You are Twilight Sparkle, and you have made a terrible mistake. You aren't entirely sure how to fix it. Anon is angry and alone. Ponyville...pulled another Zecora incident. Fluttershy peers at you from behind her mane.

"What did he say?"

"Saying sorry isn't enough."

She nods sadly. Guilt churns in your stomach.

"There has to be a way to make it up to him. It's not a romance problem, and I'm not sure what kind of gift we could give that would say 'I'm sorry we forced you into bestiality.' What do you think, Fluttershy?"

You begin trotting towards Ponyville, and she comes up beside.

"We could never bother him again. I am very quiet, I could do that."

"That's not really a solution, it's more like ignoring the problem."

"We could do that too."

Fluttershy is a great friend, you remind yourself. She just doesn't handle stress well. Although, you could say that about the whole town.

The whole town. Crap.

"We're going to have to convince all of Ponyville that Anon isn't a rapist."

"Oh. That's a lot of ponies."

"We're going to need someone...popular,"

"Pinkie Pie?"

"Someone who is good at persuading ponies..."

"Pinkie Pie."

"Someone with tact."

"Pinkie- oh. Rarity?"

You nod.

"If anyone will know what to do, it's her."

You hope.

Rarity sips from her tea.

"Now, what can I do for you two?"

This is going to be awkward.

"So, remember how Luna scared everypony on nightmare night?"

"Yes?"

"And how Zecora was shunned because she was a zebra?"

"What, is there some other stranger...who comes into town...and this is about Anonymous, isn't it?"

You nod. Rarity sighs.

"He must think we're terribly skittish, mustn't he?"

Fluttershy winces.

"Right now, he thinks we're monsters."

Rarity furrows her brow.

"Why ever should he think that? Is having a bucket on one's head so unpleasant?"

Fluttershy mumbles something. Rarity frowns.

"What was that?"

You come to Fluttershy's rescue.

"We may have let a sheep get friendly with him. And barged in on his shower."

"I hardly see why that's a problem. Sheep are gentle, and it's not like friends can't take showers together..."

"Anon has a thing about wearing clothes all the time, so seeing him without clothes can be embarrassing for him."

That's one of the first pieces of human culture you learned.

"Personally, I think wearing clothes all the time is more embarrassing. Formal wear loses all meaning when it is daily wear."

"Even so, that's how he is. And, um. The ewe was very friendly. And not entirely gentle."

"How do you mea-"

Rarity gives Fluttershy a disbelieving look.

"And he just let it happen? With a sheep?"

Fluttershy lowers her head, once again hiding behind her mane.

"He didn't have much choice."

Rarity rubs her face with a hoof.

"I think it would be fair to say, this is the worst. Possible. Thing. Well, first things first, we must all apologize."

Rarity set her cup aside. You and Fluttershy hurry to block her path.

"That's probably not the best idea right now."

Fluttershy nods fervently.

"He was very angry when we tried."

Rarity's mouth twists in dissatisfaction.

"Second things first, then. It would be best to go to Mayor Mare, I believe."

That evening, a crowd has gathered in the town square. Mayor Mare steps up to the podium.

"Mares and gentlecolts! I have called this meeting to deal with the problem of Anonymous."

The crowd murmurs with anger and excitement. A few pitchforks and torches surreptitiously rise from the throng. Mayor Made clears her throat.

"First, let us clear up any misunderstandings. Who here has been raped by Anonymous? Raise your hoof."

Many heads turned, curious to see who had fallen victim to the town menace. Yet not one hoof was raised. Mayor Mare continued in a sadder tone.

"Need I remind you of our poor welcome for Zecora, the best herbalist in Ponyville?"

The crowd murmured in surprise. The few ponies who said something about ziggers are immediately shushed.

"Or how we first welcomed the awkward, yet kind Princess of the Night?"

A few of the torches and pitchforks quietly disappeared.

"Who here remembers how Anonymous gave the best belly rubs at the spa? Or how he climbed the trees with monkey-like grace and retrieved foals' balloons?"

Ponies avoided each other's eyes.

"And who here has bought one of the delightful little wooden statues from three of our bravest fillies? As Mayor of Ponyville, I would like to acknowledge kindness and earnestness of Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell."

The fillies clamber up onto the platform, awed at all the attention they were getting.

"For their aide to one of Ponyville's citizens in his darkest times, I award them the Crystal Heart medal."

The fillies puff out their chests proudly as the medals are affixed to their cloaks. The Mayor addresses the crowd once again.

"Now, I intend to deliver a formal apology on behalf of this town to Anonymous. I will be very disappointed in whoever does not accompany me to Anonymous' house."

Some of the ponies shake their pitchforks in the air.

"To Anonymous' house!"

You are Anon, and you're feeling better, now. You've taken a nap, eaten some dinner, and now you're working on the commission and feeling nicely busy for once. You sit by the window, taking in the empty plains that lead toward Ponyville. It's very tranquil. Then you see a light coming up in the west. You idly wonder if sunbutt got drunk.

Only it's not the sun, it's a mob of ponies. Oh hell.

You start barricading the front door with what little furniture you have. It was only a matter of time, you suppose. You can hear the infernal noise of the many voices of the mob. Some deluded soul knocks on your door.

"Anonymous, we have something for you."

Death, most likely.

"Nice try."

The sound of the mob changes slightly. Then you get tackled from behind by three fillies. You roll over, and find the crusaders grinning at you. Sweetie Bell climbs up onto your chest.

"Everypony came to say they're sorry!"

...

"Really."

They nod happily.

"What are the torches and pitchforks for then?"

They glance at each other. Scootaloo shrugs.

"It's dark out, and walking sticks?"

Applebloom looks at you with big, pleading eyes.

"So won't you please come out and say hi to everypony?"

It's not like they couldn't come in the back door if they wanted.

"Fine, now let me up."

Sweetie Bell giggles and jumps off. You come around the corner of your house, and see that they really don't seem to be angry. Mayor Mare gives you a polite smile and comes forward.

"On behalf of Ponyville, I deliver this formal apology. Within are such reparations that might go some way towards ameliorating any damages you may have suffered."

You numbly accept then scroll, and whisper,

"A rather quick change in opinion."

The Mayor smiles ruefully and replies in a like manner.

"We have some history with being very wrong about outsiders. Honestly, I think most of the ponies here just like being in one big herd, be it a mob or a demonstration of civic-mindedness."

"Oh, I see."

Still, it makes you nervous to have so many torches near your mostly wooden house. Better make a speech.

"Citizens of Ponyville! I accept your apology, and wish you well in your endeavors. Now please leave without setting anything on fire."

You hear a few groans of disappointment from the crowd, but they disperse readily enough. Mayor Mare regards you with an amused expression.

"I must say, that was very eloquent. Although, I have to ask now that we aren't on opposite sides of the mob, is there any truth to the rumors?"

You give her a flat look.

"I'm not a rapist."

She looks you up and down.

"Even so, if you ever, well. Let me just say, that I am an eager and attentive public servant."

She winks at you and sashays away.

Okay. That is certainly strange icing on the fucked up cake that you are too stuffed to eat. You go back inside and lay down on your bed. You fall asleep, a faint scent of vanilla rising from the pillow and sheets.