>My name is Star. >One of the 22 facades that Anonymous, the myriad hearts being, separated into after choosing a key from Philemon. “And I don’t mean to brag but right now I feel the luckiest of them all.” >”Did you say something?” asked the creamed-colored mare with a cyan mane and the sweetest of names. Coco Puff… I mean Pommel. Coco Pommel. >Shoot. I keep changing form inner to outer monologue. After being a voice among voices for so long it becomes difficult to know when you are or aren’t speaking. “Yes. I said thank you for helping me with my request. I’m sure it must have been difficult to make so many in such a short time.” >”Not at all. It was the least I could do after how you and Rarity helped me overcome my fears.” She says while packing a bunch of neatly packed sets of different clothes into a large trunk decorated with a pattern of diamonds and the letter “R” that Rarity had lent you. >”Besides, these ended up as a part of the Midsummer Theater Revival and it is thanks to them that we gathered the attention so many fillies and foals. They all loved them!” She finishes packing and goes to the balcony of her apartment to see how the community of ponies from Manehattan was cleaning and repairing the park and improvised stage were the Method Mares had performed last night. “If it was a hit with the children then we are golden. Everypony will want one. I’ll have to inform my contacts from Seaddle to get more sponsors.” >Hand rubbing intensifies. >”Wow, you seem to have everything planned.” She says while adjusting her cutesy sailor collar and tie. “Even now I would be nervous to do such a grand scale project. “ “Aim for the stars Coco Puff. The only way to succeed is to go big!” I pose fabulously pointing at the ceiling. >Absolutely flawless. >”…Coco Puff?” >Oh no. “Sweating loudly” >Coco just looks at me with her mouth open. “… thanksforeverythingI’vegottagobye!” >I leave Manehattan at record human speed. Train ride to Ponyville >Well. All things considered everything went better than expected. >It’s been weeks since I last returned to Ponyville. Since I last saw my fellow Anonymous. My friends. My bros. My Rarara. >Last I knew about her she was “in the zone”. And you can’t exactly talk to her when she is feeling inspired. > I can relate. Once my mind starts racing I won’t stop until my visions come to life. So I took the opportunity to indulge myself in my own projects. >Heh. We certainly are alike. >… “Maybe we are too much alike.” “All this time I was in Manehattan is spent oogling and making passes at Coco.” “Just flirting as a mean to amuse myself, nothing serious. But then again…” “What if she’s been seeing someone else?” “Someone better” “Both talking behind my back. Mocking me.” “What if I get cucked. CUCKED!” "GASP!" “AND THEN SHE LEAVES ME FOR THAT USSELESS SOLDIER FLAS…” >A cough interrupts me. >There’s way too many ponies looking at me. >Crap. How come this keeps happening? I’m pretty sure every Anon monologues almost as much as I and this never happens to them. >Nevertheless, I should expect better from Rarity. She is a smart mare and a lady of impeccable taste. She wouldn’t do something as crude as that. >I mean, free love and all of that, but no NTR situations. >And my little bro, Spike, is there so nothing bad could happen to her. “He turned out okay. Meeting him was one of the best things from coming here.” >I can’t despair like this. I may have neglected her but I’m sure she will understand. Tonight I’m seeing Rarity and I’ll tell her my plans. >”Mommy, what is to get cucked?” a little filly asks her mother. >I sink into my seat. I really can’t wait to get to Ponyville. Ponyville >Coming out of the station always reminds me of the first day I, no We first arrived right in the middle of Nightmare Night. Maybe that’s when this idea began. >Never mind that, I quickly arrive to my destination. Not too far away from the station, although relatively speaking in a small town like Ponyville everything is conveniently close. >Buying the place and getting the permit to set store wasn’t difficult at all. As for the funds, well, speaking with the right ponies and using the right words can net you a fair amount of bits. >The Umaguchi clan, DTR’s father, Silver Shill, your bro Shining all the way in the Crystal Empire. All placed their trust and money on you, provided you keep your word and with some added benefits for them. “Did I create Crowdfunding?” >”About time you showed up!” two masked men come out of the store. “Hey Strength, Hermit. Good to see you guys.” >Even though their faces are masked, I can tell they aren’t that happy to see me. “You guys out did yourselves. This place looks awesome.” >”It wasn’t easy, what with you just telling us to build you a place out of nowhere” >”And Death pulling that massive Slam the other day” “Heh. Either I got lucky or he is gonna get me later.” >”I’m going to pretend you didn’t want to say that out loud” said Strength cracking his knuckles. “What I meant to say is that even through such hardships you guys got the job done. You are real troopers. The true heroes of this story.” >”… fine. But only because you are one of the few whom really appreciate our help.” >”Are you going to tell us what this place is for?” asked Hermit. “Didn’t Spike tell you?” >”Nope. He said it worked better as a surprise.” >”Sometimes I think we are a bad influence.” “That is… debatable,” I pull the trunk closer “but I can assure you that what I’ll have in store will make everypony and specially everyone happy.” >I open the trunk. >”!” >”Are those?” >”No way!” “Now, I can’t start giving them away, yet. But since you guys worked so hard, you can call dibs first.” >I’m pretty sure that their smiles could crack their masks open. >Having come to terms with Strength and Hermit, they return to their homes with a spring in their stride, chuckling to themselves. >And now I return to Carousel Boutique. Carousel Boutique, Evening >”Oh Darling, you shouldn’t have!” says Rarity as she models a hat and silk scarf in front of a mirror “but I’m really glad you did!” “Actually Coco sends those. She said she made them with you in mind, so that makes them as exclusive as they could be.” >”Oh that is so generous of her! And her craft has definitely improved since last time. I must visit her next time, “she says striking a fabulous pose, but then grimaces and looks at the floor “if only I hadn’t focused so much on my work.” >I pour some wine into her glass. The boutique is currently closed, her gramophone plays a soothing sax and only a couple of candles lit the room where we are having dinner. It should be romantic, but I’m pretty sure we are going to have one of those talks. “Is something on your mind?” >She looks at the floor for a little while, then walks to the table and downs her wine in one go. >”These last couple of days I’ve advanced towards making my dream come true, but it wasn’t until several days in that I realized that… well, you weren’t here.” >I refill both glasses and begin to open another bottle. >”Even though Spikey-Wikey told me you had gone to work on your projects… I couldn’t help feeling that maybe I had driven you away.” “That’s silly.” >”Oh, I know that! But I began to imagine you leaving me for other more fashionable and successful mares, and that I’d never see you again! Oh by Celestia I’m so pathetic!” >She is in “Drama Mode” right now. Sobbing in her divan. >I down my wine. >There is only one way to solve this situation. >And I need to be at the top of my game. >I go towards her. Kneel on one leg and grab her hoof with both hands. “Rarity,” I say as we look in each other’s eyes “you are the most inspired and driven pony that I know. Far from being pathetic, you are as radiant as a star. So seeing you so discouraged breaks my heart and pains me like no other thing I’ve ever experienced.” >”Sniff-Sniff. You are just saying it. You don’t know how insecure I felt.” “But I do know Rarity. Every day I was away I feared you would be taken away from me. That you would leave me. But by the end of the day I knew that I am as important to you as you are to me. So I can say wholeheartedly that there is nothing in the universe that can break our love.” >Rarity smiles through the tears. >”Kiss me darling”. >We spent a long time together… Carousel Boutique, Morning “You know, I still don’t know what you were working at all this time.” >We are both still in her divan. >Although the whole place is upside down. >We may have gotten too creative and intense with our... affection. “No wonder that wine was so expensive.” >Rarity snuggles closer to my chest, knowing when to ignore my monologues. >”I’ve been completing enough commissions and selecting the right assistant to complete my dream.” >Wait for it… >”I’m finally going to open a boutique in Canterlot!” >I know it shouldn’t amaze me; this mare will make her dreams come true one way or another, but for it to happen so soon is still quite an accomplishment. “That is amazing! We have to tell everybody!” >”Oh I can hardly wait to share this with everypony, but first things first. I still don’t know what YOUR project is about darling.” >The time has come. I get up from the divan and begin to walk towards the trunk. ”Have I ever told you about Philemon and the keys?” >”Indeed you have. Each of you chose a key that symbolized the bond which you felt the most identified.” “During this entire journey I became open to new ideas and growth. There were plenty of times when we only succeeded because we didn’t lose hope. And with this new chance of, let’s say renewal, I wanted to share this hope with others.” >I take the trunk and take it to her. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I wanted to be more like you.” >I open the trunk and Rarity’s mind is blown. >From inside the trunk she began to levitate with her magic several sets of attires. >”I’ve seen them before! This is Cyrano, and this one is Alucard!” >She levitates some more. >”And Solomon, Gilgamesh, Tarzan, even Sunset’s Kamen Rider Phoenix suit!” “I certainly couldn’t miss those,” I say while chuckling “if I want to share our story we need the whole team.” >”They are wonderful! These stitches, this fabric, even the embroidered details… Did Coco make all of them?” “That’s right! Even with my vague descriptions she managed to pull it off.” >”I still don’t understand darling. What are you planning to do with them?” >I sit next to her and slowly begin to caress her neck. “After all the hardships we went through, I know for certain that it is a story that can inspire us to hope for the best even in the most dire situation. ” “From where Anonymous came, these were heroes of legends whose stories taught for generations that hope is never lost. And that’s what I want to share to this world.” ”And it is super fun to impersonate heroes and fictional characters, so I’ve decided to open a Costume shop here in Ponyville!” >Also, because I missed being able to change Personas. >Rarity hugs me. >”I’m so proud of you darling… what are those!?” >Rarity points at a couple of costumes lying on the floor. >There’s a ninja suit, a pirate suit, robot suits, kaiju costumes, angels, demons, like a dozen different Kamen Riders, Power Ponies, school uniforms, swim suits, a peacock, an owl, a Pinkie Pie suit, spandex suits, capes, masks, and many more. “Oh, yeah. Those.” I say with a shit eating grin. “Since the other anons and I are always making references that no pony gets, I researched which didn’t have a pony equivalent, copyrighted them, and made a group of artists, animators and film makers to recreate them.” >Rarity’s eye twitches a little. >“That’s the real reason why you traveled so much, right darling?” >The cat is out of the bag. “I had to investigate the market and make product testing with the target audience.” “Children in Manehattan love them already. By the time Nightmare Night comes around we’ll be rolling in bits.” >Rarity inspects a red dictator costume and the dress of a fortune teller. >”I fell in love with a fool,” she sighs “but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” >Aim for the top baby. >… “Did I say that out loud?” >”You didn’t say anything darling.” >… close enough. >We both laugh and begin to sort out the costumes. >I’m Star. >And with my Rarara I feel like the luckiest man in the universe.