>"Hey girls, you ever wonder why Anon is always alone?"
>The girls around the table looked at Sunset and then at each other.
>"Nope." Rainbow Dash broke the silence and shrugged anticlimactically.
>"Now that you mention it dear, I haven't ever seen him talk to another student. Poor thing must be lonely."
>Twilight nodded in Rarity's direction and added: "And I haven't ever seen him get a single bad grade. I'm ashamed to admit, I've been feeling just a tiny bit threatened."
>"What?! That creep is threatening you?!" Rainbow Dash bolted up furiously.
>"Wha- No! God no! I mean that academically!"
>"P-please don't shout in the cafeteria, Rainbow Dash. Not that I'm blaming you or anything..."
>Fluttershy's voice trailed off in mysterious apologies and RD sat back down.
>"Oh, okay. So what, he's some kind of a super egghead then?"
>"I didn't say that." Twilight retorted, with some coolness in her voice. "Let's just say that he reads a LOT of books. At least half as much as me, I never see him without one."

>"So if ah heard ya right, he don't got much in the way of friends now, does he?"
>"Looks like that's the way it is, AJ." Sunset concluded.
>"Then it's decided!!!" Screamed Pinkie, causing Fluttershy to almost fall off of her seat.
>"We're gonna have a new! Best! Friend!"
>Before anyone could react, Pinkie had already thrown a fistful of confetti over their heads, which was now slowly landing on everyone's mashed potatoes.
>"PINKIE!" Everyone exclaimed in unison.
>Everyone but Fluttershy, she was content with emitting a barely audible 'huu' sound.

>Be Anonichus Etherius Trismegistus the Magister Templi
>The seer of the unseen and the unraveler of esoteric gnosis.
>But your friends could call you Anon.
>You had no friends, though.
>At only 10 years old you had already reached the rank of an Adept, going by your late father's books.
>You were a prodigy, there was no way you would let yourself stagnate at the rank of a mere Magister.
>You HAD to become a Magus, no matter the cost to your mind and body.
>Or even soul, if such a confounding thing truly existed.
>Letting your mashed potatoes go cold (indeed, what was cafeteria food to food for thought) you opened the first page of your 'Lemegeton.'
>The Lesser Key of Suliman, an ancient anonymously written grimoire on commanding and conjuring dark spirits.
>This version was translated some hundred years ago by a revolutionary occultist, Al Aister Crawli.
>You had not dared to touch it growing up, but you now knew how to sufficiently protect yourself from its trappings.
>As you begin reading the book's preface, you sense a sinister presence approach you from behind.
>With the practiced movements of a true ceremonial magician, you slam the book shut and whirl around.
>From the confines of your alizarin crimson robe-like coat, you pull out your ceremonial dagger.
>You keep it on you at all times, just in case.
>You come face to face with your attacker and now behold the vilest of all possible being that could have invaded your reading space.
>A well-meaning young girl.

>While Pinkie was getting a scolding from Twilight, the rest of the girls had decided that Sunset should be the first one to approach Anon.
>She didn't object, as this had been her idea from the start. She could relate to someone who didn't have any real friends, maybe more so than the others.
>"Twi was right, he's reading something again..." Sunset mumbled to herself, as she could see Anon open up a gloomy, leather covered book.
>She didn't know how to approach someone who was reading, maybe it was better to wait for a new opportunity?
>But Anon was always reading.
>At least he just started, maybe he won't mind even if I interrupt him for just a little.
>With this justification in her heart, Sunset gathered enough courage to put one foot in front of another and approach the lone boy's table.
>What should she say?
>With countless bad ideas racing through her head, she settled on one.
>Ask him about his book, that ought to work, right?
>Right.
>She reached Anon and opened her mouth right before something scary happened.

>WOOSH!
>Sunset had never had a knife pointed at her before.
>She was staring at Anon, who was holding a bizarre looking knife, its tip poised at her, ready to be driven into the young girl's windpipe.
>Anon was staring back at her, with a complicated expression.
>His features were obscured by a shadow, cast by the large red hood of his voluminous coat.
>After a few seconds, which felt more like minutes, Anon quickly hid his implement of murder within the confines of his clothing.
>"Sorry. I felt threatened." Spoke an ominous, choked voice.
>Anon turned around, showing his back to her once again.
>Sunset's heart was racing. For a brief moment, she had stared death in the eye.
>"N-no problem! Haha... I did approach you from behind, didn't I, my bad!"
>What was she saying, of course it wasn't her bad! No sane person would react like that, no matter how you approached them!
>She was much too scared of Anon to say that though.
>This person was dangerous, but something within her refused to back down.

>Anon had taken his seat and was opening the gloomy looking book once again.
>She couldn't let her chance slip away.
>"H-hey watcha reading?"
>So she blurted the only line in her head.
>"N-n..."
>Sunset carefully leaned over his shoulder and tilted her head to listen.
>"Sorry, what was that? Didn't quite catch it."
>"N-NOTHIIIIIING!"
>A high pitched screech resonated through the cafeteria like a banshee in a tin can.
>Students all around stopped what they were doing and looked for the source of the horrible sound.
>Sunset stumbled backwards in surprise and fell as Anon hurriedly stuffed his book into his bag.
>He then jumped onto the table before running out of the cafeteria like a wild gazelle, all within the span of a handful of seconds.
>"W-what was that...?"
>She had no idea what she had done wrong.
>Did Anon make that sound? Sunset didn't think boys could scream like that.
>"Sunny, are you alright?! What in tarnation happened?"
>Her friends who had been watching the events unfold from their table were now running to her aid.

>Be Anon
>You just pulled a ceremonial blade on a student. A girl, no less.
>It wasn't a real weapon, but the court of public opinion wouldn't see it like that.
>Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...
>She looks scared, I probably look pretty scary.
>Better put the blade away, at least. Then I'll apologize. Right.
>She'll forgive me if I apologize, right? At least she didn't scream yet.
>You quickly return the ceremonial tool back whence you conjured it.
>Time for an apology. Make it heartfelt.
>"Sorry, I felt threatened."
>THAT WAS TERRIBLE!
>Oh no, don't look at me like that.
>You turn around and hide your face in your trembling hands.
>This is a disaster. Think. Think.
>You ignore the girl standing behind you and sit down. This was your ultimate trump card. No matter how bad the situation was, you could always calm yourself down by reading.
>It worked.
>Suddenly a foul hex broke your spell of concentration.
>Words so unimaginably wretched they had to have been dripping from the lips of some daemoniac fiend, like black venom.
>"H-hey watcha reading?"
>So stygian was their pronunciation that your blood ran cold and your jaw locked in place.
>N-n...

>The girl had leaned closer.
>You desperately tried to formulate an answer, but your mind was going blank.
>She was touching your shoulder.
>"N-NOTHIIIIIING!"
>You bellowed a powerful war cry and snapped out of the wicked witch's spell of binding.
>The girl fell backwards on her butt, her eyes wide and her mouth open.
>This called for a tactical retreat. You stuffed your Lemegeton into your backpack.
>With the grace of a practicing master of the art, you leaped on top of the table.
>This was the altar for your ritual of escape.
>You had memorized the positions of the cardinal directions inside the cafeteria, thus it only took you a second to begin your wordless incantation.
>Come unto me, O thou of the four winds, almighty one, who breathest spirit into men to give them life;
>Whose name is hidden, and beyond the power of men to speak; no prophet can pronounce it; yea, even daimons, when they hear thy name, are fearful!
>You hadn't ever thought words of power this fast.
>But you had assumed a (albeit rushed) godform of Lord Hermes, the Thrice Great.
>You felt primordial power coursing through your legs.
>And with that, you flew out of the cafeteria with the mighty fury of a raging gale.

>Sunset had decided against telling her friends about the knife part of her encounter with Anon.
>They would no doubt do something very careless if they knew, especially Rainbow Dash.
>"Well I'm glad nothing too bad happened, are you sure you have no idea what you might have done to set him off like that?"
>Sunset nodded at Twilight. "All I know is I asked him what he was reading, then- well, that."
>"Knew it, the guy is crazy with a capital C."
>The other girls looked at RD with mixed expressions.
>"Ah can't say I don't agree, in all honesty." Applejack conceded.
>"Don't give up so fast, girls! All he needs is to loosen up a little, with a p-a-r-t-y!"
>"Goodness Pinkie, you saw how he reacted to just Sunset. I think it's best if someone with more... tact approaches him?
>Pinkie looked disappointed for a moment, but then continued beaming.
>"You mean YOU'RE gonna make friends with him, Rarity?"
>"Ehm... Well, I believe someone so ostentatiously outfitted might benefit from the company of a lady of-
>"That's so EXCITING! You're my friend and that means if he becomes your friend, he HAS to be friends with your friends, which includes ME myself and I! EEEEE I CAN BARELY CONTAIN THE PARTY PLANS!"
>Pinkie burst out in a flurry of words and gesticulations, but Sunset cut her off.
>"We should be going, classes are starting. Do you have any classes with Anon today, Rarity?"
>"I believe I do dear, we share a history class at 2:00."
>"Look, just be careful okay? Don't do anything that might surprise him too much. Good luck."
>Sunset hesitated. She didn't want Rarity to get hurt because she was ill prepared.
>"He's uh- really jumpy, avoid approaching him from behind. Better not to touch him either- like at all." Sunset added.
>"Oh don't you worry Sunny, I'm more than well aware of basic etiquette." Rarity said, with a superior, lady-like smirk.
>Then each of the girls hurried to their starting classes.

>Be Anon
>Anon, the magickal scion of the last Silver Dusk leader.
>Anon, the master of Will and the elemental lord of banishing.
>Anon, the screecher of the cafeterial planes of greater embarrassment.
>You were leaning against a wall, fists clenched into tight balls.
>Thick beads of sweat ran down your forehead.
>What had you been thinking? You should have just apologized and walked out like a normal person.
>Now everyone in the school knew you were a freak.
>Well, more of a freak.
>What's even worse, someone could have figured out your secret.
>You could not bear the thought of having your father's texts stolen from you by another magickal order.
>That damn girl. Why had she approached you? Nothing in your outward appearance suggested you wished to interact.
>Then, a horrifying possibility dawned on you.
>Maybe she already knows.
>Damn it!
>You pounded your fists on the empty hallway's cold stone wall.
>If that really was the case, you couldn't leave things as they were.
>You straightened your posture and turned around, fortifying your resolve.
>Standing upright, left hand at your side, you placed the tip of your right hand's index finger on your lower lip.
>A perfect Sign of Silence. You shut out the outside world and focused, concealing your magick completely.
>You took on the godform of Harpocrates, the god of silence and confidentiality.
>This ought to do as a safety measure, for now.
>The bell rang.
>For the first time this year, you were gonna be late for your class.

>The class was starting and Anon was nowhere in sight.
>Rarity sighed. She had so been looking forward to impressing her fashion sense upon him.
>A dry "Erhm-hem." stopped her train of thought in its tracks.
>"Daydreaming, Miss Rarity?" Said the cold, meticulous voice of Mr. Sombra, the school's history teacher.
>Everyone hated Mr. Sombra. Every occasion he opened his mouth made the students wonder why such a cruel person was allowed to teach to children.
>Rarity was no different, but she knew the repercussions of back talk.
>"No Mr. Sombra, as you can see I am perfectly awake."
>"Then, miss Rarity, you ought to take out your books. Or perhaps you have already memorized the curriculum like your little 'genius' friend Twilight Sparkle did last year, hmm?"
>Rarity shook her head and silently dug into her bag.
>Suddenly-
>"I'm very sorry teacher, I'm late."
>Anon had finally shown up. Rarity couldn't recall Anon ever being late before, especially not from Mr. Sombra's classes.
>The corners of Mr. Sombra's mouth twisted into a subtle, yet frightening smirk.
>"Tch, tch, tch. You are two minutes late, mister Anon. I trust you are well aware that calls for... disciplinary action."
>Rarity bet those words tasted like rich honey in Mr. Sombra mouth.
>"Yes sir, I make no excuse for my belated appearance."
>Anon bowed deeply, with his arms crossing each other over his chest.
>My, what a gentleman, Rarity thought.
>She had never paid attention to it before, but every one of Anon's movements had an odd kind of elegance to them.
>She scolded herself for not catching onto this diamond in the rough earlier.

>Mr. Sombra was studying Anon like a bird eyeing a particularly juicy maggot.
>"Miss Trixie has not come to my classes in three weeks now. I've asked her classmates, but they don't seem to know why."
>The cruel smile on the teacher's lips spread wider.
>"I asked her classmates if she had any friends who could deliver a message to her house, but it looks like being 'Great and Powerful' doesn't come with all that many positive relationships."
>A few snickers could be heard throughout the classroom.
>"Therefore, your punishment will be to deliver this to her house by the end of the class. The address is written on the letter."
>Wasn't that more than a little unorthodox? How far was this girl's house anyway?
>"And you will do all the work we're going to be doing today at home."
>Rarity looked over to Anon, who merely nodded in acknowledgement.
>"Teacher, pardon me but wouldn't it be a better idea to let him do it after school? What if he gets lost before the next class starts, or-"
>"Miss Rarity, YOU are in no position to critique my teaching methods when you have STILL yet to take out your books!" Sombra roared.
>Gulp.
>"As a matter of fact, I think I'll have you accompany Anon, since you're so worried about him getting lost."
>Oh dear.
>"Maybe that exercise will aid the circulation of blood to your brain and next lesson you'll have your books out in time."
>More snickering, this time louder.
>Rarity's shoulders slumped in despair.

>Be anon.
>You somehow got yourself into the fire after escaping the the frying pan.
>Good going champ.
>You were outside and beside you was standing a radiant beauty among beauties, Rarity.
>Of course, fickle things like a being's mortal coil meant nothing to one such as yourself, who saw past the illusions of temporality.
>But she was indeed beautiful.
>So much so, that you found yourself at a loss for words.
>"That uncouth brute! How dare he bully students like that!"
>Rarity had begun whining about Mr. Sombra as soon as they were out of ear shot. It was endearing, in a way.
>"Why, I should collect signatures for a petition to have that tyrant fired outright! You'd sign something like that, right Anon?"
>She asked you a question. Shit.
>You weren't listening, but you think you heard her asking you to sign something.
>"I don't sign contracts before carefully reading all the terms."
>That sounded more ominous than you meant it to, oh well.
>She's looking at you weird. Was she wasn't talking about signing a contract?
>Oh! She must want your autograph. You hadn't realized your majestic departure from the cafeteria had made you famous.
>"I don't have a sharpie on me."
>"Don't worry darling, I didn't mean right away." Rarity said and giggled.
>She called you a darling.
>"So, what's the address on the letter, then?" Rarity questioned.
>You flipped the letter towards her and she read the hastily scribbled street name.
>"My goodness! That's where my house is! You're in luck, Anon, it's not too far from here."
>"Who would have thought I'd be neighbors with that obnoxiously dressed Trixie girl, small world I suppose."
>You nod and look at Rarity, expecting her to lead the way.
>"Just follow me dear, you have a lady's guarantee that we won't get lost."