Anon in Equestria - Chapter 6

>”You are back.”
>Despite the absolute darkness, you know that you have returned to the cold lifeless world from your previous dreams.
“No shit.”
>The normally disembodied voice has a physical presence here.
>If the red star was still burning, you’d be able to see him standing directly in front of you.
“Are you gonna tell me what you want with me?”
>”I do not want... anything.”
“Yeah, ok. Then, WHY did you pull me out of my old life and drop me into a land of magical talking ponies?”
>”I brought you here because I need your help.”
“With what?”
>”With completing my task.”
>...
“Well, fantastic! Tell me what to do, then leave me alone.”
>”It is not time yet. Your part in these events comes later.”
>For fuck’s sake.
“Then why am I here? Why do you have to bring me here every time I fall asleep?!”
>”Crimson Clover is on the wrong path. If he continues, he will get in my way. I need you to kill him.”
“Gladly. Is that all? Can I go now?”
>”That is all for now.”
>You feel yourself leaving.
“Wait, one more thing. What is this place?”
>You gesture pointlessly to the surrounding blackness.
>”Equestria.”

>Wake up.
>You’re in the Apple family’s spare room; your room now.
>Your jimmies are deeply rustled.
>Quietly, so as not to wake the Apples, you get out of bed and put on one of your fancy new outfits.
>They’re a little too colorful for your taste, but they are more comfortable, better looking, and better fitting than any clothing you owned on Earth.
>Rarity is extremely talented, as you told her numerous times before leaving Carousel Boutique yesterday.
>You had to ask for directions to find Sweet Apple Acres, but once you arrived you were put in a great mood by Applejack’s wacky and friendly family.
>You were really looking forward to meeting new friends and spending time with the ponies you already knew as you drifted off to sleep last night.
>Now you have other things on your mind.

>You tiptoe downstairs and out into the moonlit apple orchards.
>The trees are dying without sun, along with the other plants on the farm.
>Instead of regular farm work, the Apple family plans to have you helping them clear the fields of dead crops when they wake up.

>It’s really hard to enjoy your time in Equestria when the world’s in a state of complete chaos.
>This is the tenth ‘day’ since Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were captured.
>The sun and the moon haven’t moved since, and the last 240-some hours were spent in darkness.
>Thanks to the jungle badass, Zecora, the leader of the evil cult-like organization responsible for the kidnapping is currently locked up in Twilight’s basement, and has none of his magical abilities.
>His name is Crimson, and he is the one you were just asked to kill by the ‘voice’ he happens to worship.
>The irony.

>Your contemplating actually doing it, when you realize you’re not alone in the orchard.
>A pony sits with their back against a tree, facing the other way and staring up at the moon.
>A hat is on the ground beside her.
“Applejack?”
>She jumps in surprise, but gives a sigh of relief when she sees you.
>”Anon, ya scared me.”
“What are you doing out here all alone?”
>You sit down beside her.
>”I like to come out here sometimes, when everyp0ny’s asleep. Y’know, to think about things. And the last week has given me a lot to think about. It’ll be nice havin’ some company for once.”
>She smiles at you.
“Yeah, it’s been a crazy week.”
>”Is somethin’ wrong, Anon.”
>Sharp as a tack.
“Nah. Nothing’s wrong. What about you?”
>”I’m... uh...”
>You sit in silence for a minute, watching the night sky.
>”I’m scared, Anon. I can’t shake this feelin’ that everythin’s gonna get even worse. What if we never find the princesses? What if it’s night forever? An’ what if the crimes get worse? What’s it gonna be like for mah sister growin’ up in this place?”
>You don’t know what to say, so you just put an arm around her in comfort.
>You’ve been having the same thoughts.
“I guess you just have to be optimistic. There’s no sense in worrying about things you can’t control. Besides, Applebloom seemed perfectly happy when I met her. You might want to try adopting her attitude.”
>”You’re right, I s’pose. But I still worry ‘bout my sister. And the rest of my family. I haven’t forgotten ‘bout my aunt and uncle.”
“Optimism, orange one. That means assuming Equestria will go back to normal, and your sister will live a happy life, and Aunt and Uncle Orange will come home.”
>”Oh, right.”

>The silence is broken by a very distant scream.
>You wouldn’t have heard it if you’d been talking.
>”Did ya hear that?”
>You nod.
>”C’mon!”
>Applejack leads you down the long dirt road to the edge of Ponyville.
>The screaming starts again.
“It’s Fluttershy!”
>You run around the south side of town, toward her house near the Everfree forest.
>Past houses, past the library.
>The screaming has long since stopped by the time you approach the cottage on the hill.
>You’re exhausted, but only run harder when you suddenly smell smoke.
>Smoke.
“FIRE!”
>You see the flames before you see the house.
>They’re huge, and engulf almost the entire cottage.
>A huge cloud of black smoke towers over the entire scene, blocking out the moonlight and reflecting the orange glow of the fire.
“Where’s Fluttershy?”
>Another scream answers your question; she’s still inside.
>Don’t think.
>You kick down the front door and a few mice run outside past your feet to freedom.
>She’s not in the main room.
>You run around, opening doors and shouting her name.
>The heat is intense, like being in an oven.
>Wait, why is there no smoke in here?
>It’s all floating upwards... to the second floor.
>You cover your mouth and nose with your shirt and run upstairs.
>Smoke fills the hallway, it stings your eyes.
>There are even more rooms up here.
>You hear whimpering from the other side of an open doorway and run inside.
>Fluttershy lies, barely conscious, on her bedroom floor.
>A white rabbit tries desperately to get her up.
“Fluttershy! Can you hear me?”
>She doesn’t respond.
>You pick up Fluttershy and run back the way you came, the rabbit follows closely at your heels.
>A deafening cracking sound fills the house, and a wooden beam crashes down directly behind you.
>A quick glance shows that in place of the rabbit is a huge hole in the floor.
>Wasting no time, you hurry back downstairs and outside.
>A large crowd has gathered, and they’re trying to fight the fire.
>You collapse onto the grass with Fluttershy, and a few ponies rush to your aid.
“Fluttershy! How did this happen? Who did this?”
>She cracks her eyes open.
>”Wha-what happened?”
>Her bright blue eyes move to the burning house and fill with tears.
>”Oh, Anon, I-I remember.” she cries. “I saw them... through the window. They wore masks.”

>Fuck.

“Applejack! Where’s Applejack?”
>You’re filled with rage.
“Applejack!”
>”I’m here! What is it?”
>She runs over from the crowd.
“I think this... is a distraction! Come with me!”

>You lead her back into town, to the library.
>The lights are on and the door is open.
>You call Twilight’s name.
>”She was at the fire, Anon. Spike, too.”
>The door to the basement is still locked.
“Applejack, kick this down.”
>She doesn’t ask questions, she just knocks the door off it’s hinges with a powerful kick from her hind legs.
>You enter the basement with Applejack by your side.
>Crimson is right where he’s supposed to be, attached to the wall by a loose chain.
>He looks up at you without trying to mask his concern.
>”What are you doing here?!”
“I’m here to kill you.”
>Applejack gasps.
>You walk across the room and stop in front of him.
“Your men are coming, Crimson. They’ve burned down the house of an innocent pony to draw everyp0ny out of town, now they’re coming for you.”
>You wrap the chain tightly around his neck.
“But they’re not going to find you.”
>Crimson tries to speak, so you loosen the chain.
>”They’re not coming for me, Anon. They’re coming for you!” he actually begins to laugh, but is cut off when you pull on the chain.
“You want something to laugh at, motherfucker?! The ‘voice’ asked me to do this.”

>The fact that Crimson tried repeatedly to kill you and your friends is motivation enough; that his group just about burned Fluttershy alive is what pushes you over the edge.
>You pull as hard as you can on the chain.
>Crimson thrashes around violently, desperate for air.
>Applejack watches in horror.

>BOOM!
>A blast of magic hits you square in the back, burning your shirt and flesh.
>Another hits Applejack as you drop to the floor.
>A crowd of masked unicorns streams through the doorway.
>”You idiots!” Crimson snarls. “We need him alive!”
>The masked ponies throw a bag over your head and carry you outside.
>The pain from your burns is unbearable, and you pass out.