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>>42641903

>>42641897
You've used my art as the OP image three times now, I'm very flattered, thank you.

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>>42555767
>You're not sure what makes something funnier, keeping it to yourself, or sharing it
>"Did she open a door and a bucket of water fell on her?"
>"Naw, wouldn't've been that Pinkie, I'll bet she tried to fly up with a weight she couldn’t handle and got pulled outta the air for her trouble, am I right Anon?"
>Case in point, you've been chuckling to yourself ever since you left the gym at the fact Rainbow nearly followed you into the bathroom
>And you're not sure whether it's funnier to keep it to yourself or tell Applejack and Pinkie
>Rainbow is giving what could only be described as a glare that's willing you to die
>You don't take offence, cause she's also got a blush that's willing herself to die
"It's nothing you two, Rainbow just... got lost."
>You swing your legs to the side and feel the swish of air as her hooves kick out to you
>"In the gym?" Applejack chuckles at the absurdity of the idea
>"But it's so small, Dashie, how'd you get lost in there"
>"I didn't get lost!" Dash yells, quickly shrinking into her seat as some of the other Sugarcube Corner patrons glance at her. "I just... got turned around."
>"At the gym?" Applejack reiterates
>"Spitfire was there!" Rainbow yelps out, suddenly remembering that detail and using the excuse. "It was her old gym before she was a Wonderbolt, so I just... saw it in a new light"
"Yeah, and missed all the signs while you were at it" You mutter into your milkshake, intending to finish this one
>Again, you swing your legs and stick your tongue out playfully at Dash as you feel her miss for a second time
>The other two ponies laugh at you and Dash's back and forth
>Admittedly, you were surprised to see them both here
>But apparently Pinkie is such a wiz at her job that the Cakes were willing to allow her more breaks than normal cause she did more in a day that a normal pony could do in a week
>Applejack's still a mystery though
"Not that I'm complaining, Applejack, but what are you doing here? I'd have thought working a farm was an all day thing"
>Applejack nibbles at her slice of pie and nods understandingly at you
>"Normally you'd be right, sugarcube, but we're past the main harvest, getting closer to winter, so there's less farm work to do." She grimaces a little as her muzzle twitches. "Though that just means we're gonna be busy with more housework."
>You nod at the clearly tired farm mare
"Well, hey, if you ever want an extra pair of hooves, I've got two to spare- a decent pair of wings too"
>Applejack smiles appreciatively at that and nods
>"That'd be nice actually, some of the family's been talking about you since they saw yer flight with Rainbow. I reckon they'd like to meet ya"
>"I would suggest a nice pair of boots if you're going towards Sweet Apple Acres." Glancing over, you see Rarity approaching, the jingle of the door bell fading behind her. "While I do adore the quaintness of their home, the roads leave much to be desired"

>>42642042
>"Land's sake Rarity." Applejack rolls her eyes at the fashionista's words. "We've got the same roads that all of Ponyville's got"
>"The roads in Ponyville are dirt or cobblestone, Applejack, your farm roads are more... muddy"
>The two diametrically opposed mares begin butting heads and you briefly share a look with Rainbow
>Like you, she's glanced between the two, and mouthed to you "like clockwork" before snickering to herself
>You find yourself fighting down your own chortles as you enjoy the company
>Though Applejack's words do bring new thoughts to your mind
>Getting closer to winter
>You glance out the window absentmindedly
>There's no real sign of it
>Manually controlled weather must make the change of seasons rather mechanical
>Hopefully the temperature doesn't simply nosedive at some random day in the future
>Weather patterns aside, your mind settles on the inevitable
>Holidays
>What holidays do these ponies celebrate?
>THAT you definitely can't ask
>You're already drawing enough strange looks with the questions you've asked alread
>Guess that means you're gonna take another trip to Twilight's library
>You feel yourself sagging a little in your seat
>Like a stone dropped into your stomach
>You've been here so long that the holidays nearly came and passed you by
>And you wouldn't have cared enough to give them a second glance if not for Dash
>But now that you're aware the holidays are coming
>You wish you weren't
>You're gonna spend a holiday on an alien planet
>In a body that's not yours
>Away from home
>It might not have been perfect
>But it was still home
>And for all you know, they might not even have winter holidays
>It wouldn't be the strangest thing
>A sigh escapes your lips
>Just when you were starting to get used to the idea of 'friends'
>You're hit with a reminder of how lonely you really are
>"Anon-?"
>Just as you'd begun sinking into the mire of your mind you were jolted back to reality
>The snapback, mixed with the light poke made you jolt back with a yelp
>You're just barely able to scramble your hooves to correct your milkshake from toppling onto you
>The small squeak was just barely heard over Dash's guffaws
>Glancing down you look to see Fluttershy crouched down, head tucked behind her mane, blue peaking through the pink at you
>With a hoof over your chest you take a deep breath to stop your pounding heartbeat
>Nothing like a shot of adrenaline to drive your train of thought of the tracks
"Sorry, Fluttershy, you startled me is all"
>"Oh no, I'm sorry I startled you, but, well- you-"
>"You looked so sad, Nonny!" Pinkie interjects
"I'm fine, I was just- ...Nonny?"
>"It's your nickname, do you like it?" The bubbly mare says with an equally bubbly smile
"Can I call you Pringles?"
>"Sure! What's a pringle?"
"Aaaannd I'm sad again"
>You missed your junk food
>Looking to the side, you see Fluttershy still nervously watching you
>With a swift shift of your wings, you grab a nearby spare chair and pull it up for her

>>42642044
>She gives you a thankful smile as she sits while Dash finally comes down from her laughing high
>"Dude, I thought you were gonna jump out of your feathers"
"She snuck up on me" You try to argue
>"Yeah, real sneaky how she came in through the front door with Twi and said hi to everyone"
>You lift a wing primary to point at her, your mouth half-open to retort
>She waits, suspended in the air
>Instead, you decide to simply drink in your milkshake some more
>With a chuckle, Rainbow lands beside you, clearly feeling she's won another imagined victory
>And just as she said, Twilight comes to the table, sweets in her magic for herself and Fluttershy
>"If something's bothering you, Anon, me and the girls would be glad to help" The purple unicorn offers as she levitates a chair over for herself
>Now that strikes you as strange
>Dash? Sure
>But them?
"Why?" You ask, incredulously
>The mood seems to shift slightly at your question as the girls share confused looks
"I mean, you barely know me and I barely know any of yo-"
>"Dude! Remember what we talked about?"
>The way Dash's tone urged you reminded you of a frat bro asking you not to embarrass them
"Yeah, yeah, 'your friends are my friends' et cetera, et cetera" Dash chuckles lightly at you as you trail off
>She shakes her head light-heartedly at you, bringing a glass to her lips as she mutters a soft "You're hopeless"
>You almost chuckle back until you realize she's drinking your milkshake
>With a quickness you lunge for the glass, though you're reminded she's quicker as she zips into the air
>But you will not be denied your prize and take off after her
>"Whoops!"
>"Almost-"
>"Not quite"
>"Over here"
>The two of you continue on like this, aware but ignoring the looks from the girls and the sound of Applejack and Pinkie Pie making bets
>Despite the cramped space of being inside a building, Dash is surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly nimble
>While you fumble to not crash into walls or the ceiling, she expertly twists and twirls her body through the air like she's swimming
>You'd be mesmerized if you weren't focused on your milkshake
>You finally feel victory near as you have her by a corner
>But you don't like the assured, smug smirk on her face
>Then again, that is her default
>As you lunge, she almost slips from her grip, but of your peripheral you notice something cause her to falter
>Taking the opening, you twist your wings to reach your hooves around her and get her in a hold
>Just as awkward as your flying was, the two of you now fumble back and forth, lightly bumping into the very same walls and ceiling you were avoiding as you scrabble to reach your hooves to the glass
>With a grunt of effort, you snatch your drink back and give a triumphant "HA" at Rainbow Dash
>She simply gives you a pleased smile
>While that gives you pause, your victory is soured as something impacts the bottom of the glass, spilling its contents onto you
>Again, you are beset by Rainbow's laughter

>>42642046
>You swear to- whatever these ponies swear too, one of these days you're gonna get your chance to laugh at her misfortune
>Looking down, you see the culprit
>A cream coloured foal with a chocolate brown mane and small, beady eyes
>The kid's tiny
>Way smaller than Mach
>"Pound! Oh- dear- Pound, you get down from there right now mister!" The distinct sound of Mrs. Cake's voice comes from below
>She has a broom awkwardly in her hooves
>Whether she's trying to poke her foal down, or get him to grab the wood to pull him down, you're not sure
>"Sorry about him, Anonymous, he's still so young and he- well- likes to hit things..." She awkwardly explains, clearly feeling a mix of annoyance and endearment at her son's trait.
>With a sigh, you wipe some of the chocolate from your face and let it drip down to the floor
>Seemingly remembering, Mrs. Cake apologises again before turning to Pinkie Pie
>"Pinkie, dear, would you mind-?"
>"Already on it Mrs. Cake" Pinkie says with gusto, a mop already in her hooves
>With a tired sigh, you wrap a hoof around the young pegasus
>He squirms lightly in your grip, then soon relaxes as you float down
>When you land, you simply hold the colt out to his mother, who quickly takes him, pinning down his wings and fumbling her way through a mix of half a dozen thanks and apologies, all of which you wave off with an easy smile
>Rejoining the group, you see a few treats and bits exchanging hooves
>As you sit again, the girls whistle and avoid eye contact, as if pretending the spoils of their bets hadn't just been divvied out
>Rainbow meanwhile lets out a small snicker as she wraps a hoof around your shoulder
>"Wow, Anon. First Mach flies into the back of your head, then Pound hits a milkshake into your face. You're two for two when it comes to bad introductions to kids, huh?"
"Ha ha, Dash" The both of you share a smirk
>It might be annoying, but she is right
>Wait
>Mach
"Shit." You spit out quietly under your breath
>This seems to grab the attention of the girls, some shocked by your foul language
"I haven't checked on Mach yet" You mutter, pressing one hoof into your eye, annoyed at yourself
>"Wait, seriously?" Dash asks. "Why not?"
"I've been a bit busy, you know? The hospital, recovery, that letter- not wanting to get an iron pan to the head from Hot Stuff or Short Fuse"
>The girls all nod in understanding at your reason, though a few perk up at your vague mention of a letter
>"Oh yeah, you mentioned something about- what was it? Spam letters'? At the gym, what's up with that?"
"Scam letters." You correct. "Yeah, had one of those in the mail the other day"
>Applejack mutters under her breath with a scoff
>"That sounds like something those gol'dern Flim Flam brothers'd cook up, what'd it say?"
>You don't know who that is
>And you can't help but wonder if they're italian
>Do ponies have an Italy equivalent?
>Everyone's looking at you
>Focus

>>42642047
"I... don't know, all I know is that it was pretending to be Princess Celestia" You half snicker at the memory
>Twilight meanwhile, half chokes on her treat
>One swift pat on the back from Applejack dislodges it
>"It what?" She says, eyes widening
"Yeah, someone pretending to be the princess, can you believe it?" You snort as the ridiculousness of it all comes back to you. "It invited me to Canterlot to meet her, as if, right?"
>You look over to Dash and for once are glad to see her just as amused as you
"I reckon it was someone who wanted to either prank me into making an ass of myself in front of the princess, or maybe wanted to rob me" You speculate
>"Oh... my..." Fluttershy says, shrinking into her mane, her eyes darting between you and-
>Your head shrinks back into your shoulders as Twilight is now stood on the table, looming over you
>"Anon... was there a stamp on the letter?"
"Yes...?" You answer, suddenly unsure. "It was..." You wrack your brain for the memory. "Yellow I think, with a flower? No- wait- a sun! That's it"
>There's a tinkling as Twilight's horn flares and she drags you face to face with her
>You don't like that look in her eyes
>When did her mane get so frazzled?
>Why is she so out of breath?
>Are you in danger?
>"Anon," she starts in a low tone, "it's okay, we can fix this, you just didn't know. Where. Is. The letter?"
>You're officially scared of this nerd
"Twilight I got that like a week ago. I threw it in the trash. It's probably been torn up and dumped in... whatever place trash goes-" you turn to Rainbow Dash, "hey, Dash, does this place have landfills? Recycling places?"
>You're cut off by a sudden, frantic, heavy breathing
>Slowly, you turn to face the purple unicorn
>Her eyes are crazier
>Her mane is wilder
>And you're pretty sure steam is coming out of her ears
>She takes a deep breath and you clamp your hooves over your ears preemptively
>Instead of a scream, there's a slight swishing zap and flash as she teleports away
>Teleports
>Unicorns can do that?
"Uuuuuhhhh- does she do that often?"
>"Nope. Congrats, buddy" Rainbow says with a smile
>Then, you all pause again, ears all twitching
>There's... something at the edge of your hearing
>You bat your ears once, then twice in case it's just you
>But as other heads turn, you realize it's not
>Mister Cake opens the door, and it becomes clearer
>Screaming
>Loud
>High pitched
>Screaming
>Echoing from who knows how far away
"Is that-?"
>"Yep"
"And she's-?"
>"Yep"
"The lungs on that mare." You mutter to yourself as you turn back to the table. "So, that letter was ACTUALLY from Celestia?"
>A round of general confirmations greet you and leave you curious
"But why would the RULER of the country want to talk to me?"
>"Well, hey, maybe you should go to Canterlot and ask her" Dash says, nudging your side with an elbow
>You groan
>This is definitely a fuck up of not insignificant proportions
>How are you gonna explain yourself to the princess?

>>42642048
>Are you even going to be allowed to?
>She hasn't sent ponies to arrest you yet, so that's good at least
>But maybe there was only a small window for the meeting and you've missed it
>At least you can't make it worse
>You can probably find the time to stop by there at some point
>The worst that'll happen is that you'll be turned away
>Well, no, the worst would be getting arrested and executed
>But from what you've gathered she's not a tyrant
>So you'll probably be fine
>Probably...
>Hopefully
>You need to fly before your mind descends any further
>Pushing away from the table you give a quick stretch and a wave with your wings
"Well, it's been fun giving Twilight a mental breakdown and getting a face full of milkshake, but I'll see you girls later. I'm gonna go visit Mach"
>Four give you waves and glad smiles
>"Don't forget to drop by Sweet Apple Acres when it take your fancy 'nonymous"
>"Oh, and do stop by the boutique." Rarity adds. "I haven't taken your measurements, and with winter coming you might need some extra clothes"
"I don't have any clothes, Rarity"
>Holy shit you don't have any clothes
>Rarity gasps at your words. "Anonymous, that's unacceptable, you should have told me sooner." She sits up, practically buzzing with giddiness. "Now you have to, my treat, I think you'd look dapper in a suit"
"Pass." You say immediately. "Those itch"
>With a wave to Pinkie and Fluttershy you go to do the same with Rainbow
>But she's not sat where she was before
>"Come on, slowpoke, we're losing daylight"
>Looking over to her voice, you see that she's already at the door, wings twitching at her sides and practically trotting on the spot
>You can't stop the roll that comes to your eyes
>Of course she's coming with you
>How silly for thinking differently
>The two of you trot out of the store, saying final goodbye over your shoulders
>With a bit of distance, Dash braces her legs down hard and flares her wings out
>"Ready?"
>You copy her stance, and easy smile slipping onto your face as the old and still entirely new feeling of your wings spreading flushes through you
"Always"
>The next instant the both of you take off into the sky
>She rockets ahead of you easily
>But within a few seconds, she's slowing down and you're still at the same pace and come up beside her
>As you climb to the clouds your wings even out as you begin the lazy trip to Cloudsdale
>A quick chuckle escapes her as she glances at you
>"I still can't believe you seriously threw away a letter from Princess Celestia"
"I thought it was a joke!" You say, the whole situation taking a new level of humor as you think it over. "Is she gonna be mad?"
>"Mad?" Rainbow scoffs, she then snorts and waves you off. "Dude, she's gonna find it hi-larious! You've gotta tell her"
"I'll think about it" You wave her off lazily
>You won't think about it
>The two of you fly through the sky as you slowly approach Cloudsdale
>You fill the time by occasionally doing tricks around each other

>>42642049
>Rainbow does an aerial roll around you without touching you
>You use a wing to cut loose a small ball of cloud and throw it forward with a curve spin on it, bringing it back to land in her mane
>She does a flip and lands a small bit of her weight in the centre of your back, just where the wings meet, keeping you perfectly balanced despite the extra weight
>Eventually you reach the outskirts of the flying city and weave your way through the cloudy streets
>It doesn't take long to find yourselves at the door of Hot Stuff's
>You almost back out at the last second
>Luckily you have Dash there to shove you through the door
>"Hey Hot Stuff! Look who I found!" She announces to the whole diner
>You turn on her with an exasperated stare
"Why are you like this?"
>Her tongue poking out at you is your only answer before she flaps her way over to a stall
>"THERE YOU ARE!" A familiar voice yells at you
>Well at least you don't have to worry about a princess killing you
>Hot Stuff will do it
>Your vision is filled with pink as you turn
>She very well could have tackled you back out of the door if she wasn't currently death-dripping your coat
>Her face is an inch from yours as she yells
>"YOU HAVE SOME NERVE SHOWING UP HERE AFTER A WEEK! MAKING US WAIT LIKE THIS!"
"L- look, Hot Stuff, I can explai-"
>"EXPLAIN NOTHING, YOUNG MAN, WE'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!"
>You blink
>You blink again
"Wait- what?"
>She releases you and turns, hollering into the back of the building
>"Hey, hon! Anonymous is here!"
>"I'm already getting his usual ready, on the house!"
>Wait what
"What is happening?"
>"What are you standing there slack-jawed for? Come sit down." She guides you over to the stall with Dash, a light smile on her muzzle now as she hollers again. "MACH! Anonymous is here to see you!"
>Your peripherals just barely catch of blur before you're lightly tackled backwards into your seat, making you grunt
>You look down and almost instinctively wrap a hoof around the shivering form of Mach
>His voice is weak, small, and you feel a small wet patch on your chest as he speaks
>"You're okay-" his voice breaks as his tiny hooves, that can't even wrap half way around you, squeeze you
>You look at Dash, confused
>She simply gives you a smile, genuine, no smarm or sarcasm in it, just glad, and she shrugs
>You place a hoof in Mach's mane and tousle it lightly
"Of course I'm okay, kid. I was more worried about you."
>It takes him a while to calm down, longer, you imagine, than he'd like it to
>Eventually though, his breathing steadies, and his body stills
>He pushes off your chest, a foreleg wiping across his eyes before looking up at you
>Now there's a small glare on his face
>His hoof connects to your chest, pulls away, then the other, and he repeats
>Is... is he trying to hit you?
>You tilt your head at Hot Stuff who chuckles with just a touch of strain hidden beneath her relief

>>42642051
>"My little Mach and Chesse has had... well, been feeling a lot of emotions since everything happened. You don't mind if he works 'em out of his system do ya?"
>You look between the colt's ineffective punches and his mother and give her a small shake of your head
>She gives you a glad smile and returns to serving the other customers, who also turn away from their brief watch of the sudden burst of activity before returning to their own lives
>Whatever was keeping Mach's assault up, it begins to peter out when Hot Stuff returns with you and Dash's food
>As he tires out, he rolls off your chest beside you
>A wing catches his roll and leaves his laying beside you
>It's strange, really
>Seeing this colt that you'd seen as a neverending ball of energy
>Now so sapped as he just lays close to you
>He mutters something into your side, but you don't catch it
>Wiping your mouth, you lean down towards him
"What's that, Mach?"
>"...thought you died"
>Oh...
>You look down at the kid again
>He's fighting tears again
>You bring your wing back out and wrap it around him in a hug as you continue your meal
>There aren't really any words in your mind that can respond to that
>So you just let him be close to you
>You let him prove himself wrong
>It doesn't feel right to leave the diner when Mach's still feeling down, so even after your meal, you decide to stick around
>Rainbow doesn't bother leaving either
>Also strange
>You're pretty sure you've never known this mare to not be doing something, on the way to doing something, or in the process of thinking of something to do
>Yet she stays in her seat without so much of a twitch from her wings
>The two of you chat about everything and nothing
>What to expect from a day with Applejack
>The same with Rarity
>Pretending you can still hear Twilight screaming in the distance
>For a brief moment wondering if you actually can
>Laughing when you realize it was just the diner's kettle
>Even work comes up as a topic
>After an hour, Mach finally gets the energy back to pull himself off your side
>Then there's a slow, question filled talk about everything that happened in the Everfree when he left you behind
>You do mention the wolves and the chimera
>But you leave out most mentions of injury
>Then you talk about your recovery, or at least a watered down version
>By the time you're done and talking to him about his side of the last few days, a lot of the day has passed you by
>The blue sky has changed to a vibrant orange as the sun begins to dip into the horizon
>Jingles ring through the air as customers begin to depart, but you're still here
>Eventually it gets quiet enough that Hot Stuff sidles up and slides into the seat next to Dash
>Seeing his mother, Mach almost immediately goes under the table to sit between her and Dash, now talking to you face to face without you needing to uncomfortably crane your neck down
>When it finally goes dark, you don't notice

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>>42642054
>Nor do you notice as Short Fuse flips the sign from 'Open' to 'Closed'
>Though you do shuffle over in your seat to make room for him as he slides next to you
>Slowly the family you haven't met filter in as well
>You had seen them, some helping their mother, some helping their father, but you didn't realize until now
>Two older sisters
>Introductions are given and stretch the night on as you trade stories as casually as tokens
>The unexpected meeting is cut off by a yawn from Mach as he sways in his seat
>Light chuckles fill the diner
>"Alright young colt, time for bed" Hot Stuff whispers softly as she scoops up her son and puts him over her shoulder
>He tiredly waves at you before going limp against his mother's back
>The sisters and Short Fuse give their own goodbyes as you and Rainbow head out of the diner
>The chill night air is crisp and soft, and you ruffle your feathers to keep yourself warm
>With a shared glance, the two of you take off in silence
>She follows you long enough to where you both catch sight of your house before she breaks off to return to her own home
>With a tired sigh, you ready yourself to answer your bed's siren call, only to stop at the brief sight of white contrasting against the night
>A letter's been nailed to your door
>A very haphazardly put together letter
>Like it was chopped up and put back together
>Very literally as there are various bits of dried glue, tape and staples lining its previous perforations
>With a squint, you realize it's the same letter from Celestia that you'd thrown away
>Turning it, you see new writing on the back, fresh ink, written in large letters
--
>'ANON. GO TO CANTERLOT.'
--
>You briefly ponder the lengths Twilight went through for this
>You then decide you're too tired to fully ponder that and mentally push it aside as you push your door open
>Thinking is a game you can play tomorrow
>When you make your way to Canterlot, apparently

https://ponepaste.org/10481#4415
this has probably been my biggest update so far, I hope it tides you guys over because I'm probably not gonna start writing the next update until after the anni stream

>>42642058
as per usual, spelling errors have been found and fixed on the paste

>>42642058
Fantastic big update to the green, love how mad Twilight got, she's definitely going to have to explain why she screamed so loud that it could be heard from far away to Celestia as I presume that's who Anon is going to meet next!
Also, at line 4459 on the ponepaste is alread supposed to be already?

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>The column of light dissipated down into the stallion, his mane shooting up and changing colour along with his eyes
>The scream faded he snapped his head down to the quivering dragonling in front of him
>"Spike listen very carefully you must leave this place now and take Shining with you!"
>Spike gawked at him, provoking a growl of irritation from the pony
>"THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO TELL YOU GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW SPIKE!"
>Scrambling Spike rushed over to Shining armour's form and hoisted him on his shoulder to carry him off
>Lightning cracked in the sky as Anon looked over his withers at Grogar
>The Emperor still stood stunned atop the cliff looking down at his enemy

>>42641996
>OP hattrick
Kek.

>The bells of Canterlot faded, their echoes swallowed by the stone corridors.
>Sunset Shimmer lingered in the High Study long after her lessons ended, pretending to reread her notes.
>Across the room, her teacher bent over the desk, his magic lifting scroll after scroll with effortless precision.
>Anonymous or Prince Anonymous to the many.
>wore the crown of Equestria as though it weighed nothing. But she had glimpsed the truth once, in a slip of weariness that still haunted her.
>A king, not a god. A stallion, not a star.
>It had unsettled her at first. Then it had rooted inside her, stubborn as ivy.
>The days bled into weeks.
>Their lessons continued as always: magical theory, practice, discourse. Anon’s voice never rose, never faltered, steady as the mountains. >Sunset began to notice things she had never allowed herself to before.
>The way his mane caught the lamplight when he leaned close to correct her script. The rare chuckle that slipped through his usual sternness, quick as lightning and gone just as fast.
>Even the way he smiled when Cadance’s name came up in correspondence—soft, distant, as if a father receiving a letter from his child.
>He never noticed her stolen glances. Why would he? To him, she was a bright student, another mind to guide, another fire to shape into warmth for Equestria’s future.
>Nothing more.
>But it crept in slowly, like light through old stained glass, warm, shifting, hard to name. She told herself it was still ambition, reverence.
>But ambition had never made her heart stutter when he stepped close.
>Reverence had never left her craving his laughter. Whatever it was, it had taken root.
>Not a hunger for crowns anymore. Something smaller. Closer.

>>42642553
>She began to linger after lessons, inventing reasons. A tome too heavy to carry alone. A question about ley lines that needed diagrams, not words.
>Sometimes, she only pretended to fumble, just to see if he would steady her hoof with his own. He always did—brief, gentle, unthinking touches that set her aflame.
>Yet every kindness felt like a blade. His hoof would withdraw. His eyes would turn back to parchment.
>And Sunset would be left smiling too brightly, terrified he might glimpse the truth.
>Months passed. The city whispered of festivals and harvests; armies of quills marched across endless decrees. To Sunset, the world shrank to one chamber, one voice, one impossible hope.
>She buried herself in study, desperate to prove her worth.
>After mastering a spell weeks ahead of schedule, she eagerly anticipated praise from her teacher, holding onto the hope of hearing the words she longed for.
>However, he simply smiled at her, a warm and proud expression, but one that felt more like the acknowledgment given to a student than the adoration she craved.
>She told herself it was enough. It had to be. Better to be at his side in any role than cast adrift in exile.
>And yet, when the lamps dimmed and the castle settled into silence, Sunset lay awake in her chambers, replaying every glance, every word, chasing meaning where none existed.
>Her ambition once clawed at the heavens. Now it clawed at the heart of the one pony she could never truly claim.

>>42642599
>The breaking point came on a rain-slicked evening. Lessons ran late, the windows trembling in the wind. Anon finally pushed the last scroll aside, fatigue visible in every line of his face.
“That’s enough for tonight,” he said, gathering his notes.
“Get some rest, Sunset. Tomorrow will be—”
>She moved before he could finish, placing a hoof on his chest, stopping him from leaving. Her breath came quick, her eyes burning.
“Why can’t you see it?”
> She whispered.
“I don’t want rest. I don’t want more lessons. I want you.”
>The silence cracked like thunder. Anon froze, wings shifting in discomfort. Slowly, he removed her hoof with a gentle touch that hurt more than any rebuke.
“Sunset,” he said,
>voice calm but heavy,
“you’re tired. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
>But she did. She knew it with every frantic beat of her heart. She leaned closer, desperate, words spilling out like fire through dry grass.
“We could rule together. You wouldn’t be alone anymore. I’d take the burdens, the sleepless nights, everything. Just—just let me stand with you.”
>For a moment, pain flickered in his eyes. Then he shook his head, firm.
“You are my student, Sunset." Nothing less, nothing more. Don’t throw away what you’ve built chasing shadows.”
>Her throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to demand, to make him understand. Instead, she stood trembling as he stepped past her, the door opening with a soft creak. His voice, steady as ever, carried back to her:
“Go to bed, Sunset.”
>And then he was gone, leaving her alone with the storm, her heart a tangle of fury, longing, and fragile hope that refused to die.

>>42641996
let’s make it four (i really liked the evil anon stained glass mural)

>>42642058
Very kino. I'm fine with waiting way after the anni stream for the next one.

>>42642639
This is great, nice work anon

>>42642058
i love this green u made thank you for making this

>>42642639
Well, Anon didn't pull his punches here. That was a cold shower for her.

>>42642639
Damn, that's pretty good Anon. I dislike tragedies, but the intensity here is palpable. Makes me wonder. Would Sunset still cross the mirror in heartbreak instead of fury and greed?

>>42642058
It won't tide us over. The thing about good stories is that you always want to hear more.

>>42642058
>>42642639
Damn, we're apparently eating good today boys

>>42641908
Cute pony family

>>42642058
Great update and very cute Dash.

>>42643674
I wanted to write about Anon and Sunset's relationship after considering some ideas from others. However, now I'm unsure how to continue.

>>42644064
You could make anon and sunset relationship be a romantic one.

>>42644099
I could explore other options, but I'm drawn to the concept of a one-sided relationship between Anon and Sunset. It adds depth, and honestly, I suck at writing romance.

>>42644118
Sunset's rejected love turning into resentment/obsession which motivates her eventual movie villain plot sounds really interesting but also really sad lol.
I wonder how much more hostile would she be with Twilight, since romantic feelings would be a factor and the idea of being replaced would hit a lot harder.
>bonus points Twilight also has unrequited feelings for her mentor she's terrified of voicing.

>>42644118
Not full romance if its unrequited eh?
Could delve into WHY sunset is so infatuated with him, if hes just emulating celestia and sunset didnt fall in love with celestia why did she fall in love with anonymous? whats different there, why does anon reject her, i find asking questions of your scenarios is a great way to generate plot points

>>42643702
Anonstallion writefags deliver consistently. That's a blessing.

Imagine sunset stumbling into some secret 'war-room' and finding out exactly how much Prince Anon knows

>>42644729
Best blessing ever, love reading the anonstallion greens when they are finished!

>>42644887
>from the brief moment she had been in that room, one thing wouldn't leave her mind not matter what
>a tome with her cutie mark on the cover

Smooch the Colt

>>42644887
>>42645243

>The castle was quieter than usual that evening.
Sunset could tell by the way her hoofsteps echoed a thin, hollow sound that made her want to lift them lighter, >softer, as if even the marble wished for her to be silent.
>She wasn’t sneaking, not really. The Prince had dismissed lessons early after some meeting had run late, >and curiosity, that old, bright ache that had always gotten her into trouble, had led her wandering through a >part of the castle she didn’t remember studying in before.
>The west wing, she thought. Or maybe the north? The corridors wound and mirrored one another until she wasn’t sure anymore.
>Most doors here were plain old oak, sealed by Magic she could sense but not name. Yet one stood ajar.
>Barely
>A hairline of gold light seeped from beneath it, pooling faintly across the floor. It wasn’t bright, just wrong, like candlelight seen through water.
>Sunset’s horn tingled.
>An unease washed over her, a prelude to the decisions that might haunt her later. She turned to glance back down the vacant hallway, its emptiness echoing her uncertainty.
>Heart racing, she nudged the door open.
>The hinges didn’t just creak; they released a weary sigh, as if burdened by the weight of countless stories locked behind the door.
>Cold air breathed out at her, dry and ancient, smelling faintly of dust and oil and something sharp, Paper perhaps, or old magic that hadn’t been disturbed in centuries.
>The room beyond wasn’t large, but it felt densely packed. Shelves lined the walls, overflowing with scrolls, tools, and half-finished enchantments sealed in glass spheres.
>Boxes marked with strange symbols were scattered throughout, along with journals stacked in uneven piles. But in the center of the room stood a single table, where a lamp burned low and steady, even though no one was there to tend to it.
>Sunset stepped inside, one hoof at a time.
>Her magic brushed across the air, testing for alarms, only to find none.
>The Magic here was old, faint, maybe forgotten.
>She swallowed.
>Forgotten, but not empty.
>On the table lay a scattered array of parchments, each inscribed with intricate diagrams featuring concentric circles that seemed to spiral endlessly into one another.
>alongside magical formulae that danced tantalizingly beyond her comprehension at a mere glance. Yet, it was the book beside them that truly captivated her attention.
>Its imposing size commanded the space, bound in rich, dark red leather that exuded a faint aroma of parchment and secrets held.
>The spine was adorned with delicate, albeit worn, gold trimming that glinted softly in the dim light of the room. At first glance, >it appeared unremarkable, but the clasp hung loosely, unlatched, as if inviting her to uncover the mysteries that lay within its pages.
>Her hoof hesitated above it.
>But then she saw it
>A sun, two tones of flame intertwined
>It was Her Mark
>She froze.

Would a G5 story be welcomed here, or nah?

>>42646303
Fuck no

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>>42646303
Go for it.

>>42646326
no need to be rude anon

>>42646303
Your kind has your own generals.

>>42646303
I personally don’t care about G5 and I haven’t watched it, but at the end of the day they’re still ponies and this is a thread about Anon as a pony. I’d still read it as long as it’s interesting. I’m sure there are plenty of things you can do with the G5 setting for a green that this thread would enjoy.

>>42646303
>Anonstallion x Izzy Moonbow
Only under this condition.

>>42646303
smooches for sunny

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>>42646505
Correction: Anon with the Queen

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>>42646599
>used goods with 2 foals from another stallion
no thanks.

>>42646653
Okay I'll settle for either of her daughters.

>>42646303
Can't tell you what to do, but I certainly won't read it. I bailed on G5 right after its launch.

>>42645722
>For what felt like an eternity, she remained frozen in place, her breath caught in her chest as she stared in disbelief.
>The mark was engraved with exquisite precision, every nuance captured down to the tiniest detail.
>It wasn’t merely similar; it was unmistakably her cutie mark, imprinted deeply into the cover as if carved by the hands of a master artisan.
> As she gently brushed her hoof against the surface, she could feel the intricate ridges and grooves beneath her touch, each one evoking a wave of memories.
>There was no logical explanation for its existence, none whatsoever.
>The room around her was steeped in a sense of age, the air thick with the dust of forgotten years, yet this singular mark belonged to her, as if it had been waiting for her to discover it all along.
>She should have felt suspicious, but instead, warmth blossomed in her chest, accompanied by that dizzying, impossible hope she always tried to suppress. A book like this, tucked away and hidden, had to signify something....something meant for her. Perhaps it was a gift, a secret lesson, or even a sign that he...
>She opened it.
>The pages smelled of smoke and long-dried ink.
>Inside, neat lines of script filled every margin, dense and meticulous.
>A few notes written in his hoof writing she’d memorized the tilt of it from all her graded essays, annotated old spells, and unfinished theories.
>He had made this.
>And the thought that he’d made it for her alone stole the air from her lungs.

>>42646303
It better have Posey in it.

>>42647056


>But the further she turned the pages, the less it resembled a textbook.
>The neat structure unraveled into uneven scrawl, thoughts pressed hard into the parchment, their rhythm >breaking and faltering like a pulse under strain.
>Her eyes followed the handwriting as though she were trespassing into his mind.
It’s not matching anymore.
I keep replaying how things were supposed to go: the lessons, the arguments, the mirror. The point where she's supposed to leave. But she hasn’t. She’s still here. Still smiling. Still asking questions she shouldn’t care about.
I thought I was keeping close enough to the script, but something’s off.
>Her stomach tightened. The script?
Maybe it’s me. Maybe I’m too soft with her. I keep catching myself before I say the things that would push her away. She was harsher. Colder. But this Sunset laughs when I correct her. She tries again. She wants me to be proud of her.
>Her breath hitched.
>He was proud.
>He’d written it down.
>Her chest warmed as she read on.
I know what’s supposed to happen. She has to break. She has to run. That’s what shapes her. If she doesn’t, what does she become instead?
I keep telling myself it’s fine. A small deviation. But every day that she stays, every time she smiles, I feel like it's bending further. The story isn’t holding shape anymore.
>Sunset’s heart beating in her chest, her mind tripping over the words.
>Story? Script? It made no sense, but the tone underneath it was unmistakable.
>He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t disappointed. He was worried...Worried about her.
Maybe I should’ve tempted her when she asked about the mirror. Maybe I should’ve been cruel enough to make her hate me. That’s how it’s supposed to happen.
But I couldn’t. Not after the way she looked at me that night.
>The candlelight trembled. The ink shimmered faintly in the glow.
But if she never leaves....

>>42647336

“Sunset.”
>Hearing her name made her freeze in fear.
>The tome slammed shut under a pulse of green magic before she even looked up. The air hummed, heavy with the echo of the spell.
>Prince Anonymous stood framed in the doorway.
>His mane shimmered faintly with the glow of his horn.
>He didn’t look angry, just weary, as though he’d been
>expecting this to happen.
“That isn’t for you,” he said.
>She stepped back, heart hammering.
“I...I didn’t mean to! It has my mark on it, a..and...”
>Her voice faltered.
“You wrote about me.”
>He came forward, each step deliberate, quiet.
>His magic reached for the tome, drawing it to him.
“You shouldn’t have read that.”
“But…” she whispered,
“You wrote that you didn’t want me to leave. That I make you proud. If that’s what you really feel, you don’t have to hide it.”
>He paused, eyes flickering toward her for a single, fragile second.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean by that?”
>She pressed, her tone a gentle yet unwavering insistence.
“What was the purpose of writing it at all?”
>He paused, the silence stretching as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. “Because I believe I broke something,” he admitted, his voice laced with a deep sense of sorrow. “And I honestly don’t know how to mend it.”
>The weight of his tone silenced her.
>He didn’t sound like a ruler. Or a teacher.
>He sounded like somepony confessing a Mistake.
>He took the tome in his magic, tucking it beneath his wing, and looked toward the open door.
“Please, Sunset. Don’t come back here.”
>Her voice came out small.
“You talk like I’m… wrong.”
>He stopped, glanced back, no anger in his eyes, only grief.
“No. Just… different.”
>Then he was gone. The door closed softly behind him.
>That night, she couldn’t sleep.
The words replayed in her mind, curling like smoke across the ceiling.
"She wants me to be proud of her."
"If she never leaves"
"I think I broke something."
>She turned the phrases over and over, letting them melt into one another until their edges blurred.
>He hadn’t written like a teacher worrying over a student, not really.
>The words trembled, hesitant, personal.
>Like somepony afraid of how much they cared.
>He thought he’d broken something, but wasn’t that what love did?
>It changed you. It made you say the wrong things, hold on too long, and hesitate when you should let go.
>Maybe he just didn’t know how to name it.
>Maybe “broken” was his way of saying moved.
>He was proud of her.
>He’d admitted it, even if he thought no one would ever read it.
>And he couldn’t push her away — because somewhere beneath all that calm and restraint, he didn’t want to.
>A quiet smile tugged at her mouth.
>He could call it a mistake if it made him feel safer.
>She knew better.
>He was afraid of his own heart.

>>42646303
Sure go for it.

>>42647436
I like where this going hope they become a couple.

>>42647529
Don't get your hopes up

>>42647436
This is getting very interesting, I was fully expecting Sunset to crash out like canon, but it seems like she's a lot more comfortable with Anon than she was with Celestia.
Definitely want to see where this goes.

>>42647572
This is years after Anon took her in as his protégé to maintain continuity. He worries why the event hasn’t occurred, and with no one to share his concerns, he decides to write them down. leading to Sunset misunderstanding his worries about keeping the timeline to thinking he doesn't want to commit to his feelings for his student.

>>42647436
ooo yandere Sunset

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>>42647676
>leading to Sunset misunderstanding his worries about keeping the timeline to thinking he doesn't want to commit to his feelings for his student.
...oh shit

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>another anon arrives
>this one is... special
>appointed as advisor out of pity

>>42647436
Damn, this is shaping up nicely.

>>42647436
>The Morning After
>Sunlight spilled across the corridors, warming the marble until it glowed faintly.
>For a moment, the castle sounded exactly as it always had, quills scratching, distant hoofsteps, the armor of guards rattling down the halls. Sunset almost convinced herself that nothing had changed.
>She found him in the dining hall, seated at the long oak table near the window.
>The morning light traced the edge of his mane, turning the air around him gold. A pot of tea steamed between them, untouched. Two cups, as always.
>He’d already poured hers.
“Good morning, Sunset," he said calmly. “You’re up early.”
>Sunset paused in the doorway before responding, trying to detect any change in his tone, any sign that he recalled the events of the night before.
“Morning,”
>She said lightly, slipping into her seat.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
>He nodded once, eyes still on the tea as he poured himself a careful stream into his cup.
“I trust your studies didn’t keep you awake.”
>The question was harmless, but it landed strangely. He knew exactly why she hadn’t slept.
>She smiled anyway.
“Something like that.”
>He gave no reaction. Just adding a spoonful of sugar to his tea, he stirred once and set the spoon down with meticulous quiet. Every >movement was deliberate...too deliberate.
“So,” she tried again, “what’s the plan for today?”
“The usual,” he said. “Review your spellwork, then a theory session before Midday Court.”
>His words were steady, perfectly routine.
>But she noticed the way he kept his gaze just a little off from hers, how his shoulders stayed too straight, too still.
>The composure only made her more certain of what she’d decided in the sleepless hours of dawn.
>He was hiding it.
>Whatever he felt, whatever he’d written was still there, pressed beneath all that careful calm.
>When she laughed softly at the recollection, his eyes flicked to hers, quick, startled, before returning to his tea.
>Her pulse quickened.
"Got you,"
>She thought.

>>42650226
>The tiniest break in his stillness was enough.
>They ate in a kind of fragile politeness.
>He inquired about her studies, his voice carrying an earnest curiosity as he probed into her focus and aspirations for the week ahead. >Each question was articulated with the precision of a devoted teacher, yet to her ears, they resonated like a lingering melody, each word >an invitation that seemed to weave a thread between them, drawing out the warmth of her voice as if he savored every syllable.
>She caught herself smiling between answers, her words warmer, her tone teasing.
>And every time, he retreated an inch further behind that quiet composure, like a stallion afraid of waking something fragile.
>When breakfast ended, he stood and gathered the dishes himself. Something he never did.
“Take the morning off,”
>he said. “
You’ve earned it.”
>She blinked.
“Really?”
>He nodded, polite, unreadable.
“Rest. You’ve been working hard.”
>It was such a small kindness, but to her, it felt charged, an act of affection wrapped in discipline.
>He couldn’t admit it openly, not yet. Not after what she’d seen.
>As he turned to leave, she lingered at the table, watching the play of light against his mane, the steadiness in his step.
>So calm. So careful.
>It only convinced her further.
>He was trying to act normal, to hide his feelings, to pretend nothing had changed.
>But she could see the truth now, every pause, every half-smile, every gentle word that avoided her eyes.
>He was in love with her.
>He just didn’t know it was safe to say so.

>>42650235
Ooh wonder how he'll confess his love for her very interesting?!

>>42647529
>>42650257
>t. Sunset Shimmer

>>42650235
It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion, you just can't take your eyes off it.

>>42650235
Excellent as usual, makes me happy reading this kino lore you're making with Sunset and Anonicorn.

>>42650257

If your expecting a confession your just as delusional like sunset

>>42646303
no

>>42646303
Most don't like G5, but honestly if the green is good that's all that matters.

>>42650235
Yandere Sunset, the movie wouldn't be about Twilight going through the mirror, it would be about how Prince Anon has gone missing.

>>42650235
I think he will break Sunset if he keeps this going. But he won't break her in the way he hopes to.

>Be you
>Princess Luna, mistress of the night, guardian of dreams, former shadow-tyrant nightmare moon
>Once dubbed the most wonderful title of 'Woona' an age by the colt prancing around in front of you
>Anon was rarely, if ever, this happy over something since he'd been recovered
>You weren't sure why he was happy but seeing anything other than the slight scowl or blank look on his face was delightful
>He pranced a neat circle around a perfect cube of soil
>twice his height, twice his width, it even had a squared trim of grass atop it
>His horn had come aglow and formed the shape
>His first spell since returning to Equestria
>You cleared your throat to congratulate him on his first spell and inquire why he picked this and not simple levitation
>"Well... my memories aren't fully intact yet cause of the fucking tree right but I got some pieces, I saw alot of cubes. like, ALOT of cubes, me placing them and breaking them, I think I did this alot before..."
>You allow him the curse, just this once

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>>42651042

>>42650762
Breaking sunset via heart

>>42651370
Pretty much.

>>42651042
Would

>>42651891
would what

>>42650235
>The next few mornings unfolded like copies of one another, tea cooling on the
>table, the scrape of quills in adjoining rooms, and the low hum of magic through
>the halls.
>Anon never mentioned the night she’d found the tome.
>never mentioned anything at all beyond the bare necessities of lessons and >schedules.
>If she hadn’t known better, she might have believed he’d simply forgotten.
>But she knew better.
>Every day, his distance widened a little more.
>He began sending scrolls to her quarters instead of delivering them himself.
>His notes were brief, stripped of warmth: Redo last Spell Formula. Do not adjust the focus parameters. Make an Aquantice.
>No sign-offs, no comments on her progress, none of the small compliments he’d used to give.
>When they did meet, he spoke softly but never long, his eyes moving over diagrams instead of her face.
>It was as though he were tracing invisible cracks only he could see.
>Sunset tried to fill the silence with brightness.
>She smiled wider, lingered longer.
>She asked him questions that didn’t need answers, teasing ones, small ones, anything to coax him back into the >warmth she remembered.
>Each time, he would smile faintly, say something polite, and then change the subject.
>To her, that restraint was proof.
>He wasn’t cold; he just was afraid.
>Afraid of what he felt.
>Afraid of being caught.

>>42652405
>One evening, she wandered into the library after dinner and found the lights still burning.
>Anon was at the far table, surrounded by open books.
>Diagrams of runes and mirrored circles stretched across the pages, lines scrawled through them like >scars.
>She recognized a word repeated again and again in the margins: realignment.
>He didn’t hear her at first. His lips moved silently, tracing calculations in the air.
>When she cleared her throat, he startled just slightly and closed the nearest book too quickly.
“Sunset,”
>he said.
“You’re supposed to be resting.”
"You’re working late again,”
>She said.
“You haven’t been sleeping.”
“I’m fine.”
>The answer came too fast.
>She stepped closer.
“You’re still trying to fix whatever you think you broke, aren’t you?”
>He turned away.
“Go get some rest.”
>The gentle finality in his tone left no room to argue.
>She watched him for a moment longer, the slump of his shoulders, the strain at the corners of his eyes, >She smiled softly.
“You don’t have to hide it from me,”
>she said, voice barely above a whisper.
>He didn’t answer.
>She left him there, his quill scratching faintly in the dark.
>Whispers began circulating among the staff a few days later.
>They were small things, snips of conversation caught in corridors, pauses when she entered a room.
>Two attendants in the royal garden fell abruptly silent when she approached. One of the stewards stepped >forward and asked, as gently as he could manage, if she and Prince were “quarreling.”
“Quarreling?”
> She repeated, blinking.
“Well,”
> The gardener said, shifting his weight,
“It’s just… he seems quieter lately. Distracted. We were only worried you might’ve....”
>Sunset laughed, heat rushing to her cheeks.
“Oh. Oh, no, it’s not that.”
>She waved a hoof, trying to sound casual.
“He’s just… processing some things. About me.”
>The other Garderner tilted his head.
“About you?”
Her blush deepened.
“It’s complicated. He’s very… proper about these things.”
Realization dawned across both the gardener's faces, followed by a flush nearly as deep as hers.
>“I see. Well. Say no more, miss.”
>She hurried off before they could ask anything else, her heart fluttering in her chest.
>Let them talk. Let them guess.
>They were right, in their own way.
>He was distracted because of her.
>He was struggling.
>Every avoidance, every half-glance, every late night in the library, it was all because he cared more than he should.
>That night, from the window of her chambers, she saw the faint green glow of magic pulsing in the western >wing again the same wing where she’d first found the tome.
>He was still trying to fix something.
>And she, smiling softly to herself at her mirror, told her reflection,
“He doesn’t need to fix anything. Not anymore.”

>>42652455
its peak

>>42652455
>At first, it started small, things he told himself he imagined.
>A steward lingering too long after delivering a report, eyes darting between him and Sunset.
> Guards at the courtyard gate stiffened when she walked beside him.
>The faintest, knowing smiles exchanged behind half-closed doors.
>Anon ignored them at first. The castle was full of whispers, always had been politics, rumors, superstition. None of it mattered.
>But as the days passed, the atmosphere changed.
>It was in the way servants spoke carefully when he entered a room.
>The way they looked past him instead of at him.
>Even the air itself felt different, heavy with the static of unspoken thoughts.
>One afternoon, during their lesson, Sunset laughed genuinely, brightly at some half-joke he hadn’t even realized he’d made.
>The sound carried through the hall, golden and alive.
>But when he glanced toward the doorway, he caught two attendants standing there, wide-eyed, then hastily bowing as they disappeared around the corner.
>He pretended not to notice. But his quill stilled in the air.
>That night, he walked the halls later than usual, trying to clear his head.
>He told himself it was fine. The castle was large; gossip was inevitable. The murmurs were nothing more than boredom dressed as curiosity.
>Still, as he passed the staff wing, a hush fell that wasn’t normal silence; it was expectant, like the pause between verses in a song.
>He thought he caught his name whispered once, then her name after it, quickly shushed.
>The next morning, the kitchen fell silent when he entered.
>The cooks bowed, too deeply this time, one of them dropping a ladle in the rush to look busy.
>He didn’t ask why. He couldn’t.
>Something had gone wrong. The story had slipped further than he realized.
>But it wasn't until dusk on the fourth day, he heard the truth.
>He was walking back from the archives when he caught the sound of voices, faint, lilting from the laundry room just ahead.
>He might have kept walking, had not one phrase drifted clearly through the open door.

>>42652455
Man, all I can think of is "Uh oh". Good stuff, though I fear that it won't be happy stuff.

>>42652645
“It’s like something out of a fairytale.”
>He stopped. The voices were low, hushed, threaded with the giddy rhythm of confession.
“You should’ve seen her this morning, she was glowing, absolutely glowing.”
>“Because of him?”
“Who else? She’s the only one he smiles at. And he’s never smiled at anypony, not like that.”
“That’s” a stifled laugh, “that’s practically scandalous.”
“I know, but listen when he looks at her, it’s not wrong. It’s…I don’t know. It’s tragic. Like he’s afraid to touch her."
"Because he would be committing a taboo?”
“You make it sound like one of those old stories.”
“But doesn’t it feel like one? The lonely king, the gifted student, fate trying to keep them apart...”
“And she’s the one who changes him,”
The other whispered, dreamily.
“Who teaches him how to love?”
“Shh! Don’t say that out loud.”
“Why not? It’s beautiful.”
“Because if anyone heard…”
>A pause, a nervous giggle.
“It’s not proper.”
“No. But it’s the kind of love that ruins everything. The kind they write poems about.”
>Their laughter was soft, conspiratorial, and it hit him like a physical blow.
>The air felt thin. The walls, too close.
>Anon turned away, his heart hammering. He barely noticed that his hooves were trembling.
>He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
>Love that ruins everything.
>That was what they saw now, not a teacher, not a student, not the divergence he’d tried so carefully to hide.
>They saw romance. They saw fate.
>He stumbled back to his study, the words chasing him down every corridor.
>Sunset’s laughter. The staff’s whispers. The castle’s strange, dreamlike calm, all of it a symptom.
>It wasn’t just her anymore. The story itself was bending around them, reshaping itself into something else.

>It was Wrong

>By the time he reached his desk, panic had already turned to resolve.
>His horn ignited, scrolls unfurled, and old Books scattered across the floor.
>He tore through the notes he’d sworn never to touch again, the ones that still smelled faintly of Ink and regret.
>He was shaking. He didn’t care.
>He could still fix this. He had to.
>Before this story changed any further.
>He didn’t notice the shadow lingering in the doorway, Sunset, eyes wide, watching silently as he gathered his >tools, as the air around him thickened with green light.
>and when he began to quickly run towards the same wing where she’d first found the tome the she followed without a sound.

>>42652718
>Anon moved like a stallion possessed.
>Green light gathered at his horn, spilling across the stone in nervous, uneven patterns.
>Parchment tore beneath his magic, sigils flared and faded, ink hissed against the air as if it burned.
>He told himself not to look at the mirror until the sequence was complete, but its presence filled the room long before he reached it.
>He could feel the hum through the floor, the pulse of magic trying to find its rhythm again.
>It sounded like a heartbeat that wasn’t his.
>He whispered the final alignment, the one word that would re-thread the story.
>Behind him, the faintest shuffle of hooves.
>Sunset had followed the sound of his steps through the empty corridors, past the guards that now barred the old wing.
> The door he left ajar drew her further in, the glow ahead beckoning like a promise.
>Whatever he was doing, it was about her; she was certain of it.
>This was what all his secrecy had been leading toward.
>When she reached the threshold, the sight stopped her breath.
>The chamber was dim except for the light that bled from the only object in the room.

>the mirror.

>It shimmered like water under moonlight, rippling softly like water.
>The air was charged with the faint taste of metal, the hum of magic building until it pressed against her ribs.
>Anon stood before it, shoulders rigid, horn faintly aglow as magic spun across the glass.
>Sweat beaded along his jaw, catching the light like fragments of starlight.
>The sound of her hoofsteps echoed through the chamber, each one pulling his breath tighter.

>He didn’t move.

“My Prince”
>she said, her voice low, steady.

>He froze.
“You shouldn’t be here.”

>Her steps carried her closer, slow, deliberate.
“Then why didn’t you lock the door?”

>He let out a tired sigh, half resignation, half defeat.
“That still doesn't mean that you should have entered.”

>>42652750
You have me in anticipation..!

>>42652750
“Of course I would,”
>she murmured, stopping beside him. As the mirror’s glow wraps around her,
“You’ve been hiding this.”
>He turned his head slightly, eyes shadowed.
“I was trying to finish it before you found it.”
Her gaze flicked to the mirror’s surface. The magic pulsed like a heartbeat.

“What is it?”

“An ending,”
>He said quietly. Almost gently.

>The words hit her like a spark in dry grass.
“An ending?”
>She repeated.
“You’re sending me away.”

>He didn’t answer.

“That’s it, isn’t it?”
>Her voice trembled now, the disbelief sharpening into pain.
“After everything after us, you’re just going to end it?”
>Finally, he turned to face her. His eyes caught the light, raw and unguarded.
“Sunset… there is no us.”
>The words landed like a spell breaking.
>She stepped back, shaking her head.

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

“Then why do you look like you’re breaking?”
>Her voice cracked.
“If this isn’t love, why do you look like you’re about to fall apart?”

>He looked down.
“Because I am.”

>The mirror pulsed again, brighter now, as if answering the tension between them.
>Light climbed the walls, crawling up the ceiling, turning the air into glass.

>>42652813
“I still remember what you wrote.”
>She whispered, tears glinting along her lashes.
“You said I changed everything. You said the story was bending. You said you were proud.”

“I was,”

>He said softly.

“And I ruined it by caring too much.”

“Caring too much?”
>she repeated, a laugh trembling at the edge of a sob.

“You call it ruin. I call it love.”

>He closed his eyes. His composure cracked voice rising for the first time.

“No, Sunset. It’s guilt!”

>The word echoed against the stone, sharp enough to sting.
>The mirror’s glow flickered, reacting to the surge in his voice.

>He took a step forward, breath unsteady.

“I changed something I wasn’t supposed to! You were meant to leave, to choose to leave! because I pushed you to!
Because that’s how your story goes, Sunset. But I broke it.”

>She blinked, not understanding.
“What story?”

>He laughed under his breath, a sound more like breaking.

"None of this was supposed to be like this. You weren’t supposed to stay. You weren’t supposed to look at me like that.”

>She stared at him, the words twisting into meaning of her own making.

“So you do see it,”
> She whispered.
“You do feel it. You just can’t admit it.”

“Sunset, listen,”
>He reached for her hoof.
“You have to go through the mirror. It’s the only way to fix this.”

>She pulled her hoof back, tears spilling freely now, but her voice was calm, almost serene.

“So this is a test.”

“It’s not a test.”

“Of course it is,”
>she said, smiling through the tears.
“You want to see if I’ll do it. If I step through. If I prove that I’m worthy of you.”

>>42652839

“Stop,”
>he said, his voice breaking.
“It’s not about worth, it’s about...”

>But she wasn’t listening.
>The mirror’s light glowed against her face, turning her tears to liquid fire.

“You’ve been preparing me for this all along,”
She whispered.
“Every lesson, every word, every kindness. You did this for me.”

>He shook his head, desperate now.

“I did it to put things back the way they were meant to be!”

>She stepped closer to the glass.
“Then I’ll make it right for both of us.”

“Sunset!”
He reached for her, voice raw.

“Please.”

>She stopped just short of the mirror and turned back to him, her eyes shining with everything she wanted to believe.
“You’ll see,”
> She whispered.
“I’ll make you proud.”

He lunged forward, his hoof almost touching hers. “Please, don’t”

>She looked at him for one long, aching heartbeat, seeing everything she wanted and nothing that was truly there.
>Then she turned toward the mirror.

>The light flared.

>Her hoof touched the surface.
>It rippled, alive, a curtain of water and fire that swallowed her reflection.
>He called her name, once, twice, the last time barely a whisper
>And then she was gone.

>The chamber fell still.
>The light of the mirror flickered, dimmed, and died.
>Only the faint smell of magic and dust remained.

>Anon stood there, the echo of her name still trembling in the air.
>He lowered his hoof, eyes fixed on the mirror’s still surface.

“She was supposed to hate me,”
>he said, the words barely audible.
“She was supposed to hate me… and leave.”

>The reflection didn’t answer.
>Only the mirror remained cold, perfect, and finally back on course.
>And emptier for it.

>>42652846
Interesting wonder what the tale will become this time?!

>>42652846
Bueno, that's the good shit

File: 1746628095586317.png (2.33 MB, 1824x1248)

2.33 MB PNG

>>42615592
>>42615723
>>42617049

>You took a step back to get away from the heat radiating off of him.
“Listen to me! I’m ready to forgive you. Just give me a moment to explain.”
>For a moment, it looked like it worked.
>He laid on the ground and craned his neck to look at you.
>It didn’t last.
>He rolled onto his hooves, let out a piercing screech, and dashed towards you.
>With his fangs bared, he made a leap for your neck.
>But, it was too obvious.
>You ducked to the side and winced as his flames scorched your side.
>The worst of it passed as you hopped to the side while he took another tumble, igniting patches of grass around him.
>The air stank of acrid, dirty smoke.
“Friend! Dear friend! I’m here to help! Listen to me!”
>You wished you were better at this friendship thing.
>Twilight had taught you, but not enough to make him listen.
>He scrambled back onto his hooves as the ground around him lit up in a circle.
>You gulped down a bit of saliva.
>Smoke stung in your eyes.
>He couldn’t get you, but the heat and fires would soon.
>The wind had died with the beast so the only way to get away from the hot and smoky air without oxygen was to run.
>But, running didn’t help turn him back to normal.
>She took a step back and drew her lungs full of almost clean air.
“I demand you stop and listen! We can do this the easy way or the hard way!”
>This time, he did stop.
>For a moment, to growl and bare his fangs at you.
>You rolled your eyes.
“Hard way it is, then.”
>Stomping a hoof, you threw back your head and snorted.
“I’ll enjoy this. Traitor.”
>He either didn’t care or didn’t understand as you leaped towards him and took to a weaving canter.
>The flames around him flared as he hissed and charged at you once more.
>You leaped into the air just before you ran into each other, spun in the air with a rear hoof out, and brought it down on top of his head.
>He had just enough time to look up.
>The shod hoof made a nasty clunk as it landed square on his forehead, making him drop like a sack of potatoes.
>His fires went out with him.

>>42654062

***

>Your head hurt.
>The world spun around you, despite you lying in something warm and heavenly soft with your eyes closed.
>A quiet purring from somewhere nearby was the only thing to hear.
>You let go against the blizzard beast, but what happened after that?
>Groaning, you forced your eyelids apart – and retched as a wave of dizziness and nausea hit you.
>There was a crescent moon painted on the ceiling above you, and embroidered on the bed you lay in.
>A cat, Violet, slept at the foot of the bed.
“What happened?”
>You got no response.
>Violet let out a huge yawn, rolled onto its back, and batted a paw at the air between you.
“Uuh…?”
>A set of solid clops from behind the door to the kitchen left you with little time to wonder about it.
>The door swung open to reveal Princess Luna.
>Her horn was lit and she had a pair of spectacles floating beside her.
>Saying nothing, she strode into the room, her shod hooves clicking on the stone tiles, and next to the bed.
>”Explain.”
>Her voice was deadpan.
>”Commander Shadow told me everything.”
>She stopped next to you and stared straight down into your eyes.
>”You betrayed your oath and revealed my secrets. I have every right to toss you off that balcony-”
>She pointed at the drawn curtains in front of the balcony door.
>”-and let you fall to your death. Tell me why I shouldn’t.”
>Sticking her snout up, she looked down on you.

What would you like to do?

Also, I'd like to remind you that this is an adventure/horror fic. I thought about letting you have your way, but I figured having Tempest burn to death would make you more mad than choosing the less popular option.

>>42654072
No point in lying about what happened now. Just tell her the nightmarepussy was too strong.

>>42652846
Anon should have just date someone

>>42654379
Good point, pick somepony else for a very obvious date, that would do the trick. It wouldn't even have to go further than that. But it would be a disingenuous ploy.

>>42654072
You're right your majesty I should be punish for betraying you and I won't blame you if still want to after this, but I have four reasons why you shouldn't One: Is I'm the only one here who can travel between the night realm where you're in and the sun realm where your dark counterpart Nightmare Moon is isn't that odd, so I've may be the vital key necessary to help fix our broken world.

Number Two:Given the state of the situation since reality is breaking up in a dream like coma I could end up dead in the end when this is over, while all of you will be alive and free continue to living your lives and if that were to happened I didn't want to die as a virgin without making love to a mare at least once. If it makes you feel any better I wanted to mate intimately with either you Princess Luna, de Lis Fleur, or Tempest Shadow before Nightmare Moon manage to influence, seduce, and tempted me with her offers.

Number Three:Nightmare Moon may know about your plan to awaken your sister Princess Celestia, but she doesn't know how you're going to do that or what the second item we're looking for really is. She wants me to sabotage your efforts by getting rid of the second item so she has time to finish her plans to fix reality her own way under her rule, therefore we can still turn this around to our advantage just give me some false information to mislead her one that won't make her suspicious but distracted her on that so we can finish your plan before she does and ever finds out the real truth so your gonna have to trust me however if my word isn't good enough that I won't promise to betray you again then tell me what you want me to do in order to gain your trust in me for a second chance Princess Luna and I will go and do it without a second thought.

Lastly Reason Number Four: I coulda kept my mouth shut about not telling you or tempest what went on between me and Nightmare but I chose not too because I felt guilty and bad in my conscious if I didn't I woulda stay silent and make sure to keep betraying you in the shadows until it was too late to stop Nightmare Moon plans.

>>42654072
Guess the only thing he can do is telling her that he's a retard. Basically what >>42654105 said, but he should better state that he fell for her charm rather than her rear. It's not much of a saving grace, but it's at least something.

>>42654072
Scratch what I wrote in >>42654959.
>>42654784 has put it far better.

>>42652846
That was good, but now I'm really wondering how it all turns out.
Pre-redeemed, semi-yandere Sunset Shimmer spreading the message of Harmony in the name of her husbando is a hell of an AU.

>>42654989
>anon decides to pre-redeem Starlight for some reason or another maybe just because it would be really easy to stop a supervillain whose entire motive was having no friends
>universe compensates by making Sunset go full batshit insane cult leader instead

>>42655104
>The cellar breathes.
>Every candle sputters at the same rhythm, drawing and exhaling with the crowd.
>Wax scent mingles with damp stone and the tang of burned ash.
>The heat is low, thick,

>alive.

>Sunset Shimmer stood before them, hooves bare on the warped boards, her coat glistening with sweat and reflected flame.
>Her mane sticks to her neck; light drips from her horn like molten glass.
“Do you feel it?”
>She asks.
>A hundred heads bow. The room murmurs like wind through reeds.
“That trembling in your bones? That's His gaze upon us. The Prince watches through every spark we make.”
>The candles flare at her words, a wave of orange rolling down the walls.
>She lifts her hoof; the room brightens until faces blur into silhouettes.
>“He has walked unseen among us. My Prince, patient, kind. And He has chosen me.
>Not for my power, not for my pride, but because He saw the reflection of His flame in mine.”
>Her voice cracks, not from strain but from something deeper, a wild joy that shakes the air.
>The crowd shifts forward instinctively, pulled closer.
“I saw Him in the mirror,”
> She continues, whispering now.
“Not as a vision, as a promise.
It showed me His eyes, Burning with Desire, and I knew: for when we meet again, dawn and dusk will touch, and all that is broken will heal in the heat between us.”

>>42655374
>A stallion near the front trembles.
“And if He turns away?”
>he asks before he can stop himself.
>Sunset’s pupils tighten to pinpricks.
>A flash of light snaps through the room, rattling the bottles on the shelves.
>The stallion staggers back, fur smoking faintly.
>No one breathes.
>Her smile returns, gentle, radiant.
“He won’t,”
>she says.
“He couldn’t. His heart already beats in time with mine.”
>She steps down from the crate that serves as her altar.
>The crowd parts around her as she moves, the heat following her like a tide.
>Her hoofprints scorch the floorboards faintly, each one glowing before it fades.
“The old harmony failed because it was built on distance,”
>she says, walking among them.
“Sun apart from the moon, the teacher apart from the student, love apart from duty! But the new harmony will burn those walls away!
"For when the Prince stands beside me! "
"For when we Merge as One!"
"The light will join the dark, and everything will begin anew!”
>The congregation sways with her, a field of shadows lit by the furnace of her conviction.
>Their breath fogs in the rising heat; the candles lean toward her like sunflowers.
>Sunset throws her head back, voice breaking open in ecstasy.
“He is coming! The Prince of the Hidden Flame! The one who called me from ash!
For when He calls for me, we will be one fire, one dawn, one endless day!”
>The crowd answers in a ragged chorus, the chant forming without thought:
“One fire, one dawn, one endless day!”
>The sound claws up the walls and out through the cracks, swallowed by the city above.
>Sunset closes her eyes.
>The cellar hums around her like a living heart.
>And for a breathless instant, everypony in that room feels it too
>the warmth, the certainty, the impossible beauty of believing she might be right.

>>42655400
She is delightfully unhinged!

>>42655407
Yeah, you're right
think I should've spent more time on this. I just thought the premise was funny

>>42655525
Don't talk to the troll, he's the same one attacking EqG threads when they're posted and so on. Just pay him no attention.

>>42655400
Ok, this is the last one before I go to bed.
I was going to continue this, but I might as well end it on a funny note

>Meanwhile… in the upper levels of Canterlot Castle

“…and that,”
>Twilight said, beaming,

“is why sometimes, the most important friendship lesson is learning to forgive yourself!”
>She looked up from her notes, eyes bright with that particular kind of enthusiasm that came from sharing a heartfelt anecdote for the tenth time.

“So what do you think, Your Highness?”
>Prince Anonymous, tall, winged, calm by default, sat perfectly still on the throne beside her. His crown sat slightly askew.
>His mane shimmered faintly like morning fog, but his expression was somewhere between polite attention and deep existential dread.

“That’s… beautiful, Twilight,”

>he said, nodding once.
“Truly. Very educational.”

“You don’t sound so convinced.”
>She replied sadly.

“No, no, I’m totally convinced. About the friendship. the Forgiveness. The power of letters.”

“Letters?”
>She echoed.

>He blinked, trying to remember the last thing she’d said.
“Uh...yes. You know. The friendship letters. From the heart.”

>She narrowed her eyes.
“You haven’t been listening, have you?”

“I—” he started.

>>42655733
>Then it hit him.

>A pulse. A wave of heat crossed his horn, feathers bristling.
>He inhaled sharply. His heart skipping a beat.
>Then came the voice. Dozens of voices. Chanting. Repeating. His name stretched out like a prayer.

>The teacup on the armrest exploded.

“Your Highness?”
Twilight asked.
“Why are you...wait, did you just blow up your....”

>He shot to his hooves, wings flaring wide.
“She’s doing it again!”

“Doing what again?!”
>She asked in surprise at the sudden change of the prince.

“She promised me she was done after the Temple of Eternal Tuesday!”
>His horn sparked with panic.
“Quick Twilight, how flammable is parchment?!”
“Very?!”
“Perfect! We’ll need sand buckets!”

>He stormed out of the room, already shouting down the hall.
“CODE SUNRISE! CODE SUNRISE, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”
>Guards in the corridor immediately stiffened.
>One dropped his spear. Another muttered,
“Sweet Harmony, not another one…”

“Level?”
>One Guard asked nervously.
“Level Four!”
>Anon barked.

“If she starts singing, we escalate to Five!”
>Twilight followed at a gallop.
“Code sunrise?’ What and why is there a level for that?!

“It’s when Sunset starts a religion again!”
“A—WHAT?!”
“She’s very inspirational, Twilight!”

>They turned a corner, nearly colliding with two guards hauling a bucket between them.
“Standard procedure, Your Majesty?” one panted. “Containment nets and holy water?”

“Add snacks,”
>Anon ordered.
“She converts faster when you’re polite!”

>Twilight slowed, eyes wide.
“You mean this… happens often?”

“Statistically speaking,” Anon said grimly, “it’s about twice a year.”

“Twice a....”

“Last time she declared the broom closet sacred! I barely got the janitor out alive!”

>He took off at a full gallop again, wings brushing the walls as he shouted,
“NO ONE SAY THE WORD ‘UNION!’ DO YOU HEAR ME?!”

>The guards scattered, shouting orders.
>Armor clanged.
>Somepony yelled,
“GET THE NETS!”

>Twilight stood in the chaos, mane frizzing, eyes distant.
>Then she sighed and picked up her notebook.

“Okay,”
>she muttered, jotting down a note.
“New friendship problem: intervention strategies for ex-students who keep founding… faith-based organizations.”

>Somewhere below, the floor rumbled faintly, followed by the unmistakable roar of Sunset’s voice proclaiming something about ...“the eternal flame of His love.”

>Twilight glanced at the ceiling.
“...Yep. Definitely a Level Five.”

>>42654072
>throw up
>say she must have used some wicked magic on you to mess with your head
>then say that you are also retarded
Foolproof.

>>42654072
Stop posting this slop.

>>42656213
ignore this troll

Hol on, if our boi anon went thru an edgy phase with magic, creating basically destroy entire planet tier spells, how about a sequel of it, mid life crisis, trying to recreate weapons or artifacts from his fav media, his first attempt to see if it would even work would be the alicorn amulet and then proceeding to create exceedingly dangerous and powerful weapons, armor, artifacts, etc. I imagine him just having a big old vault just filled with them but he is just ashamed of it because at some point he just made silly shit out of boredom
Behold! Reality Bending Backscratcher

>>42656593
>"Twilight, I've done it"
>In a crackle of green magic he was looming over you in your study
>His mane is horrifically frazzled and the borderline manic look in his eyes is familiar
>He's been up all night binging on coffee to work at a project
>Like student like teacher you suppose
>"BEHOLD"
>With a flick of his horn an object hovers before you caught in the emerald haze of his magical grip
>"THE PONITRIX"
>It was a thick bangle or bracelet with a dial atop it that seemed to glow a dull green

>>42656593
I actually like the idea that the royal vault is filled with stuff Anon made out of boredom. A bunch of stuff from useless junk to holy fuck that actually works and is dangerous.

>>42656593
If that Anon played DnD, NEVER let him close to a bag of holding.

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>>42657035
>"THE PONITRIX"
>it allows you to turn into 10 different species
>if you try to turn into a griffon it kills you

>>42655104
>maybe just because it would be really easy to stop a supervillain whose entire motive was having no friends
>she never gets close to becoming a colt leader
>Anon sets up a school of magic similar to Celestia's
>when he sees Sunburst as a new arrival, his first order of business is to send another letter to Sunburst's hometown
>with Starlight's name on it
>it's annoying, but the bullshit she pulled off does show a proclivity towards magic that can't be denied
>hopefully having friends will stop her from that cutie mark shit
>and he already burned Starswirl's book and scroll so no time travel for her anyway

>>42657497
>he already burned Starswirl's book
So Stygian and the Pillars are lost.

how do (you) characterise your anonstallion anons?
regular, colt, prince, kirin flavour, any and all

>>42655525
No Anon.. it's good. I applaud your creative spirit.

>>42657702
>tfw wrote a character sheet
>can't log into ponepaste to store it

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116 KB GIF

>>42657584
a small price to pay for no Twilicorn

>>42657792
problem on your end or problem on ponepaste's end?

>>42657886
http error 500, my end maybe? not sure

>>42657702
He's a genuine idiot.

>>42657916
based

>>42652846
So she didn't part with heartbreak, rage or greed, but something far more dangerous. Hope.

>>42657905
The site works though. Been on it several times today.

>>42658620
its working now

>>42658739
Didn't notice much of a down time recently either.