Full Circle: Epilogue

Author's note:  This is an epilogue of both stories on this pastebin: Crazy About You and Solitary Confinement.

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“Come on, this way!”
>Several hunched figures move in the darkness of the night.
>The towering skyscrapers of the city aid in the stealthy movements of the group.
>”Do you honestly think this plan will work?”
>The leading hooded figure flinches at this question as the momentum of the mass grind to a halt.
>”For all we know, there could be a patrol at night just waiting for us!”
“You're really going to doubt me now?”
>The leader turns to face the crowd.
>With a false sense of confidence, the naysayer spits out.
>”For all we know they could be in your oh-so-secret hideout right now!”
>Fists clenched and teeth gritted, the leader attempts diplomacy.
“How long have you known me?”
>”Five hours!  Barely enough time to-”
“Not the point!  What happened before I took charge?”
>”Well... we... we...”
“You lost some valuable members, forfeited your weapons while running and lost your only safe house to a marauding squad of ponies.”
>The naysayer shrinks at his words.
“You have known this group for far longer than I have, and five hours in my company is enough to dismiss my lead?”
>The leader steps forward, bringing his face close to the now shaking form of a human.
“You even begged for my help, a stranger, and now you're doubting me?!”
>He swiftly turns his back to the group, taking one step away from them.
“If you think you're better than me, then go ahead, I'm not stopping you.  It's easier to move by myself than with you dead weights.”
>Another human emerges from the mass.
>”Please forgive my Aunt, she can be a bit blunt in these trying times.”
>Rolling his eyes, he glances at the group.
“Fine, but doubt me again, and the ponies will be the least of your worries.”
>After a few more minutes of travel, the group comes to a large factory.
“Come on, this way!”
>The leader disappears into the building, the group of humans trailing in after.
>Murmuring in the darkness, the mass of people start to question their surroundings.
>Suddenly, a blinding spotlight highlights the mass.
“Now!”
>A cage drops down from above, trapping the humans.
>All except one.
>The rest of the lights in the building turn on, revealing the human leader and a squad of ponies behind him.
>”You fucking traitor, you brought us all here to die!”
“The name's Anonymous, get it right.”
>The chorus of voices revolt at the lone human.
“Listen up-”
>The mass only gets louder as you try to assert yourself.
>Grinding your teeth in frustration, you point to a stallion.
>You cringe a bit in pain, your jaw's been bothering you this week.
“Big Bang, attention-getter, go!”
>The unicorn charges up a spell as a deafening pop fills the room.
>You stare at the crowd as you take the center of the room.
>Smoothing out your shirt, you make yourself presentable before shouting.
“Now, all of you lucky people have been chosen for a lovely experiment.”
>”For what?!”
>You glare daggers at the idiot speaking out of turn.
“Integration into pony society, and if you would let me finish, you would know that you're all going to live.”
>Pulling out a pistol, you point it right above the loudmouth's head.
“Well, maybe except you.”
>Purposely missing your shot, you struck fear into the crowd as the bullet ricochets off the cage.
“That's your first warning, as I said before, cross me again and these ponies will be the least of your worries.  I'm not allowed to kill any of you ungrateful dunces unless given permission.”
>You holster your gun and rub your sore jaw a little.
“Trust me though, getting permission is easy.  Beating you with your own legs?  Difficult, but I'll damn well try my best.”
>Turning to the line of ponies behind you, you motion to take them away.
“Get these parasites out of my sight.”
>Ponies pass by as you walk towards the back of the factory, away from the masses.
>Your eyes drift left and right, looking for specific farm mare.
>A gentle glow tugs at your shirt.
>Turning around, the familiar blue curls bounce in front of you.
>”Aww... is my little Anon sick from all the negative emotions those dirty humans have been feeding him?”
>Opening your mouth to speak, a pang of pain shoots through your lower jaw.
“Gah!  You know me too well Glimmer.  Where's that accursed nurse that's supposed to diagnose me?!”
>Glimmer's horn lifts you into her forehooves as she carries you over to a chair.
>”Oh, she will be seeing you soon.  She heard that you will be coming today, so do not fret dear.”
>You growl through the pain as you rub your chin.
“You know, why are we back here?  At least the apples on the farm don't make a fuss when they get eaten!”
>She stares at you with a bemused look on her face.
>”You already know why, dear.  Sunny's little experiment on you caught wildfire among the human preserver community.  Not to mention, a renewable source of food and company is quite the accomplishment.”
>Turning away from your cheerful lover, you cross your arms.
“You just better give me a little extra tonight, these humans are nothing but rotten apple cores.”
>She chuckles a bit before nuzzling your cheek.
>”Do not worry my dear, I know how hard it is for you to talk to these walking meat bags, or whatever names you tend to give them.”
>Puffing your cheeks out in annoyance, another voice giggles at your expense.
>”...is this a bad time?”
>Glimmer greets the white-bodied pony as you turn towards her.
>”Not at all dear, my Anonymous just has become a bit cranky with his condition.”
“It's not serious!  It's just some lower jaw pain.”
>The pink maned mare holds out a hoof to introduce herself.
>”My name's Nurse Soma, its a pleasure to meet you...”
“Anonymous, but my pony friends call me Anon.”
>You shake her hoof as her horn glows a bit.
>”If you could hold still for a moment, I could determine the cause of your illness.”
“Please do.”
>A blue glow surrounds your body.
>Staying perfectly still, you stare at the concentrating nurse.
>A single tear rolls out of her eye as it escapes into her coat.
>The blue glow dissipates as you resume rubbing your sore jaw.
>”Hmm...”
“Just give it to me straight, nurse.”
>”Well... how often to you actually eat, Anon?  Physical food, of course.”
>You look up in thought, pondering the question for a bit.
“Not often really, maybe twice a week, why?”
>She smiles at your response.
>”Well, your jaw muscles are fairly weak.  Seems this changeling diet has made you stop using your mouth quite a bit.”
>You raise an eyebrow at this.
“Really... that's interesting.”
>”Yep, so I recommend that you bring some gum with you to just chew on, unless you want to get fat from eating all the food.”
>Glimmer gives a  husky, seductive laugh at that as she whispers loudly in your ear.
>”Oh, that sounds like a positively wonderful idea.”
>You shove her muzzle away as you face the nurse again.
“Thanks Nurse Soma, I'll take your recommendation to heart.”
>”It's my pleasure, really.  I must go now though, I have a few more patients to attend to.”
>As she turns around, you call out to her.
“Wait.”
>She turns her head to you with a inquisitive glance.
“If you don't mind me asking, why are you on this project?”
>Soma turns her head back around mechanically as she faces the other ponies.
>”It's... a personal interest, let's leave it at that.”
“I understand, thanks Nurse Soma.”
>She trots away, dragging her hooves a bit.
>”...you sensed it too, dear?”
>Looking over to Glimmer, you see a sharp look in her eyes.
“I didn't sense anything, I saw it.”
>”I felt the poor girl's heart crack when she mentioned your name.  What are the chances of another human with your name?”
“Not sure, but anyone can name themselves anything.  Humans aren't really confined to an identity with their names.”
>Glimmer lets out an audible sigh before looking at your tired form.
>”Look dear, you can go off to bed in the back, I would like to speak with this nurse.”
>You jump off your chair as you run your hand through her curly blue mane.
“Go for it, I'm too exhausted to even think about being nice to somepony.”
>She licks your arm back in response.
>”Thank you dear, sleep well, I'll join you in a bit.”
>As your special pony runs to the nurse, you yawn out loud as you walk to your room.
>Seeing a pamphlet on your bed, you lay down as you read the cover out loud.
“The Shine Project: A brighter future for humans and ponies alike.”
>You smirk a bit at the wording before tossing it onto the floor.
“Crazy mare and her damned experiments is gonna be the death of me.”
>Without pulling out the covers, you close your eyes as you bathe in some well-deserved rest.
“Sure hope the next group they find isn't as agonizingly dumb.”
>Unable to wait for your beloved pony, you pass out to the sound of your own heartbeat.