Anon in Equestria: Chapter 6: Retribution

>But, while she tries to come up with a battle plan, you have a much different idea in mind. A devious smirk spreads across your lips. If what she says is true, then these hungry predators won’t discriminate between either of you. They’ll eat whatever they can get, and you start to think that you could help them with that. Right before you is the bug that took advantage of you, who did nothing more but toy with your emotions. You’ll give her the karma she deserves.

>When Duplicate feels your shin shift upon her flank she looks up to you in confusion. When she sees your wide grin and your shoe hanging just a foot above her she starts to panic. Duplicate tries to move, but you don’t give her the opportunity. With all of the might you can muster you bring your foot down on what you hope is her back. When you make impact the sound of a satisfying crunch fills the air, it’s followed by the shrill screaming of your victim, music to your ears.

>She falls to the ground in a crumpled heap, her damaged nerves cause her body to spasm, only worsening the pain. You don’t know if these things have vertebrae, but whatever you did damaged her body. You’ve done enough to leave Duplicate twitching and crying at your feet.

>For her, the pain is immense, much more so than the swift kick you gave her just a few days ago. Everything each little spasm sends a new wave of agony coursing throughout her broken body. With each little movement she only makes things worse.

>As tears stream down her cheeks she looks up to you, and for the first time in her life she’s scared of something other than failing her Queen. If you could see her face, you’d probably be more sympathetic towards her, but the cloth around your eyes serve as a heavy reminder that you can’t. Besides, she’s made her choice, as have you.

1/x

>She manages to squirm a little bit in your arms when you pick her up, but she knows that her attempts at escape are fruitless. You’ve killed her, she just hasn’t died yet. She whimpers in a combination of agony and fear when she figures out what you intend to do.

>“Y-you monster,” she strains through her sobbing.

>“You’re one to talk. You take advantage of me, and you kidnap the one who saved me, yet you think I’m the monster? That’s cute.” You turn your head to the source of the snarling, “Hey guys I bet you’re hungry huh? Well, don’t worry. I’ve got your dinner.” You casually toss Duplicate in their direction. She manages a loud cry of pain when she hits the ground, but that’s all Duplicate is able to manage before screaming as they converge upon her.

>While you feel a deep sense of satisfaction from knowing that she’ll die, you can’t help but cringe as you hear them tear into her. It isn’t long before her yelling start to die down as the damage becomes worse. The squelching of her innards as they’re crushed in their unforgiving does nothing more than makes the bile rise in your throat. The garbled moans that seem to come from her as she takes her final, fleeing breaths don’t help. You feel blessed to be unable to see the site that you’re sure is before you.

>After a few moments Duplicate mutters weakly before finally passing. The only sounds you can hear now are the timber wolves as they feast upon their free meal. Each sickening crack of her carapace and the smell of her organs cause you to grip your stomach. A few gags escape you, and the acid seems to build, but somehow you’re able to keep your vomit at bay.

2/x

>Regardless, there isn’t anything in your stomach to vomit. You can’t even remember the last time you’ve eaten, and that scares you. You assume that the reason why you haven’t experienced hunger pains is the fear that still looms in the back of your mind.

> These timber wolves will be done with their meal soon, and you’re certain they won’t be full from Duplicate. There’s a good chance they’ll go for you after they’re done pulling off every bit of meat they can from her. That assumption causes you to start backing away from the loud, enthusiastic noises coming from the wolves.

>You have no idea where to go. As far as you know, you’re in the center of the woods. There’s no way of knowing where any path could be, or how far away you are from the hut. The only thing you do know is the general direction you came from.

>You don’t even know how far you were walking; it could have been miles, or a hundred yards. You’re lost in the woods with no way out now, and that’s when you start to regret your choice. If you didn’t tire Duplicate out, then she would have taken you to see her Queen. You’ve no idea if that meant your death; you just assumed that’s what would happen. But, at least with her you had some semblance of safety.

> Now, you’re at the mercy of the forest and animals around you. It’s probably safe to say that there is no mercy. You’re going to die alone in these woods, and there’s a good chance your friends won’t even find your body. You find yourself curling into a small ball, afraid for your life, and what you’re unable to see. You can feel the hair on the back of your neck stand on end when you hear the wolves finish what they want of that little insect.

3/x

>They lick their chops before turning their attention to you. What you can’t see is that they’re lowly growling among themselves. The one that appears to be their alpha is looking between his pack mates before motioning to you with his head. The other wolves look to each other silently before on gives an affirmative growl.

>As he makes his way over to you, you cringe thinking one of them is about to take a big meaty chunk out of you. But, when it does nothing more than pull on the bottom of your shirt, you look to it in utter confusion. When you make not motion to move it growls and pulls harder, you can hear it start to rip. In order to keep things from getting worse you let it pull you.

>“W-what are you doing?” you unwittingly ask. The wolf answers you with a soft bark, you turn your head in the direction you believe it’s walking, and then nearly fall flat on your face from tripping over a stump. When the timber wolf realizes you won’t be able to follow easily, it gets behind you and starts pushing with its head. The others pick up on its actions.

>Within a minute the six timber wolves are walking on both sides of you; three are to your left and three are to your right. They force you to walk in whatever direction they’re trying to lead you. If you try to move to your left or right they snap at you. If you fall too far behind they snarl.

>Needless to say, you have no idea how to respond to this, other than letting them take you wherever it is they’re going. You’re not as fearful as you were before, but your confusion has soared to heights you didn’t even know existed.

>As far as you knew this kind of thing never happened, from what Twilight told you these wolves do show some signs of intelligence, but they listen to their stomachs more than anything else. Looks like they do more than that, at least that’s what you’ve come to believe given the situation you’re in.

4/x

>You wish they would have taken a path though; the thorns and broken sticks that are in these woods are doing a number on your legs. The fabric of your jeans are long since ruined from the walk you’ve been forced to go on, and you can feel the heat from your blood as it trails down your legs in thin little lines. You wince as the open air and foliage stings your open cuts.

>Finally, after what feels like an eternity, you’re no longer being harassed by thorns or bushes. That’s when your little group decides to stop. The two in front of you let out a near deafening howl that echoes throughout the area. They do so for a few seconds before you hear them take off into the thicket, leaving you to your fate.

>“Hey, wait a minute!” you call back to them, “Where the hell did you leave me?!” No sooner than those words leave your mouth did you hear a large multitude of animals lose their cool.

>Possums, dogs, chickens, and many others start voicing their displeasure at knowing predators are nearby. You quickly realize though that there’s only one place you know that has a large amount of animals.


>That Duplicate was able to mimic Zecora easily; does that mean that there are others among the populace? What if Twilight, or Spike, or even Fluttershy could be a fake? The beating wings of the Pegasus in question do little to sate your sudden bout of paranoia.

5/x

>“Wait a minute, Anon, is that you? Oh my we need to get you inside, there are timber wolves around! Didn’t you hear them howl?!” She tries to grab hold of you when she gets close, but as soon as you feel her hoof on your arm you pull away and turn in her direction. “What’s the matter Anon?” She stops once she sees the frown your sporting.

>“Fluttershy, when you broke into Twilight’s library on my first day, what did you do to hurt me?” Fluttershy’s confusion is palpable; she doesn’t realize why you’re asking such a question. It was something she wanted to put behind her.
>“W-why are you—“you interrupt her with a bit more yelling than you intended.

>“ANSWER THE FUCKING QUESTION!” She shrinks away at your yelling and starts to whimper out of fright. Her eyes are already starting to well up with tears.

>“What’s wrong Anon, what happened to you?” When her gaze turns to your feet, she sees the severed head of your captor. “And what’s that thing by y-your feet?” Queasiness wells within her when she sees the state it’s in.

>Judging from the strings of meat that are still along the neck, she could tell that it was gnawed off the body. A single eye was missing from its socket, and only half of a horn remained on its head, the upper portion was undoubtedly chewed off.

>“If you answer right I’ll gladly tell you. But if you don’t give me the right one…” While you wait for her answer she shakily gets to her hooves. She takes a deep breath in order to try to calm down; it’s a lot for her to take in. Seeing the head of a animal, coupled with your anger, is doing nothing to help.

6/x

>“I-I, I think I tried to break your back.” She can’t seem to stop shaking, “I barely remember as it is I’m sorry!” Her answer causes you to finally unclench your fists, and your heart rate drops down to its regular pattern. You didn’t even realize how on edge you felt from your paranoia alone. Now that you know that you’re in good company you squat down to what you believe to be her level.

>“Okay, you got it right Fluttershy. I’m sorry I snapped. I’ve had a horrible night. As far as what’s next to me, it’s probably something I fed to the timber wolves.” Fluttershy takes to the air in fright.

>“Y-y-you were with them, and you gave them food?!” You nod.

>“Yes,” as you get to your feet you continue, “If you could get me out of the open I’d be more than happy to tell you what happened. Also, what exactly is next to me?”

>“It looks like it used to be a bug of some kind. It’s what’s left of the head.”

>“I’m going to need that for proof. There’s a lot going on that neither of us knows about Fluttershy. I barely scratched the surface of it tonight; let’s just say you need to make sure you lock up alright?”

>“Okay,” a moment of silence lingers between the two of you, “a-are you—“your stomach answers the question for her before she has a chance to finish. “O-oh my, you are hungry. Here, let’s get you inside and get you something to eat.” You nod wordlessly, relieved to finally have a place to stay.

>With a helping hoof not only are you able to find and grab the rather nasty, slimy feeling head, but she’s able to lead you into her rather warm cottage. You grimace when you feel your fingers slip into the empty socket.

7/x

>“Ugh, do you have a bag or something I can put this thing in?” She flutters off without saying a word. Within a minute she comes back with a brown paper one, and now you don’t have to deal with carrying the dismembered part by hand anymore. As soon as it’s in the bag you feel Fluttershy take it out of your hands.

>“Ew, ew, ew,” she says repeatedly before placing the bag on a nearby table. “H-here Anon, let’s get you cleaned up, and we’ll take care of all those nasty cuts okay?”

>“That’d be amazing, thanks Fluttershy.” A goofy grin forms at the prospect of a bath. Fluttershy takes a gentle hold of your hand, and then she leads you up her stairs.

>“B-be careful Anon, I don’t want you to trip.”

>“Of course, thanks for the heads up.”

>“You’re welcome.” Thanks to her, your ascent may have slowed, but it’s much safer. At least you make it to the top without stumbling.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

>After an hour of her helping you wash up, she leads you back downstairs and sits you on her couch. Tonight’s meal consists of bread and butter, and you couldn’t be happier. Having to go so long without food, you don’t care what it is, as long as it’s filling. It isn’t surprising for you or for her when you finish the meager meal and politely ask for another plate. Thankfully, Fluttershy complies, though she’s eying you wearily due to having eaten like a malnourished critter.

>Another two plates of bread, butter, and three glasses of milk fills the empty void you have in your stomach. When you feel that you’ve finally had enough, you breathe a sigh of relief before reclining. Once Fluttershy takes away the plates, she joins you on her couch, though she’s sure to keep some distance.

8/x

>You’ve arrived on her property with a severed head so she’ll be nervous around you. The only reason you’re here now is because of her kind nature. With everything seemingly settled you take a deep breath, and explain everything to Fluttershy.

>Twilight bringing you to Zecora’s, you drinking the healing potion, the hot and heavy moment that almost occurred in the bed, and the time that Duplicate revealed herself after. Then you describe to Fluttershy how the little bug tried to take you somewhere in the Everfree before you fed her to the timber wolves that came in looking for a meal.

>When you finish, silence hangs in the air like a heavy blanket. You can even feel yourself begin to sweat. Why isn’t Fluttershy talking? You swallow the nervous lump in your throat before turning her way. You’re expecting to hear her say that she didn’t believe a word you said, or that you were making up an excuse to kill the bug yourself. But when she finally she decides to speak, those paranoid ideas seem to vanish.

>“Anonymous, I believe you. It sounds so crazy, and scary, but I do.” You wipe the sweat from your brow and smile. “Even though it’s a teensy bit morbid, I’m glad you have this head. Otherwise no pony would have believed you.”

>“Phew! Thanks Fluttershy, I just wish she told me where we were going. I could tell you guys, and we could get Zecora back.”

>“I know, but with the way things are, I don’t think any pony would go in there. It’s way too dangerous.” You cast your gaze to the floor before gritting your teeth.

>“I know I would if I could see. I told Zecora I owed her. And what better way to repay her than to save her?” you shrug before turning back to “look” at Fluttershy.

9/x

>“Well, with the way things are now, who’s to say they’ll try again? If I were one of those bug thingies, I wouldn’t want to be around you, at least not for a while.” While her words seem comforting, they do nothing to keep that worry from etching itself into the back of your mind.

>“Well, in Manhattan, five of them attacked me. If they try again I’m sure there’ll be more than one. That won’t be any fun for me.” Fluttershy puts a hoof to your back and rubs in hopes of reassuring you. It’s not much, but it does help. Her kind and gentle nature has its effects, with each little movement you can feel your troubles chipping away bit by bit. You’re glad those wolves brought you here.

>“Twilight told me about that while we helped Applejack with her orchards, it sounded so awful. But, you’ll be okay if you keep your friends close. They can’t hurt you as long as we’re around.” For once, she manages to make that timid, quiet voice of hers come off as confident.

>“You really think so?”

>“I know so. You’ve done so much for us. If you need our help we’ll do anything we can. Twilight, Applejack—“Your smile immediately disappears as soon as the apple farmer’s name is mentioned. “I-is something wrong Anon?”

>“Applejack isn’t my friend. After the way she acted when I was only trying to help her, she can rot. Telling me I’m not allowed to come to her farm anymore, fuck her.” Fluttershy shoots you a disapproving glance while you cross your arms and slump your shoulders.

>“Y-you know, Applejack feels awful about how she acted. Twilight had to be forceful with her too before she accepted our help. Applejack said to tell you that you could come back anytime, and that she wants to apologize to you.” You scoff at the mere mention of an apology.

10/x

>“I honestly don’t care. She burned that bridge. If you see Applejack, tell her she can take her apology and stuff it up her ass.” Fluttershy’s mouth is agape from your foul language.

>“Anon, that’s not very nice!” You’re quick to retort.

>“Neither is being threatened with a dog and a beating.” You can feel the blood boiling just under your skin, like a switch your mood has been flipped. “I know she was stressed, and exhausted,” you say through clenched teeth, “but, there’s no way I’m going to forgive her, then act like nothing happened.”

>“Y-you know, you said some pretty hurtful things to her too,” she trails off before looking to the side.

>“I called her stupid and an idiot because she was acting like it. I’m sure Twilight thought the same thing when she was being stubborn. I only called her a hick for being damn sure to let me know I wasn’t her friend.”

>“I didn’t k-know you felt so strongly about this. I-I’m sorry,” she lets out a soft whimper before shuffling a bit further away from you. You take a few deep breaths in hopes of calming yourself down. Just because AJ made you mad, doesn’t give you the right to take it out on Fluttershy.

>“Fluttershy,” you sigh, “you didn’t do anything wrong. So don’t apologize alright?”

>“Okay,” she whispers, “S-so—“

>“Fluttershy,” you warn.

>“I-I’m not sorry?” You chuckle before reaching over and ruffling her mane. You’re shocked when you feel just how well kept it really is. Your fingers easily slide through her soft, silky locks.

>“Atta girl,” a rather random thought comes to mind. While on the subject of AJ, Macintosh’s proposal resurfaces. “Hey Fluttershy?” You pull your hand away from her.

11/x

>“Y-yes?” she whimpers.

>“What’s with the first we—“her whimpering is a little off putting. “Is something wrong?”

>“Th-that felt so nice Anon. C-Can you do it again, please?” You can’t help but mentally compare her to a dog when she asks such a question. That causes you to laugh a bit before shaking your head.

>“Sure,” you reach out and pet her again. This time, you’re met with her pressing the top of your head against your hand. “Now, what’s with the first week of spring?” You feel her ears perk up when your palm brushes against one.

>“W-well, th—the,” she trails off before inching ever closer to you. With a bit more room to work with you alternate between massaging her scalp with your fingers and scratching under her chin. “O-oh my~” You pick up on her breathing as it stars to pick up speed, “W-well spring m-makes mares a-a little m-more confident in themselves.”

>“What does that mean, and what’s with the stuttering?” You find yourself moving back when Fluttershy presses her side onto yours. Now, instead of petting Fluttershy, you have your arm draped around her instead. As soon as your digits brush against her wing, Fluttershy’s entire body starts to shiver.

>“Estrus, I-it’s when mares go into heat,” she manages to explain, “A-and I’m stuttering b-because your hand feels s-so gooood,” she seems to ooze pleasure from your simple action. She nuzzles into your side after a few seconds.

>“Whoa, wait a minute.” The apple farmer’s demeanor when it came to this week finally makes sense, “Big Macintosh was acting nervous about it.”

12/x

>“Y-yeah, some mares g-get a little antsy w-when they want to mate. The outgoing ones are a bit forward with their feelings.” Her words come out breathlessly. After a few moments she uses a wing to push herself away of you. “I-I think I need to go to bed.” Your eyes widen when you hear Fluttershy leap off of the couch, toss you a blanket, then gallop upstairs. “GottagetsomesleepgoodnightAnon!” Her words come out too quick for you to understand, you cringe when you hear her door slam, then lock.

>Well, that was unexpected. That is, until you remember the details of that massage you gave her just a few months ago. You were touching her wing and petting her, while she’s under the effects of estrus. You’re sure it’s Wednesday by now, and even if it wasn’t you wouldn’t be surprised if some mares were affected a bit earlier than others. Two days shouldn’t make much of a difference for this sort of thing. That’s when you realize you almost made a huge mistake with a friend.

>Feeling a little dirty, and disgusted with yourself, you make a mental note to apologize to Fluttershy first thing in the morning. In all honesty you didn’t mean for such a small act to escalate into what it could have been. With a sigh you grab one of the pillows on the couch, position it on one of the arm rests, and lie down. While the couch is a bit small, you’re able to find some semblance of comfort when you curl yourself into the shape of a ball. As soon as the warmth of the blanket washes over you, sleep comes relatively easy.

>You don’t allow yourself to dwell on the thoughts of what’s transpired over the course of your day; those idle fantasies about the Everfree confrontation would have kept you up all night. Especially if you put thought into estrus, you know that Pinkie Pie will be dealing with those issues as well. She may be innocent, but she’s a mare just like the others. And unlike Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie actually has a thing for you.

13/x

>“Y-yeah, some mares g-get a little antsy w-when they want to mate. The outgoing ones are a bit forward with their feelings.” Fluttershy’s words echo throughout your mind and you find that sleep might not be as easy to come by as you would have hoped. Pinkie Pie definitely falls into the category of outgoing…

>How you’re going to handle that is beyond you. Maybe she’ll give you some space if and when you tell her about Zecora, and the bug that impersonated her. Actually, if you tell her that she probably will leave you alone, permanently. She, along with Eris, both like you and you didn’t have the decency to let them know you weren’t interested before jumping in bed with the insect.

>Well, Eris should know that you aren’t that attracted to her, as for Pinkie, you honestly don’t know. You’ve never initiated any sort of embrace, or kiss. It was always her. You sigh before turning to lie on your stomach. Maybe she’ll give you some time to re-evaluate how you feel about her before thinking about a relationship? Do you think you could like Pinkie as she does you?

>“Why does this shit need to be complicated? Things were much easier when I didn’t care about relationships,” you murmur before shifting onto your back.

>At least Zecora is out of the picture, if Duplicate was impersonating her the entire time, then whatever you felt for her wasn’t real. And even if you did rescue the zebra, you doubt such a thing could happen again. It’d be best for you to cut your losses, and not dwell on any what ifs or what could have been. Still though, this isn’t something you can just brush off, that betrayal is going to stick with you for a while…

>Some ponies, both mares and stallions, still hold you in high regard as a savior of sorts. Just how many mares will want to try and mate with Equestria’s Hero? Hopefully, the fact that you’re a human with an easy to anger sort of personality will keep them at bay.

14/x

>You growl before forcing your eyes shut and throwing the covers over your head. The fact that Estrus is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your problems doesn’t help anything. Celestia still sits in the forefront of your thoughts, there’s no doubt that she knows about what happened in Manehattan.

>And those bug creatures will be pissed that you sent one of their comrades to their death. If their Queen still wants you, she’ll probably have you roughed up before having you captured. That is, unless you take what Fluttershy said to heart. If Celestia listens to you, then maybe she’ll be able to see the danger you’re in. Lyra was pretty confident that Celestia would offer you help if you needed it. You’ll place your trust in the mint green mare, for now.

>With a heavy sigh, you curl your legs up, snuggle into your pillow, and try your hardest to get to sleep. Thankfully, you’re able to achieve your goal within a few minutes, rather than hours.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

>“A-Anonymous?” Fluttershy whispers before lightly poking your nose with a hoof. Your curl your upper lip from the sensation and idly brush her hoof away in your sleep. “Time to wake up.” Her soft smile disappears when you turn your back to her and smack your lips. This time she starts shaking you a bit harder. She shrieks when you jolt awake and look around the room.

>“Who, what, where?!” you cry before realizing that you’re still blind and you can’t see a thing. It takes your muddled mind a bit to recall the events that took place hours before. As of right now you’re still in Fluttershy’s house, and with her waking you up, you know what comes next.

>“A-Are you okay, did you have a nightmare? Oh, I hate those things,” she manages after she’s able to catch her breath.

>“No I didn’t, sorry about that, ya just startled me is all.” You offer her what you hope to be a reassuring grin.

15/x

>“N-no, I’m sorry, I should have been gentler.” The mood to argue with her about what she should be apologizing for seems to elude you when you remember a very important detail about today. It’s something that determines whether or not you’ll have bits by next week.

>“Oh shit, I’m supposed to go to work today.” You grimace before getting to your feet.

>“No you don’t mister,” Fluttershy says before putting you back on her couch. “You’re not in any condition to work. Mrs. Cake will understand. It’s not like she knew you’d be blinded by a bunch of critters.” She turns to look at the brown paper bag still on a nearby table, “Um that reminds me, you might want to keep that bag close. There might b-be other bugs disguised as ponies out there today. I’m sure they’ll want to take that away from you to keep their secret.”

>“Thanks Fluttershy,” your smile widens, “and you almost made it through without stuttering.” You look off to the side, “And sorry about last night. If I knew my petting bothered you like that, I would have stopped.”

>“It’s okay, you didn’t know. B-but now you do. Be careful Anon, t-those hands of yours are a dangerous thing during this time of year. Some Minotaurs don’t realize the effects of their petting until it’s too late.”

>“I’ll keep that in mind. Now, where did you put my clothes?” Fluttershy remains silent, and that does nothing to dispel the worry that seems to surface. “Y-you still have my pants at least, right?”

>“S-sorry, they were dirty, grimy, and covered in blood. So, I um, threw them out,” she chuckles nervously. And now you realize that you’ve got quite a problem.

>“So, let me get this straight. Estrus is affecting some of the mares a bit early.”

>“Uh huh.”

>“And because of my reputation, I might turn a few heads.”

>“Uh huh, some mares like heroes.”

16/x

>“And you thought it’d be a good idea to get rid of the only thing blocking their view of my goods?” Again, Fluttershy says nothing. A visible line of sweat can be seen pouring down her face. “Fluttershy?” You try to keep your voice level in order to mask the anger slowly welling within your chest.

>“I have an idea!” She suddenly shouts before you feel her take hold of your blanket. You get to your feet so she can have full access. As soon as you do, she wraps the blanket around your midsection, and then she ties it off in a rather tight knot. “That should work right?”

>“It’s better than nothing,” you shrug, “but please let me know when you’re going to throw something out of mine. I wouldn’t mind dealing with dirty clothes if that meant I’d be covered. Did you at least keep my shoes and socks?”

>“Yes I did,” she says with a nod, “those were a bit dirty, but they look durable enough to be worn again and again.” You listen as she trots out of the room, and then back in. As soon as you feel the material brush against the side of your feet you sit back on the couch and put them on. At least you can put on these while blind. Albeit it’s a bit harder than it needs to be.

>“Alrighty, I’m ready whenever you are.” The soft feathers of her wing manage to find their way to your hand. Instinctively you grab hold of it, though you’re sure to keep a rather soft grip.

>“H-here you go.” She passes the paper bag along. With that in one hand, and her wing in the other, she guises you out of her cottage, down her stairs, and onto the single path leading into town. While the trip is spent in relative silence, Fluttershy couldn’t seem to stop grunting or gasping every couple of yards.

17/x

>Time and time again you were told about the sensitivity of Pegasus wings, and during this particular time that sensitivity is probably made worse, but this seems to be the only way she can guide you without forcing you to be hunched over.

>“We’re a-almost to the marketplace Anon,” she informs you of just how far you two have gone. You can already pick up the hustle and bustle of hooves, along with the varying voices that carry along with them. It seems like today is a rather busy one considering the loud volume and variety that comes with it.

>“Pears, get your fresh pears right here!” comes the voice of a vendor.

>“Cherries on sale, four for one, grab em while ya can!” cries another.

>“Oysters, get your oysters right here. Surprise your lover with nature’s aphrodisiac! Perfect for Estrus!” That particular salesmare seems to be having the most luck. You can make out the dozens of voices crying for the rumored affect those particular muscles have. While it’s false, it still manages to draw an enormous crowd. Unfortunately, the vendors aren’t able to catch the attention of every p0ny out and about.

>“Hey there Anon,” you feel a mare bump her flank against your leg. “how about you and me grab a couple drinks?”

>“I have no eyes.” You can’t see her look of utter confusion, or disgust when you let go of Fluttershy’s wing and pull off the cloth surrounding your head and open your scabbed over eye sockets.

>“Ew, that’s so weird.” You hear the mare gag before she gallops away. It appears as though your injury may have solved the Estrus, problem.

>“Dude, what happened to your eyes?!” You’d recognize that scratchy tone of voice anywhere.

>“Mocha, is that you?” You turn your head in the direction of her voice.

>“It’s me,” you hear her trot over; “It’s freaky seeing you like that.”

18/x

>“Yeah, I had a bit of an accident,” you reach out and grab hold of Fluttershy’s wing before adding, “I’m gonna go see someone who can fix it.”

>“Well, that’s good. It’d suck if my favorite human couldn’t see me for the rest of his life.” She playfully jabs your leg with a hoof, causing you to chuckle.

>“I’m the only human you know. Anyway, what brings you out this way?” You hear her chuckle before brushing up against your side.

>“Well, there’s this mare I got my eye on. So, I’m gonna go buy a bunch of oysters and bring her back to my place for a little fun and adventure.”

>You know that thing about oysters is a myth right?” you frown. You resist the urge to bring your palm to your face when you hear Mocha growl.

>“You serious?” she asks through gritted teeth.

>“Yup, it’s been proven that they don’t do anything. It’s just a mental thing, you THINK it gets you in the mood, but it doesn’t.” Mocha stamps the ground angrily.

>“That whorse is ripping every p0ny off! I’m gonna go give her a piece of my mind.” She turns away, but before she leaves, she’s sure to fill your mind with a few thoughts you’d do well without. “And Anon, I don’t mind a stallion every now and again, if you catch my drift.” Her voice seems to go from cheery to breathy all too quickly. “You should pay me a visit when you get your eyes fixed. My boss doesn’t care if I take a long break every now and again, and those customers sure love to stress me out.” Goosebumps form upon your skin, and a cold chill travels up your spine when you feel her tail tickle your exposed ankle. When she finally leaves you and Fluttershy, you turn to look down at your companion.

>“I see what you mean about outgoing mares.”

>“Uh huh, l-let’s get out of here before that happens again.”

19/x

>“Lead the way.” You feel yourself being yanked along when her wing wraps around your hand. She seems adamant on getting you to Twilight’s as quickly as possible. But, she’s doing so for more than just you, what you don’t see is that mares aren’t the only ponies on the prowl.

>There’s a few stallions watching from nearby, and each one that casts a glance over Fluttershy gives you the stink eye. To them, it seems as though you’ve taken Fluttershy for this year’s estrus. She’d rather not explain otherwise, or put you in any unnecessary danger. What you don’t know is that some stallions will fight for the mate they want, and they’d probably love to take advantage of her blind “suitor.”

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

>Despite the initial distractions caused by a few mares every now and again, you’re able to make it clear across town in no time. It brings joy to your heart to know that Fluttershy would go so far for you despite your past with her. She’s a true friend, and you’ll be sure to find a way to pay her back somehow.

>“We’re here,” she calls before finally letting go of your hand.

>“Alright, thanks for the help. Just get the door, after that I should be set.”

>“Of course,” you hear the door to Twilight’s treebrary squeak from its hinges, “just let me… get that… for you…” she trails off before becoming dead silent.

>“F-Fluttershy, is everything okay?” There’s still no response, “Seriously, you’re starting to scare me, stop.”

>“H-H-Hi Princess Celestia, I-I didn’t know you’d be s-stopping by.” Flutteshy is quick to kneel, and your heart seems to stop. The sound of Fluttershy’s creaking bones as she shakes does little to dispel your abject horror. What you can’t see sitting, just a few feet away, is Celestia.

20/x

>She and Twilight have taken their seats upon one of the couches, and they are sifting through a few books that lie upon a table just before them. Dozens of varying sizes and colors lay open around furniture. Twilight, along with Celestia, are currently searching through one. While Celestia manages to maintain an air of calm, Twilight is the exact opposite.

>You hear Twilight groan when she doesn’t find the information she’s looking for. She tosses the book away before levitating another one over to the table. Fluttershy’s greeting at least catches Celestia’s attention.

>“Oh hello Fluttershy, Anonymous, I was wondering when you would be arrive. Please, come in and have a seat, there is much to discuss. And Fluttershy, you do not need to bow, we’re in a private setting. Same goes for you Anon.” You swallow the lump in your throat before walking forward. “And watch your head Anonymous. You and I both know Twilight’s doorway is a little short.”

>“O-of course,” you manage before bending down and walking through. Using your free hand as a means of getting a feel for where you’re at, you make it through the threshold without bumping your head. Fluttershy follows in closely behind you. A million thoughts and possibilities race through you mind. How much does she know? Did she find out about Eris? Is she going to punish you?

>“Oh goodness,” Celestia gasps when she sees your closed eyes, “So you really were assaulted that night in Manehattan.” When you open them her frown deepens.

>“Yes I was. I believe Twilight told you everything?” You wait about twenty seconds before sighing, “Celestia, are you nodding?”

>“Y-yes, I apologize.” As she explains herself you walk over to her, being sure to keep a hand out while you do. “I’m not used to speaking face to face with someone who can’t see me.”

>“It’s fine, how close am I to you two?” you ask.

21/x

>“You’ve got another three feet or so before hitting the table.” Celestia answers. With that you take a seat in the floor. “But, yes Twilight gave me the same explanation you gave her.”

>“Then you know about Eris?” you grimace.

>“Yes, but I didn’t learn about her from Twilight. I found out by using an ancient spell on the city of Manehattan. I was able to see your entry, the little squabble the two of you shared, and even the fight you had against those Changelings.”

>“Changelings, so that’s what they’re called? That name seems fairly obvious, since it basically implies they can shape shift.” The next thing out of Celestia’s mouth comes as quite a surprise.

>“Indeed, and I must say I’m quite impressed. Despite losing, and knowing nothing about them, you did a great job of maintaining control, until the shot to your eyes of course.”

>“Y-yeah, thanks.” You can feel the heat rise to your cheeks, you’re not exactly used to praise from someone of her caliber. However, there’s something more important that needs to be discussed, more so than your incident.

>“But, what about Eris, are you going to arrest me, are you going to banish her, or what?” Celestia lets loose a long, drawn out sigh.

>“I know about the loophole, and frankly I’m a bit agitated. I was hoping that she’d stay gone, along with her father and sister. But, the agreement is with Discord, not her. She’s free to stay.” You let out a sigh of relief before wiping the sweat from your forehead. “But,” you may have felt respite all too soon. “I’m perfectly capable of punishing her for all the damage she caused to Manehattan. And of course for blowing up that guard post.”

>“SHE DID WHAT?!” Both Twilight and Fluttershy screech at the same time. Their high pitched shrieking causes you to jump a little. You swear your heart stopped for a moment. It's sad, you were hoping to keep that last bit a secret.

22/x

>“Although, I think I have a better idea.” Celestia smiles slyly before giggling.

>“A-and what’s that?” you ask, afraid of the possible outcome.

>“You help rehabilitate her. Show her the magic of friendship, and help her see the error of her ways. If you succeed, and make reparations for the damage she did, I’ll gladly let her stay.”

>“Well, I’m sure I can figure some—“Celestia cuts you off before you can finish.

>“But, if she refuses, and if she doesn’t leave for Earth, then I’m afraid I’ll have to take matters into my own hooves. She has not reached Discord’s level; I don’t have to use the elements to stop her if the situation happens to arise.” Her grim tone is a cause for worry, you’ve yet to see Celestia in action, but if she’s able to make such a claim, you’re sure she’d be more than happy to prove it.But, you know you’re more than capable of rehabilitating Eris, you think.

>The least you could do would be to convince her to stop using her magic to mess with ponies. You might be able to come to some sort of agreement so she’d listen. As for making her a “good” individual, you doubt you could make her change her ways, at least not immediately. Besides, you’re in no real position to say no. If you did, and if Celestia did confront Eris, you doubt she’d go down without a fight. You could imagine just how many might get caught in the crossfire…

>“You know what, fine. I’ll do it. She’ll probably make me agree to some ridiculous thing, but I’m sure I can manage at least some of the things you ask. But, don’t expect a miracle. Eris definitely won’t turn over a new leaf overnight.” Celestia giggles at your response.

>“Anonymous, I have lived for centuries. Surely you believe I have the patience to wait on something like this. As long as you keep her in check I’ll consider it a success.”

23/x

>“Well,” you sigh, “As they say back on my world, Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Celestia tilts her head in question.

>“What does that mean?”

>“It means that if she’s tempted, or angry, Eris will definitely relapse. Then I’ll have to start over and hope she doesn’t do it again.” Her smile disappears just as soon as it appeared.

>“I’m afraid she won’t have another chance if that happens. I won’t tolerate her using a petty excuse to harm others.”

>“I understand where you’re coming from. Now, would you like to come with me so you can tell her about this yourself? Besides, I’ve got to get my eyes back anyway.”

>“S-she can do that?” You nod, “W-well then, lead the way. I’ll tell you what I know of the Changelings when we arrive. The more informed you are, the safer you’ll be.”

>“What about you Twilight, Fluttershy?” Twilight shakes her head before realizing you can’t see it.

>“I can’t Anon. I’m trying to find any book I can on Changelings. We don’t know much about them, and I’d like to have a reference I can read and understand.”

>“Fair enough, Fluttershy?”

>“U-um, I’m not going. E-Eris is very scary.” Even mentioning Eris causes Fluttershy to hide behind her mane. You sigh before getting to your feet.

>“I understand,” you turn in what you hope to be Celestia’s direction. “Shall we?” You smile and hold your hand out to the Princess.

>“Shouldn’t I be the one guiding you?” Celestia covers her mouth with a hoof to suppress her snickering. You blush out of embarrassment and your confidence waivers quite a bit.

>“Y-yes, to Twilight’s basement.” The feeling of Celestia’s velvet like locks as they wrap around your fingers causes you to gasp. Where she not pulling you in the right direction, you wouldn’t be able to tell her mane was even there. As she gently pulls you towards Twilight’s basement she and Fluttershy call out to you.

24/x

>“Good Luck!” Twilight shouts happily before putting her nose right back into a book.

>“G-Good luck.” You barely manage to make out Fluttershy’s words before you hear the basement door shut behind you…

>"So, what's in the bag?" Celestia randomly asks.

>"You really don't want to know."

>"Is it a Changeling?" She just had to ask.

>"Yes it is, well, what's left of it anyway."

>"Lovely." Her sarcasm is palpable.

>"I'm glad you think so," you snicker.

25/x