>...MonkeyFromTheFuture has joined #TalesOfEquestria
><MagicMoonWalker> Monkey's here girls!
><DivineString> What a fucking faggot
><ConsoleSmasher2005> About time he showed up
><GreatAndPowerful> Finally, I'll show you how a campaign is made. I have written down everything. You won't be disappointed
><GoldenHarvest> What was that supposed to mean? Everypony liked my last campaign!
><ConsoleSmasher2005> She's till butthurt because her character died before the big battle
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> Yeah... about that...
><MagicMoonWalker> Oh come on! you forgot to make your character again!
><GreatAndPowerful> I'm prepared even for this situation. I took the liberty of making a character for anypony that was too lazy to make its own
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> No no. It's just that something happened and I will not be able to play for a while
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> For a long while I think
>Chips rain on your keyboard
><MagicMoonWalker> What it THIS supposed to mean?!
><ConsoleSmasher2005> Are you for real?
><DivineString> This is not funny
><GoldenHarvest> What happened? I remember you used to play even when aboard!
><GreatAndPowerful> Explain yourself!
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> I can't go in details but I changed my job
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> It's well paid but... I don't have time for playing every weekend
>After cleaning your keyboard you open a private conversation with MonkeyFromTheFuture
><MagicMoonWalker> You don't throw bullshit at me like that
><MagicMoonWalker> We know each other. I deserve a better explanation
>Meanwhile in the condivise channel things are cooling down
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> I will still be able to chat from time to time
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> But I don't think i can afford our hours long sessions
><GreatAndPowerful> I understand, hard times come for everypony
><DivineString> But this is so sudden
><ConsoleSmasher2005> And overwatch?
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> I will not be able to play Smasher, sorry
><GoldenHarvest> That so sad...

>This is so... sudden
>MonkeyFromTheFuture, or Anon since you know him irl, has been on your roleplay group for... 4 years now! He can't just leave it!
>It's almost unreal, reading that he will not be able to play anymore.
>A bip tells you that Anon answered your PM
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> Sorry Moon, I don't have a better explanation
><MagicMoonWalker> You can't do this to me. We're buddies! What I'm going to do without you? We planned to start several games together! The FillydephiaComic convection next season! Our tabletop game project!
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> I don't know, but you'll find a way. I just can't do it anymore.
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> It's been a while I'm having problems and I need to take care for them
><MagicMoonWalker> Do you need bits? I can help you!
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> No, you can't
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> Listen please. I've had problems. Neither economical or physical.
><MonkeyFromTheFuture> I need time
>MonkeyFromTheFuture has quit (Quit:Let's do it like they do on the discovery channel)
>...
>As you turn off your laptop an alien feeling start to creep in your mind
>Why Anon is leaving the group? Did you or them done something he didn't like?
>No, that's just stupid
>Well... let's just wait... maybe he'll be able to solve all his problems.
>Yeah...
.
.
.
>You You are now talking on #TalesOfEquestria
><DivineString> Hi Moon! How are you?
>...It's been a lonely week
>Without anon play with you there aren't really much ponies that share your same interests
>Anon's Steam account has been offline for 6 days now
>He responds to your phone messages... eventually
>You miss him greatly
><MagicMoonWalker> I'm great thanks, what about you? and has Anon returned yet? Have you heard anything from him?
><DivineString> A bit of stress, next week I have to perform at the concerto at Las Pegasus but beside that everything is fine
><DivineString> I haven't heard anything from him. I thought you knew something since you know him irl

><MagicMoonWalker> Not much, he just told me that he's really busy and his new job is tiring, but nothing specific.
><MagicMoonWalker> And only through messages
><DivineString> Pay him a visit, sure he won't get mad at somepony visiting him
>That's not a bad idea
>Though you're not sure when you could visit him
><MagicMoonWalker> I'll ask him, I hope he'll have the time
><MagicMoonWalker> What about Trixie and Button?
><DivineString> Trixie is on tour somewhere with a friend. I didn't know she had somepony else
><DivineString> Button is still grounded from what his mother said me. But I see his overwatch account still playing a lot of time
><DivineString> He even surpassed his previous record
>Overwatch isn't really your thing, but good to hear it
>Button takes pride on showing everyone his accomplishments
><MagicMoonWalker> Neat, when Anon will hear it I'm sure he will plan to test Button
><MagicMoonWalker> I need to get going, bye
>Closing the chat and starting your videogame, you pickup your phone to text to Anon
>"Ehy man, how are you doing?"
>"I as wondering if I could, you know, come and see you"
>"It's been a while since we met irl or played online, is that ok for you? Where could I come?"
>And now, let's wait his response
.
.
.
>Dear Celestia, there is nothing like a good Fallout 6 hours long session
>The sudden silence from your pc makes shift your attention at the ticking clock on the wall
>1 am. It's time to go to bed
>Magic exercises can wait tomorrow
>As you lay on your bed a phone levitates on your hooves
>Anon still has to answer
>He saw the message, but didn't answer
>Maybe it's just really busy and forgot
>Maybe it's just sleeping and will answer tomorrow
>Maybe something happened to him
>Maybe he's working, his new job might have night shifts
>It's difficult to find sleep when you're worrying about Anon, missing him
>You shift under the blankets over and over again
>You... NEED to know

>"APPRENTICE GUARD ANONYMOUS INCOGNITO! HEADS UP! MOVE THOSE LEGS OF YOURS! ARE YOU HEARING ME? I SAID TO SPEED UP YOU USELESS MONKEY! I AIN'T RAISING NO DEAF OR DISABLE IN MY RANKS!"
>Be anon
>When they said military wasn't a joke you didn't believed it
>You questioned several times equestrian needs for military forces within equestrian territory
>Ponies are way too much friendly and trustworthy to need an armed force
>But they have several nonetheless
>"I THOUGHT TO SPEAK WITH THE ONLY SENTIENT SPECIES OF EARTH, AM I WRONG?"
"SIR YOU'RE NOT WRONG SIR!"
>"THEN LISTEN AND MOVE YOUR LEGS! KEEP UP WITH YOUR TEAMMATES FOR THE LOVE OF CELESTIA!"
>Greater was your surprise after you enlisted
>Both Zephyr and Mac snickered you
>And they might not have been totally wrong
>You may be an alien for equestria but that doesn't grant you any special treatment
>"YOU'RE GOING TO CLEAN TOILETS AGAIN IF YOU DON'T FINISH WITH US ANON!"
>BrightLance, a bulky earth pony with beige coat and brown mane, shout to you with a mocking tone
>"WE CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE!"
>Great... pony officials pretends you make the same training of every other pony
>That means you have to be able to run as much as they do
>It would be possible with moderate velocity, using human standards
>But ponies are way faster overall, and at the end your faster run is just slightly faster than their trot. Now they are galloping and you have to eat dust every time
>Instructors don't care obviously
>"I SEE DORMS INCOGNITO! YOU BETTER PREPARE FOR CLEANING A WHOLE BUNCH OF TOILETS!"
>Of course
>It's practically a booked job that
>At least ponies are cleaner than humans, so it's not that bad
>But that does little for your morale
"SIR YES SIR!"
>Your instructor, you didn't bothered to remember his name, leaves you to reunite with the rest of your teammates. Passing you with little effort
>After a couple of minutes you're allowed to collapse in front of your acquaintances
"Fucking horses..."

>...ConsoleSmasher2005 has joined #TalesOfEquestria
><MagicMoonWalker> Button! You're here!
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I'm not grounded anymore!
><MagicMoonWalker> Do you know anything about anon?
><MagicMoonWalker> I tried going to his house but no one answered me. His neighbors told me he hasn't been at home for a month!
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I have no idea, I haven't heard him since last time he was online three weeks ago
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I could ask mom if you want
><MagicMoonWalker> Why your mother?
><ConsoleSmasher2005> She knows Anon's landlord
><MagicMoonWalker> And does your mother know Anon personally?
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I don't know, maybe?
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I'll ask her when she returns home
><MagicMoonWalker> Do it please
><MagicMoonWalker> I just want to know where Anon is
><ConsoleSmasher2005> Do you miss him?

>You miss him
>He is one of your closest friend
>Always willing to share his time with you
>Playing games, watching movies, sharing memes
>You do have other friends, but with anon it's just different
>And you don't want to repeat Twilight's errors

><MagicMoonWalker> Yes, I miss him
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I'll find out, or mom will do it. She has the most chatty friends of all Ponyville
><ConsoleSmasher2005> She must have heard something
><MagicMoonWalker> Thank you
><ConsoleSmasher2005> Did Lyra give you my overwatch account?
><MagicMoonWalker> No she didn't, why?
><ConsoleSmasher2005> I'm diamond and I don't know why. I'm pretty sure I was gold before mom grounded me
><ConsoleSmasher2005> Whatever, bye!
> ConsoleSmasher2005 has quit

>You're left alone in chat
>After a month it's not a surprise
>With anon online everypony was here whenever they could
>Now that Anon is not coming anymore, neither are they
>You're not playing anymore
>He's not with you anymore
>What are you doing Anon?
>Why aren't you responding to my messages?
>I just want to know
>Answer me Anon
>Please

>"How is our favorite primate doing?"
>Shifting on your bed you try to ignore BrightLance
>"Awww come on~ You're still mad for being the only one who cleans the toilets, aren't you?"
>The big earth pony sits on his bed, next to your
>"Look at the... bright side"
"Oh for fuck's sake"
>"You're going great at the practice magical defense lessons"
>He's right
>Your almost complete immunity to magic has finally come in handy
>Bolts, barriers, weapon, magically charged gems
>Nothing can harm you, you don't need to run, dodge, look for covers, use shields
>But the physical part of spells can still hurt you
>You can nullify the telekinetic force of a rock trowed by a unicorn, but the rock can hurt you
"Yeah... at least I've got something to cheer me up. What about you?"
>"Well... I'm doing less great than you, but I'm still above average"
>Chuckling you stir on the bed and stand up
"Yeah, that's what everyone say 'I'm above average' hahaha..."
>He laugh with you. It's good to have some friend that laugh with you and not about you.
>"The instructor said that next week we have a couple of days off" he says with a cheerful tone "I'm going back to my family at Manehattan, what are you going to do?"
>Going back to your home and play videogame probably
>After a trip to the spa
>And that only after few dozen bits spent in the SugarCube Corner
>But BrightLance is a serious pony that wouldn't approve your diversions
"Nothing much, maybe visiting a couple of friends and lazying at home"
>"You can't just sit on the couch and do nothing for 3 days" he starts with his lecture "As apprentice guards is our duty to be always aware of our surroundings and be always ready in case of dangers..." You tune him out
>Loading sarcasm in 3...2...1...
>Before you can express your response the phone in your drawer vibrates, signaling a message
"Yeah, let me read this. It may be..."
>You take the phone out if your drawer and read the sender
>MoonDancer
>Not the mare you where hoping for, but not unwelcome

>"I Anon, you got 5 minutes?"
>BrightLance peeks your conversation
>"MoonDancer? who is it?"
"First, lave your nose out of my personal conversations" you says to him, pushing hit nose away from your phone "Second, apologize to your mother for not having respect for someone else's privacy. Third, it's a friend of mine"
>"No need to be rude, you could have said it was your marefriend" he responds, with an annoyed tone
"...Not my marefriend"
>Returning to your phone you respond to her
"Yes I do, what's up?"
>"I just wanted to know how you were doing. We haven't heard anything from you for a while now"
"I've been busy here. I'm sorry"
>"I can see that Anon"
>She types... then stops... then types again... and stop again
>"A you still having problem with money?"
"I never had financial problems Moon"
>"But your house looks abandoned and your neighbors haven't seen you in two months"
"Wait, did you come to my house looking for me?"
>"Yes, I wanted to visit you"
>Poor MoonDancer, you haven't told anyone where you were going, she couldn't know you're not in Canterlot
"Sorry again, I'm not in Canterlot actually. But I'll come back soon for a couple of days"
>"Will you play with me?"
>She modifies the message quickly
>"Will you play with us? We all miss you greatly"
>You miss them too. Joining the military, even in a world of colorful talking ponies, isn't funny or easy
>"Why didn't you respond to my messages?"
>Wait, what?
>You scroll up, and see a couple of messages MoonDancer sent you some weeks ago
"Oh, sorry, really. I must have been too tired to respond and then I forgot. I'm not using much my phone here. I'll make up to you"
>...she's taking her time to respond
>"Is that true? you're not avoiding me right?"
>Telling her you're not actively avoiding her or everyone from Canterlot, Ponyville and Appleoosa would be a lie... but you can't think of a good way to tell her so, therefore...
"Of course not, I'm just tire for all the work here"