Tronanon 7

>You don't know how to react to this.
>Here you are in Twilight's library, with said mare passed out in your arms, and an angry looking pony with a rainbow mane staring you down from the door.
"She's not hurt."
>It's the only thing you can think to say, but you can tell she doesn't really buy it.
>New tactic.
"My name is Anonymous. Twilight here has been helping me with a few things, and she's magically exhausted. I was just about to take her to bed."
>"Why should I believe you? I've never seen you around here before."
"We just met today. I don't have any reason to lie to you. It's not like I can defend myself right now, much less knock out Twilight."
>"Hrmph. Alright, but I'm watching you Anony... anom..."
"Anonymous."
>"Whatever!"
>She trots over to the both of you, "Hand her over."
>You gently set Twilight on her back, and she takes the exhausted mare up the stairs with her. A few minutes later she comes back down the stairs.
"Sorry if this all seems a little weird."
>"What are you?"
"I'm a program."
>"Program? Like, Funds for Fillies?"
>facepalm.jpg
"No, a computer program. How to explain this... It's a large book that runs on electricity, and in order to run programs are needed to organize the information and make it discernable for huma... pony eyes. I am one such program, and I come from a small information storage device."
>You walk to the table and pick up the small SD card.
>Huh...
>That's odd. It's glowing like one of Twilight's spells. She probably did something to it.
>Oh well.
>The rainbow pony eyes it curiously, "Is that a computer?"
"No, but it holds information, and it can be plugged into a computer to retrieve said information."
>"Oh I get it. You're not from around here, are you? We don't have anything like that in Equestria."
"I figured you didn't. Twilight told me as much."
>"What's she helping you with?"
"To find someone who's gone missing in your world."
>"Can I help too?!"
>Eh... why the hell not?
"Sure, but I think it's best if we let Twilight get some shut-eye first."
----------
>A few hours later you're sharing tea with the energetic mare who calls herself Rainbow Dash. She's told you all about her aspirations to join a flying team, and you've told her of humanity and their technological aspirations, as well as the Grid.
>She is good for conversation, and extremely enthusiastic.
>"So these... hyuumans invented all this stuff? that's pretty impressive. Twi is gonna have a field day with all this."
>"More than just a field day."
>You look up towards the new voice and see Twilight trotting down the stairs, a drowsy but rested look on her face.
>She lets out a yawn as she reaches the both of you and continues, "This could bring revolution to Equestria. The technology that Anon has told me about is as useful as magic. It almost IS a type of magic."
"You gonna be alright? You've only got a few hours of sleep."
>"I'll be fine, besides, the day's not even over yet, and we have so much to do!"
"If you say so. What did you do to the card?"
>You hold it up so she can see, and her face beams.
>"Oh! I slowed down the data, just like you wanted me to!"
"You did that before you passed out?"
>"Yep!"
"Impressive."
>She looks so proud of herself.
>It's kind of cute.
>"Okay, so..." Twilight's horn starts to glow, and a scroll from a shelf in the corner somewhere floats to the three of you and unrolls.
>It looks like a map of some sort.
"What's this?"
>"A map of the Everfree forest."
>Dash's eyes widen, "Wait, you're going into the Everfree?"
>"Not alone, Rainbow. You're coming with us, along with the others. We have to find whoever Anon is looking for."
"Sam Flynn, and the ISO Quorra."
>"Right. When I found Anon he was near the Everfree forest. It's already a bit late in the day, so it's probably not a good idea to go searching now. However, I would like to make some sort of plan, and Anon needs to meet the others."
>Dash frowns, "I don't know Twi." She pokes you with her hoof, "He might send somep0ny running. When I saw him I thought he hurt you or something."
>"Perfectly understandable, but if we're going to find Sam and Quorra then we need all the help we can get."
-------
>After some pouring over the map and Twilight planning out some search routes, she takes you out with Dash to start meeting her friends.
>You can't help but feel a little bit distant from all this.
>Your entire existance has been cycle after cycle of running and fighting.
>Yet here is Twilight, ready to take you in as if you are a pony yourself.
>From what you saw on her identity disk this fits her character like a glove, but it still doesn't sit well with you.
>Simply put, you are not comfortable in this environment, and you don't think you ever will be.
>The first stop on your little trip seems to be a very colorful bakery.
>It looks like a witch built it to lure in small children.
>"Hiiiiiiiiiiiii~"
>By the users what is that?!
>It appears to be pink, and it's heading towards you at an alarming rate.
>With a loud thunk, the air is knocked from your lungs and you go tumbling head over foot. All you can hear is the sound of your back hitting the ground and a light giggling.
>"I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name Mr. Thing I've Never Seen Before?"
>You realize there is a pink pony on your chest, and you have been tackled to the ground by her.
"Uh... Anonymous."
>"Anonymous... that's a weird name? Can I call you Nonny?"
>You look over to Twilight and Dash.
>Both of them are smiling.
>Traitors.
"Sure..."
>"Oh, we're gonna be super best friends. I can already tell!"
>This one is very... active.
--------
>"Howdy partner."
>The orange pony reaches up with a hoof and tilts her hat as a sign of greeting.
>Next to her stands a stallion roughly twice the size of her and red in color, and behind them both is a dirt trail leading to an extremely large apple orchard.
>Just by looking at these two you can tell they're very hard workers.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Anonymous."
>"I'm Applejack, and this is my brother Big Mac. Mighty fine to meet'cha Anon."
>"Eeyup."
>"I ain't never seen anything like ya before. What exactly are ya?"
>Twilight leaps in between all of y0ou, a bit too excited for her own good, "He's a program!"
>Applejack tilts an eyebrow, "A program? Like..."
>"No, NOT like Funds for Fillies!" shouts Dash.
-------
>The next place you head to is a rather large and fancy looking building. On the front door, also decorated, is a large sign with "OPEN" in cursive clearly displayed in gold.
>Twilight knocks on the door, and not but a minute later it flies open to reveal a very frazzled looking mare.
>Her hair is perfectly done, but she still looks like she's been through absolute hell.
>"What is it Twilight? I've got a VERY important client waiting on a dress and I would loathe to be late with his demands."
>Twilight sighs, "It is kind of important, but it's just an introduction for now. I'd like you to meet Anonymous."
>You wave.
>The mare eyes you for a long moment, then frowns, "Why, I've never seen anything like you, sir. Prey tell, where do you come from?"
"It's a long explanation, and it seems like you're busy so..."
>"Right, right. I do apologize, you've caught me at a most inopportune moment. There will be time for other pleasantries later. I am Rarity."
>You can't help but smile.
"The name suits you."
>"Oooo a charmer. Such a shame we can't talk further."
>Twilight nods, "We'll let you get back to work. Will you be done tomorrow?"
>"Of course, Twilight."
----------
>The next, and final stop according to Twilight, is a small cottage on the edge of the woods.
>The first thing you notice is all the animals.
>Holy shit the animals. They're fucking everywhere. Birds of every type, reptiles crawling around, chickens, cats, and everything in between.
>As you approach the cottage you start to feel even more out of place than you did before.
>Twilight steps forward and knocks on the door, "Fluttershy, it's Twilight. I'm here with Rainbow and a new friend! We'd like to introduce you!"
>It seems like an eternity before the door to the house barely cracks open an inch. "Oh. Hello Twilight."
>"Hi Fluttershy. I'd like to introduce Anonymous. We'll be helping him find someone he's looking for."
>The door opens wider, and you think you hear her breathe in relief. "Hello there, my name is Fluttershy, and I'm..."
>If colorful cartoonish horses are to be considered pretty on any level, this is it.
>You have time to form that one thought before she catches a good look at you.
>Now you realize why her sentence fell flat. The look she's giving you is a look of pure terror.
>She doesn't know what you are and it probably scares the shit out of her.
"Hi."
>"Eep!"
>She wheels around and slams the door behind her.
"My name is Anonymous! I look forward to your company!"
>You lean down and put an ear to the door.
>There's sounds of something shuffling, then a loud thud.
>Then you hear a barely audible, "... nice to meet you."
--------
>The three of you are walking to Twilight's library.
>It's been a long day, and you're looking forward to some rest. That concept, rest, seems so foreign to you. You welcome it with open arms, though.
>"So," says Twilight, "What do you think?"
"Your friends are... unique."
>She laughs.
>You can't help but think her laugh is nice, "Yeah, yeah they are."
"So I take it that's everyone?"
>"There's still one pony you have to meet, but that can wait until after we find who you're looking for."
>Dash pipes in, "Me and Fluttershy can fly over the forest and check the paths and canopies from above. It'll be risky in the self-acting weather, but it's not the first time we've flown over the Everfree."
"Self acting weather?"
>"Yeah," says Dash, "Normally the pegasi control the weather, but the weather over the Everfree forest and in the wastelands is self-acting."
"That's... strange. All the weather in the User's world is 'self-acting'."
>Dash just looks confused now, "Really?"
"Yeah, I'll tell you all about it when we've got time to sit down."
>"Sounds awesome. For a monkey looking thing, you're pretty cool Anon."
>"Dash!"
>"What? He looks like a monkey."
>You laugh.
"Alright, save it for the guards Twilight."
>"Speaking of that..."
"Yeah, we eventually have to go back in."
>Twilight smiles, "And?"
"I think your friends will be of great help. I can tell by looking at them that they're survivors. They are fine users. Put a light suit on them and give them an ID, and we'll be ready for anything."
>"What the hay are you two talking about?!"