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- Lumen!
- >You yell, hand outstretched in front of you.
- >Yet Twilight’s basement remains unlit.
- >The purple unicorn sits in the corner shaking her head, then returning to her book, flipping through the pages.
- >You glance at your hand, get in position once more, and try again.
- Lumen!
- >The same result.
- Hmm…
- >You exhale, bringing your hand back to your body.
- >”This doesn’t make any sense…” Twilight mutters, still trying to locate her page.
- >You walk over to her, glancing over her shoulder.
- >”…aha, here we go! Lumen!” she scans the spell quickly.
- >Her face quickly contorts to that of confusion.
- >”Oh, Anon…” she says surprised.
- >You walk around her to get a better view of the page.
- >After a quick scan, you pick the book up yourself and read over the lines studiously as you walk back to your practice position.
- >You mutter a few things to yourself, then glance up and focus.
- >You stretch your arm straight up, like a beacon, and keep your fingers together on your palm.
- Lumen!
- >A brief, dull light spits and sputters from your hand for a short time, then ceases.
- >Twilight exhales a soft breath.
- >”Oh…”
- >You walk back over and drop the book in front of her.
- >She’s already made the same realization about last night.
- …I wasn’t even in the proper position.
- >She nods at you.
- >”But… that makes no sense…”
- >She levitates the book to her as you two begin to exit the basement.
- >”How were you able to cast them then? You can’t just make up spells.”
- >You shake your head.
- No, I can’t. And that’s what’s so perplexing.
- >You walk to your room, as Twilight flips open the book back to the spell.
- >”Well, maybe you… I mean… sometimes, if a p0ny knows the BASICS of a spell, he or she can—“
- >You stop her, then crouch down, pointing to a phrase on the page.
- >Class Two Combat Spell.
- I’ve never once practiced any Class Twos.
- >You get back up and grab your blade, fastening it to your belt.
- >Twilight sighs, then closes the book for good.
- >”Maybe you have a natural gift?”
- >You laugh softly to yourself.
- I don’t think anyone has the gift to make up spells on the fly, Twilight.
- >You glance to the many spellbooks lining the walls of your room.
- Must have been some… mistake.
- >The air is still and silent in your room.
- >Twilight shuffles awkwardly, then nods.
- >You look back to her.
- >…things have gotten a little serious.
- >So you try to break the tension with a smile.
- >She sees this.
- >And smiles back awkwardly.
- Please,
- >You begin,
- take note of those spells if you can, Twilight.
- >You begin walking out of your room.
- When we begin practicing Class Twos, I want those to be the first.
- >She nods.
- >”Okay, Anon.”
- >You smile briefly at her.
- Thanks, Twilight.
- >You look to the door.
- I’m… going to see Fluttershy for a bit, is that okay?
- >She trots over with a solemn expression.
- >”Is… it about Mr. Bear?”
- >You grip the doorknob.
- …Yeah.
- >She slowly nods her head.
- >”…Okay, Anon. Please be careful.”
- >You smile to her.
- Always.
- >This cheers her up.
- >You twist the knob and step out into the late morning air.
- >The sun sits almost perfectly high in the sky as you walk through town, hand firmly on the hilt of your sword.
- >The p0nies outside begin to stare, and soon after, the murmurs begin once more.
- >You try not to pay attention, but you can hear a few words thrown around.
- >”Bear” seems to be one of them.
- >You sigh internally.
- >How quickly do things get around in this town?
- >Thankfully, no mares run up to you and start conversation this time.
- >You’re not really in the mood to deal with such things anyway.
- >Something’s been on your mind since last night.
- >You aren’t sure what, really.
- >You’re hoping a trip to Fluttershy’s can answer some questions, or, at least, put your mind at ease.
- >You turn down the path towards her cottage once more.
- >Again, the birds and animals play cheerfully, giving an air of lightheartedness to the atmosphere.
- >…then why do you feel such a sense of dread?
- >The path winds, and all manner of squirrels, beavers, and birds take notice of you approaching and dart out of the way.
- >Up the path ahead, right before the entrance to the cottage is—
- >!
- >You swing your hand to your left side and draw your blade.
- >Mr. Bear hears this sound and spins around.
- >He takes notice of your aggressive stance.
- >He lifts his paws up in front of him and shakes them side-to-side rapidly while simultaneously shaking his head.
- >…No?
- >You lower your sword, keeping it drawn just in case, and approach the beast.
- >As you get close, he looks to the ground and scratches his arm.
- >He growls a melancholic noise, looking up to you with sad eyes.
- >You gaze deeply into the once-fierce pupils of Mr. Bear.
- >The anger is gone…
- >…you think you understand.
- >You smile, and lift your blade to your side, sheathing it.
- It’s okay, Mr. Bear.
- >You say, holding out your hand to shake.
- >His ears pop right up and a huge smile graces his face.
- >He opens his arms wide and pulls you in to a back-crushing bear hug, swishing you side to side as he shows his affection.
- Oof! WHOA there, big guy!
- >You say, patting him on the back as if you were tapping out.
- >He groans an apologetic groan and places you back onto the ground, smiling.
- >You smile awkwardly at the sentient beast.
- >A door creaking open catches your attention.
- >You are now Fluttershy.
- >You heard Mr. Bear growling and groaning, so you decided to step outside and see what the commotion was this time.
- O-Oh…
- >You mutter as your eyes lock to the tall human with your beastly friend.
- >He takes notice of you as well.
- >”Miss Fluttershy,” he says, beginning to walk over.
- >He pats Mr. Bear on the shoulder twice as he passes him, the large animal smiling and groaning happily as he does.
- >He walks up your steps and bows courteously.
- >”Forgive me for my unannounced visit, but there are a few things I wish to discuss with you.”
- >You cross your hind legs a bit and nod.
- Of course, Anonymous…
- >You lean back into your door, opening it, and guiding him inside with a hoof.
- >He smiles and nods, as if to thank you, and steps inside.
- >You watch him from behind as he walks further into your house.
- >Oh, my… that plot…
- >You… just want to grab him and—
- >”I see your home has been fixed,” he says. He guides his hand, pointing behind you. “Even the door. That’s great to see.”
- >You mentally shake your head and smile.
- Y-Yes, Mr. Bear was kind enough to fix everything once he c-came to…
- >He nods with a smile.
- >He’s so handsome…
- >With his cape… and clothes… you just want to tear them off and—
- >”Anyway, Miss Fluttershy, Mr. Bear is actually the reason for my visit.”
- >You snap to it once more.
- >What is wrong with you?
- O-Oh, okay...
- >You motion him to the couch, and he takes a seat.
- >You sit down next to him.
- >He opens his mouth, then pauses a moment, as if to think more, then continues.
- >”...You were face-to-face with Mr. Bear before I came out, right?”
- >You nod slowly.
- >”…Mr. Bear is never like that, correct?”
- >You pause, then shake your head.
- N-No…
- >You’re finding it hard to concentrate.
- He’s always… so peaceful.
- >He nods, then looks away.
- >You continue staring at him.
- >Anonymous wears clothes all the time… how strange…
- >What’s he hiding under there…?
- >You want to reach over and… take a peek…
- >Just a little one…
- >A… forceful one.
- >You doubt he’ll even—
- >”Miss Fluttershy?”
- >You blink a few times, then meet his gaze.
- >Your foreleg is reaching over toward him.
- >”What are you…?”
- Nothing!
- >You blurt, darting your leg back to you.
- >Anonymous looks over to you questioningly.
- >Then lets out a single, breathy laugh.
- >It’s even accompanied by an awkward smile.
- >So cute…
- >”Well… as I was saying…”
- >The smile wipes from his face.
- >”I’ve never seen a creature with that… expression.”
- >He looks to you.
- >”You got a look into his eyes, correct?”
- >You turn your head and gaze to the ground.
- >You think back…
- >…the terrifying, bloodshot, red-hot rage that seethed behind those eyes.
- >It was… so unlike Mr. Bear…
- Yes…
- >He shifts a little in his seat and nods.
- >”I see.”
- >You turn to him.
- But… but he’s better now! You saw him, right?
- >He looks over to you, then gazes out your window.
- >Mr. Bear happily jumps up at a bee’s next sitting in a tree.
- >Anonymous smiles.
- >”It would seem that way, yes.”
- >You smile as well.
- >”But his actions… they still worry me.”
- >He lifts up his leg and rests it on top of his other, forming a sort of “T” with them.
- >”I suppose it is none of my business, however. If you’re sure he’s normally so calm, and feel fine living with him, then there’s nothing I can do.”
- >He looks over to you and smiles.
- >”I’m just worried for your safety, Miss. That’s all.”
- >You can feel the area between your legs moisten at these words.
- >You hope you aren’t making a mess or anything.
- I…I…
- >You blush profusely.
- …Thank you, Anonymous…
- >He laughs a little and smiles again.
- I don’t know what it was about, but I’m sure it’ll never happen again.
- >He nods.
- >”If you believe so,” he says, rising from your couch. “But if it ever happens again, or anything similar… you know where to find me.”
- >You smile bashfully.
- Th-Thank you…
- >He nods happily.
- >And with that, he takes his leave.
- >Suddenly, a flash of emotion courses through you.
- >It’s there for a split second, almost acted upon, before it vanishes.
- >It almost causes you to vocally gasp, but you catch yourself.
- >Anonymous notices nothing, opens the door, turns back to you, and smiles.
- >”Good day, Miss.”
- >And closes the door.
- >You sit, dumbfounded.
- >Your private area tingling and winking.
- >What… was that…?
- >You hop off the couch to your feet and pace around a bit.
- >It’s like… you wanted to… pin him against the wall or something…
- >And…
- >…oh, my…
- >You shake your head as if to free the desires from your mind.
- >You remember feeling this way last night too.
- >But… you just attributed it to the alcohol…
- >What’s… going on…?
- >And why do you… like it so much?
- >You are now Anonymous.
- >And the weight in your chest has been lifted… slightly.
- >You grip the sheathe of your sword as you stroll back into town.
- >Fluttershy knows her animals better than anyone, you suppose.
- >Perhaps the bear was just angry about something.
- >…very angry.
- >…that’s what still bothers you.
- >But hey, he even apologized to you and gave you an authentic bear hug.
- >You smile, thinking about it.
- >It was… kind of sweet.
- >You’d still like to keep an eye on the area though…
- >…
- >…wow, look at you, still a trainee, and already thinking about guarding the people.
- >You laugh to yourself as you walk.
- >Maybe you’re overreacting…
- >You bring your eyes up from the road below.
- >Twilight’s library stands before you.
- >You grip the handle and push, opening the door and letting yourself into the cool place of study.
- Hello, I’m back.
- >You call.
- >Galloping hooves sound off incredibly fast.
- >Twilight flies around the corner and screeches to a halt before you.
- >She looks incredibly excited.
- >”ANON!” she cries.
- >You look to her with a perplexed expression.
- >”You didn’t tell me my BROTHER was your blade instructor!”
- >…what?
- What…?
- >How is this relevant?
- >The sound of more approaching hooves grabs your attention.
- >”Being the knucklehead he is, he probably forgot to mention it!”
- >You dart your head up.
- >Sir Shining Armor stands by the corner, looking at you with a smile on his face.
- >Your heart skips a beat.
- S-Sir Shining Armor!
- >You rapidly approach him, drop a knee, and bow your head.
- >He laughs.
- >”Get up, you clod!”
- >He playfully punches your shoulder.
- >You can hear Twilight giggle behind you.
- >You smile and blush a little before standing back to your feet.
- S-Sir, what are you doing here?
- >He laughs again, Twilight joining him by his side.
- >”I found myself with some time off, thought I’d stop by to see how my favorite student and little sister are doing.”
- >He drives his hoof onto Twilight’s head, rubbing it back and forth like a noogie.
- >Twilight screams a playful laugh and pushes his hoof away, a broad smile on her face.
- >Shining Armor turns to you again.
- >”So, I hear you’ve already made quite a name for yourself around here.”
- >He begins pacing around you.
- >”Alpha timberwolf AND a bear, huh? You’re a regular hero, aren’t you?”
- >You laugh, knowing very well he’s just being facetious.
- Well, the bear was a fluke, that’s for sure.
- >He shakes his head.
- >”Naah! No way! Twily told me all about it, I bet you just invented those spells on the fly!”
- >You laugh again.
- Sir, you know that’s impossible.
- >He shakes his head with a smile.
- >”No way, man! I do it all the time!”
- >He snickers.
- >”For example, I’m going to cast my Damn-You-To-Tartarus spell right now unless you get outside and show me what you got!”
- >He draws his blade with his magic.
- >You let out a few breathy laughs.
- Sir, it’s barely been a day!
- >”Ah-ah-ah!”
- >He flips his sword around and presses the hilt into your back, leading you out the door.
- >”Blade training waits for nop0ny! Let’s go!”
- >You look over to Twilight, who’s playfully giggling at her brother’s antics.
- >You smile wide.
- Alright, alright!
- >You draw your sword, still being led outside.
- We’ll go, we’ll go!
- >The sound of clashing steel is so loud you’re surprised more p0nies haven’t stepped outside to see what the noise is all about.
- >Shining Armor’s blade levitates around him, then strikes to the side.
- >You bring your sword across your body to meet it, successfully blocking his attack.
- >He recoils his weapon, then drives it straight for you.
- >You swing your own down from its position and swat the incoming attack away from you.
- >The levitating blade drives itself up once more, then careens from the right.
- >You bring your sword up to defend.
- >But just as you do, the blade takes to the air a bit, jumping your defense, and swinging to the other side.
- >You aren’t quick enough, and the sword drives rapidly to your neck, stopping just short of it.
- >You let out a sigh.
- >”Come on, Anonymous,” Shining Armor says with semi-joking disappointment.
- >You lower your blade to your side.
- >”Tell me, man. Where were you looking?”
- >Oh, you hate this question…
- Well, I—
- >”What were you looking at?”
- >You sigh.
- …your sword.
- >He smirks.
- >”Thought so. Now where SHOULD you be looking?”
- >You smile a little, knowing he isn’t completely upset.
- Your head.
- >Shining Armor levitates his blade close to him.
- >”Good! Come on, man. Always look at the head.”
- >He brings his sword up to the sky, then swings it left and right as an example.
- >”Any unicorn has gotta telegraph his swing by juuust a fraction of a second with his horn before the blade goes that way. Come on, you know this, right?”
- >You laugh.
- Yes, Sir, I know this.
- >He brings the blade back to him.
- >”You’re in a unique position, because your sword will ALWAYS be right with you since you hold it with your hand.”
- >He taps your arm with the flat side of his blade.
- >”You’re always ready to defend. If you can master reading a unicorn’s head movements, then you should be an unstoppable wall. Got it?”
- >You nod your head.
- I got it.
- >He smiles.
- >”Good. Alright then, one more time.”
- >You bring your sword to a ready position once more.
- >The sounds of steel clanging start up once more.
- >Twilight happily watches as her brother and good friend spar in front of her.
- >You are now Fluttershy.
- >And the aggressive feelings you’ve been experiencing are still niggling away at your mind.
- >You scrub a dish as you think about it.
- >Normally, you’d never think of forcing yourself on anyp0ny…
- >…But…
- >It… just feels so right…
- >You place the dish down into the soapy water and sigh.
- >When did this start happening…?
- >…
- >”Fluttershy…”
- >You hear your name softly, as if it was being carried by the wind calmly by your ear.
- >It snaps you to attention.
- Who…?
- >You look behind you.
- >Your cottage is empty.
- >…
- >You swore…
- >…
- >”Fluttershy…” you hear again.
- Who’s there?
- >You blurt out almost instinctively.
- >…
- >A warm feeling envelops you.
- >It seeps around your body, and settles into your chest.
- >It’s a good feeling…
- >It’s… pulling…
- >You step slowly, first out of your kitchen, then, out of your house.
- >You walk out and around your cottage.
- > Toward the forest.
- >You barely notice Mr. Bear, roaring loudly at the bee’s nest above him, swiping his claws over and over at the base of the tree.
- >You step into the dark entrance of the Everfree Forest.
- >Fear soon starts to take you.
- >But this feeling…
- >This… guidance.
- >You need to follow it through.
- >You go off the path, through the trees and tangled growths that are set before you.
- >Until you reach a hill.
- >It climbs up slowly, for only a little while, until it levels back off.
- >A cave rests at the top of it.
- >This… this is where you need to go.
- >You’re shaking, but with what little courage you can muster, you plant a hoof into the cave and shuffle your way in.
- >A deep exhale is heard from beyond the darkness.
- >”Ah, my dear Fluttershy… I’m so glad you could make it.”
- >You freeze up, letting loose a small “eep.”
- >Laughter reverberates through the cave.
- >It’s… unsettling.
- >”Fluttershy, please… there is no reason to be afraid.”
- >You’re shaking.
- …Who… who a-are y-you…?
- >You can hear the heavy sound of breathing from beyond your field of vision.
- >”I am… a friend…” the voice says.
- >Its voice is deep and commanding, yet, at the same time, so soothing to your ears.
- >It almost makes you relax a little.
- >”I’ve been watching you for some time now, my dear Fluttershy…”
- >You raise your head to this statement.
- Wh…what…?
- >”Yes… yes… from beyond the sights of those in P0nyville, I’ve kept an eye on you. Fluttershy… I am most impressed by your capabilities.”
- >You look to the ground, tears almost forming in your eyes.
- >But you’re too scared to move.
- Wh-What ca-capabilities…?
- >It exhales deeply.
- >”…you are a caretaker, are you not…?”
- >You don’t avert your eyes.
- Y-Yes…
- >”Ahh…” it releases, as if satisfied. ”Perfect. Exactly what I wanted to hear, my dear…”
- >You scrape the ground with your hoof.
- >”As it just so happens, I am… in need of a skilled caretaker.”
- >You look to the darkness beyond the mouth of the cave,
- D-Do you… have a-a-animals…?
- >”No, my dear, not for animals… a caretaker for me.
- >It pauses to breathe.
- >”You see, I am just coming back to this world now. You could say that I was… gone a while.”
- >You stay silent.
- >”I find my personal strength is… quite lacking, for what it’s worth. And I need someone to help me back on my feet… do you understand?”
- >You nod slowly.
- I-I th-think so… b-but… why me…?
- >”My dear, you are the only one capable…
- >You shake a little more, your mind and heart unsettled.
- A-Are you… a… bad creature…?
- >Deep laughter echoes.
- >”Fluttershy, would a bad creature ever have bestowed upon you and your friends the gifts that I have?”
- >…you’re shocked.
- >What gifts…?
- Gifts…?
- >A deep rumble growls beyond the darkness.
- >”Of course… I am blessed with the ability to… lend my power, let’s say… as I see fit.”
- >You don’t say anything.
- >”Your bear friend seemed to enjoy my gift…”
- >Your eyes shrink and your mouth gapes.
- Wh-What did you do to Mr. Bear?!
- >”I only gave him what he wanted. I was only… helping…”
- >What he wanted…?
- >”I can see right through that beast. Tea parties, manners, friendly get-togethers… when can a bear just act like a bear…?”
- I… I…
- >”Oh he may not have realized it, but he wanted that. He wanted it, and so I gave it. For him. For… you.”
- >You shuffle in place.
- But… but he attacked my friends!
- >”Ah, yes, most unfortunate. However, that was his doing, not mine.”
- >It pauses for a moment.
- >”You should be thankful I spared his life and stopped him when I did.”
- >You furl your brow.
- Y-You didn’t do anything… Anonymous is the one who stopped Mr. Bear… he used his magic…
- >”You know nothing of magic, do you Fluttershy?” Deep, disturbing laughter echoes throughout the cave once more. ”I suppose if the boy thinks that power was his alone, I doubt he does much either.”
- >You look to the ground and whimper.
- >”The power to stop the bear when necessary was my own… I had no desire to assist that human, nor do I any further. It was all… for you.”
- >You look up from the ground.
- >”You can bet that human boy would have fried that creature with magic if it was his only option…”
- >You can feel tears well in your eyes once more.
- >”Fear not, dear Fluttershy… the bear is important to you, is he not? And so… I spared him…”
- >A drop of water falls to the cave floor from your eye.
- >”Speaking of that human boy…”
- >This grabs your attention.
- >”I can feel it… your most… primal desires for him…”
- >Shock rings through you.
- >You think you may feel yourself blushing.
- >”Yes, I felt those too… and so, I thought I’d… assist you with that as well. Or, at least, give you just a taste…”
- >The blood in your veins freeze.
- S-So… what I was feeling… those… those impulses…
- >The cave erupts in laughter.
- >”But it felt so GOOD, didn’t it, my dear?”
- >You look to the ground.
- >…It did.
- >That power…
- >That… drive to take Anonymous.
- >That feeling of grasping him and taking him for yourself…
- >…primal desires…
- >It’s so wrong, but… oh my… it feels so right… you want him… badly…
- >”I can give you more, my dear…” it says, interrupting your thoughts. ”With my power, he can be yours. Power to take him. Power to claim him.”
- >It pauses.
- >”Power to put that white mare in her place… would you not want this…?”
- >…
- >…
- Y-Yes…
- >”Splendid!” the voice cries, followed by a quick laugh.
- >Smoke jets softly from beyond the darkness.
- >”And all I ask in return is your assistance… bring me back to strength…” A large, dark, scaly claw extends openly from the darkness.
- >”Well, my dear? Do we have a deal…?”
- End of Part 3
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