, she elegantly rises from her seat and exits the dining room, leaving Anon alone once more. After a few moments, he can't stop a smile from growing on his face.

"Yes!"

And there it is. The Castle of the Two Sisters, nestled quietly in the middle of the Everfree Forest. Surrounding the castle, there are numerous other structures. Most are for defensive purposes, much like the ones in Ponyville, though what Nightmare Moon even needed defending from is beyond Anon. Maybe she was just paranoid?

Anon passes through the large iron gate, allowing himself to indulge in nostalgia for just a moment. He is reminded of the feeling of returning from a successful mission, and the satisfaction he would receive in telling his lady the good news. However, these joyful thoughts are interrupted as he approaches the castle proper.

Where once there stood a grand structure fit for a queen, there is now the sad remains of an abandoned building. It's only been about a week since Nightmare Moon was defeated, but looking at the state of her castle, you might think she's been gone for years. A few walls are caving in. The ceiling has collapsed in a couple of places. Graffiti covers almost every inch of the walls outside, the vitriol-filled messages directed towards both Nightmare Moon and Anon himself. Ironically, this is the closest he's come to seeing the genuine thoughts of the genuine public since her defeat. That doesn't make the sad sight of what was once hers any less upsetting, however.

Anon forces the grand wooden doors open. Sure enough, the entrance hall is no better than the outside. Moonlight pours through multiple spots where the ceiling has caved in. Any iconography related to her rule, from portraits to insignias to moon-shaped windows, has been utterly trashed. Her throne is missing entirely, having either been torn to pieces or outright stolen. It seems that as soon as she was gone, Equestria made its feelings known.

Of course, this wasn't just her home. This was his home. This was where he returned after a job well done. This was where he ate, where he slept. This was where he wanted to be.

This was where everything he ever wanted was.

Anon wanders through the many winding halls. Once upon a time, this castle was filled with booby traps and other such things, but those were disabled years ago. They only made traversal more difficult for everyone.

He runs his fingers over some of the stone walls as he walks. He has a lot of memories of this castle. Most involve Nightmare Moon, of course, but they're memories all the same. Much more fond memories than those he has of his old world, at the very least.

Eventually, he makes it to a familiar hallway. On the way here, he noted that most of the deeper, more secluded halls were defaced much less than the entrance hall. The same cannot be said here. The familiar form of Nightmare Moon's bedroom door is gone, having been torn off its hinges and left in pieces on the floor. A quick glance into the dark bedroom reveals that the room is in shambles. Curtains are torn, cabinets are knocked over, and anything relating to a moon has been completely destroyed. Anon chooses not to linger.

With a shake of his head, he makes his way to the other door. This door is, at the very least, still on its hinges. He quietly opens it, causing it to creak in the process. Unfortunately, his room is hardly better than Nightmare Moon's. The whole place has been ransacked. Everything he ever owned (most of which was bestowed upon him by his lady) is either gone or scattered across the floor. His closet door hangs open, revealing all of his garments to be missing. He's not sure what a pony could possibly use special-made human clothing for, but he figures that the value of the items wasn't really the point. Oddly enough, seeing his own room like this hurts less than seeing Nightmare Moon's in the state it was in.

He sighs to himself as he begins to sort through the mess for anything that might still be of use. There is hardly anything left to acknowledge. The vandals, it seems, were very thorough. He glances around the room, finally taking note of the abundant graffiti. Obscenities and insults line the walls and floor. It doesn't really bother him, though. He's been called worse.

He sits on the foot of his bed, only for the bed frame to collapse under his weight. He's left on the floor, stuck on top of a miserable pile of what was once his bed. Apparently, the vandals were very thorough.

Rising from his position, he concludes that there is little reason to stay in this room. It may have once been his, but without even a bed to use, it's little more than storage now. He starts to make his way out, but something else catches his eye. Placed carefully behind the door, tucked away in a dusty corner, is a small plush animal. Curious, Anon picks the animal up. It's a finely made, hoof-stitched bunny rabbit. He isn't quite sure why it's here. It isn't covered in dust like the rest of the corner, meaning it was left there recently. He certainly didn't leave it, so perhaps it belonged to someone who broke in?

...Now that he thinks about it, it looks a bit familiar. He seems to recall a job he once had hunting down a vigilante in the Everfree Forest. Nightmare Moon had traps laid throughout the forest for the sake of capturing animals. Many of their parts are useful in all sorts of goods, after all. And without Celestia to prevent such hunting, she would be insane not to capitalize on it. However, somepony had been disabling traps and freeing animals for months undetected. He was sent searching for the culprit, and he eventually caught her in the act. It was a yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane. He never really got her name, though. She didn't put up much of a fight once he caught her. He brought her before Nightmare Moon, who imprisoned her. He had expected her to be executed, so imagine his surprise when she showed up months later as one of the mares that killed his lady.

This plushie looks just like that bunny she had with her. He... "took care" of that bunny after she was captured.

Suddenly filled with frustration, he throws it out of a nearby broken window and exits the room, slamming the door behind him in the process. Making his way back down the hall, he once again stops in front of Nightmare Moon's room. Taking a deep breath, he enters.

Sure enough, it's just as bad as his room. Glancing around, the graffiti is much worse in here than it was in there. However, her large, dark-blue bed still seems to be in one piece, even if the sheets have been messed with. Anon glances back at the doorway that lacks a door. He takes a deep breath and reaches down for a tipped-over cabinet before effortlessly lifting it up. After his fight at the Pie family farm, he looked into his newfound "strength." According to Nightmare Moon, everything in Equestria is inherently magical. It's a constant... thing that exists, sort of like energy. Because his body negates magic, he can move things without the "obstruction" of that inherent magic, be it a simple pebble or an alicorn queen. For all intents and purposes, he isn't "stronger" than he was before, he just sort of... breaks the laws of physics in this world, he supposes.

It certainly turned out to be useful on his missions, at least.

Carefully, he places a few ruined pieces of furniture in the doorway, essentially barricading himself inside. He tends to sleep with one eye open, and not having a door makes him uneasy. After a quiet moment, Anon lays himself down on the side of the bed Nightmare Moon didn't sleep on and makes himself comfortable. It wouldn't be the first time he's slept here, but it would be the first time he's done so alone.

With one final sigh and a million thoughts swimming through his mind, Anon closes his eyes and attempts to drift off to sleep, doing everything in his power to memorize the faint smell of his lady that still lingers on her pillow.

The Elements of Harmony

Days turn to weeks as Anon's self-inflicted solitude continues. He has barely left the Castle of the Two Sisters since his arrival. He doesn't have much of a reason to. This is his home, as well as the closest thing he has to a connection with Nightmare Moon. He wants to regain some semblance of normalcy in his life.

To that end, he has dedicated much of his time to restoring the castle. With him taking up residence in Nightmare Moon's old quarters, he started there. He knows his way around the castle, and although most of its valuables have been stolen or destroyed, less important objects were ignored and left behind. It wasn't hard to find a mop, a vacuum, or anything else he needs. Thus, he set to work on the monumental task of restoring a castle all on his lonesome. It's not like he has anything better to do anyway.

Whatever furniture was still usable, he put back in its proper place. Whatever wasn't went into a junk pile he made behind the castle, which gradually grew more and more as the days went on. Cleaning up all of the graffiti wasn't easy, but with enough soap and dedication, he was able to get pretty much all of it off. He even found a few tools in one of the towers outside, allowing him to fix the destroyed door. All in all, he was able to get her old room back into a livable state. It might not be as grand or respectable as it was before, but it's serviceable.

Next, he set to work on his own room. Pretty much nothing in there was salvageable, and he tossed darn near everything that wasn't nailed down. The graffiti was just as difficult to clean as it was in his lady's room, but he was able to get it off while mostly ignoring the messages that were directed towards him. By the time he was done, his bedroom was squeaky clean, but mostly empty. If he had anything to put in there, it would be fit for a princess. Alas, all that remains now is the sad husk of what used to be something great.

Heh, that sure does remind him of someone.

With his initial task completed, he began to work his way outward. He cleaned the halls, whether they were defaced or not. He patched up holes in the walls as best he could with his less-than-professional handiwork. Due to his lack of knowledge on how to install new windows, he boarded up those that were shattered. The castle is still drafty because of that, but he's doing his best. The trickiest part has been fixing the ceilings, but with a ladder, some wood, some leftover stone, and a whole lot of determination, he has at least been able to patch them up enough to stop the cold, Everfree Forest rain from getting in. All in all, he's mostly satisfied with his work.

However, the more he works, the closer he gets to the part of the castle he has been most dreading: the entrance hall. Sure, he's passed through there more than a couple of times during his stay. It's practically impossible not to. However, he has been doing his best to not linger.

The wounds that were inflicted there are still fresh.

Instead, he meanders around the entrance hall, cleaning pretty much everything else he can find. The more he cleans, the less he has left to do. Eventually, he decides that it's time to face the inevitable.

He has to think about it at some point.

Broom in hand, Anon slowly trudges towards the entrance of the castle. Getting around is second nature to him by now, even with the castle in the haphazardly refurbished state that it's in. It's that familiarity that allows him to realize something is off.

Anon freezes in place before pressing himself against a wall. He's adjacent to the entrance hall, and he can hear movement. Granted, the entrance hall is bound to be a bit noisier than most other rooms and corridors. He has yet to fix it, after all, so there are still a few holes in the walls and ceiling that allow many sounds from the forest to echo through the space. However, his instincts tell him that this is something else.

Someone is inside.

Silently, Anon creeps through the hall and into the doorway connecting it to the large room. As expected, the room is just as he left it. The midday sun is pouring through the collapsed ceiling. Loose stone has fallen into several piles. Graffiti covers the walls and floor, and whatever furnishings there were have been completely destroyed.

And there, in the center of the room, is a mare he is very familiar with.

Her coat is a gentle blue color, and her mane is every color of the rainbow. Said mane, which Anon is used to seeing cut into a flat top, has been growing out and now hangs lazily over the front of her face. The purple, bat-like armor that she used to wear is completely missing. In fact, the only thing on her person is a bag that appears to be filled with all manners of spray paint.

This is Rainbow Dash, the mare that used to be one of the highest ranking members of Nightmare Moon's military force, the Lunar Guard. She is also one of the mares that killed her.

At the moment, she is engrossed in her work. She wears a cocky grin as she adds to the countless number of phrases and pictures emblazoned on the floor. It seems that she is at least one of the culprits responsible for this mess. The biggest surprise to Anon is that she had the gall to come alone.

Doing his best to contain his growing anger at the sight of her, Anon slowly emerges from the hall and steps into the sunlight. His presence is immediately noticed by Rainbow Dash, who drops the can and takes a defensive position.

"Anon!"

"...What are you doing here, Dash?"

"I didn't know you were still around."

"Answer my question."

"Yeah, well, you caught me red-hoofed. Not much for me to say, is there?"

She glares at Anon, and he glares back. The hostility between them easily rivals what was going on between Anon and Twilight, perhaps even surpassing it. Their voices are low and angry, even vaguely threatening.

"Get out of here, Dash."

"Why? I have just as much of a right to be here as you do."

"No. You don't."

"Hah! How do you figure?"

"Because one of us didn't turn traitor."

"Traitor?! You're out of your mind if you think I'm a traitor!"

"You betrayed your princess!"

"News flash, Anon! I was never loyal to her to begin with!"

"Isn't that ironic, miss 'Element of Loyalty?'"

"Oh, I'm loyal. But my loyalty lies with Princess Celestia. With doing the right thing. With my friends."

Anon lets out a frustrated sigh.

"And here I thought you were one of the few ponies around here that was good at her job."

"Shows how little you paid attention. Who do you think let Twilight escape after you ruined the rebellion's plans? Who do you think let Fluttershy get away after being sentenced to execution? Who do you think helped Twilight rally the six of us together after her... books n' stuff told us how to defeat Nightmare Moon?"

Anon glares at Rainbow Dash silently for a few moments as he processes her words.

"...You were a double agent that whole time?"

"You know what they say. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

"For all those years, you were planning a coup against my lady?!"

The cocky smile on Rainbow Dash's face widens.

"If that's what you want to call 'giving Equestria its freedom back,' then yeah, I guess I was." Before she finishes her sentence, Anon has thrown himself at her. He is extremely deft and quick on his feet, but Rainbow Dash is faster. She easily sidesteps him, causing him to stumble for a moment before turning around. "Careful there, Anon. Don't forget our old sparring sessions. We both know how this ends."

"You killed her!"

Anon tries to throw a punch, but Rainbow Dash lazily dodges it before taking to the sky with a single flap of her wings.

"And I saved Princess Luna. Besides, I couldn't have done it alone. I don't see you attacking Twilight for it."

Anon breathes heavily as he looks up at Rainbow Dash, his rage-filled eyes almost completely glossed over.

"There is nothing I hate more than liars! You betrayed her! You betrayed me!"

"Dude, you say that like we were friends."

In a swift movement, Anon reaches into his pocket and pulls out his signature enchanted dagger. It was the first gift Nightmare Moon ever gave him, and he cherishes it to this day. Just as quickly as he retrieved it, he throws it into the air towards Rainbow Dash. She reacts just quickly enough to avoid a direct hit, but it still grazes her cheek. A cut now lines the side of her face, though she doesn't appear particularly bothered by it.

"Get out. I never want to see your face again!"

"Why are you so protective of her in the first place? You're free now, dude. Go, like, get a real job or something."

"For someone that's supposed to embody loyalty, you sure seem to be having a hard time understanding where my loyalty comes from!"

"You don't even know..." For a moment, Rainbow Dash looks like she's pondering something before she gives up and simply shrugs. "Whatever. Your loss."

Without another word, she dips down just far enough to grab her bag full of spray paint and flies upwards in a hurry, exiting the entrance hall through one of the holes in the ceiling. Anon watches her depart, and he continues to watch her until he confirms that she has left in the direction of Ponyville and has disappeared over the treeline. With an angry grunt of frustration, he takes a seat on a nearby pile of stone. When he does so, he can't avert his eyes from a large crater in the center of the room he was desperately trying to ignore.

It seems that both Rainbow Dash and this room have reminded him of a memory he's been trying to block out.

"What do you all think you're doing?"

Anon glares at the dozen or so ponies standing between him and the Castle of the Two Sisters. Moonlight illuminates the outdoor space, and a chill breeze washes over them. He's just returned from another mission, wherein he successfully used his "natural abilities" to single-handedly crush a crowd of dissenters in Manehattan. It wasn't pretty. However, he did his job exactly as his lady demanded, and he was intending on informing her of such.

It isn't like the Lunar Guard to get in his way.

One of the stallions steps forward, removing his helmet and staring daggers into Anon.

"We can't let you through, Anon."

"And why not?"

"Because today, Nightmare Moon falls."

Anon has seen this before. It isn't the first time members of the Lunar Guard have rebelled against their princess, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"You know, every time you ponies try to hurt my lady, you say something along those lines. And every single time, it ends poorly for you." Anon reaches into his pocket and retrieves his dagger, twirling it around in his hand for a moment with a little flourish. "I recommend you step aside before I report this."

The ponies do no such thing, and they instead begin to draw their spears.

"This time is different."

"Oh? And how so?"

"We have the Elements of Harmony on our side. They're taking care of Nightmare Moon as we speak. All we have to do is keep you out."

Anon freezes for just a moment. She doesn't like to talk about it much, but Nightmare Moon has given him the tale of her banishment before. Her sister, Princess Celestia, was losing their duel until she used the Elements of Harmony, magical objects that act as the embodiment of friendship itself. Such a power directly countered Nightmare Moon's own, causing her defeat and subsequent banishment. However, she told Anon that she destroyed them as soon as she returned. They have to be bluffing, right?

"Well, thanks for telling me your plan. Now I know what I have to do."

"You say that like it will be easy." In an instant, Anon closes the gap between them. He slashes at the stallion with his dagger, using his exposed head as a target. The stallion takes a direct hit, but he yells out to his compatriots as he falls to the ground. "Now!"

Anon braces himself. He's faced worse odds than this. Between his magic resistance and his ever-growing proficiency with his dagger, he can take care of these ponies. The past four years of service to Nightmare Moon have been the best years of his life, after all. For once, he's actually doing something. He's making a difference. He's making someone proud.

He's important to someone, and he doesn't plan on screwing that up.

He moves like a whirlwind, bouncing from one pony to the next. A kick here, a slash there. He is rapidly tearing through their ranks, but as he fights, he sees more and more emerging from the various towers and structures nearby. He's surrounded, he's becoming increasingly outnumbered, and they're closing in on him.

"Has the entire Lunar Guard turned traitor?!"

"You were the only one loyal to that tyrant in the first place!"

Anon's struggle continues. However, he can't maintain that pace forever. Regardless of his physical advantages, he is still just one man against an army. Slowly, he accumulates cuts, bruises, even a stab wound here and there. And yet, he doesn't back down. Then, he is caught off guard by one of the stallions near the back yelling something else.

"Do it!"

Suddenly, the ground gives out beneath him. He tumbles against a dirt wall and falls nearly twenty feet. He manages to land on his feet, though he is unsure of his situation. He appears to be in a dirt hole, barely six feet in diameter. At the top, he can see many ponies staring down at him with smiles on their faces. They excitedly slap each other on the back and cheer at the sight of him in the pit. It seems he fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book. They weren't trying to kill him, they were trying to get him to stand where they wanted him.

"What is this?!"

"Doesn't matter how strong you are if you can't fly, haha!" The soldiers continue to excitedly cheer amongst themselves, and Anon catches one of them say something to a pony he cannot see. "Now we just have to wait for those six to be done."

Anon feels his heart begin to sink. His blood runs cold as he realizes the gravity of the situation. This isn't just another meaningless uprising, or some insubordinate farmers not accustomed to change. For the first time since arriving in Equestria, Anon realizes that his lady might very well be in danger.

And he might be running out of time.

Doing his best to keep his composure, Anon takes a deep breath. He closes his eyes, clenches his fists, and thinks. The ponies above him pay him no mind beyond a passing glance every now and then to check on him. If he's going to act, he needs to do it soon.

Wordlessly, he slams a fist against the dirt wall. He may have magic resistance, but not even he can make much of a difference punching solid ground. He punches again in frustration. Once again, nothing happens. For several minutes, his actions could be described as little more than a temper tantrum. He's stuck, and he has no one to blame but himself.

"Hey, what are you doing down th-UGH!"

One of the stallions peered into the hole, which was exactly what Anon was waiting for. As soon as his head was fully visible, Anon threw his dagger. A direct hit. The stallion tumbled down into the hole with Anon, spear and all. Anon carefully sidesteps his body and grabs the spear, as well as his dagger that fell back into the hole. There is a commotion above, but Anon ignores it. With the spear in one hand and his dagger in the other, he leaps as high as he can and stabs the spear into the dirt wall. Using the stuck spear as leverage, he throws himself upwards once more, now stabbing his dagger into the wall. With his now-free hand and some twisting and turning, he retrieves the spear below him, throws himself upwards again, and stabs it into the wall. He continues this process a couple more times until, finally, he emerges at the top of the hole. As soon as he does, he is met with several spears being thrust in his direction, which he doesn't entirely manage to avoid. It hurts, but he ignores the pain.

He remembers little of the next few moments as he tears through wave after wave of Lunar Guard soldiers, slowly making his way forward. Eventually, their ranks thin enough for him to reach the entrance of the Castle of the Two Sisters. The grand doors are already open, allowing him to make his way into the entrance hall.

In the center of the room, six mares appear to be floating, facing away from him. Their bodies are glowing, and a rainbow aura is bouncing between them. Before them, Nightmare Moon looks on in shock and horror. Both she and the other mares look worse for wear, and there are obvious signs of a struggle throughout the hall. One of the mares, a purple unicorn that Anon recognizes, says something that he doesn't quite catch. Then, a massive beam of rainbow-like magic erupts from the mares and shoots into the sky. The magic begins to arc downwards, and Anon realizes exactly where it's going. He doesn't have time to move. He can't stop this. He was too late.

"LADY MOON!"

He helplessly reaches out towards her as he calls her name. For less than a second, she locks eyes with him. Her eyes are wide, and her typical cocky, cold demeanor has vanished. For the first and only time in his life, Anon sees fear on Nightmare Moon's face. She's scared. She's confused. She's silently begging for him to save her.

Then, the magic hits.

Anon blinks. He's still sitting in the entrance hall of the Castle of the Two Sisters. A quick glance to the sky reveals moonlight pouring through the holes in the ceiling. How long has he been zoning out?

He brings a hand to his face as he realizes that it's difficult to see clearly. He rubs his eyes, noticing that they're filled with tears. He clicks his tongue and tries to regain his composure. He needs to focus on the present. Rainbow Dash is gone, and he still has some cleaning to do. He has to get this place fixed up. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how many ponies get in his way. It's his greatest reminder of who Nightmare Moon was.

And painful though it may be, he won't allow himself to forget.

Liar

Anon stands in the center of the castle's large pantry with an exhausted expression on his face. He's been living here for quite some time now with almost no reason to leave. However, as of today, he is fresh out of food.

For a while, he contemplated going hunting. Unfortunately, his skill set doesn't exactly involve tracking and killing animals. Even if he could, he has no clue how to skin or prepare them. On top of that, he can forget about foraging. He has no idea what most of the plants in the Everfree Forest are, and from what he's seen, it would be a terrible idea to just eat Everfree flora indiscriminately.

Which means that his only option left is to go into town for groceries.

Anon sighs. If it were up to him, he'd never step foot in Ponyville again. But, the fact of the matter is that he has to eat. Surely those ponies can set aside their hatred of him long enough to do business, right? They wouldn't refuse him a service necessary for his survival, right?

He briefly considers going to a different town, but he quickly throws out that idea. Ponyville is far from the only town that would take issue with him, and the farther away from the castle he goes, the more likely it will be that he runs into trouble on his way back. Ponyville it is, then.

Anon sluggishly makes his way back to the entrance hall, but not before stopping by Nightmare Moon's room to grab his stash of bits. The castle's treasury had, predictably, been completely emptied out by thieves. However, not all of the treasure was kept in one place. Heck, during his cleaning, he found a few hidden caches here and there he didn't even know about, likely put there by members of the Lunar Guard or other castle servants. As a result, he has more than enough to support himself for a while.

...Well, here goes nothing.

He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting.

Anon stands in the middle of the Ponyville market, his arms crossed and his eyes half-lidded. The typical crowd that gathers here around this time has completely dispersed following his arrival. Many of the stalls and stands are suddenly closed or "out on lunch." The few ponies that have stuck around never take their eyes off of him, though whether that be out of fear or anger, he doesn't know.

Anon glances around at the few stalls still open. Of them, he can see that one is selling flowers and another appears to be selling hoof-crafted goods, neither of which are what he's looking for. That only leaves two other stalls. He glances at the first, but freezes when he sees the orange mare running it. A scowl on his face, he decides to push his luck with the other, which appears to be selling various vegetables.

The red-maned mare behind the counter glares at him before recoiling as he approaches. Seeing this and not being used to this type of interaction, Anon awkwardly clears his throat as he reaches the stall.

"H-hello."

"...Hi?"

"What are you... uh... h-how much for... the vegetables?"

"J-just take 'em and leave me alone!"

"..." Anon is an opportunist. However, even he understands how terrible of an idea it would be to do that. He's going to need to acquire food again eventually, and if he establishes that he's just going to stroll up and take food from these vendors, they're likely to stop being here when he shows up. He knows he can't fix his reputation (and frankly, he doesn't particularly care to), but he still needs to eat. "I'm not going to do that. I have the money."

"H-how do I know it's not... cursed or something?"

"Lady, it's money." As if to make a point, Anon places a handful of bits on the counter. "Do you want it or not?"

"H-here, take it!"

Wasting no time, she quickly grabs a bunch of vegetables at random, shoves them into a bag, and slides them across the counter to Anon.

Well, better than nothing.

"Thanks, I guess."

The mare is practically trembling in her seat, and Anon decides to turn around and leave before making things worse. He glances into the bag she gave him. It's a fair amount of veggies, but they're not going to last him very long. He briefly tosses his options around in his mind before closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh. Slowly, he turns to face the only stall left serving any sort of food: the apple stand.

Behind the stand, Applejack sits straight up. She carefully watches Anon without a hint of fear on her face. They lock eyes, and their expressions harden. Without looking away, Anon approaches the stand. Neither say a word until they're only a few feet away from each other. The tension in the air is so thick they can practically feel it. They stand there for a few silent moments until Anon finally speaks up.

"Applejack, right?"

"That's my name, yeah."

Anon takes a deep breath. There is a clear reluctance to every move he makes.

"How much for the apples?"

Applejack stares at him for another moment, though she doesn't appear particularly surprised.

"Depends. You want the normal ones or the Nightingale ones?"

"What's the difference?"

"Nopony wants the Nightingale ones, so they're cheaper."

"...Why don't they want them?"

Anon's voice is low and almost accusatory. Applejack's eye briefly twitches.

"I'm sure you of all creatures know exactly why."

Anon scoffs.

"Leave it to you ungrateful ponies to not want perfectly good food just because my lady was the one that provided it for you."

"She didn't 'provide' it, she FORCED it! YOU forced it! All for her weird... magic stuff!"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb, Anon. Do you want the apples or not?"

"No, I don't think I can just let that slide! What was that you just said about my lady?"

Both of their voices are gradually growing louder. The few ponies that hadn't evacuated the market upon seeing Anon watch on with morbid curiosity.

"The only reason she wanted anypony to eat these darn apples is because of the enchantment she put on them seeds she made us plant!"

"What enchantment?!"

"..." Applejack narrows her eyes at Anon before raising an eyebrow. "You seriously didn't know these apples are enchanted?"

"The only enchantment she put on them was one that allows them to grow in her eternal night. Don't know why you'd have a problem with that."

"No, no it wasn't!" Anon clenches his fists, but he waits for Applejack to continue talking. "These apples do somethin' to your body. Make you more susceptible to all that mind control business she was up to!"

"Th-that's not true!"

"Yes, it is! Ask Twilight, or any unicorn for that matter! We all knew about it, but it's not like she was givin' us much of a choice!"

"No, that can't be true, because she would have told me about it!"

"What in the hay are you talkin' about?"

"She said she made them so that Equestria wouldn't starve!"

"She was lyin' to you, Anon. In case you didn't know, for all the trouble her night brought us, it didn't actually harm our crops none. Otherwise, darn near the whole country would be dyin'."

"N-no, I know she wasn't lying!"

"How?"

"Because she wasn't a liar!"

Anon is practically yelling at the top of his lungs now. His face has gone completely red, and he seems incapable of standing still any longer. Applejack, however, doesn't move from her seat.

"First time I've ever heard someone say that. You actually think she just told the truth all the time?"

"Yes, I do! That's the whole reason I was loyal to her in the first place!"

"Didn't she lie to you about the reason she wanted you to hurt Twilight's friends back at that school?"

"W-well, no! She just... didn't give me all the information!"

"You mean like with these apples?"

"You..." Anon's breathing quickens. Sweat begins to bead on his forehead. Whether he wants to admit it or not, she might have a point. ...No, of course not! She has to be lying about the apples! "You're the liar here!"

"You're really sayin' that to the Element of Honesty?"

"I couldn't care less about your self-given title. I won't hear you slander my lady any more than you already have!"

"Anon!" A voice rings out from behind the disgruntled human. Both he and Applejack turn their attention to the new arrival, only to be met with a surprising sight. Standing in the middle of the market are Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna herself, both with serious looks on their faces. Twilight was the one who spoke up, and she looks livid. "I'd like it if you stopped yelling at my friend."

"And I'd like it if I could go one day without having to hear garbage spewing from the mouths of the ones that killed my lady!"

"Will you shut up about her?! The country is still trying to recover from what the two of you did! No wonder she's fresh on everypony's minds! What right do you have to be mad about that?"

"I have every right! She's dead!"

"SO IS MOONDANCER!" Twilight's voice cracks as she shouts as loud as she can. Tears begin to form in her angry eyes as she loses her composure, her head drooping to the ground and her voice now quiet and filled with sorrow. "And you were the one that got her killed."

"I did exactly as my lady commanded."

"Why?! How does that justify anything you've done?!"

"Why don't you ask your friend, there?" Anon nods his head towards Luna. His focus has been almost entirely on Twilight, so he has failed to notice until now that, unlike their prior meeting, she has not looked away from him once. Her serious eyes have been locked onto his own since she arrived, and a scowl is spread across her face. "She remembers every minute of it! Not that she'll actually talk about it! Heavens forbid someone actually threw me a bone for once!"

"What makes you think you're obligated to anything, you... you..."

Anon grunts in frustration.

"I'm going home." Anon tries to leave, but as he does so, he notices movement above him. Two familiar mares stare down on him, one with anger, one with fear. He knows those ponies as well, what with them being two more of the mares that killed Nightmare Moon. Rainbow Dash lands on the ground in the direction he was planning to go, while Fluttershy stays in the air. A quick glance behind him reveals that both Rarity and Pinkie Pie have shown up as well. Rarity looks just as angry as Rainbow Dash, while Pinkie Pie just looks concerned. Anon laughs incredulously. "What is this, an intervention?!"

Once again, Twilight responds, having now wiped the tears from her face.

"Rainbow Dash told us what happened at the castle. Luna and I were planning to go have a chat with you, but we figured it'd be safer for all of us to go as a group later in the day. Then, well... you came to us."

Anon frantically turns in place, unsure of if the ponies staring at him are threatening him or not. He isn't sure why, but ever since Applejack started talking about those apples, a weight has been building in his chest. Now, it only continues to grow. He's gotten out of worse scraps than this, so why is he getting nervous?!

"And what, you're gonna keep spewing the same nonsense you've been telling me this whole time? Go on, shout from the rooftops about how 'evil' I am for having someone I care about! It won't change a single thing!"

"The fact that you think that's what any of this is about shows how delusional you are!" Rarity shouts from behind Anon, and her words cut him deeper than they have any right to. Why do her words bother him so much? Why is he sweating so profusely right now?

"Y-you have no idea what you're talking about! None of you do! Just leave me alo-"

"SILENCE!" Luna's voice echoes throughout the space, almost certainly aided by the use of magic. It's so commanding, so powerful, that even Anon cannot help but shut up and listen. In a way, it reminds him of Nightmare Moon. A mixture of emotions hit him all at once, with half of him feeling a harsh reminder of the mare he loved, and the other half continuing to be as uncharacteristically nervous as it has been for a while now. "I was hoping I'd never see you again, Anon. I was hoping we'd never have to see each other again. But I can't just let you go on like this."

"..." Slowly, a strange, eerie smile creeps its way to Anon's face. "Heh. Heh! Let me guess, you're finally gonna admit that you love me just like she did?" Anon lets out an unhinged-sounding laugh. "Hate to break it to you, but I don't feel the same! You aren't half the mare she was!"

"You want the truth?! Fine!" Luna's horn begins to glow. Suddenly, Anon sees an apple levitating in front of his face. "Go on. Take a bite."

"I... what is this?"

"One of her Nightingale apples. You've never had one, have you?"

"Well, no. We had much better food at the castle than-"

"Eat it!"

"..." Anon glares at Luna for a moment before angrily grabbing the apple out of the air. That anxious feeling only continues to build as he brings the apple to his mouth and takes a bite. Ultimately, it just tastes like a normal apple. But then again, that's not really the point here, is it? "Well? What was that supposed to prove?" Quietly, Luna's horn begins to glow a gentle blue color. Everypony in attendance watches as that same color begins to envelop Anon. His eyes grow wide as a tingling feeling begins to overtake him. Slowly, his body starts to rise. It keeps rising until he is nearly six feet into the air. "Wh-what is this?!"

Just as suddenly as he started to float, he is lowered back down to the ground. As he is placed back on his feet, the magic surrounding him and the magic coming from Luna's horn disappear simultaneously.

"I told ya," Applejack says with a somewhat smug look on her face.

"N-no... no, I'm resistant to magic."

"Not after eatin' one of those apples you're not. And for us ponies, who are already effected by magic? I think you can imagine how Nightmare Moon would have gotten some use outta them."

"B-but..."

"Anon." Luna speaks once more. Her voice is cold and direct. However, she doesn't look quite as angry as she did a moment ago. "You want the truth, right? Then let me tell you the whole truth for the first time in my... or her... life."

"..."

"Anon, I don't love you. The only thing I feel for you is pity." Luna slowly walks towards Anon, whose head slowly begins to droop. "Pity for the man who was so easily manipulated, and only continues to be so."

"..."

Luna sighs.

"Anon, Nightmare Moon never loved you. Not when you met, not when you did her bidding for her, and not when Twilight and her friends defeated her. From the very beginning, she was manipulating you."

"...Y-you're lying." Anon's voice is weak to the point of being almost completely inaudible. "That can't be true."

"You loved her because you thought she was honest. She knew that. She also realized how useful you would be after you helped her quell that rebellion in my sister's school, so she got right to work making sure you stayed obedient. She read you like a book. She did everything in her power to appeal to you, knowing a mind control spell wouldn't be quite as effective even with an apple in your system."

"..."

"A nice room for the man who clearly had nothing. Fancy meals for the man that just wanted to survive. Some... shall we say, 'companionship' when she felt her grip on you was slipping."

"She... she wouldn't."

"She preyed quite easily on your tendency to make assumptions. She was surprised at how much you assumed the best of her, even as she continued to demean you and remind you of 'your place,' so to speak. You assumed she was telling the truth. You assumed her victims deserved what they got. You assumed she cared for you as much as you cared for her. Well, either you assumed those things, or you just convinced yourself that they were true."

"N-no."

Compared to the yelling and anger that filled the space before, the gentle, one-sided conversation between Anon and Luna sounds extremely quiet. A cool breeze washes over Ponyville, and Anon doesn't even register himself falling to his knees.

"...But you already knew all of that, didn't you?"

Anon is silent for a few moments. When he finally speaks up, his voice is shaky and his eyes are filling with tears.

"It's not true. It can't be true."

"And why not?"

"Because... if it is, then..." Anon squeezes his eyes shut in an attempt to stop the flood of tears. "Then everything I've done-"

"NO!" The quiet, somber moment is interrupted by Twilight, who looks absolutely livid. "You don't get to say that! You have no right to act remorseful now! Everything you did, you did of your own free will! Luna was being influenced! Her mind-controlled followers were being influenced, if not threatened, to do what they did! Only you did any of that willingly! Do you really think 'love' justifies ANYTHING you did?! Ponies are DEAD because of you!"

"I-"

"So you did all of that because you 'loved her?!' What difference does it make if she didn't feel the same about you?! That doesn't retroactively make anything you did justified!"

"You-"

With her own eyes filled with hot tears, Twilight stomps up to Anon. Her horn glows, and she lifts him slightly off of the ground, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"You can't undo the damage you caused! You can't fix the lives you ruined! You can't let Fluttershy see Angel again! You can't..." She sniffles. "You can't bring Moondancer back! You weren't sorry before, so don't you dare try to act sorry now!"

Twilight drops Anon as Luna gently pulls her away from him. Finally, she breaks down completely, unable to contain her sorrow any longer. Meanwhile, Anon stares at the ground, his eyes shut tight as tears fall from them onto the dirt below.

He wants it all to stop. He wants everyone to stop talking. He wants the thoughts and the memories to stop flooding his mind. He wants the voice in his head that's yelling, screaming at him to just shut up. He wants everything to be quiet. He wants them to be wrong. He wants them to be lying. But in his heart, he knows that they aren't.

Because he's seen this before.

Trust

Rain pours on the moonlit streets of Fiducia City. It's one of the largest cities on the planet, the place where dreamers go to seek out fame and fortune. It's so big, it isn't a part of any formal government, making the land not exactly lawless, but certainly dangerous. Apart from the sound of rain battering down on the concrete jungle, car horns and voices from frustrated, rushing pedestrians fill the streets. Above it all, a siren can be heard as red and blue lights reflect off several of the taller buildings. Two police cars barrel down the road as the street traffic struggles to let them through. Meanwhile, a hooded figure slinks into an alleyway, doing everything in his power to stay quiet and not draw attention to himself.

The figure slides across the wet, grimy pavement and ducks behind a dumpster. Unknown fluids leak from said dumpster on all sides, causing the thin, almost pitch-black alleyway to smell rancid. However, the figure does not move. He hunkers down and attempts to stay as small and quiet as possible, listening intently as the sirens make their way past.

This figure is a boy named Ryan, age fifteen.

When he was just a boy, both of his parents died in a car accident. As is typical of people living in Fiducia City, they were opportunists. They moved here seeking fame and fortune, and they used everything they had to do so. The result was them cutting ties with their family and losing almost every cent they had to their names. The courts didn't know what to do with Ryan, and with his few living relatives wanting nothing to do with him, he ended up at the Fiducia City orphanage. Said orphanage is a bit infamous for a multitude of reasons, most notably its size. Fiducia City isn't exactly a nice place to live, and the result is an orphanage that looks more like a prison. Hundreds upon hundreds of kids are stuck in those four walls. Sure, it's large enough to accommodate them, but its infamy comes from more than one source. The caretakers can't be bothered to do more than the bare minimum to feed those children, and without a public school to send them to in Fiducia City, the orphanage becomes all those children know.

It's no surprise, then, that a social hierarchy is formed among the children. They resort to stealing from each other, fighting to "establish dominance" in a world that otherwise has little structure. They all want to gain some semblance of control over their lives, even if doing so comes at the expense of others. Ryan was no exception, but unlike some of his peers, he was never that strong.

So, he became slippery. He became quiet. He learned how to get around without others noticing him and how to avoid confrontation whenever possible. He didn't always get away, but he did enough to survive, especially with a good friend by his side.

And now, Ryan has escaped.

Escape from the orphanage shouldn't be that big of a deal, but Fiducia City is a strange place. The independent body that governs the city is almost militaristic in how it enforces the law. Escaping the police is not easy, and if caught, the consequences are much more severe than one would expect from most civilized places. However, as far as said government is concerned, it's a necessary evil, as they aren't the real people in power. No, that power belongs to the crime bosses leading their illegal syndicates around the city, who all compete with each other (and the government) for greater control. On top of that, they're always looking for new recruits, and children fresh out of the orphanage often have no one else to turn to. As a result, escaped orphans are hunted down with brutal efficiency before they can make those syndicates even larger.

However, Ryan doesn't intend to do that.

From the other end of the alleyway, another hooded figure emerges. He's a bit larger than Ryan and moves with less stealth, but he is still quite good at getting around undetected. He sticks to the shadows and maneuvers over to the dumpster before taking a seat next to Ryan. Neither say a word, and they sit as still as possible for quite some time until the sound of sirens has disappeared completely. Eventually, the other figure pulls back his hood, revealing a rounded face covered in freckles and topped with a head of orange hair.

The two finally lock eyes, and after a few moments they both begin to laugh. Their laughs are genuine and full of joy and relief.

"I didn't think I'd see you again after you took a wrong turn, Damien."

"First of all, I'm twice as sneaky as you'll ever be, Ryan. Second of all, you were the one that took a wrong turn."

"I was not! You said third left on Baker Street!"

Damien gives Ryan a playful punch on the shoulder.

"I told you second left, idiot."

"Then how did I make it here before you?"

"Look, I might be sneakier than you, but you're faster than me, wrong turn or not."

"Sounds like you need to consider that next time you make a plan!"

"If I did, would you follow it?"

"Shut up Damien, you know I always follow your orders. I just wish you gave me better ones!"

"Hardy har har. Heh, look at us. Arguing like children."

"Well, we sort of are-"

"Not anymore, we aren't!" Damien proudly stands up, balls his hands into fists, and rests them proudly on his waist as he looks down at Ryan. "As of today, we're free men! We can do whatever we want!"

Ryan smiles and stands up as well, looking at Damien with a sparkle in his eye.

"What are we going to do?"

"Whatever we want, I just said that!"

"But..."

"Oh, that's right. You owe me a lifetime of solids." Ryan just smiles at Damien, who smiles back. The two have been calling each other partners ever since the day Ryan was brought to the orphanage. Other children often said that Ryan was the brains and Damien was the brawn, as Damien is much larger and stronger than most boys his age. However, that was never really true. Damien was both. Although Damien would disagree, Ryan is sneakier and faster than him, but that's about it. However, Damien couldn't work alone in that orphanage, and with Ryan ready and willing to follow orders without question, they became a dynamic duo. The result is Ryan feeling that he owes Damien a debt he can never truly repay, a debt that he takes seriously. "Well then. You're coming with me."

"Where?"

"My old man's old man. He leads the biggest syndicate in the city."

"S-syndicate? Like, crime syndicate?"

"What, don't tell me you're getting cold feet now? We're already fugitives! If anything, we'll be more safe working with them!"

"But... I thought you said we would live peaceful lives."

"Sure, but to do that, we have to have money first! And trust me, there is no better way to make money in Fiducia City than this!"

"...W-well, okay. I trust you."

Damien smiles and nods before turning to one of the buildings the alleyway is sandwiched between. Slowly, he walks up to a brick wall that's sopping wet from the rain and feels around for a while before freezing. He takes a deep breath and knocks six times in a specific pattern.

"There we go."

"What are you doing?"

"Getting us inside. My dad taught me the code to the secret entrance before he passed. Why else would I have brought us to a random alleyway?" As if on cue, the brick wall opens inward, revealing a hidden door. The two boys look through the hidden door at the figure that opened it, a large, burly man with a bald head and sunglasses. He stares down at the two of them while showing no emotion, waiting for them to speak. Damien straightens his back and does just that. "Damien. Son of Trent. I'm here to work for my grandfather." He motions towards Ryan. "This is a fellow escapee interested in joining. My underling."

The man stares for a few moments before a cocky smirk makes its way to his face.

"You brats? What are you, twelve?"

"I'm seventeen, Ryan is fifteen."

"..." A look of recognition spreads across the man's face. He hesitates for a moment before moving slightly to the side. "Follow me. I'll inform the boss of your arrival."

About an hour later, the two are escorted to the top floor of the building and into a large office. The room is decadent, with fancy furniture and more shiny things than either of them have seen in their whole lives. The two of them look extremely out of place.

At the back of the room are several windows that overlook much of the city. The evening lights shining through the rain-covered windows look downright beautiful. And there, in front of those windows, is a large, glossy desk. An older man sits behind the desk, his hair thinning and gray. Deep wrinkles are spread across his scar-covered face, but despite his intimidating appearance, he greets the boys with a smile.

"Ah, there you are, Damien! It's been much too long." The man stands from his seat, but he does not emerge from behind the desk. "Please, take a seat." He motions to the two chairs on the other side of the desk, and the two boys awkwardly approach and sit down in them. "It has been quite some time since your father passed, hasn't it, Damien? Such a shame, too. He was an excellent son. Quite efficient. Very obedient." The man's eyes drift to the side for a moment before locking back onto Damien as a smile spreads across his face. "Can the same be said of you, my dear grandson?"

"I'm here to assist you in any way I can. Of course, I expect the benefits that come with it, family or otherwise."

"Hmhm. Make no mistake, despite the nature of our business, I care for my own. That includes you." The man's gaze slowly turns to Ryan. "And what of him?"

"This is Ryan. He's... he's my subordinate. He owes me a life debt for getting him out of the orphanage. He's real sneaky, he's fast, and he's good with a knife. Y-you can find work for him too, right?"

The man stares daggers into Ryan for a few silent moments before his smile returns.

"Of course I can! Why separate a team that was already functional enough to escape the orphanage?"

"Huh?"

"Escaping the orphanage was your first test, Damien. The mayor would like nothing more than for the city's orphans to just... disappear. It's better than them finding their way to me. Hmhm, unbeknownst to her, all she did was find a good replacement for the old orientation system. If you're competent enough to make it to me, you're competent enough to work for me. That goes for the two of you as well."

Damien smiles, while Ryan simply watches on emotionlessly.

"Th-thank you!"

"Now, your new friend here," he says as he motions towards the guard that escorted them into the room, "will show you to your new quarters. You get your own room and everything!" The man grabs a nearby pen and begins to write, finally looking away from the pair. "I will have a job for you tomorrow. Get plenty of sleep."

"Y-yes sir!"

And with that, the two are escorted out of the office and down several floors, where they are brought to a small, drab room with two beds. The guard closes the door behind them, leaving the pair alone once more. Aside from their hoods, they have no belongings, so they decide to simply make themselves comfortable. This is the first time in many years that either have slept in a room with less than twenty other children, after all.

"Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"What did you think of him? Our new boss, I mean."

"I dunno. I'm just following your lead."

"...Hm. Like usual, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well." Damien rolls over to look at Ryan from across the room. "I want you to remember something. We can't trust him. It's not really his fault, but he'd throw us under the bus a million times over before he ever let something happen to himself."

"..."

"And those in power always lie. They'll always act like they have your best interests in mind, but they're never telling the truth. The only people you can trust are those that are honest about hating you. Got that?"

"Honest about hating me?"

"Why would they lie about that? Besides, if they're telling you they hate you, you're probably about to be on the receiving end of a weapon of some kind." Damien waves his hand in front of himself. "Look, it doesn't matter. The important part is that you need to remember something: We're trash. We're leftover garbage, and nobody cares about us. The only ones looking out for us is... well, us."

Ryan smiles.

"I've got your back, Damien."

"And I've got yours, partner."

Their first mission was simple: Go to a nightclub on the far side of the city at 8:00 sharp, meet with their quarry, and confirm the status of a certain "agreement" he made with the syndicate. If he upholds his end of the deal, give him what he wants and return with the payment. If he doesn't, acquire the payment anyway, by any means necessary. Being the more charismatic one, Damien did all of the talking. Meanwhile, Ryan slunk about in the shadows. The man did not expect a seventeen-year-old kid to represent the syndicate, and he refused the deal with a smirk on his face. A nod from Damien was all Ryan needed, and one quick movement and the glint of a dagger later, the man was dealt with and the payment was secured. They made their escape without issue, and their first job was complete.

Their second job went just as well, as did the third, the fourth, and the fifth. The next thing they knew, years had passed. Now a pair of grown men, Ryan and Damien have plenty of money to their names, all thanks to Damien's grandfather and the rest of the syndicate they stick their necks out for.

The two rest in their now-luxurious beds, neither saying a word until Ryan sheepishly turns towards Damien.

"Hey, Damien?"

Damien does not turn away from the ceiling.

"Hm?"

"...We have a lot of money now, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I was just thinking... don't we have enough to get out of the city? Live the 'peaceful lives' we used to talk about?"

"..." Damien's expression hardens before he slowly turns his head to look at Ryan. "What are you talking about?"

"Th-that was the goal, wasn't it? To make enough money to live peacefully and not have to do all this anymore."

Damien sighs.

"Ryan, you're acting stupid again."

"How so?"

Damien stares daggers into Ryan.

"I'm the one that makes the plans here, remember?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Are you doubting me?"

"Of course not!"

"Then listen to me. We're right where we need to be."

"..."

Damien sighs.

"Look, we're just not ready yet. Besides, look at us! We have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and a purpose to work for!"

"I... I just thought our purpose was to get away."

"I thought your purpose was to listen to me."

"..."

"Ryan, look. No matter how much money we have now, we're still trash. We wouldn't be able to function in a normal society. This is the only place we can put our talents to good use. So just shut up and trust me, alright?"

"Well, I do trust you."

"Good. I'll need you to maintain that going forward. Tomorrow's the big day, after all."

"The day we finally go after the mayor, right?"

"The mayor's ledger, actually. Killing her would make grandpa's life a lot harder in the long run."

"What's in that ledger, anyway?"

"I don't know. We aren't hired to ask questions."

"Heh, true."

"...By the by, how much money do you have saved up?"

"Over two-hundred grand. Don't you?"

"...Yup."

"Heh, we'll be out of here before we know it!"

Damien smiles, though the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"We sure will be, Ryan. Now get to sleep, I don't need you slacking tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Damien."

"Yeah."

"Three, sixteen, twenty-seven, four."

Damien reads out several numbers from a small slip of paper he had stuffed in his pocket. Meanwhile, on the other side of the large office (that's not unlike their boss's, but with brighter colors and a more "official" vibe), Ryan slowly turns the dial on a safe that had been inconspicuously tucked behind a painting. It would have been a genius place for it, if not for the fact that heist movies have been a thing for decades and it's the oldest trick in the book. On the floor between them, the mayor lies unconscious, a fresh bump now on the back of her head.

Finally, Ryan hears a click, and the safe swings open.

"I've got it."

"What's in there?"

Damien doesn't turn around. Instead, he carefully watches the entrance to the room, ensuring that their job is not interrupted. Meanwhile, Ryan ruffles through the safe for a few moments before gasping.

"W-well, I found it."

"What's with that tone?"

"Er, there's more than just a ledger here."

"What else do you got?"

Ryan turns around with a briefcase in his hands. Damien turns his head to look at the item just as Ryan pops it open, revealing stacks upon stacks of money.

"I think the mayor has a few skeletons in her closet."

Damien beams with excitement as he steps away from the door and closes the gap between himself and Ryan, looking joyously at the money.

"Well no duh. Everyone in Fiducia City does. Still, I didn't expect the score to be this good!"

"Damien, this has to be more than a million! Not only can we get out of the city, we can straight up retire with this kind of money!"

Suddenly, Damien's expression hardens again.

"What about the ledger?"

"Oh, it's right here."

Ryan shuts the briefcase, retrieves the ledger from his jacket with his free hand, and gives said ledger to Damien. He doesn't bother to look in it before stuffing it into his own coat pocket.

"Good find, Ryan. Thanks for this. Thanks for everything, in fact."

"Heh, why the sudden sentimentality? Finally acknowledging how much you love having me around to help..." Ryan trails off as Damien reaches for his belt beneath his jacket, producing a small, perfectly clean pistol and pointing it directly at Ryan's face. "...you?" Damien doesn't respond. Ryan slowly places the briefcase down and raises his hands above his head. When Ryan speaks, his voice is shaky and quiet. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Sorry, Ryan. The old man wouldn't be happy if he learned we ran off with that money, and it's not like we could escape the syndicate anyway."

"What does threatening me have anything to do with that?! If it's that big of a deal, we can just leave it behind!"

"You misunderstand. Finding money on the job isn't a valid reason for me to leave the syndicate. Grieving over my partner who died to help me get this ledger, though? He'll buy that. Besides, this is enough money to start my own syndicate. Even better if I take your two-hundred thousand along with it. Heh, I'll be ruling this city before you know it!"

"...Damien, you can't do this. W-we're friends! Partners!"

"Actually, you owe me a life debt. I have every right to do this."

Ryan's eyes begin to lose focus as he stares down the barrel of Damien's gun. Over the years, he has learned how to do his job with brutal efficiency, feeling no compassion whatsoever for his victims or comrades alike. The only person he ever cared for was Damien, the man who was there for him every step of the way ever since they were children. To Ryan, Damien was a beacon of hope in a city of pain. He knew Damien.

"W-why? I trusted you!"

"I told you, Ryan. The only people you can trust are those that are honest about hating you. And believe me, having to put up with your idiotic dreams of leaving the city for all these years has made the idea of making my hatred known more and more enticing."

"..."

"Goodbye, Ryan."

Bang.

Ryan's vision is dark. And yet, he still lives. In fact, he doesn't even feel any pain.

Slowly, Ryan opens his eyes. Somehow, he ended up on the ground. Surrounding him is a dark forest, lit only by the moon hanging above him. He carefully rises to his feet as he looks around himself, angry and confused. Where is he? How did he get here? He should be dead, shouldn't he?

And what in the world was Damien thinking?!

Ryan pats himself down. He's still clothed, but everything else he had on his person is gone. He doesn't know what to do, but anything is better than standing around in the middle of a forest.

After wandering for many hours, he realizes that the sun never rises in this land. However, that realization is cut short as he bumps into a group of ponies wearing dark armor and carrying large spears. They quickly apprehend him before they begin to silently escort him to a large castle in the middle of the forest. Ryan can barely believe his eyes, but it's hard to deny what's right in front of him. Ridiculous though it may be, he has ended up in some kind of alien world, and he is about to be brought before someone important.

Just before the doors to the castle open, he loses himself to his thoughts. Between his confusion and anxiety at the situation around him, he is seething with anger and regret over the events that transpired not long ago. He shakes his head. If he wants to survive, he's going to have to bury the past. He can't keep thinking about Damien. He doesn't want to keep thinking about Damien. So, he makes up his mind.

Ryan is gone, dead at the hands of Damien in that office. The person standing here now is little more than trash. An alien who will do whatever he has to do to survive. A person who will trust only those that are honest about their hatred of him. A nobody.

He is Anon, and he is ready for whatever might be on the other side of those doors.

It's for the Best

Suddenly, everything stops.

The ponies surrounding Anon freeze in place just as their hooves reach the doors. The gentle breeze that had been causing the forest's many trees to sway above them halts, and the area is filled with an eerie silence. Anon, however, can still move. Just as he begins to look around in confusion, a voice rings out. The voice is strangely familiar, and it carries a sad, yet serious tone.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

Anon spins in place, but he cannot find the owner of the voice. In fact, he can't really tell where it was coming from, either.

"Who's there?"

There is an audible sigh throughout the space.

"You're quite strange, Anon. I cannot tell if you want to forget all of this ever happened, or if you're desperate to relive it and just in denial about the reality of your situation."

"I..."

Anon's eyes widen. He does know that voice. But... how could Luna be talking to him here, and now?

Wait, Luna? Luna is a princess, and she's the pony that was left behind when Nightmare Moon was killed. But Nightmare Moon is on the other side of those doors that he... hasn't gone through yet.

"It seems like you're finally realizing the situation you're in."

The ponies that were frozen in place slowly begin to shimmer before fading away completely, leaving Anon alone in front of the castle. Then, seconds later, a ball of light descends from the moon and lands directly behind Anon before dissipating, revealing the graceful figure of Luna.

"Wh-where are we?"

"This is a dream, Anon. Your dream."

"Hold on, that's... no. We were in the market, and... and you can't visit my dreams anyway!"

"We were in the market, yes. However, I believe the revelations you learned were too much for you to take. Whether it be due to grief, regret, or whatever else goes on in that head of yours, I do not know. Either way, you fell unconscious. I then carried you away from prying eyes and entered your dreamscape. Which, by the by, I am able to do because of that Nightingale apple you ate. Its effects still won't wear off for a few more hours."

After locking eyes with Luna and staring at her silently for a few moments, Anon takes a deep breath.

"I suppose I should wake up, then."

"That is up to you. I may have agency in the dream realm, but I cannot tell others how to dream. If this is what your mind wants, then so be it. However, I'm not sure if you really want to face her again."

"You know, I'm not sure either."

"Well, if you do decide to wake up, I can help with that, Anon. Or... is it Ryan?"

Anon glares at Luna.

"Start calling me Ryan and I'm going to start calling you Nightmare Moon."

"...Fair enough, I suppose."

After a few quiet moments, Anon shakes his head.

"Just wake me up already."

"Very well."

Similar to how she arrived, Luna's body begins to glow. That glow grows brighter and brighter until she is encased in a ball of light. Said ball ascends to the sky and disappears within the outline of the moon. Shortly after, the whole world begins to shake as though there were an intense earthquake rippling across the forest. Anon struggles to maintain his balance as the moonlight surrounding him starts to fade. The area around him slowly becomes bathed in darkness, and once he can no longer make out any details, the ground gives way beneath him. Yet, he does not fall. Instead, he simply floats in an infinite black void, unsure of what to see or do.

Then, his vision goes dark.

Anon gasps as he shoots upright. He attempts to catch his breath as he takes in his new surroundings. He appears to be sitting on grass, with his back to a large oak tree. A setting sun bathes the landscape in varying hues of orange and red, the sunlight reflecting off of the modest pond that lies before him. There are rolling hills on all sides, and behind the tree he sits against, he can see the outline of Ponyville rooftops not too far away. However, most notably is Luna, who sits a few feet away and is facing him. She looks at him with a mixture of emotions, making her hard to read.

"Thanks, I guess."

"You're welcome."

Luna looks away from Anon and begins to stare at the pond. Anon, unsure of what else to do, does the same. A million thoughts swim through his mind. He hasn't thought about his old life in quite some time, and the memories aren't exactly pleasant. However, when he stops thinking about them, his mind drifts to the revelation he came to hours before, and the pain feels just as fresh as it did then. Nightmare Moon never loved him, huh? From the very beginning, she was just as much of a liar as Damien was. And yet, when he tries to block out those thoughts, his mind drifts to the past four years, and all of the atrocities he committed. He doesn't understand why reflecting on them hurts so much. He never had any remorse before, so why does he feel like this now? And when he tries to stop thinking about that, his mind drifts back to the dream he had, and to Damien, and to Nightmare Moon, and to-

"You're crying again."

Anon glances at Luna, who is still looking at the pond. He wipes at his face and realizes that his cheeks are indeed stained with tears.

Anon isn't used to feeling sad. He doesn't really know how to feel about that. In truth, a not-so-small part of him doesn't want to talk to Luna at all, but... if not her, then who? What is he supposed to do here? He has always had someone there to give him orders. He isn't the 'smart one,' he doesn't make his own decisions like that! That job is given to people who deserve it, like...

Damien? Nightmare Moon?

...

"Hey, Luna?"

"Hm?"

"How... how do you deal with it?"

"What do you mean?"

"You used to be Nightmare Moon. How do you handle knowing you did... all of that?"

"..." Luna is quiet for a few moments. Her brow furrows, but her eyes do not stray from the pond. A distant bird calling into the late afternoon air breaks the silence before Luna does. "I'm not sure how well I'm 'handling' anything. Despite my sister's pardon, I feel wholly responsible for everything Nightmare Moon did. I wish I could just bury it all and pretend the past never happened, but that's simply not an option. As it stands, I have the power to help. It won't undo what I've done, but working to bring Equestria back to a state of peace and prosperity alongside my sister is at least better than doing nothing."

"And what about the ponies that hate you?"

"Let them hate me. I deserve it. However, if I were to spend the rest of my days wallowing in self-loathing, doing nothing to help fix the problems I caused, or even worse, doubling down on those problems? I'd just be fueling their hatred further. Most will never forgive me, and I've accepted that."

"Why do a job no one will thank you for?"

"Because I don't need to be acknowledged to know what I'm doing is right."

"..."

The two fall silent once more for quite some time, neither really knowing what to say next, but Luna eventually sighs.

"It wasn't even my intention to tell you about Nightmare Moon's feelings."

"Hm? Then what did you want to tell me?"

"...Well, my sister and I did some digging. We came across an old spell that, if we were to combine our magic, might be able to send you back home. We thought that might be the best course of action considering your... recent behavior."

"..." Anon doesn't even look at Luna as she says that, but his expression hardens even further.

"Though after seeing that dream of yours, I... wonder if that might not be the best idea. There's no telling what might happen if you were to get sent back to where you were when you ended up here."

Anon clicks his tongue.

"Even in the best-case scenario, I don't have anywhere to go back to. I'm Anon, and as far as I'm concerned, Anon was born here."

"And Ryan?"

"Ryan is just as dead as Nightmare Moon."

"...Right."

Anon sighs.

"What do..." Anon cuts himself off and shakes his head as his words get caught in his throat. "Ugh, I'm not used to this kind of conversation. Er... what do you think... I should do?"

"Oh? You want my opinion?"

"I don't know who I can trust anymore. Nobody, maybe? And right now, you're probably the only pony still willing to talk to me."

"If you want me to be honest, you remind me of all of the worst aspects of myself. You remind me of my past mistakes, and while I can't say that I think you deserve good things, I think you at least deserve to not be manipulated anymore. Plus, I... just feel uncomfortable around you."

"..."

"But, I also feel responsible for helping you. So... I guess your best option would be to just leave."

"Leave?"

"There are plenty of countries outside of Equestria you could flee to that are likely less angry with you. The griffons, perhaps?"

"And what would I do there?"

Luna shrugs.

"I can't make your decisions for you, Anon. I said it back at Canterlot, and I'll say it again: I want you to be free."

Anon lets out a single, empty chuckle.

"Free, huh?"

Once again, silence overtakes them. They both sit as the sun almost finishes setting. Luna's horn begins to glow as she slowly starts to raise the moon. By the time she's done, moonlight is gently glimmering on the pond's surface. In the water, Anon can see the perfect reflection of a crescent moon.

He's not sure he's ever considered being "free." Sure, he understands the concept, but he's never really wanted it. At least, not when it comes to being free from those around him. Even in his old home, he always imagined Damien being right by his side when they escaped the city. In Equestria, he never even bothered to think about a life without Nightmare Moon. Why would he? What better way to spend your life than dedicating it to the one you love, regardless of what you're being asked to do?

To his surprise, a different memory is brought to the forefront of his mind. A face of horror and betrayal stuck on the face of a purple unicorn. Now that he thinks about it, she was the first person or pony to ever just... offer him food. Shelter.

Friendship.

And he repaid that kindness with betrayal. Heck, he didn't even think about it. He just carried out the order he was given without question, just as he had always done.

...

Anon rises to his feet. Luna looks up at him with curiosity in her eyes. Without saying a word, Anon reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small, silver badge in the shape of a crescent moon. Nightmare Moon gave him this before his first job, and to this day, he's never parted with it. It was a reminder of the mare he loved. Of his purpose.

Balling his hand into a fist, he winds up, takes a couple of steps forward, and throws the badge into the pond. It hits the water right where the real moon is reflected off of it, and although it floats for a few seconds, it eventually sinks down beneath the surface, never to be seen again.

"You've made a decision, then?"

"I don't want to run." Anon turns back to Luna. Although he doesn't appear even remotely happy, it's the most certainty she's ever seen on his face. "Is there anywhere in Equestria that might need a really strong creature that's good with a knife?"

For the first time since meeting her, Anon watches a smile make its way to Luna's face.

"...I think I know some ponies that could use you."

It's been almost a year since the day Anon learned about Nightmare Moon's lies. He pops his back as he makes his way down a relatively quiet Canterlot street, one of his eyes half-lidded with fatigue and the other swollen shut due to an injury. The sun has already set, and the moon is beginning its ascent into the night sky.

Anon is a terrible person. He's done terrible things to countless ponies. The longer he continues to live this new life of his, the more apparent that becomes to him. Almost nopony forgives him. Nopony trusts him. The looks he was getting when Nightmare Moon fell continue to this very day. They used to not bother him. Now, he forces himself to acknowledge every single one, lest he forget what he's trying to do in the first place.

These ponies don't like him, and they never will. Anon has come to terms with that.

If he wanted to be liked, he shouldn't have crossed the lines he did. Yes, Nightmare Moon had him wrapped around her hoof, but even then, that doesn't excuse his actions. He could have stopped. He could have fought back. He could have helped Twilight, or Rarity, or Pinkie Pie, or anypony else that he came across. He didn't, and now he has to live with the consequences for the rest of his days.

But it's not all bad. If he wanted to spend all day feeling terrible about himself, he could go hide in the Castle of the Two Sisters and mull over what could have been. However, there is little point in that. Instead, to the surprise of everyone, he technically works under Celestia now. He is "officially" part of the Equestrian Conservation Effort, a team put together by the princesses to help the entire country heal after the long, terrible reign of Nightmare Moon. As far as Anon is concerned, that mostly involves tearing down her militaristic structures and helping to rebuild areas that were damaged or destroyed during her rule. He can't count how many houses he has helped build for Equestria's population, or how many stone walls he's torn down. That number is perhaps dwarfed only by the number of apologies he's given to each and every pony he encounters during his travels. Most do not accept them. How could they possibly take The Moon's Enforcer at his word?

It cuts Anon deep, as his word is the only thing he has to offer them. Yet, he does not blame them. Instead, he silently accepts the jeers, the insults, the angry tears, and even the occasional slap or punch he receives from a grieving parent. So long as he isn't hurt enough to be unable to continue fixing up their homes, he waits for them to let it all out and gets back to work.

It doesn't make up for everything he did, of course. He now understands that perfectly well. However, it's perhaps the best thing he can do.

Anon lets out a tired sigh as he reaches a small home tucked away in a far corner of the city. The land here is technically owned by the princesses, which is the only reason why Anon was able to acquire this house in the first place. Nopony in their right mind would sell land to The Moon's Enforcer.

Mindlessly, he digs into his back pocket for his keys and attempts to unlock the door, only to find that it has already been unlocked. He groans as he opens the door. It wouldn't be the first time somepony has broken into his house. He no longer has the energy nor the drive to be upset, but he certainly isn't looking forward to cleaning up the mess left behind.

As he clicks on the light, however, he is taken aback.

"Surprise!"

There is the sudden sound of a party popper going off as confetti falls down onto Anon. He looks into his small living room to see a little blue table set up with a pink cake resting on it. A few assorted balloons are floating around aimlessly, and a small banner that says "Happy Birthday Anon" is hanging above his sofa. Most surprisingly of all, however, is the pink mare smiling at him in the middle of the room.

"P-Pinkie Pie?"

"Happy birthday, Anon!"

"I... wow, uh..." Never in Anon's entire life has someone thrown him a party. Granted, this party is very small, but it's unexpected nonetheless. "You threw me a party?"

"Of course! Everypony deserves a birthday party, right?"

"L-look, I'm thankful, but-"

"I know it isn't your actual birthday. You've never told me when it is!"

"I'm not actually certain when it is myself," Anon mumbles.

"And that's all the more reason to have it today! If my math is correct, it's the anniversary of your arrival in Equestria!"

"Oh, is it?"

"Five whole years!"

"Five years... huh."

"Sooooo?" Pinkie leans forward, an inquisitive smile on her face. "I know it's not much, but I figured big parties aren't really your thing. Also, I don't really know what your likes and dislikes are, so I went with the classics!"

"A party with just the two of us?"

"Well, I... er... couldn't get anypony else to come." Pinkie hangs her head low apologetically, but she doesn't take her eyes off of Anon. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, it's not your fault. If I were them, I wouldn't come either. That said, why did you come?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why throw a party for someone like me? I... I was the one who-"

"I already told you a while ago, Nonny." Pinkie's voice, although still optimistic, is much quieter than normal. She smiles at Anon, though the smile is less excited and more gentle. "I forgive you."

"...Why?"

"Forgiveness is a choice. Twilight and Rarity and Applejack and... well, a lot of ponies might not want to forgive you, but I do."

"..."

"I always believed you could do better, and look at you now! ...Nonny?"

Pinkie tilts her head at Anon as he shuts his eyes tight. However, doing so does not prevent tears from beginning to run down his cheeks. Unsure of what to do, she looks at him nervously for a moment until he speaks up with a quiet, shaky voice.

"Thank you."

Once more, Pinkie smiles. Anon, overwhelmed by the mare's kindness, is gently guided into the living room before Pinkie happily gives him a slice of cake. Although Nightmare Moon provided plenty of decadent meals over the years, it's the most delicious thing he's ever tasted.

Anon can't undo his mistakes. Equestria won't forget everything he did. He can't forget the effect that Nightmare Moon had on him and his life. However, he also cannot forget the life he lives now. It's hard. It's thankless. Oftentimes, it feels like there is little reason to go on. However, Pinkie's little party for two is all the confirmation he needs. He will never be able to redeem himself, but he can at least try to do some good with the life he still has. He's not just putting his past behind him, he's accepting it, learning from it, and growing from it. Even when Celestia and Luna run out of jobs to give him, he'll keep trekking along, and he won't allow the scars caused by himself or Nightmare Moon to reopen. He has to, because at the end of the day, regardless of his feelings...

It's for the best.

Author's Note

Well, that's it! I really wasn't expecting this story to generate as much discourse as it did! This story truly means a lot to me, and I cannot thank you all enough for reading! :twilightsmile:

I don't normally do this sort of thing, but in response to all of the discussion surrounding this story, I have created a blog post going into my thought process when writing this story and bringing up a few common points of contention. If you're interested, you can check it out right here.

As always, I appreciate any and all feedback!