Second Chances Chapter 4 - The Rest

>Oh sure, easy enough you said.
>Fuck off, brain.
>The trip to the barn outside of town was eventful enough, considering that this pink pile of cocaine and sunshine bounced like a rubber ball, stopping only to say something nice to other p0nies that you pass.
>Well, at least now it doesn’t irritate you so much. In fact, her cheerful demeanor reminds you of someone you used to know.
>You shake your head. Best not to dwell on that subject.
>”We’re here, anon!” Pinkie squeals. This p0ny must freebase adrenaline.
>You look up at the barn. Every window is dark in the twilight sky. A cold breeze rustles your jimmies as the weather-worn building leers down at you. The scent of apples in the air doesn’t do much to appease things.
>Oh god, she’s gonna rape and kill us.
>Shut up, brain.
>Does that mean we’re going to do it? OH GOD IT’S BEEN SO LONG…
>Not bloody likely, penis. Now get back down where you belong.
>Pinkie cocks her head to the side, wondering what the hell you’re doing there standing like a fucking statue. “Well don’t just stand there silly!”
“I’m not going in there.”
>”What do you mean? You’re already inside!”
>You blink as you find yourself on the other side of the door, which slams with authority behind you, leaving you in the dark. You’re not even sure if Pinkie Pie even came in with you, much less how she got you in here without fucking noticing.
>Well maybe if you’d stop having monologues with your various body parts, you’d pick up on these things.
>Pancreas, who said you can speak?
“Hello? Pinkie?” You dare not step a foot. For all you know, there could be stick traps in the ground, waiting to turn you into a shish-kebab.
>Oh sweet jeebus, you’re about to die.
>The lights snap on.
>”SURPRISE!” the small crowd exclaims. Pinkie pops up well within your personal space, wearing a party hat and blowing a noisemaker.
>”It’s your Welcome to Equestria party, Anon!” Fweeeeeeeeeeeee goes the noisemaker.
>Down goes Anonymous.
>You somehow maintain consciousness as a blue, rainbow-maned pegasus hovers over you. “Pinkie, I think he may have been a little TOO surprised.”
>Goddamn p0nies.
>No sooner do you sit up than you’re mobbed by the small crowd. Blue, white, orange, yellow and Pinkie Pie, who appears out of nowhere and straps a party hat to your head.
“Nice to meet you all…you can call me Anonymous.” You don’t sound particularly energetic. If anyone asks, it’s because you’re tired.
>The white one speaks. “A pleasure, darling. I’m Rarity. I have to say those clothes I made look smashing…if a little dirty…”
>You’re introduced to the p0nies one by one. Rainbow Dash helped you to your feet and summarily challenged you to a race. The one they call Fluttershy shied away from you, meekly wimpering when spoken to until RD pushed her forward, much to her dismay.
>The one they call Applejack, now, the way she talks reminds you a lot of home. This would comfort you, if there wasn’t something…disconcerting about the way she was looking you up and down.
>”I’m sorry Anon,” Pinkie apologized once all the introductions were done. “I wanted to get everyp0ny here for your party, but I didn’t have much time to organize since we spent the WHOLE DAY together, so I saved it for my favorite p0nies in the whole wide world!”
>”Shucks, a whole day with Pinkie?” AJ snorted, sliding a mug of what looked like apple juice to you. “Ah’ reckon you must be exhausted.”
“You could say that.” You take a sip and…wow. Cider. Some pretty hard stuff.
>You take another sip. RD seems impressed at least. “Well, at least he likes something.”
“I like plenty of things.” You sound pretty blasé when you tried to pull off indignant. You see Fluttershy creeping into your peripherial vision, like she’s afraid you were going to eat her.
>”Umm…you alright? You don’t seem very happy…not that there’s anything wrong with that! I mean, you don’t have to be happy…if you…don’t…”
>Come on, don’t tell me you’re not happy.
>What do you think, brain?
>Well, you shoved a hot slug of lead through my brainstem, which HURTS LIKE HELL by the way…so I say you’re absolutely fan-freaking-tastic!
>Sarcasm is not your strong suit.
You sigh. “I’m fine, Fluttershy. I am very happy.”
>Pinkie leans in now. “You don’t look it. Come on, give me a big smile!”
“…..”
>”Smiiiiiile!” The cotton candy-topped mare emulates exactly what she wants you to do.
You sigh and stand, finishing off your cider. “I promise, I am enjoying myself. Pinkie Pie, thank you for the wonderful party, but I’m really tired. I think I’ll go back to Twilight’s.”
>Pinkie looks a little deflated, the first time you haven’t seen her with her shit-eating grin all day. It reminds you of a sad puppy.
>HNNNNNNNGH
>Nut up, heart. Don’t forget…she may be a p0ny, but she’s also a woman…well, female.
>You say your brief goodbyes, assuring everyone you can find your own way back to town. As you leave, you overhear the p0nies talking amongst themselves, beginning with Rainbow.
>”Wow, that guy’s a downer.”
>”Rainbow! Manners!” Rarity delivers a soft but surprising elbow to the pegasus’ flank.

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>”Your majesty, a letter from Twilight Sparkle has arrived.”
>Princess Celestia set her tea cup down daintily, a warm smile crossing her face. It’s always a pleasure to hear from her protégé, even if it was such a late hour…Luna was well into her shift, guiding the night.
>”Thank you, guardstallion.” The alic0rn took up the message in a magical field, unfurling it. As she read each line, her concentration became more and more intense, to the point that she did not notice Luna enter and sit across from her older sister.
>”Tia…tis’ troubling news, is it?” Luna looks over the edge of the parchment to Celestia.
>”It’s a letter from Twilight. She’s asking permission to access the restricted archives.”
>If Luna had a monocle, she would have popped it. “The restricted archives? But those hold some of the oldest and most dangerous tomes in all of Equestria!”
>”And some of its’ most ancient records,” Celestia added. “It seems my student has stumbled something very intriguing. A strange creature she calls Anonymous, who was carrying a rusty old sword she seems to think is important.”
>Luna pours herself a cup of tea, stirring the sugar almost absentmindedly. “A sword? Such artifacts hath not been used in a millennia. It shocks me to find out one survived.”
>Celestia flutters her wings a little, wondering why her student would think to include Anon’s –exact- dimensions in her report, right down to his…
>What more concerned her was the sword. According to Twilight’s report, Anon claimed to find the sword in the ruins of her and Luna’s old castle, in the great hall, where one thousand years ago, Celestia banished Nightmare Moon. If that’s what she’s afraid it is…
>”Luna, I think we should invite my student and her new friend for a visit, sometime soon...”