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Ashes to Diamonds, Dust to Glory [non-lewd, /technology/]

By SpeedBoostBlaziken
Created: 2020-12-18 05:22:06
Expiry: Never

  1. "So, you think that humans required magic to thrive? That there's no way we'd be able to advance as a society without it?"
  2. >You are Anonymous
  3. >And right now, you are angry
  4. >Angry about ponies
  5. >One pony in particular
  6. >Twilight Sparkle
  7. >You were currently in Canterlot's throne room, in a meeting with Equestria's three princesses
  8. >The fourth one from the Empire couldn't make it
  9. >"Now now, Twilight," came a voice belonging to Celestia, one of the only ponies to believe you, "perhaps he's telling the truth. His theories about this 'Gravity' and 'photons' may not make sense to us, but he came from another world. The laws that govern his world may be vastly different than ours."
  10. "Thank you Princess, it's nice to hear a voice of reason once in a while."
  11. >"Well", begins Twilight, the beacon of 'Friendship', "the kinds of technology and contraptions he proposes shouldn't work in any setting without some kind of magic."
  12. >"Now, sisters, let's not get hasty"
  13. >Luna, the quiet dark one, finally speaks after a long silence
  14. >"Perhaps there is magic in Anonymous' world, but it's simply not called magic there."
  15. "Not quite. You define 'magic' as a force that permeates the universe, and can be manipulated directly in a sort of symbiotic relationship between the magic user and the force, through a body part such as a unicorn horn. That's not how it works back home. We have forces that govern the universe and can act in awe inspiring ways, but we can't manipulate them to do what we want. Instead, we manipulate them indirectly by making them act on each other using tools and science. We can't just will gravity to take us flying around the world. We have to combat it with thrust, Get the idea?"
  16. >The princesses, with their bored expressions, assure you that they've heard this ten thousand times.
  17. >"Yes, Anonymous, but that doesn't make it any more believable. If you could show us proof of this, we'd believe you one hundred percent. But until then-"
  18. "I'll do it."
  19. >Okay, they're glaring now
  20. >You did just interrupt a princess after all
  21. "In fact, I'll do more than show you inventions. I'll do more than show you technology, I'll prove a society can survive without magic."
  22. >Twilight actually scoffs at your challenge
  23. >"And how will you do that?"
  24. "I'll make my own town with no magic. I'll just need a few resources. Some processed and unprocessed materials to start, a location to build it, and staff to get it up and running."
  25. >They all stare in silence
  26. >Celestia is the one to break it
  27. >"Tell you what Anonymous, we'll make you a challenge. We'll give you five covered wagons, a trailer for ten on wheels, three weeks rations, survival supplies, ten guard ponies under your command for 6 months, copies of whatever books you want from the library. and whomever you can convince from among Equestria's citizens to join you. If you can succeed in building up a town to five thousand inhabitants within two years, you win. You can either merge your town with Equestria and join us as Prince Anonymous, or keep your town independent and rule it as you see fit. There's hundreds of acres of desert land with enough resources for expansion but no interest in them. Sound feasible?"
  28. >Five thousand in two years
  29. >It'll be tough, but you can manage
  30. "What if I lose? How do i lose even?"
  31. >"Well Twilight?"
  32. >Twilight smirks at you and raises her chin
  33. >"If you fail to grow your town to five thousand when two years have passed, or if the danger is too high and you need to return to Equestria for safety, then you lose, and you'll be banished to the dungeon for a year."
  34. "Whoa whoa now, isn't that a bit harsh?"
  35. >"Oh please, try spending a thousand years on the moon. It's not pleasant."
  36. >Dark horse starting to become annoying
  37. "Alright, I accept."
  38. ***
  39. "Hard to believe it was that long ago. A month speeds by, and it already feels like an eternity. Know what I mean?"
  40. >"Yeah, I know what you mean. A month after I moved out of my parent's house to join the guard, I forgot what life outside the guard was like."
  41. "Hehe, well Brass, it's nice to know someone else feels the same way."
  42. >The pony you were conversing with was Brass Shoe, one of the guard ponies assigned to you by Celestia
  43. >Since he was a high ranking officer, he was the de jure military XO of the unit. Once he'd learned of your own status back home, he was eager to learn more
  44. >Unfortunately, you'd never gotten a chance to talk about it with him, due to all the work going on
  45. >The process of mining and smelting metal was slow, but once you'd had enough to work with, you could build more complicated facilities
  46. >As you look out the window, you can see the iron mill, the brick building housing the town hall, and the half-build residency shacks
  47. >Not bad for a month's work
  48. >"Tell me Anonymous, about when your were a member of your world's royal guard."
  49. >Hmm, seems it's time to reminisce
  50. "Alright. For starters, you already know there was no royalty, and I wasn't guarding the leaders. I did missions abroad, carrying out the orders of my superiors for war."
  51. >He nods and sips his tea, waiting for the rest
  52. "At first, I was just a regular grunt. Taking orders, doing my laps, you know? One day, my unit was ambushed, I was the only survivor."
  53. >"Aw geez, I had-"
  54. >You put up a hand to silence him
  55. "No need. Anyway, I managed to get out. My comrades were slaughtered but I was spared. I knew the area, I knew of one way to get out, and I took it. I shed some of my gear and sneaked my way out, around the enemies. When my superiors learned of how I'd escaped, they were angry. They blamed me, called me a deserter. But at the same time, they were impressed. They told me I wasn't going to be a regular grunt. I was going somewhere else. A place called RASP 1."
  56. >You continue your tale of the exploits you had in your world, of your tactical prowess, infiltration skills, leadership qualities, etc.
  57. >At the end, Brass just sits there wide-eyed
  58. >"Wow Anon! I had no idea you were such a military man. If all these tales you're spinning me are true, I might just have to put you in command of the guard's tactical operations."
  59. "Heh, ha might not be so bad. Wait, I thought you were already under my command."
  60. >"Ehh, not quite. According to the deal with the Princess, we're in your service and you can assign us general tasks, but guarding the safety of you and all those with you is our prime directive, and how we choose to do that is up to us. Although, with you being such a good soldier, Hell, I can tell your stories are true just on account of the fact that no civies could come up with anything like that, well, we may just be inclined to place directly under your command. Take orders from you. I'll talk to the guys about it"
  61. >Well then. Actually being able to give direct orders might prove useful
  62. "Great, I await their response."
  63. ***
  64. >Meanwhile
  65. ~"Alright, just gotta get these fliers to everyone I can, and get them to join Anonymous. Piece of cake."~
  66. >You are Blue Belle, an Earth Pony mare who just so happens to be on a mission
  67. >When you heard that Anonymous was going to start his own town in the desert, you jumped at the chance
  68. >Anything to get out of Canterlot, that's for sure
  69. >He's promised you a prime spot on his "intelligence unit" if you can prove to be a help to him
  70. >Either way, he'll still let you join, since he needs as many hooves on deck as ponily possible
  71. >But this way you can rise through the ranks before the ranks are even established
  72. >No more selling blue flowers, no more serving pastries that look like blue flowers
  73. >It's time to get some real work, exciting work
  74. >It's time to make your destiny
  75. >Some say your cutie mark can't be changed
  76. >Some say it can, but only in extreme circumstances
  77. >But you WILL achieve that dream, and change your life
  78. >And Anonymous is going to make it all possible
  79. “Hello, friends, how would you like to change things up a bit, experience a change of scenery. Anonymous will be building a new town in the southern deserts. West of Apple Loosa.”
  80. >Not many takers, unfortunately.
  81. “You can experience the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of history, the founding of a new town, neigh, a new Kingdom even!”
  82. >The promises of a new kingdom have attracted a few ponies unhappy with their current situation
  83. >But you need more than a few
  84. >You need many
  85. >Where to find them?
  86. >…
  87. >OF COURSE!
  88. >Manehattan! The poor neighborhoods specifically
  89. >Plenty of poor ponies in poverty pleading and praying for prosperity
  90. >Perfect
  91. >Alright, report to the lieutenant, get set for Manehattan, and everything will work out
  92. >You have five days to complete your journey, and the round trip to and from Manehattan will take about one and a half of those days
  93. >No time to waste
  94. ***
  95.  
  96. >Back with our intrepid hero, Anonymous
  97. “So, you took it to a vote then.”
  98. >”That’s right, sir,” says Brass, “we’ve decided that we’ll not only serve you, but we’ll treat you as commanding officer of TriMax”
  99. “TriMax? Fill me in.”
  100. >”2nd division, 20th regiment, 3rd battalion, A Company, 1st platoon “TriMax”. We’re known as the most dangerous force of equal parts Earth Pony, Unicorn, and Pegasus.”
  101. >He looks to the side a bit and blushes, before turning to face you once more
  102. >”Or at least we would be, if we were Alpha squad, and not Gamma.”
  103. >At this the guards all break attention and chuckle to themselves
  104. >You can’t help but smile back at them
  105. >These little boy scouts are adorable, and you can’t wait to put them through your brand of training
  106. >That’ll have to wait though, you have more pressing matters
  107. “So if I’m your XO now, what’s my rank?”
  108. >They all take a moment to ponder it, but can’t seem to decide
  109. >”Well,” says Brass, finally breaking the silence, “you’re not technically a member of the Royal Guard. We’re following you by choice, so for now, let’s just call you, Boss.”
  110. “Boss, huh?”
  111. >…
  112. “I like it.”
  113. ***
  114. >Two months have passed
  115. >Your town numbers 500 now
  116. >Blue Belle turned out to be a master of propaganda
  117. >And her idea to recruit from the jobless poor in the big city?
  118. >How did you not think of that?
  119. >Now she’s Secretary of Immigration in the Intelligence Unit
  120. >You always keep your promises
  121. >How things have changed in just 62 days
  122. >Only 22 months remain
  123. >Your new plan was met with hesitation, due to the risk
  124. >Celestia did say that you can’t abduct or force Equestrian citizens to join you
  125. >But these aren’t Equestrian citizens
  126. >They’re wild bandits, roaming the desert to attack any souls unfortunate enough to wander in
  127. >And ever since the major accident with the railway at Ghastly Gorge and the tunnel collapse north of Dodge Junction, caravans have only one way to get to Apple Loosa and the surrounding region
  128. >Right through the San Palomino desert
  129. >The bandits have been increasing in number and power lately, and it’s time you “appropriated” their numbers and skills
  130. >As you survey the bandit camp through your telescope, you see three possible routes of entry
  131. >You can go around the long way to the North, taking them out one by one from back to front
  132. >You can sneak in from the West, using cover and mind games to divide and conquer them
  133. >Or you can call in some Pegasus skirmishers to keep ‘em busy and go in loud
  134. >Since you need to minimize casualties and increase your numbers ASAP, you decide on the longest route
  135. ***
  136. >Hopefully everything goes well for the Boss on his “recruiting” mission
  137. >Fortunately for you, Silver Dart, lead aerial recon pony, everything is quiet here at the base camp
  138. >Except the Klaxons that just started a few seconds ago
  139. >”ALL PONIES TO COMBAT POSITIONS. WE HAVE THREATS CLOSING IN!”
  140. >…
  141. >And that
  142. >Quick as a whip you leap from your bunk and head outside ahead all the other guards
  143. >Establishing an early field Intel report is key
  144. >Soaring to the sky you take out your scope and take a look around
  145. >In the distance you spot a band of about 10 ponies, all armored with what looks like custom strike armor
  146. >These are no ordinary bandits
  147. >These are professionals
  148. >Their armor is designed for offense, as such it features heavy plating and spikes on the front, but weaker mail in the back, with weights placed carefully to counterbalance
  149. >They’re outfitted for a frontal assault
  150. >Which means a suppression and flanking approach is the only correct one
  151. >By the time you’ve processed all of this it’s only been about five seconds
  152. >Pulling out your collapsible megaphone, you prepare to give the sitrep
  153. “STRIKE FORCE HEADED FOR WEST ENTRANCE, TEN STRONG, STRIKE ARMORED, ATTEMPTING FRONTAL ASSAULT!”
  154. >Upon hearing all of this, your squad knows what to do
  155. >1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, all wearing heavy armor, prepare to keep ‘em busy as a diversion
  156. >6, 7, and 8, in lighter armor, sneak their way around the side, lying in wait for an opportunity to get the drop on them from the rear
  157. >9 was you, and 10 was the guard who saw the shapes on the horizon and sounded the alarm
  158. >All you can do now is wait, unless a support drop is called
  159. >You like it when smokescreens and laughing gas grenades are requested
  160. >Gives you something to do besides watch
  161. >As it all unfolds, your squad handles things exactly how you’d expect them to
  162. >Your guys managed to wound and capture every enemy combatant with no deaths, and no casualties at all on your side
  163. >Wonder how the Boss is doing
  164. ***
  165. >You’re the Boss
  166. >And you’re doing great
  167. >You currently have twenty ponies bound and tied to a balloon for later pickup
  168. >You send a pink flare into the sky to signal the distant base camp to send Pegasi to bring the prisoners back
  169. >With enough time should be able to convince them to join your cause
  170. >They could be fighters, researchers, who knows?
  171. >But something’s been bugging you
  172. >There’s no way you can tie up five thousand bandits in 22 months
  173. >If you’re going to get five thousand ponies to give up their lives and join you, you’ll need some new facilities to attract them
  174. >Construction on a hospital, fire department, and school is blazing ahead, but you need something to get ponies to want to join you
  175. >Something they won’t have anywhere else
  176. >And you know just what that something will be
  177. ***
  178. “It’s… beautiful.”
  179. >You are Anonymous
  180. >It’s been six months since you set out to prove yourself to Equestria’s princesses
  181. >25% of your time has passed
  182. >Town Population: 1015
  183. >At this rate, you won’t make it
  184. >But you have a feeling things will pick up
  185. >Your banditos metalworking skills, combined with the brains from your unicorn scholars have produced a steam powered truck
  186. >Utilizing a miniature steam power plant, it burns a mixture of coal chunks in oil for its steam power
  187. >By utilizing leverage principles, heat storage and redistribution, and other ideas that these genii have come up with, it can run on a steam engine not much bigger than an internal combustion engine would be in a similar truck
  188. >It also gets decent fuel mileage for a vehicle of its size
  189. >Capable of comfortably transporting 10 ponies, or a lot of cargo, this behemoth will show them the true power of non-magic tech
  190. >After this comes to light, they’ll be mass produced, sold, and the resources used to fund rapid expansion of your town’s facilities, as well as advertising, to attract a larger crowd
  191. >The only concern is whether you can beat the clock with only 18 months remaining
  192. >”Sir, I have your response from the Princesses. They’ve agreed to meet you at a site south of the town of Ponyville to see you demonstrate your ‘truck’.”
  193. >Perfect timing
  194. “Thanks, Zipline, I can’t wait.”
  195. >That mare sure is something at delivering and bringing back communications
  196. >You only sent out that letter yesterday, and here the next morning you have your response
  197. “Take a break, you deserve a couple days off. I’ll only call on you if it’s an emergency. Gale Gust can cover for you until then.”
  198. >”Aye, Boss.”
  199. >Boss
  200. >You can’t help but smile at hearing that
  201. >It still feels good to be called that, every time
  202. >After working for others and taking orders for so long, it feels good to be giving them
  203. >After the way Twilight and the others treated you like a hack, it feels good to have followers stand by you
  204. >It feels good to finally be the Boss
  205. >Eye Spy, the General of the Intelligence Unit, comes to you to deliver his report
  206. >”Sir, we’re fueled up and ready to go. Inspection reveals a 3% chance of catastrophic failure and a 0.5% chance of lethal failure. We’ll reach the RP in approximately 48 hours at full speed.”
  207. “Good. I just hope we can make it there without too many bandit attacks. Only being able to take five fighters and our extra fuel leaves us at a disadvantage.”
  208. >”Indeed. That’s why I’ve selected only the ones who performed best in your training exercises.”
  209. >Well, if they survived your brand of training then they must be the most elite you could find in this land
  210. “Very well. Of course you’re in charge while I’m gone. I’ve already informed the others. You’re the only one I can trust to keep an eye on things for the next week.”
  211. >”Th-, thank you. It’s an honor… Boss.”
  212. >There it is again
  213. >Every new voice that sounds that name lifts your spirits, and reminds you of why you’re here
  214. >It’s time to roll
  215. ***
  216. >The sun is high in the sky
  217. >Thanks to your Intel team’s mapping of the area, you’ve been able to take a shortcut whilst also evading bandit attacks so far
  218. >That’s about to end, however
  219. >You decided that taking on the small camp nearby would be more cost efficient than skirting around them
  220. >Especially since they might have scouts that could spot you anyway
  221. >Your force is comprised of you, two Earth ponies, two Pegasi, and one Unicorn
  222. >Your adviser was prepared to defend himself up close and make an escape, but not trained or outfitted for fighting
  223. >Who knows, maybe the camp will let you roll on by with no trouble
  224. >It seem like they will AAAAAND now they have a griffon blocking the trail
  225. >Perfect
  226. >”Halt! Stop right there!”
  227. >You slow the truck down and put the steam plant into idle mode so you can hear and be heard
  228. >Here it goes again
  229. “Greetings! I’d love to ask how I may be of service, but I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
  230. >”Oh, well isn’t that nice. And we’d be happy to let you be on your way, just as soon as you pay the toll. One thousand bits!”
  231. “Oh dearest me,” you say in your best dude in distress voice, “I don’t seem to have that much.”
  232. >”Well too bad, because my guys have your cargo surrounded, and if you want it back, you gotta pay.”
  233. >Oh boy just look at that smug look on his face
  234. >If only he knew what unholy retribution his clever little comments would cost him
  235. >But he didn’t, he couldn’t and now he’ll pay the price
  236. “Oh, your guys, huh? Let’s take a look at them.”
  237. >Right on cue, you hear a voice shout from behind the truck
  238. >”Sure thing Boss.”
  239. >Afterward, five ponies wearing your custom-designed armored uniforms come out from behind the truck, each one carrying not one, but two bound and gagged bandits on their backs
  240. >They drop them at the sides of the truck and look to you
  241. >”The other five are still in the back. Too heavy to carry three a piece.”
  242. “Very well, I think we’ve made our point.”
  243. >You look back to the griffon, likely the commander, from the badge he sports that seems to be absent from the others
  244. >”Inconceivable. ABSOLUTELY INCONCEIVABLE! How could you whelps let yourself get captured like that?! Have you learned nothing?!”
  245. >He’s very angry
  246. “Oh don’t feel too bad,” you say, chuckling quietly, “my soldiers are simply the best there are.”
  247. >”Yeah, and besides,” says Golden Bow, “yours is the first camp where we actually had to strategize and use our equipment to take over. You should be proud of that.”
  248. “Oh? Is that so?” you say, looking down at him in surprise, “We must be dealing with professionals.”
  249. >”Yeah,” he says, looking up at you, “these guys watched each other’s backs, guarded multiple angles, and checked hiding spots. They’re not your run of the mill crooks.”
  250. “Hmm. Sounds like our griffon friend here is a bit of a commander. Tell me, did you train them yourself?”
  251. >”Why yes, as a matter of fact I did. I taught these fine soldiers everything they know about this life. Guess it was all for naught.”
  252. >You let out a laugh at this
  253. >The poor guy just looks so defeated
  254. >”Well, you’ve got us. Take everything and kill us if that’s your plan, just get along with it.”
  255. “Whoa, whoa, slow down Hoss, I’m not killing any of you.”
  256. >”Oh really?”
  257. >He seems curious as to your motives
  258. “I happen to be in need of more citizens for my new city I’m building. And not only that, but it’d be a shame to waste talent like yours. How’d you like to join me, help train new recruits, and experience a steady lifestyle with friends, a real house, and a job that doesn’t involve stealing or robbing?”
  259. >He, naturally, seems rather skeptical of this
  260. >”Oh really, you’d just take me in after I attack you? And you’d even go as far as to promise me a home and a job training your recruits? And you expect me to believe that you’re building a town, and that I’d benefit from joining you?”
  261. “Look, I understand why you’re skeptical, but look at it this way: you can join me, or we can go with your original plan of me taking all you own and killing you. Now which sounds better? And besides, your friends are coming along anyway, whether any of you like it or not.”
  262. >Suddenly, the leader’s eyes grow wide, then narrow and downcast
  263. >His shoulders slump and he takes a non-aggressive stance
  264. >He looks sad, and worried
  265. >He speaks again, but this time in a much calmer, more eloquent manner than his rage-induced brutishness before
  266. >”I brought these creatures in to keep them from dying out here in this unforgiving desert. I used the only skills and knowledge I knew of to feed them, and teach them to feed themselves. I dreamed of building an empire that would secure our place in the world, so we wouldn’t have to struggle to survive out here in this hellhole.”
  267. >”I knew, of course, that it could never come to be. But I dreamed. These ponies and griffons, zebras and mules, are like my brothers, and also a bit like sons to me. They are my only family, and I am their only family. Wherever they go, I’ll go, whether that be into death, or a new city, or a prison. I will follow them just as they followed me. Do with us as you see fit. I only ask that we not be separated. That’s all.”
  268. >The silence that follows feels like an eternity
  269. >Finally, you decide that it’s time to break the silence and get things moving again
  270. >You look at the commanders wet eyes through your own
  271. “It’s a terrible day for rain, isn’t it? Soldiers, help our new recruits into the back. Commander, you’re up here with me. We have a lot to discuss.”
  272.  
  273. ***
  274. >You are Princess Twilight Sparkle
  275. >Here you are, in a camp build southwest of Ponyville
  276. >You wish you were at your castle doing book things
  277. >You have to meet stupid Anon and his stupid followers for this new semi-yearly checkup they’ve agreed upon
  278. >Oh well, at least one good thing will come from this
  279. >You can turn up the smug when he fails to produce anything to show you
  280. >Or better yet, catch him cheating by using magic
  281. >Oh, and here he comes, on what look like a monstrosity of a carriage
  282. >He somehow brings that awful roar coming from the front of the metal beast down to more of a low growl, and hops down
  283. >Some of his little “soldiers” he has with him exit the back of the contraption, leading a group of around 15 ponies wearing what looks like (relatively) high-grade bandit armor, as well as loose rope shackles
  284. “Oh hello, Anonymous. What do we have here? It almost seems as though you’ve been abducting ponies. Wasn’t that against the rules?”
  285. >He gives you a quick glare, before shielding his eyes and pretending it was due to the sun
  286. >Smug idiot’s wearing sunglasses
  287. >”Well you see, I and my escort were attacked by this company of bandits, and took them prisoner, but now they’ve made the unanimous decision to join me. Isn’t that right, guys?”
  288. >They all nod their heads in agreement, looking pretty proud and happy for a group that was basically forced into a new life
  289. >”Anyway, it’s time for the demonstration. This machine here uses an engine, created and maintained without magic, to drive its wheels and provide locomotion. Would you like to inspect the engine further? I can spare three days while you examine the parts.”
  290. >Princess Celestia steps forward
  291. >”There will be no need for that, Anonymous. We can sense magical auras as they appear and are used. We’ll scan your, ‘truck’, while it moves, and if we detect no magic involved, then you’ve shown us what your world’s technology can do.”
  292. >As if
  293. >”Oh really? Well, that’s a lot easier than what I had planned. I’ll be back at the base days ahead of schedule! And maybe some of these ponies will be impressed enough to follow.”
  294. >Wait, what?
  295. >Looking around, you notice for a first time a large number of ponies gathered around
  296. >Some look like they’re from Ponyville, others from Apple Loosa
  297. >Even more look like they’re from Canterlot or Manehattan
  298. >How did word of this spread quickly enough that several hundred ponies made a day-long journey to see this?
  299. >So sad that they traveled so far just to be disappointed
  300. >Anonymous climbs back into the giant metal deathtrap and closes the door on its side
  301. >Moving some levers and turning a wheel, he prepares to take off again
  302. >His colt-scout “soldiers” all move his prisoners away from the machine and stand back
  303. >As Anonymous begins to lurch the large vehicle forward, you ready your magic detection spell
  304. >He begins to run the trackless locomotive in a wide oval
  305. >You start to scan his “truck” seeking for all wavelengths and colors of magic
  306. >Once you detect it, the other princesses will back you up
  307. >It’s time to prove that that traitor was lying all-
  308. >Wait
  309. >Something’s not right
  310. >Maybe you’re not putting enough power into it
  311. >It could be a tiny magic source with a crystal amplifier
  312. >This isn’t right
  313. >Even at full sensitivity…
  314. >You look to princesses Celestia and Luna
  315. >They are both completely stoic
  316. “Princess?”
  317. >They both look to you, their spells powering down and their expressions unchanging
  318. “Something’s wrong with my magic; I must not be doing this right or soemthing. Even at maximum sensitivity, I can’t detect ANY magic coming from any part of his machine!”
  319. >They share a look at each other before looking back at you
  320. >What they said to you next would change everything
  321. >In unison they spoke
  322. >”Neither can we.”
  323.  
  324. ***
  325. >There’s no way
  326. >There’s simply no way
  327. >IF Anonymous’ transport machine really does work on its own without magic, then what else could be true about his world?
  328. >Memories of all the things you’d said to him came flooding back
  329. ~”Listen Anonymous. I’m sick and tired of hearing these blatant lies. Since you’re so against being a good friend and telling the truth, then I just can’t be friends with you at all.”~
  330. >To say that you feel horrible about telling him those things is an understatement
  331. >You accused him of being a bad friend, but you were the one who refused to even consider the idea that he would be telling the truth
  332. >And now you might have lost him forever
  333. >As you sulk around Ponyville, you see Anon’s mail carrier gathering up letters to take back to his “mother base” as he calls it
  334. >Wait, that’s it!
  335. “Wait, I have one more letter!”
  336. >The mailpony glances at the clock, and smiles at you
  337. >”Alright, guess I can stick around long enough to grab it.”
  338. “Great! Uh, just a sec.”
  339. >You magic a quill, ink bottle, and parchment out of your bag, and a plank from nearby to write on
  340. >In about 15 seconds, you have a hastily scribbled letter to Anonymous
  341. >Suddenly, you realize what’s missing
  342. “Eheh, I… don’t happen to have an envelope. Or stamp.”
  343. >The Pegasus mare puts her hoof up to you and smiles
  344. >”No need, Princess, I’ll put this in a special pouch and hoof deliver it to Boss myself.”
  345. “Thank you so much.”
  346. >…
  347. “Boss?”
  348. >”Yeah, that’s what we all call him. He’s the de facto leader, after all. I hear it all started with those royal guard ponies that were with him at first.”
  349. “Oh really? The guards started calling him ‘Boss’, huh? Kinda strange since he didn’t have command of them.”
  350. >”Yeah, apparently they called him ‘Boss’ ‘cause they were gonna follow his orders, but he’s not actually a member of the Guard so he didn’t have a rank.”
  351. >Whoa, the guards decided to follow him? What?
  352. “They, I- y’know what? I’ll just ask Anon himself, if he decides to meet me.”
  353. >You cast your eyes downward and begin to turn away
  354. “Though I wouldn’t blame him if he doesn’t.”
  355. >As you start to walk away, the pony calls your name
  356. >”Princess Twilight, when I first met the Boss, I asked him why he was doing what he was doing. He said he wanted to show the ponies of this world a life free of the constraints of magic.”
  357. “And it looks like he’ll succeed.”
  358. >”But he also mentioned you.”
  359. >You stop in your tracks and look back at the mail carrier, who’s now smiling at you warmly, like a family member retelling old memories of holidays spent together
  360. “What… what did he say?”
  361. >”He said he was heartbroken that he couldn’t get through to you. He wanted to be your friend again someday, but he knew that giving up and lying to appease you wasn’t the right way. He wants to prove you wrong, so that you’ll accept him again.”
  362. >”Some ponies say he’s being selfish, but I think he’s not. I think he’s just afraid of being lonely, and wants to have his old friend back.”
  363. >A smile begins to creep onto your face
  364. >Anon really does want to be friends with you?
  365. >After all you’ve said and done?
  366. >It seems too good to be true

ZecoraSis

by SpeedBoostBlaziken

Girlynonynous@Sleepover[Lewd]

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An'on'ymous in Witch School

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Raridaughter[EqG][WIP][Incest]

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Manatee and Anin [joke, short, non-lewd]

by SpeedBoostBlaziken