Apocalypse Anon in Equestria CH4

>Anon sat in the freight cart again, it was simply more comfortable for humans.
>His body desperately wanted to sleep, but simply refused too until he got back home.
>The train came to a sudden stop, crudely pulling Anon out of his stupor.
>With a sleepy grumble he gathered up his things and slid open the door.
>Small chunks of snow dislodged themselves from the door, reminding Anon that it was still winter.
>He looked down at the two human teenagers, he recognized them as some of the caravaneers kids.
>They were standing next to some crates of HE product with a dumfounded expression.
>Anon stumbled out of the train car and walked past them into town.
“Mor… Afternoon.”
>Anon paid little to no attention to the ponies and sparse humans he passed.
>He simply didn’t have the energy to decipher their confused and shocked faces.
>He barely had the energy or coordination to navigate the snow covered roads.
>Finally he made it to the crystal castle monstrosity.
>With a yawn he lifted the knocker set at waist height, obviously meant for ponies.
>The large door opened to show the face of one of the many guards that were stationed at the castle.
>Another confused and surprised expression.
>Anon waited until either it the expression faded, or his patience left.
>His patience was on a short leash right now.
“Are you gonna let me in or have me catch frostbite out here?”
>”Y-you may enter.”

>Anon shuffled his way inside.
>”Sir, I… I belive Twilight’s in the library.”
>Anon nodded and shuffled off down the corridor to the aforementioned location.
>He blearily looked up at the sign above the door just to check it was the library, it was.
>Without hesitation he leaned into the door and depressed the latch.
>Wet noises, moans, and grunts filled the room as he laboriously made his way to the center area.
>He entered the center area and looked at his right; his rifle case was right where he left it.
>Anon grabbed it on his second try and began undoing the latches, the noise caught the attention of Tim and Twilight.
>Twilight was the first to respond while Tim hurriedly pulled his pants back up.
>”Ah! Uh… Anon! You’re… alive… and back, here… in the castle…”
>Anon was so far past caring, he just opened the case and put his rifle in.
“Ye… yes.”
>Anon closed the case and ran his hand over the latches, lazily locking he case closed.
>Tim, now half-dressed and decently presentable, pointed to Anon’s arm.
>”Are you alright? Do we need to help you to the-“
“I quit.”
>He picked up his rifle case and began walking out of the center area.
>”Wait? You what?”
“I quit.”
>Anon left the library and eventually the castle.
>He pulled his beanie down lower as he walked to the human quarter, more strange looks from passing ponies and humans.

>Thank god, home.
>His free hand reached for his keys.
>They weren’t there.
>Anon rested his head on the door for a couple moments, nearly falling asleep right there.
>Finally he pried his head off the door and looked through the window, the blinds were down but through the crack he could see his keys on the coffee table.
>He didn’t have the time, energy, or patience for this.
>Anon lifted the rifle case over his head and smashed out the window.
>He ran the case over the edges of the window, breaking off any remaining pieces of glass.
>It would be a shame to fight through the apocalypse, then through an eldritch horror, only to slice himself open on his own window.
>Anon lowered the case through the window and gingerly let himself in with all the grace he could muster.
>Which was none, as a result he still gave himself a couple shallow lacerations, nothing serious enough to concern him.
>He stumbled over to the couch and fell asleep face down in the cloth and stuffing embrace.

>After an indeterminate amount of time there was a series of very excitable knocking at his door.
>Anon slowly looked over at the clock with the one eye that wasn’t pressed against the couch.
>11 am.
>He had slept for almost 15 hours.
>Yet he was still tired.
>”Anonareyouokayeveryponykeepssayingthatyourbackandnotdeadbutyouhaven’tstoppedin-“
>Anon liked Pinkie, he really did, but at this hour her energy was a little much.
>”yourewindowsopendidsomeonebreakinohpleaseanswerme-“
“Just… just hold on.”
>With great effort he managed to lift his head off the couch and bring himself upright.
>Breath in, breath out.

>Anon stood and looked over at the window, it must’ve snowed while he was asleep.
>His broken window let in a fair amount of snow.
>He shakily made his way to the door, unlock, open.
>Pinks concerned face instantaneously went to relief, as she leapt at Anon.
>Anon was tired and off balance, Pinkies comparatively small body easily toppling him.
>his hand reflexively gripped around his sig, as he attempted to draw it.
>Pinkie held her hug tight; Anon began to panic for a moment.
>Pinkie was quick, leaping off of him in an instant.
>”I’msorryI’msosorryIforgotthatyoudidn’t-“
“I’m…”
>Breath in, breath out.
“Easy now… easy.”
>He released his grip and simply remained prostrate for a good minute.
>With the sound of several vertebrae cracking Anon brought himself to a sitting position.
“Pinkie. Thanks for coming by… but do you mind just slowing down a little?”
>Pinks raised her front hoof and responded.
>”Not at all Anon, I know that you’re tired an all, that’s why I came at 11 instead of 5!”
>That was still a little too loud for Anon’s abused eardrums, but he could make do.
“Alright… Alright. I am in desperate need of a shower. I could stop by later if you-“
>”I’m fine here, there’s always plenty of fun stuff to do if you keep your eyes open!”
“Right, right.”
>Anon hadn’t had a proper shower in just over a week, he was honestly surprised that Pinks could stand the smell.
>Then again she did regularly eat cupcakes with hot sauce.

>Anon stepped out of the shower and dressed himself in a whole new set of clothes.
>He would deal with his pile of dirty and torn clothes later.
>It felt odd not having his gear on, he felt too light, like he would float away without pounds upon pounds of food and munitions.
>He ran the cloth belt through the loops, ensuring that he reattached his sig and knife.
>He may have been in his own home but he still put on his boots, no telling how much snow had came in since his shower.
>As he turned into the living room voices began to grow in volume.
>Anon couldn’t help himself as he ran a hand down the outline of his .45, just to remind himself that it was still there.
>The living room was empty, so in two steps he entered the doorway to his kitchen.
>It was a two burner half fridge affair, small but serviceable.
>Twilight, Tim, and Pinkie were sitting around the kitchen table having coffee.
>A quick bolt of anger flashed through his mind, Pinkie must’ve let them in.
>What he really wanted, no needed, was some quiet time alone.
>Anon made his way to the fridge, making eye contact with both Tim and Twilight.
>Tim had a small uncomfortable smile; Twilight blushed and forced a smile.
>Guess they were still embarrassed about yesterday, Anon really couldn’t bring himself to care.
>Anon opened the fridge, there was nothing even remotely edible, unless he decided to try baking soda.
>As Anon closed the fridge Twilight spoke up.
>”So…”
>She cleared her throat.

>”So Anon, I just want to clarify what you said the-“
“What’s there to clarify?”
>Anon poured himself the last of the coffee pot and pulled out box of cereal from one of the cupboards.
“I said I quit, that’s that.”
>Anon could see a quick flicker of irritation cross Tim’s face, he did not enjoy seeing Twilight get cut off.
>Anon mentally shrugged and tore into the cereal, it was stale and hard, but he hadn’t eaten for well over fifteen hours.
>Twilight remained silent for a couple moments, thinking about what to do with this new information.
>”May I borrow a quill and paper?”
>He motioned to the living room, particularly to the bookshelf.
“Sure, second drawer on the left.”
>Anon took a sip of his coffee before returning to his cereal.
>While Twilight was getting the paper Pinkie took over the conversation, not like Tim and Anon had anything to say to each other.
>”So if you’re quitting your job, you’re going to need another one riiiggggghhhttt?”
“This is true, but I haven’t really planned out my life more than the next four hours.”
>”Well, maybe, if you Pinkie promise to work super hard with me, maybe I can ask the cakes about hiring you?”
>Everything she said was so damned cheery Anon couldn’t help but grin dumbly, Tim too.
“I appreciate the gesture, but I believe Mr. Cake was very clear about my current… standing with them.”
>This didn’t hinder her mood at all, still beaming out as she responded.
>”That’s fine, I’m sure there’s plenty of ponies who love to hire a human! Or maybe a human that would like to hire another human?!”
>She gave a cheery glance at Daniel, he spat some of his coffee back into the cup.
>”Oh! Uh, that would not be good for either of us.”
“He’s right, I have no knowledge of machining or stitching… or really anything to do with manufacturing.”
>Tim nodded before adding to Anon’s statement.
>”Besides, Human Enterprises is barely making it as it is.”

>Twilight came back in levitating a quill and note pad in her magic.
>She took her seat again, and placed the notepad down, looking up at Anon through her short purple/pink mane.
>”Just to be clear you are quitting correct?”
“Yes.”
>His response was dreary and loud, not malicious or aggressive, just tired.
>”I’ll make sure the treasurer knows you are still to be paid for your last job…. And that…”
>Well Twilight was in full list making mode, without Spike there for her to dictate to she tended to go off into her own mind.
>Anon went back to his cereal, he hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he started eating.
>Tim turned to Pinkie; apparently Tim was planning some sort of shindig on the anniversary of when the humans came through.
>Anon heard Helen’s name come up a couple of times, but he was mostly interested in Twilights mumblings.
>It was mostly just the sort of bureaucratic check listthat Anon had come to expect from the Canterlot crown.
>Strangely enough Twilight actually seemed to enjoy the neat and orderly system of filling out government forms.
>One mumble in particular caught his attention.
>”… cancel the funeral… Send resignation letters to canterlot…”
>Anon stopped eating his stale cereal long enough to respond.
“I already have a funeral planned?”
>Everyone stopped their conversation and checklist making to look at Anon.
>As if on cue the front door of his house opened, Daniel and Daring let themselves in, Daring was wearing her normal disguise.
>Pinkie must’ve left the door unlocked.
>Anon threw up his arms, letting some cereal spill out of the box, he was getting irritated now.

>”Bro! You’re ali-“
“Don’t you bro me!”
>Anon inadvertently spat out some cereal with his exclamation.
>”Whoa easy bro, I just heard you were aliv-“
“No! No, you left me to die there!”
>Daniel was wrong footed, stuttering out a response.
>Anon threw his arms out again, once he saw that he wasn’t getting a response Anon returned to his seat on the kitchen counter.
>He took a sip of coffee, black, he didn’t have any milk.
“I’m late, what… three days? And I already have a funeral planned out.”
>Another sip, the bitter liquid providing no relief.
>Anon put his head back against the wall.
>C’mon, reel it all back together, yes he had right to be angry, but he could at least compose his opinions better.
>Breath in.
>Breath out.
>”Ya’ll better not have touched a curly hair on er head, ya hear me!”
>The door was kicked in, right as a blue blur came in through the broken window.
>”Yeah, she’s our friend, you mess with her you mess with us!”
>”Unhoof her this instant you brute!”

>Anon balled up his fists and slammed his head against the tile on his kitchen wall.
>”Ohhh! Almost everyponys here! Is this a surprise party?! Anon are you okay with this party?!”
>”Ah, hold up a minute, what in tarnation is going on?”
>Twilight responded, but Anon didn’t hear it.
>In what seemed like a sliver of a second everyone started talking, the ponies trying to figure out if Pinkie was in fact in danger or if she came on her own accord.
>Daniel was saying something to Tim, Anon couldn’t hear over the sudden explosion of noise.
>It all melded into one piercing lance boring its way through his ears.
>He slid off the counter and slammed his fists down on the table, hard.
>That got everyone’s attention, ponies and humans both.
>Anon simply kept his eyes locked on his fists, his left one was missing the last two digits, a testament to the work he put in to get here.
“Everyone out…  If you need to speak to me, please… For the love of god!... Come back later!”
>The sound of chairs scraping against the floor, hooves, and footfalls was very welcome.
>Anon waited for the sound of the door being closed… it didn’t come.
>Slowly he looked up and forcefully released his fists.
>He walked to the living room and stared at the absolutely demolished entrance area.
>Looking at the door frame Anon could tell he was already going to need new hinges, the door it’s self was fine being heavy solid wood.
>The hardware however was mangled beyond redemption.
>Anon simply sat there on the floor for a couple minutes, with a sigh he went and got a tarp to put over the open window.
>What was supposed to be a quiet day has now turned into grocery shopping and expedited home repair.

-----

>It had been a couple of days; quiet days full of menial tasks, just what Anon needed to pick up the pieces.
>Sleeping was difficult, he couldn’t go for more than a few hours before waking up in the dark and nearly putting a few new holes in his walls.
>He had written up his report for Twilight and dropped it off to the castle staff, receiving his pay at the same time.
>After that he was officially unemployed.
>Tim stopped by at one point; they wound up going down to the pub and having a pint.
>It wasn’t that Anon and Tim were unfriendly, but the whole ordeal felt stilted, Anon believed that Twilight asked Tim to check in on him.
>It didn’t disturb him, Tim’s company was nice enough, if very quiet.
>He stared at the ceiling as Celestia raised the sun, causing sections of light to enter through the cracks in the blinds.
>Anon heaved himself out of bed, he could never predict how much energy he was going to have.
>This last night’s sleep had been the best by far, this time he managed to go three hours without waking.
>He really had to start looking for a job soon; he had enough money to live comfortably for about 2 months.
>As he dressed and prepared his morning meal there was a certain lack of noise, obviously intentional, as if he still had to worry about the creature or some ferals listening in for him.
>With toast and coffee in hand he donned his snow boots and waited on the porch.
>9:10 Am, Derpy came from straight above, shoved he muzzle into her saddle bags and took out a bundle of mail.
>She reared up on her hind legs, and positioned herself to smash Anon’s mail again.
>These last few days she had been getting more viscous about it.
>There was a split second where she made eye contact with Anon.
>Anon simply raised his coffee, and smiled.
“Fine morning isn’t it?”
>She stopped for a moment, before lowering herself onto all fours again.

“Well, go ahead… I’m not gonna tell anyone if that’s what you’re worried about.”
>Her left ear dropped and her right hoof rose up a little, she was confused.
>Anon put down his coffee, and walked through the yard so that he was standing side by side with Derpy.
>Without hesitation he simply took the mail, gave it a quick cursory glance, and took a bite of toast.
“Yeah… I’ll probably never tell anyone.”
>He walked back up to the front door, and said over his shoulder.
“I would appreciate it greatly, however, if you stopped crushing my mail.”
>Anon didn’t wait for a response as he opened the door and tossed the mail down, it wasn’t much, just a few ads and his magic bill.
>Magic was pretty much a more varied alternative to electricity, Anon found it weird how they were pretty much interchangeable in pony conversation.
>He turned to lock the door when he remembered his coffee on the porch.
>Open the door, step back into the cold air, not that his house was much warmer.
>The window had yet to be fixed.
>His hands closed around the mug as he watched the last few straggles from the morning rush make their way to town or HE.
>Mostly humans in this part of town, but a few ponies could be seen.
>Including one wearing her iconic hat.
>It took a moment for Anon to realize that she was headed for his place.
>Why? He hadn’t the foggiest idea, but no need to be rude, if he was going to finally integrate himself into this society, not being a dick was step one.
>So he gave a small wave as he sipped the rest of his coffee.
>Anon wondered if she was here to pay him back for the door.

“Morning… So, what brings you round here?”
>Apple Jack made her way up the steps and put her fore legs on the porch railing bringing herself up to about elbow height.
>”Well let me start off by sayin’ Ah’m a might bit sorry about the whole…”
“Breaking into my house and accusing me of abducting Pinkie?”
>”Er, yeah… that.”
“Did Twilight send you here to apologize?”
>”No. She n’ Tim did give us ah mighty tongue lashing though.”
>Anon grunted, no connotation to it, just a noise to show he heard her.
>”Tha other thing is that with winter wrap up coming up, I need ta irrigation lines cleared out of snails n such.”
>Anon waved his hand, indicating for her to keep going.
>”There’s these little screws around tha couplings, they’re set a might too deep for me to reach, usually I’d ask Twilight or let Big Mac take this. But, Twilight ahnd Tim are both in Canterlot for a couple a’ days”
“Well what about Shy or Dash? Aren’t their wings pretty much like hands?”
>”Visit’in their parents behfore hearthswarmin’, Rarity n everypony else seems ta be busy today.”
“Yeah, I’ll help out, got nothing else on the docket for today… Let me get my coat.”
>Anon opened the door just enough for him to get his coat, he closed and locked the door.
>Once he turned around AJ was already waiting for him on the now quiet street.
>She didn’t look entirely comfortable, Anon guessed she didn’t come to him as a first choice, after all that was the longest conversation they had ever had.
>AJ led the way to SAA, she kept a good distance from Anon.
>It slowly crept up on Anon, at about the halfway point he had to ask.
“There’s no ulterior motive here? Is there?”
>”Ulterior?”
“Yeah, you know, hidden, something you’re not telling me.”
>Anon could tell even from behind that AJ frowned, it wasn’t much just a quick twitch of the ear and a slight lowering of the head.
>C’mon, honesty.

>”Honest, ah do need your help. What with Big Mac an Apple Bloom in Manehattan visitin’ Babs, even Grannys out visiting Strudel.”
“Why would everyone leave? Doesn’t the farm take a fair amount of hands… hoofs.”
>”We’re plum in middle of winter, not a whole lot of apples being grown.”
>There was a couple more moments of silence as they turned down the snow covered street that led to SAA.
>This street was dead empty, the only place along this path was the orchard.
>”Well… After Twilight gave us that there chat, I, uh, only thought it would be fair if I gave ya a chance.”
>Anon stopped for a moment, and continued walking, he wasn’t sure how to take this.
>So he fell back on age old habits and mechanisms, don’t complain, don’t speak unless you have something to say.
>He wasn’t going to fuck this one up, he needed more friends.
>”She said that you were a decent enough person, so I considered this a double whammy… Besides, Pinkie Pie seems ta like ya well enough.”
>So in a way Twilight did send her to apologize.
>Not directly, but she planted the idea.
>He decided to keep quiet about that as they walked up the hill to the barn, Anon had only seen it once before.
>The classical appearance brought a certain calm to him, reminding him that certain things would never die or fade away.
>AJ worked her way into some saddlebags, Anon was told to take a couple of metal tool boxes.
>The first coupler was right outside the barn, and boy was AJ right.
>Not that the screws were that small, but they were at least two feet inset on the steel coupler.
>Anon could barely fit his hands in, who the hell designed these?
>But he did his job without complaining, speaking only to relay necessary information.
>The air was tense and awkward, and it wasn’t the snow or low temperature, Anon could tell that he defiantly wasn’t the first choice for this job.

>They made it pretty far into the orchard before AJ called a break for lunch, but he already knew that there was no way that the two of them would be able to finish by the end of the day.
>AJ brought a tarp out of her saddlebags, The two of them rolled the tools up and planted a flag in the snow so they knew where to come back to.
>Once the apple house was in sight AJ spoke up.
>”So, uh, what do yall eat?”
>Anon couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, human’s had been here almost a whole year.
>He decided it would be rude to bring that point up so he just answered the question.
“We’ll anything, except hay… Some of the flowers aren’t edible, but they aren’t poisonous, we just won’t get anything out of it.”
>AJ opened the door and let herself into the rustic home, Anon stomped the snow off of his boots and took the cleats off before ducking into the door.
>There was fire already going, Anon made his way over to it, and watched as the smoke and stray embers were stopped by a barely visible magical shield.
>The domestic applications of magic truly were endless.
>AJ came back into the sitting room balancing a couple of plates on her back, Anon took them from her allowing her to sit down.
>Anon made himself at home on the floor, quietly watching the fire and eating the sandwich provided to him.
>”So, Anon, I… Twilight said that it what happened at yer party wasn’t your choice… but I don’t get it, I mean-“
“Well it wasn’t my choice, that much is true… So… say Pinks jumps out of a barrel and scares you, you jump right?”
>AJ nodded and took another bite of her sandwich.
“Well, most of the people back on earth used to just jump as well. That little moment would often be the only moment you got, so most of the humans here now learned to have a fight reflex.”

>”But ya’ll ain’t on earth anymore.”
“Yeah, yeah… for some of us it was that easy, look at Daniel for instance.”
>The name came out with more than a little venom; AJ still didn’t know what happened between the two of them.
“He doesn’t have any problems going out and coming back, he can take it all in stride… bastard.”
>Anon crammed the rest of the sandwich into his mouth and took a few moments after swallowing to respond.
“But… Well… Every human reacts differently… I guess I just got the shit end of the stick.”

>Anon waited until AJ finished her lunch, enjoying the warmth of the fire.
>She finished and took the dishes to the kitchen; Anon went to the porch and put his cleats back on.
>AJ came back out, and off they went, quickly locating the flag and resumed their work.
>Anon would cram his arm into the slot and undo the couplers screws and pull it apart, then AJ would clear out the pipe while Anon worked on the next one.
>Every time AJ reached an especially clogged pipe Anon would go back and reconnect some of the couplers.
>The mood was much more relaxed, still far from friendly, but an improvement.
>This went on for about another hour, until AJ decided to ask another question.
>”If this whole…”
“Mental failing?”
>”Well that’s a little harsh ain’t it?”
“No point in dressing it up, it is what it is.”
>Anon pulled back his arm and peered down the hole, the screw was pretty stripped; he reached into the tool box and pulled out the extractor.
>He stuck his arm back in working by feel alone.
>”If it only happens when ya get scared or surprised then just tell everypony not ta surprise ya.”
>Anon grunted in displeasure as he crammed the screw extractor into the worn head.
“See, you’re still assuming that I can control it. Or that I can even predict it… Hell sometimes it comes on even when I’m not surprised.”
>Anon pulled the screw out, it was the last one on the coupler letting AJ pull the pipe out.
>Anon kept talking as he moved to the next coupler.
“Hell last night I managed to sleep for a whole three hours and I woke up this morning perfectly calm. I think I also managed to talk Derpy out of smashing my mail too…”

>He took the screw driver again and started feeling around for the screw head.
“But the night before, I think I got maybe an hour of sleep in. Some dog started barking in the middle of the night. I really don’t know what happened but when I finally calmed down I was in my bedroom with all my furniture pressed against the door holding my AR.”
>AJ looked up from the pipe and let out a small little chuckle, not a funny one either, the uncomfortable one.
>”ah heh heh… Sorry, Winona chased after some critters.”
>Anon pulled out the screw and moved to the next one.
“No need, wasn’t your fault, isn’t your problem.”
>There was a couple more moments of quite work before AJ spoke up again.
>”Hold up a second, how long did ya sleep?”
“Three hours.”
>Anon started twisting his arm and body trying to get the screw out.
>”An’ the night before?”
>Anon stopped for a moment and looked over.
“Hour, hour and a half maybe.”
>For the first time she could remember she actually looked Anon in the eyes and studied his face.
>There was a certain fishlike flatness to his eyes.
>He had dark deep bags under his eyes, almost as if someone or somepony had taken coal and rubbed it in.
>Despite spending so much time outdoors his face and exposed skin had an unhealthy pallor to it.
>For the first time she noticed the thin scar along his forehead, a little memento from the traders exchange.
>She had forgotten about that incident.
>He brought his left hand up and rubbed the bridge of his nose, using all three of the remaining fingers.
“Yeah, I’m trying to get a handle on it. But Jesus, every time I hear that clanking or howling, I just wake up… Not pleasantly either.”

>AJ didn’t know what a Jesus was but she could infer the definition from the rest of the statement.
>Anon pulled his mangled hand off his face, and turned his attention back to the screws.
“Well, they say step one is talking about it… Yeah, but it isn’t your problem… I mean who needs this shit in their life.”
>AJ didn’t say anything, what was there to say?
>Anon had taken the conversation completely over himself.
“No one… so remember don’t complain… no need to bring others into this…”
>Anon pulled the screw out and dropped in in the tray.
“Fuck.”
>Anon put his head down on the coupler with a slight clang, AJ thought it sounded a little hard, but it couldn’t have been too hard since Anon didn’t seem to notice.
>He sat there with his head on the frigid piped coupling, despite being a little larger than most humans Anon looked very small.
>Not weak or helpless, just small and tired.
>AJ stopped cleaning and looked over at him; with her older friends she would have been comforting them in a second.
>But she barely knew Anon, this being maybe their fifth time speaking to each other.
>He was always just a human that worked for Twilight and was sometimes seen around the castle.
>Slowly he drew his head off the pipe, his right hand came up and he struck himself rather hard against the temple.
>He shook his head, trying to stop the thoughts, turned to AJ and said.
“I need a cigarette… or three… I’ll be back in a few… you want anything while I’m out?”
>”no”
>With that he stood and walked off, a soft crunch accompanying each step.

>Anon came back after about twenty or thirty minutes, a suitable time as they were a fair distance from Ponyville.
>He sat with his back resting on the exposed pipe, tore open the top of the soft pack and took two out.
>One was offered to AJ, she didn’t consider herself a smoker, but she had been known to have a few if drinking or in the right company.
>She took one, Anon would never figure out how a being with hooves held a cigarette, but then again the fireplace did have a magic smoke shield so all bets were off.
>Anon pulled out a lighter, a simple brass tube contraption, courtesy of HE.
>AJ considered asking some more questions, now genuinely curious, but Anon didn’t seem inclined to talk.
>He had his arms wrapped around his legs, and kept his eyes fixed forward, oddest part was his near lack of blinking.
>Even when he reached the end of his cigarette and the smoke trailed around his eyes and up to his beanie he did not blink.
>He did once when he pulled out a second one and light it off the cherry of the first one, but quickly returned to his unblinking status.
>He finished this cigarette before AJ even finished the one he gave her, he tossed the butt into the snow.
>He gave himself a smack on the temple, quickly stood and was back to work.
>AJ took a last drag, watching Anon work for a moment as he moved between the coupler and the tool box.
>Anon moved very quickly and very efficiently, a grim focus on the simple task to keep him from thinking.
>What surprised her most was the way he walked; there was something different about it.
>He moved with very practiced motions walking toe to heel, keeping himself as low as he could without being publicly different.
>Even in the snow his footfalls were near silent.
>His hands were white with tension.
>He was obviously on the verge of an episode, trying his hardest to keep it together.

>Fortunately he had a simple repetitive task to occupy his mind.
>Unfortunately his grim focus caused him to move forward at an unprecedented pace.
>AJ had trouble keeping pace, barely finishing one pipe as the next one was ready.
>At some point Anon started pulling the pipes out himself, stacking them to the side for AJ to clean out.
>They worked until the sun started to set, the rose color setting in around them.
>AJ lifted a hoof to block the incoming rays.
>”Ahnon, maybe we should call it a day… Whadda ya say?”
>Anon stopped abruptly as he was drawing out another pipe and looked over at AJ.
>His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily, his breath causing small clouds of mist in front of him.
>He shook his head and blinked a couple of times before returning to himself and looking back with a small genuine smile.
“Yeah, call it day… yeah.”
>The work area was covered in canvas tarp and the flag was planted again.
>Anon packed up the tools, he was slowing down.
>AJ put a few of the more valuable and sensitive items into her saddle bags and they walked back to the barn.
>AJ closed the barn door as Anon slid down the red wall and took out another cigarette.
“Sorry about that.”
>”Bout what now?”
“I got sucked into the work, stopped tal-“
>”I’d rather yall be too into working than too distracted.”
>She gave him a small tap on the shoulder, Anon seemed to move a little too much from the tap.
>As if his spine wasn’t there, he let out a small chuckle and light his second one.
>He offered one to AJ; she waved her hoof, declining the cigarette.

“I’ll be out of your hair… mane in a moment just let me finish this one.”
>”I still owe ya fer the door don’t I?”
“You know what, just don’t do it again and I’ll consider it even.”
>”No, no, I still owe ya something, today was a good full day ah work… An I know yall can’t cook ta save yer skin.”
>Anon let out a grunt of agreement, his food was edible and nothing more.
“I can see what you’re getting at, and I would be nice to have a decent meal.”
>He took a drag and considered it.
“Sure, sounds good.”
>”One thing, you ain’t gonna lock up on me again, are ya?”
“I can only say that I’ll try…”
>”It’s all any of us can say.”
>She started trotting off to the house as Anon took another drag, letting the smoke out through his nose.
>’it’s all any of us can say.’
>He slowly nodded to himself

>Anon finished his cigarette while watching the sunset.
>For the first time since he arrived in Equestria his thoughts stopped on their own.
>No more niggling worries at the edge of his mind.
>No more fear.
>No more constant scanning.
>He closed his eyes as he held the last bit of carcinogenic smoke in his lungs, he put his head back against the barn wall.
>Without thinking he drew out his sig and spent a good minute just looking at it.
>It was just an object, and for once it was an object he did not feel he needed.
>’It’s all any of us can say’
>He stuffed the sig back in it’s holster, took another drag, and brought himself upright.
>As much as he would love to enjoy this moment of serenity and zen, it had been a very long day, and he was extraordinarily hungry.
>Anon took off his cleats and brushed any lose snow off his boots, and ducked down into the Apple family’s home.
>Thankfully pony buildings had high enough ceilings that humans could stand upright in them.
>There was a clinking of ceramic plates and the solid ‘donk’ of tankards being placed.
>Anon’s head whipped around to zero in on the noise, his hand trailing halfway through his jacket towards the sig.
>He caught himself, the peace and serenity of the snow outside had already been broken in one flighty moment.
>He clenched his fist inside his coat, AJ words running through his head ‘It’s all any of us can do’.
“Then try harder dammit.”
>”Anon, that you? Ya want any cider?”
>Breath in, breath out.
“Yeah, cider sounds good.”

>AJ said that food would be ready in around twenty or so minutes.
>Anon took the time to look over the photos and other memorabilia hanging over the mantle.
>Medals, trophies, some of Apple Blooms craft projects, all standard fair.
>One stood out however, the photo from the last family reunion, Anon still remembered that episode.
>It was a strange sensation that he would never get used to, the sheer amount of information he had on their personal lives was nothing short of unsettling.
>The amount of information all the humans had.
>That wasn’t why he picked it up though, it was the smiles and the faces, the number and their genuine nature.
>A support system that spanned across the continent, a safety net, and assurance that if things ever got bad enough there would always be a network of blood to catch you.
>Anon thought about what his net was… and promptly stopped himself, no point in it.
>This was his problem, no need to-
>Fuck… Neither of those were right.
>Well if others want to help then let them right?
>It isn’t their-
>Anon stopped his mind by taking a long drink from his tankard.
>”Soups up!”
>Anon rapped the edge of the picture frame over his knuckles and put it back before heading into the kitchen.