Branded - Chapter 10 AKAME FEB 2ND, 2013


                                            >You are Twilight Sparkle, protege of the great Princess Celestia.

                                            >And the most heartbroken mare in all of Equestria.

                                            >Why?

                                            >Why had Anon said those things?

                                            >Had he really forgotten you?

                                            >And Fluttershy…

                                            >Your rage swells at the thought of her.

                                            >She did something to Anon, you know it.

                                            >He would never stay in the same room as her, let alone be her special somep0ny.

                                            >You limp back to town while trying to stop your tears.

                                            >Anon needs you, you have to be strong for him.

                                            >When you enter the outskirts of Ponyville, you see Spike walking with Sweetie Belle.

                                            >"Hahaha- You think Rarity's bad, you should see Twilight in the morning! If I didn't wake her up, I don't think she would know what morning even is!"

                                            >Sweetie Belle giggles at the purple dragon's boast.

                                            >It relieves some of the pain to see Spike happy.

                                            >"And that's not all, sometime-" *Buuuuurp*

                                            >Spike belches out a scroll with Celestia's seal wrapped around it.

                                            >Your assistant looks at the scroll then to Sweetie Belle and blushes.

                                            >"Heh heh…  Better get this to Twilight before-"

                                            >You interrupt his recovery attempt by levitating the scroll towards you.

                                            >Spike relaxes when he sees that you are the one stealing the message.

                                            >He soon becomes worried again when he notices your broken down state.

                                            >"Whoa, are you ok Twilight?"

                                            >Wordlessly, you open the letter and read it.

                                            >------------------------------------------------------------------

                                            >My dearest pupil, Twilight,


                                            >It has recently come to my attention that you checked out a book from the restricted section of the Canterlot Library.

                                            >While I normally would trust your judgement in your pursuit of knowledge, this time I feel that I must intervene.

                                            >If I'm correct in my assumptions, the spell you attempted to cast is called "Soldiers Heart".

                                            >The result of the spell is a marking appearing on the subject's chest.

                                            >Twilight, you must tell me. Did you succeed? Was the spell casted successfully?


                                            >Urgently awaiting your reply,

                                            >Celestia

                                            >------------------------------------------------------------------

                                            >The color drains from your face.

                                            >Not only had the princess found out that you had taken a restricted book, but she was angry at you for casting that spell.

                                            >…

                                            >Maybe she would know what it does.

                                            >Perhaps it's the reason Anon is acting so strange…

                                            >You bite your lip, weighing your options.

                                            >The sight of Anon defending Fluttershy enters your mind.

                                            >You've made your decision.

                                            "Spike!"

                                            >The little dragon snaps to attention.

                                            >"Yes'm?"

                                            "Take a letter, and it's urgent."

                                            >Spike pulls out a quill and paper, awaiting your dictation.

                                            "Princess Celestia, I have indeed performed the spell, on Anonymous in fact. The marking you speak of has appeared, though I do not understand it's meaning. What exactly does the spell do?"

                                            >The dragon continues to write as you finish your reply.

                                            "Please respond quickly, Anon has been behaving…"

                                            >You pause, not wanting to alert Spike or Sweetie Belle.

                                            "Erratically… Your faithful student, Twilight. That's it Spike, send the letter."

                                            >Spike obeys, rolling up the scroll and breathing fire onto it.

                                            >The stream of smoke rushes off towards Canterlot as you await a response.

                                            >You apologize to Sweetie Belle about stealing her company, before walking back to the library with Spike in tow.

                                            >"What was all that stuff about Anon? Is he ok?"

                                            >You haven't told him about you and Anon yet. Now doesn't seem like a good time.

                                            "No, he's fine. Celestia is just worried about him."

                                            >The dragon scoffs at your answer.

                                            >"The princess is too wound up, she needs to mellow a little now and the-" *Urp* *Buuuuurp*

                                            >Another scroll materializes from your dragon's breath.

                                            >You hastily unwrap it and begin reading.

                                            >------------------------------------------------------------------

                                            >Twilight


                                            >This is grave news. You must bring Anonymous to Canterlot as soon as possible.

                                            >The marking forces him to obey the mare he perceives as dominant.

                                            >If the wrong p0nies were to discover this, his reputation, his life, and even his very being could be corrupted or lost.

                                            >I will attempt to find a way to remove the spell, but I may need your help upon your arrival.


                                            >Celestia.

                                            >------------------------------------------------------------------

                                            >'Obey the mare he perceives as dominant…'

                                            >So that's it!

                                            >Fluttershy must have ordered Anon to forget about you!

                                            >And…

                                            >Ordered him to love her.

                                            >Poor Anon…

                                            >This was all your fault.

                                            >If you could have just told him your feelings, and not found some stupid reason for him to stay with you longer…

                                            >Maybe he'd still love you…

                                            >You tap your head, reminding yourself of what's important.

                                            >That's all just speculation.

                                            >The only thing you know, is that you need to get Anon to come with you to Canterlot.

                                            >…

                                            >Even if you must force him.


                                            >You are now Anon.

                                            >The events of this morning have left you a little drained.

                                            >Despite Fluttershy's protests that you should stay home today, you decide to return to the Apple farm and resume working.

                                            >The whole Applejack Rainbow Dash double team incident was probably just a one time thing… You hope.

                                            >But you need the bits, and as they say: Money makes the world go round.

                                            >As Sweet Apple Acres comes into view, you can make out Applejack carrying some apples into the barn.

                                            >She notices you approaching and drops her apple buckets running over to greet you.

                                            >"H-hey there, Sugarcube…"

                                            >The farmp0ny stares at you for a moment before awkwardly shifting her weight around.

                                            >"Look, Ah'm real sorry about what Ah did to ya. Ah needed relief something' fierce and, well… Ya'll could give it ta' me worrying about makin' some more mouths ta' feed."

                                            >And~ this conversation got really awkward, really quick.

                                            >Applejack hangs her head, trying her best not to tear up.

                                            >Confound these ponies, they drive you to drink.

                                            *Sigh* "Don't worry about it, Applejack. You're not the only one whose been acting up."

                                            >She looks up at you, a small smile appearing on her face.

                                            "Now, if you promise not to pull anything, I'd be happy to finish what I started earlier."

                                            >She blushes, causing you to quickly clarify your statement.

                                            "What I started in the cellar!"

                                            >A deeper shade of red colors her face.

                                            "…"

                                            >"…"

                                            "I'm just going to finish the paperwork."

                                            >"Yeah, sounds great."

                                            >You walk to the cellar entrance and descend the staircase, ready to complete what little work you had left.


                                            >After about an hour of filing, the paperwork is completely sorted and just needs Applejack's signature for a few things.

                                            >Stepping out of the small office, you see the barrel you used for relief in your desperation.

                                            >Next to it is a dark blotch on the ground.

                                            >Most likely from the puddle of juices that escaped Applejack that night.

                                            >You shake your head, ridding yourself of images of the past.

                                            >Heading back up, you see Applejack talking with someone in the distance.

                                            >You can't see who it is though, they seem to be wearing a cloak of some sort.

                                            >As you approach the pair of p0nies, Applejack's visitor disappears.

                                            >The orange earthp0ny turns to you and smiles nervously.

                                            >"Well howdy there, Anon! All finished up in the cellar?"

                                            >You look around, trying to find the p0ny she was speaking with.

                                            "I thought I saw you talking with someone, was I interrupting something?"

                                            >The orange mare avoids your gazes she answers.

                                            >"Who, me? Nah, Ah was- uh- Ah was just talking to ol' Suntan here!"

                                            >She motions towards the apple tree near her.

                                            >"Now ya'll be good now, ya here?"

                                            >Applejack shouts at the tree, attempting to convince you.

                                            >You have to say, it almost works, minus the whole, you saw her talking to a p0ny and also…

                                            "Trees can't talk, Applejack."

                                            >"Well of course, not. But that don' mean they can't listen!"

                                            >…

                                            "Right…"

                                            *Thud*

                                            "Ow!"

                                            >An apple falls from Suntan and bounces off of your head.

                                            >You stare at the apple, then the tree.

                                            >"She's sensitive."

                                            >Applejack whispers, trying to hide her voice from the tree.

                                            >No way.

                                            >…

                                            >Fuck it, you've seen weirder, might as well try to not get on the orchard's bad side.

                                            "Heh, sorry Suntan."

                                            >Another apple dislodges from the tree, this time seeming to fall at a slower rate.

                                            >You catch it and look it over, then smile at the apparently sentient fruit-barer.

                                            "Thanks, I'll eat it later."

                                            >You return your gaze to Applejack and inform her of the cellar situation.

                                            >"Hoo boy, Ah can't thank ya' enough, Anon. If Ah wasn't an Element of Harmony, who knows what could'a happened ta' us?"

                                            >Poor Big Mac, never getting the credit he deserved.

                                            "Anyway, I just need your signature on a few things and you're all caught up."

                                            >"Well alright then! Go ahead and get those things ready and Ah'll be down in a little bit."

                                            *Thump-thump*

                                            >You nod and return to the cellar.

                                            >This should't take more than a few minutes for Applejack to finish.

                                            >As you set out the papers, you hear hoofsteps descending the stairs.

                                            >Popping your head out from the cellar office, you see Applejack carrying some drinks.

                                            >She smiles when she sees you.

                                            >"Ah thought ya might be thirsty, Ah know Ah am!"

                                            >The mare passes a bottle of cold apple juice to you.

                                            >In that moment, you realize that you must have just crossed a vast desert, or ate a bucket of salt, or even-

                                            >Thirsty is what you are, no need to come up with clever analogies.

                                            >Who are you trying to impress anyway?

                                            >You gulp down the bottle's contents and sigh contentedly.

                                            "That hit the spot."

                                            >Applejack laughs and enters the office.

                                            >"So what do Ah have to do here?"

                                            >You walk Applejack through the necessary procedures.

                                            "Sign here, initial here. We need this in duplicate, this in triplicate, and this in dodeclicate."

                                            >Several redundant forms later, Applejack looks like she's about to pass out from all the signing she's been doing.

                                            >"Whew, is that all of it?"

                                            "What's the matter, not used to this kind of work?"

                                            >You chuckle at the worn out farmp0ny in front of you.

                                            >"This ain't work, this is torture."

                                            "Yeah, I guess that's true. The people who did this back home were always unhappy, very, very, very, very, very, very, VERY unhappy."

                                            >You clean up the desk and file the forms in a neat folder before handing them to AJ.

                                            "Anyways, do you mind if I head out now. Fluttershy's worried about me, and I'd like to let her know I'm ok."

                                            >Applejack averts her eyes for a moment.

                                            >"Right, Ah heard about ya'll… Uh- well Ah guess it's fine. Let me get ya your pay for today."

                                            >As you follow her to the stairs, your legs give out from under you.

                                            >You're suddenly very tired.

                                            >A cloaked figure appears in the cellar with a flash of purple light and speaks with Applejack.

                                            >"Is he gonna be alright?"

                                            >"Yes, the drug you gave him just put him to sleep, though it took longer than I thought."

                                            >You know that voice…

                                            >"He is pretty big."

                                            >"Come on, help me get him back to the library."

                                            >It's that crazy purple unicorn! What is she going to do to you?

                                            >With you're last ounce of strength, you attempt to plead with Applejack.

                                            "Ap…ple…jack…"

                                            >The orange p0ny looks at you with eyes begging for your forgiveness.

                                            >"Ah'm sorry, Anon. But this is for the best, Ah-"

                                            >Her words muffle as you fade into unconsciousness.


                                            "Ah! Ha- ha- haa-"

                                            >You wake up strapped to a table in a dimly lit room, gasping for air.

                                            >Soft orange light strains through a small window, indicating the coming twilight.

                                            >"You're finally awake…"

                                            >The all-too familiar voice makes your blood run cold, even while your chest burns.

                                            >Turning your head, you can see the purple unicorn you met this morning.

                                            >She looks like she's seen better days.

                                            "Why did you bring me here? How did you convince Applejack to do this?!"

                                            >The mare becomes disheartened from your questions.

                                            >"I'm sorry, Anon. This was the only way I could get you here in such a short amount of time."

                                            "For what?"

                                            >Your captor looks at you, an expression of pain slowly beginning to show.

                                            >"Anon, I'll ask again: How did you get the brand on your chest?"

                                            >This again.

                                            "I don't remember."

                                            >The unicorn pauses before continuing.

                                            >"When did you and Fluttershy begin seeing each other?"

                                            "She's had an interest in me for a long time."

                                            >"Yes, but when did you start to love her?"

                                            "That's…"

                                            >You think hard on this.

                                            >The only date that comes to mind is yesterday, but surely you've loved her longer than that?

                                            >Love doesn't just happen in a day, it takes time.

                                            >…

                                            >Why can't you remember when it happened?!

                                            >Was it when she made all those cute advances on you?

                                            >No… For some reason that wasn't it.

                                            >Actually, you can't remember a single moment aside from those passes Fluttershy made at you.

                                            >Thinking back on it, her propositioning you could easily have been misconstrued as rape, if you didn't love her already.

                                            >None of this matters! The important thing is that you love her…

                                            "It doesn't matter when I started doing it, what matters is that I do love her."

                                            >The unicorn sighs.

                                            >"I see. Anon…"

                                            >You look away from her.

                                            >"Anon, look at me."

                                            *Thump-thump*

                                            >Your head faces the purple p0ny.

                                            >"Celestia told me about the spells effects."

                                            "Spell?"

                                            >Your confusion caused you to accidentally articulate your thoughts.

                                            >"Anon… I'm going to order you to do something."

                                            >FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!!!

                                            >She knows about the brand!

                                            >You struggle against your bindings, twisting your limbs in an effort to free yourself.

                                            >"Anon-"

                                            "Dun-da-da-daaa-da-da-DAAAAAAAAAA!"

                                            >In your desperation, you bellow the Star Trek theme.

                                            >"Anon!"

                                            "Da-da-da-da-Da~Da~Da~dadada-DAAAA!"

                                            >The unicorn raises her voice.

                                            >"Stop!"

                                            *Thump-thump*

                                            >Your voice ceases going where no man has gone before.

                                            >The mare recoils at your sudden inactivity.

                                            >"Celestia, it is true…"

                                            >She looks at you, tears welling in her eyes.

                                            >"I'm so sorry, Anon. You wouldn't be like this if it weren't for me."

                                            "Strapped to a table in a dingy room? No, I guess I wouldn't…"

                                            >Her look of sadness grows worse.

                                            >"Please, forgive me."

                                            *Thump-thump*

                                            >You open your mouth to comfort her, but she cuts you off.

                                            >"Anon… Remember me. Remember us."

                                            >…

                                            *THUMP-THUMP*

                                            >Your chest feels like it's going to burst.

                                            >Pain fills your head as veins throb, causing you to become nauseous.

                                            "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

                                            >You thrash about on the table, banging your head repeatedly, adding to your already immense suffering.

                                            >Twilight backs away slowly, horrified at the effects of her pursuit of magic.

                                            >Your body burns with agony, nerves flooding your mind with pleas to escape this hell.

                                            >The table is unable to withstand your spastic movements and begins to crack.

                                            >Soon it gives way and shatters, freeing you from your imprisonment.

                                            >You clutch your head as memories force their way into your mind all at once.

                                            >*************************

                                            >"A human? I've never heard of them before!"

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"I suppose I could try using my magic on that phone thing…"

                                            *Beep*

                                            >"Did it work?"

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            "What kind of spell turns hair into cheese?!"

                                            >"A gouda one."

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"Everyp0ny knows that the sun orbits our planet!"

                                            "Not where I come from. You see, the sun has a larger mass than our planet…"

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"Celestia has some kind of test for me. What if I fail it?!"

                                            "Don't worry, she'll think you're great."

                                            >"How do you know?"

                                            "Because I think you're great."

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"I'm so sorry Anon. I- I didn't mean-"

                                            *Cough* *Cough* "It's better than a newt at least."

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"Go home Anon."

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"Ah!"

                                            >"Ah!"

                                            >"Ah!"

                                            >"Ah~!"

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"I love you… Anon."

                                            >*************************

                                            >*************************

                                            >"Forget about Twilight."

                                            >*************************

                                            >Drool leaks from your mouth as you scream.

                                            "RAAAAAAAAAGH!"

                                            >Your fist collides with the ground, cracking the solid wood from the force and gashing open your knuckles.

                                            >Blood seeps from your wounds and splatters the room as you swing.

                                            *Crack* *Crack* *Crack* *Crack*

                                            >A small crater now stares back at you from the floor.

                                            >You stop pounding the ground, and cry.

                                            >Seeing your newly subdued self, Twilight slowly walks up to you.

                                            >"Anon?"

                                            >You throw your arms around her and cry into her mane.

                                            "What the fuck is wrong with me, Twilight? Am I just some cosmic plaything? Do I want this? I can't tell what this thing made me do and what I would have done regardless…"

                                            >Twilight wraps a hoof around you and nuzzles you.

                                            >"Shh~ It's ok."

                                            >A wet warmness dampens your back.

                                            >Twilight is crying as well.

                                            >You burry yourself deeper in her neck while the sadness purges itself from you.

                                            "I'm just so… fucked up."

                                            >You wish you could hold each other in this comforting embrace forever, but slowly, you pull yourself away from her.

                                            >The light has dimmed since you last saw it.

                                            >You look out the window to gauge it more appropriately.

                                            >…

                                            >It hasn't dimmed, it's just being blocked.

                                            >A dark silhouette prevents the light from entering the window fully.

                                            >It stares at you with teal eyes.

                                            "Ah- ah- AAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

                                            >You scramble away from the window.

                                            >The teal eyes pierce your mind, your soul.

                                            >They surround you, mocking in their sight.

                                            >"Love me~"

                                            >"He he he!"

                                            >"Love me~"

                                            >"Love me~"

                                            >"Love me~"

                                            >"He he he he he he!"

                                            "T-Twilight! Help!"

                                            >You tremble behind your only source of protection. The only thing you have left in this world.

                                            >Twilight snaps her head towards the window.

                                            >There's nothing there. The eyes are gone…

                                            >Your protectors gaze slowly returns to you.

                                            >"Anon, we have to go to Canterlot. Princess Celestia said she would help us find way to lift the spell…"

                                            >You stare at the window while you speak.

                                            "Y-yeah…"

                                            >The purple protector helps you up and begins to ascend a staircase.

                                            "Twilight…"

                                            >"Yes, Anon?"

                                            >She stops and looks back at you.

                                            "Please don't leave me alone until this is over… I don't think… I could go through that again."

                                            >Twilight backs up to your side and smiles up at you.

                                            >"I'll stay with you, always."

                                            >Her reassurance calms you, and together, you begin the journey to Canterlot.