GREEN
270
1
3829 20.11 KB 345
3829 20.11 KB 345
-
Ch. 4
-
-
“Anon…”
-
“Anon.”
-
“Anon!”
-
>Anon slowly opens his eyes, only to be blinded by white.
-
>He blinks.
-
>As his eyes adjust, he realizes he’s looking up at a ceiling.
-
>A pristine white marble ceiling.
-
A: “Ugh… What…”
-
>He sits up, rubbing his forehead.
-
A: “What?”
-
>Looking around, he sees that he’s in a large white room, laying on a marble alter.
-
>Looking at himself, he sees that he’s wearing a clean white shirt and trousers.
-
>Clothes that aren’t his.
-
>Surrounding him are six pillars, and on the floor are strange runic symbols, arranged in a wide circle around him.
-
>He shifts around and hangs his feet off the side of the alter.
-
A: “Where the hell…?”
-
>He steps down to the floor.
-
>As soon as he puts weight on his legs, they feel like they’re going to give out.
-
>He wobbles in place, trying to stay standing.
-
>A wave of dizziness washes over him.
-
A: “Woah. Okay.”
-
>He sits back down.
-
>He takes a moment to gather himself, then shakes his head and tries again.
-
A: “Alright, take it slow.”
-
>Tentatively, he steps down again.
-
>This time, the dizziness isn’t as bad.
-
>He takes a step forward.
-
>Then another.
-
>He breathes a sigh of relief as any feeling of weakness passes.
-
>A few more steps.
-
>He reaches one of the pillars at the edge of the circle of runes, and places his hand on it for balance.
-
>Looking around again, he becomes confused.
-
>There are no doors to this strange room he’s in.
-
>He walks all around the circular room, feeling the smooth stone walls, searching for some way out, some hidden mechanism.
-
>Nothing.
-
>His heart sinks in his chest.
-
>Then, suddenly, he notices a purple glow from behind.
-
>He turns around, back towards the altar.
-
>The magic symbols on the floor are glowing, brighter and brighter with every passing moment.
-
>Suddenly he is blinded as they flash with a brilliant intensity, purple and white sparks spilling around and over him.
-
>He shields his eyes, but quickly the light begins to subside.
-
>Standing before him, beside the altar, a shadow steps forward.
-
>The silhouette of a pony becomes visible, but its horn and wings mark it as no simple mare.
-
T: Anonymous! You’re finally awake!
-
That voice…
-
A: Uhh… Twilight?
-
T: I was so worried! I thought you might die!
-
>A purple light yanks him forward as the shadowed figure lunges for him.
-
>Before he can react he is pulled into a hug.
-
A: T-Twilight!?
-
>The pony pulls back from the embrace and he finally sees her sparkling violet eyes, her purple fur, her face twisted into a strange expression of simultaneous joy and agony.
-
A: Twilight? What the heck is going on?
-
T: Anonymous…
-
>Tears begin to well up in the mare’s eyes.
-
T: The manticore’s venom, it was… You were…
-
>She shakes her head and steels her voice, chasing away the urge to cry.
-
T: No. You’re alive. I saw everything Anonymous. How you fought that horrible monster.
-
A: You… Saw it?
-
T: I tried to activate the spell to bring you back sooner but you were so far away… The magic took to long to reach you.
-
A: That’s right, you used… That book.
-
>Anon rubs his temple and scrunches his eyes as he focuses his thoughts.
-
>He hadn’t really grasped it until now, but his mind feels like it’s in a fog that he’s slowly coming out of.
-
T: Yes, I placed an enchantment on the book so I could keep an eye on you. It’s a good thing I did!
-
A: Yeah, that thing almost got me.
-
>He tries to force a chuckle, but the memory of the manticore’s horrible face is dragged back into his mind, followed by another vision.
-
>The shadow of a pair of eyes flashes into his thought for barely a moment, and suddenly a sharp pain shoots through his head.
-
>He winces, then looks at Twilight with a half-hearted grin.
-
A: It messed me up pretty good. Thanks, Twi.
-
T: Of course! I’ll never let anything hurt you again, Anonymous.
-
A: Uh, yeah. What?
-
>He looks Twilight in the eyes and sees that her expression has changed.
-
>Her face is completely serious.
-
T: I thought sending you away and keeping an eye on you with magic was the best way to keep anypony from getting any ideas, but it looks like I was wrong.
-
>Purple magic flares up and yanks him down by the collar of his shirt.
-
>Eye level with the purple pony, he sees a slight twitch in her face as she seems to stare into his soul.
-
A: T-Twi? What are you doing?
-
T: I saw, Anonymous.
-
A: What?
-
T: Don’t play dumb. I saw everything.
-
>She pulls him closer. Their noses nearly touch and her eyes fill his field of view.
-
T: Everything.
-
A: The manticore?
-
T: No.
-
A: Are you… Angry?
-
T: Yes.
-
A: What did I do? I had to fight, it would have killed me!
-
T: NO! IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MANTICORE ANONYMOUS!
-
>With a sudden burst of purple force into his chest, he is knocked to the ground.
-
>With a grunt he catches himself, then quickly looks up, but Twilight is already standing over him.
-
T: I saw her, Anonymous. I saw the two of you together.
-
A: What?
-
T: I saw you about to give your love to that MONSTER.
-
>Like a ton of bricks, the realization hits him.
-
>Chrysalis.
-
A: I didn’t… What are you talking about?
-
>A hoof slams into the ground beside his head as he lays on the floor.
-
>Twilight leans forward, bringing their faces close again.
-
T: Do you love her, Anon?
-
A: What? I don’t understand what you’re-
-
T: DO YOU LOVE HER!?
-
A: NO! Jeez! Calm down!
-
>Silence.
-
>She stares into his eyes for a long time, before finally he can’t take it any more.
-
A: Why are you mad? I haven’t done anything!
-
>Her expression softens just a little.
-
T: Really? You weren’t… You weren’t going to…?
-
A: No! She tried to use her weird magic on me! Why the hell would I love her?
-
>A pain shoots through his skull as he finishes his sentence, and he can’t hide it as he winces.
-
A: And then I got attacked by a fucking Monster! And then you zapped me out of there with that book! And now I don’t even know what’s going on anymore! I just woke up!
-
>Twilight steps back, and he is able to sit up.
-
T: Anon, I’m sorry, I…
-
A: What the hell is going on Twilight?
-
T: It’s important, Anonymous!
-
>Her voice is pleading, a dire urgency in her tone.
-
T: It’s extremely important!
-
A: What’s important?
-
>His confusion and frustration are mounting, but he’s trying to stay calm.
-
T: You can’t… You can’t love anypony, Anonymous. Especially not her.
-
>He blinks.
-
A: What?
-
T: You can’t! It would be disastrous! It could be the end of Equestria!
-
A: Twilight what the hell are you talking about?
-
>Anon is struck with an odd realization of where he is again.
-
>This strange windowless room.
-
>With no door.
-
A: Where the hell am I?
-
T: It’s to keep you safe. To keep everyone safe. I’m sorry, Anonymous.
-
A: Safe from what?
-
T: From you.
-
A: I don’t understand.
-
T: You’re dangerous, Anon. Your love is… It’s not natural.
-
A: My… Love?
-
>Having a hard time processing what’s happening, and feeling anger build within him because of Twilight’s strange attitude and actions, he stands straight and looks at her as seriously as he can manage.
-
A: Just… What do you mean “not natural”?
-
T: Your love isn’t like a pony’s love, Anon. Ponies are inherently magical creatures. A pony’s emotion, their love, is charged with magical energy.
-
A: Okay…
-
T: This magic, our love, is a part of us. We can’t live without it for long. Not without some other kind of magic to keep us going. But you, you can. You can live just fine without any magical energy at all. Without love. Your Human form doesn’t require it to sustain its functions, but your emotion, the love you produce, is not entirely non-magical.
-
A: Alright, but I still don’t understand.
-
T: How do I explain… Your love is like a catalyst. When it interacts with the love of a pony, or any other magical creature for that matter, it causes the other pony’s love to surge uncontrollably as it bounces back and forth between the other pony and yourself. Even the tiniest bit of love shared between you and a pony would cause the love that pony feels to grow and grow until they can’t love anyone else but you.
-
A: That doesn’t… So… What are you saying?
-
T: You can’t love anypony, Anon. It would drive them insane. And the magic entering your body and magnifying, well, there’s no telling what might happen to you. You’re not a magical creature. You might explode!
-
A: Oh… Isn’t there some way to fix it?
-
T: No. No magic spell can reverse the process once it starts. Not without destroying the affected pony’s mind. Trying to remove their love like that might cause them to lose all their memories, or even leave them braindead!
-
A: Damn.
-
>Anon looks down at his hands.
-
>Calluses and scars adorn them.
-
>How fitting. The outside is just as rough as the inside is meant to be.
-
>He can’t help but laugh. And then he sighs.
-
A: Crazy...
-
>Feeling heavy, he decides to sit back down.
-
A: So. How long have you known I’m a walking bomb?
-
T: Anon, you’re not…
-
>The expression of sheer mental exhaustion on Anon’s face as he looks her in the eye causes Twilight to cut the thought short.
-
T: Soon after you arrived in Equestria.
-
>Anon’s eye twitches.
-
A: And you never said anything?
-
T: Yes. I’m sorry, Anonymous. I should have told you before, but I…
-
>Frustration building, he clenches his fists.
-
A: No. No, it’s fine. It’s not like it was very likely I’d be loving anyone anyway, right?
-
>Twilight gives him a worried frown.
-
A: I mean, who could love a monster, right?
-
T: Anonymous, you’re not a monster.
-
A: Then what am I? I don’t belong here, Twilight. I knew I never belonged here. This place is all sunshine and rainbows and little ponies living happy wholesome lives.
-
>His voice gets steadily louder with every word.
-
A: And I’m just a big ugly ape who can’t even be fucking happy without hurting someone.
-
>He laughs, an exasperated laugh devoid of joy.
-
A: This world is so beautiful… Everywhere I’ve been it’s like living in a fairy tale. All the ponies I met were so nice, so… Wholesome. Perfect. Perfect creatures, living in harmony.
-
>Anon looks up, and with a defeated sigh he relaxes, unclenching his fists.
-
A: I guess that’s why I wanted to leave in the first place. I guess somehow I knew, in the back of my subconscious that I wasn’t meant to be here.
-
>Tears begin to well up in his eyes, but he grits his teeth and holds it back.
-
>A few moments pass in silence. Twilight simply stares at him, her somber visage speaking more than words ever could.
-
>Finally, Anon sighs again.
-
A: So it’s back to living alone in the woods again, huh?
-
T: …No.
-
A: What?
-
T: You can’t go back, Anonymous.
-
A: Why not?
-
T: It’s too dangerous. Anon, if somepony like Chrysalis gets ahold of you again there’s no telling what would happen. If she’s able to get ahold of you… With her magic, and a power like that, nopony could stop her.
-
A: So what am I supposed to do, then?
-
T: Well…
-
>A distinct blush becomes visible on her face as she looks away.
-
T: You have to stay where I can keep a better eye on you. To make sure nopony else gets too close.
-
>Anon’s expression turns to an apathetic glare.
-
A: Uhh, what?
-
T: I have to protect you. It’s my responsibility.
-
A: No.
-
T: No? What do you mean, no?
-
A: I mean, thank you for saving me, thank you for everything, Twilight, really. But no. I don’t want to… I can’t stay here…
-
>He looks at her with a sudden longing, and feels like there’s an ocean of distance between them, despite sitting so close to where she’s standing.
-
A: I can’t stay here knowing this. I can’t stay here and look at you ponies knowing this.
-
T: Anon…
-
A: Don’t “Anon” me, Twilight. Please. Don’t say my name like that. I can’t… I can’t take it.
-
T: It’s not like that, Anonymous. Things aren’t so hopeless.
-
A: Yeah. Right.
-
T: I’m serious. You’re being over dramatic.
-
A: Over dramatic? With how you were just acting a second ago?
-
T: I was worried, Anon. Worried about you.
-
A: Whatever.
-
T: Don’t “whatever” me. I’m trying to help you.
-
A: And how are you going to help? By locking me up in a tower forever?
-
T: Not exactly…
-
A: So I’m right. You’re gonna imprison me.
-
T: Anon…
-
A: When I’ve done nothing wrong except exist?
-
T: You won’t be a prisoner. I’ll be here for you. I’ll see you every day.
-
>She takes a step closer and extends a hoof, but Anon turns away.
-
T: Please, Anon. You… We already…
-
A: What?
-
T: The reason I know about you, about how your love interacts with ponies’...
-
>Anon looks at her again and sees tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
-
T: It was only for a brief time, but…
-
A: Twilight…
-
T: I know you had feelings for me.
-
>Anon’s heart sinks in his chest. That’s something he never even wanted to admit to himself.
-
>Let alone have her find out.
-
T: And I…
-
>His head is spinning. How could she…
-
T: I had… I had feelings for you, too.
-
>He stands up straight and in a rage he punches one of the pillars in the room.
-
T: Anon!
-
>Twilight shouts in exasperation.
-
A: Don’t lie to me, Twilight. Don’t play games with me.
-
>She looks genuinely hurt by his words.
-
T: I’m not lying, Anon. That’s the main reason I’ve been keeping an eye on you the whole time you were gone. I… I didn’t want to let you go.
-
A: You’re lying.
-
T: I’m not, I swear.
-
A: You are. You’re lying about something here. Either my love isn’t that dangerous or you never had feelings for me.
-
T: Anon…
-
A: Which is it, Twilight?
-
T: Your love is dangerous, Anon.
-
A: So you never had feelings for me.
-
T: Anon, I did, I… I do!
-
A: No. And even if you did it wouldn’t matter if I’m as dangerous as you say. Even if I stayed here like you want, I’d still just be a prisoner. We could never…
-
T: I can take it, Anon.
-
>Her voice is full of determination. The tears are gone from her eyes.
-
T: I’m the only one who can handle the magical backlash. I… I want to help you, Anon.
-
A: I don’t believe you.
-
T: I’m telling the truth, Anon! Why won’t you listen?
-
A: I’m tired of this, Twilight. I just want to leave. I just want to leave this place. This world… This awful, perfect world…
-
>He looks at his hand, blood streaming from his knuckles where he struck the pillar.
-
T: Please just listen to me, Anon. You can be happy here.
-
>Anon shakes his head as she takes a step closer.
-
T: We can be happy.
-
>He closes his eyes and grits his teeth, and she places her hoof on his other hand.
-
T: I can make you happy.
-
>Anon relaxes for just a moment, then tightens his resolve again.
-
A: I could never be happy as a prisoner.
-
T: You won’t be a prisoner. We’ll live together. The two of us.
-
A: Just the two of us?
-
T: That’s right! You don’t need anypony else, Anon.
-
>His eye twitches.
-
A: I don’t?
-
T: I can be everything you need.
-
A: Twilight…
-
>Her voice softens.
-
T: I can be anything you need.
-
A: Twilight, please…
-
>She whispers in his ear.
-
T: Don’t you love me, Anon?
-
>Anon snatches his hand away.
-
A: Twilight, for the love of g-
-
>BOOOM
-
>White flame and purple lightning explode into Anon’s chest, blasting him against the far wall of the room.
-
A: AAAOOOORRGGHHHH
-
>Anon lets out a guttural howl as he is pinned to the wall by the blast of magic, his feet dangling nearly a foot above the floor.
-
>He’d writhe in pain, but he can barely move.
-
>With extreme effort, he opens his eyes and looks forward.
-
>Twilight stands before him.
-
>From her glowing horn the stream of destructive magic blasts out and into his body.
-
T: If you won’t love me, Anon…
-
>His face twists in pain and confusion, but he can’t respond.
-
T: I’ll give you what you want.
-
>Clenching his teeth and his fists, he musters every ounce of strength in his body as he attempts to push back against her.
-
T: I’ll help you leave this perfect world.
-
>Through the sparks and tongues of magic flame that fill his sight he can still see her expression clearly.
-
T: If you won’t love me…
-
>Her eyes are wide. Her gaze is cold. She stares into him, through to his very soul.
-
>Those aren’t Twilight’s eyes.
-
>Not the Twilight he knew.
-
T: Nopony ever will.
-
>Looking into those eyes, those slitted pupils blazing with wicked purple malice, suddenly, something snaps.
-
T: Why won’t you love me, Anon?
-
>There’s no more pain.
-
T: We could be happy together.
-
>The stream of magic plows into his chest, but he can’t feel anything.
-
T: I’m sorry, Anon.
-
>No, he does feel something.
-
T: If you won’t stay here where I can keep you safe, keep everypony safe…
-
>He feels anger. He feels strength.
-
T: If you won’t love me…
-
>He clenches his fists.
-
T: Then die for me.
-
A: No…
-
>Anon pounds his fists into the wall behind him.
-
A: NO.
-
>With a surge of primal might he flexes every muscle in his body, and with the sound of a thunderclap the magic slamming into his body explodes away from him, knocking Twilight backwards.
-
>He falls to the ground with a loud thud, but quickly recovers.
-
>His shirt is destroyed, steam rises from his body, but his flesh is unmarred.
-
>As he raises his head to look again at the pony before him, he feels power flowing through him.
-
>Twilight has recovered as well, and stands ready, pointing her horn at him, sparks and dark swirls of energy roiling around its point.
-
T: You see, Anon? This is why you’re so dangerous.
-
>Anon can’t form a response. He’s too angry to think properly.
-
T: Your rage resonated with my own and it’s empowering both our magic.
-
>Anon doesn't care about the fact he had no magic before.
-
>He doesn’t care how he broke free.
-
>He doesn’t care about the details of what is happening at all.
-
>All he cares about is dealing with the pony before him.
-
>All he sees is red.
-
>He takes a step forward.
-
>A bolt of black lightning crashes into his shoulder, shot from the alicorn’s horn.
-
>His blackened flesh quickly heals, and he takes another step.
-
T: Hmph. Then how about this.
-
>Twilight raises her head, and prismatic light swirls throughout the entire room, spiraling inward to a single point just above the tip of her horn.
-
>Anon lunges forward as the rainbow of magic condenses down into a star-like orb.
-
>In a moment he’s before her.
-
>Murderous intent consumes his mind.
-
>He extends his hand, reaching forward to grasp her neck.
-
T: Goodbye, Anon.
-
>Just before he touches her, she lowers her head, pointing her horn and the prismatic star straight at his face.
-
>The star brightens, its light blinds him.
-
>And then in an instant it is knocked aside, firing a rainbow that melts a circular hole through the wall behind Anon as a black shape slams into Twilight’s face from her right.
-
>The delayed sound of crashing stone resounds through the room, revealing another gaping chasm in the wall of the room, from which the black shape entered.
-
T: Whaa!?
-
>Twilight skids across the floor from the unsuspected impact, but manages to recover by hastily flapping her wings, landing gracefully and getting back into a fighting stance.
-
>Anon’s momentum, on the other hand, carries him forward and he trips, falling onto his face.
-
T: How did YOU get here!?
-
>The black shape stands tall before Anon’s prostrated form.
-
>Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings, has appeared from nowhere, and now faces down the Princess of Friendship with a look of unbridled ferocity.
-
>The sheer surprise of the situation quells Anon’s rage a bit, and in his confusion he doesn’t even think to stand.
-
C: How dare you!
-
>Chrysalis screams as green lightning bursts from her horn towards Twilight, but Twilight simply pops out of the way with a teleportation spell, appearing instantly a few feet to the left.
-
C: I won’t let you have him! He’s mine!
-
>Chrysalis’s body shifts and twists into her massive, dragonic form, breaking the pillars to either side of her and crashing through the ceiling.
-
T: No! He’s mine! If I can’t have him, nopony can! Especially not YOU!
-
>Twilight fires a blast of white energy just in time to protect herself from a swathe of green flames spewing down on her from above.
-
>Anon manages to regain his composure as the two are locked in battle.
-
>He stands, his head clearing from the fog of rage that had consumed him.
-
>A pulse of pain surges through him, and he falls to one knee.
-
>Every inch of his body screams with pain, but his mind is his own again.
-
>He chuckles.
-
A: What the hell is going on?
-
-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
by Luckybuck
by Luckybuck
by Luckybuck
by Luckybuck
by Luckybuck