Gaining Grace (RGRE)

> Ponyville has a new god
> Well, technically he's a human
> But clearly, Anon is a heavenly being sent to bless the lives of ponies
> He's so elegant and demure
> Communicating effortlessly and without words
> Baby foals smile as he walks by
> Even the cattiest of stallions is in awe of Anon
> Mares swear secret oaths in service to him

> Be Anon
> You thought it would be different here, but no
> You are still too shy to talk to anyone outside of faintly mumbled pleasantries
> Luckily you can usually get by with gestures, so it's not like you are helpless
> You just wish you could makes some friends for once
> The ponies here are really skittish, and are always watching you and muttering among themselves
> It makes it kind of difficult to approach anyone
> You stand outside Sugarcube Corner, wavering
> You really do want something sweet, but it's so full of ponies, and Pinkie Pie always makes a scene when she sees you around
> Just the thought walking into that den of overstimulation makes you shudder
> You feel a pony tap your arm with a wing
> You look down to see a yellow mare you think is Fluttershy
> "Um, Anonymous? Can I buy you something from the sugarcube Corner?"
> She understands!
> You feel a thrill of hope, and try to compose a suitable reply
> ...
> Thanks for- no,
> A bavarian cr- wait, do they even have Bavaria here?
> For that matter, where is Bavaria in  the first place?
> Oh no, you got lost in your thoughts, no doubt this mare is getting impatient with you, you should apologize
> You glance at her face, but she actually seems content to wait
> She just gives you a small, encouraging smile
> Okay, keep it simple
"Yes."
> Nailed it!
> The mare nods pleasantly
> "What should I get for you?"
> ...how do you say this?
"A don-"
> Wait,
"Like pudding, but-"
> You are bad at this
"With chocolate frosting."
> You bury your face in your hands
> This is why you don't talk to people
> "I understand. I'll just be back in a little bit with your bovarian creme."
> You watch the pegasus trot into the bakery, and feel a little better about things

> Be Fluttershy
> You knew the town beauty was quiet, but it wasn't until you gathered up the courage to talk to him that you realized why
> He reminds you a lot of how you were when you were younger
> At once, all the little things like avoiding crowds, or why he just stares at mares who try to hit on him, it all makes sense
> You resolve to help him make friends, and to help him grow like you did

> Be Pinkie Pie
> You can feel something in your tuft as you get Fluttershy's bovarian creme
> This isn't like her, she usually buys blueberry glazed donuts
> Nevertheless, you are a professional
"Here you go! Bovarian creme for the team!"
> Fluttershy smiles and hoofs over the bits
> You watch her as she goes to a tab-
> No, she's going outside
> But she always eats her donuts at a table?!
> You put a cardboard cutout of yourself behind the counter and sneak off to see what's up
> You peek out from behind the doorframe to see Fluttershy waltz right up to Adonymous
> He smiles at her and takes the bovarian cream with a dignified nod
> Lucky mare
> Then he starts nibbling on it, licking the creamy filling from time to time
> You blush, unable to look away from the lewd sight
> Poor Fluttershy is getting a huge wingboner right there in the street

> Be Anon, licking the last remnants of the donut from your fingers
> Abruptly you realize that Fluttershy has been waiting this entire time, watching you eat
> Her face is red, probably from being out in the summer sun for so long
> You have to help her!
> Not to mention paying her back for the donut
> You look around, seeing only busy shops
> Well, your house isn't far from here, you can get her some water there
> You take a deep breath
"Let's, out of sun, um."
> Come on Anon, you can do it!
"My home. Enter."
> You gaze at her face, silently willing her to do the impossible
> Fluttershy blinks, then smiles at you
> "It is a little hot out, I would love to go to your home."
> Is she a genius?
> How can she understand you so perfectly?
> With a burgeoning hope rising in your heart, you lead her to your house

> Be Fluttershy, sitting in Anonymous' living room
> It's very neat, if a little larger than you are used to
> Even if you tried, you don't think you could take up more than two cushions of his couch
> He strides back into the room with a tall glass of water, his natural grace keeping the water from even rippling
> It's a little mesmerizing watching those long legs move
> Anonymous sets the glass on the coffee table in front of you, and retreats to the recliner opposite you
> You nod pleasantly at him
"Thank you."
> He nods back, a bit jerkily
> Is he nervous?
> You take a deep drought of the water, savoring the way the coolness spreads throughout your body
> You set the glass on the coffee table, and tilt your head at him
"You don't have to wait for me, you should  get a drink too."
> He shakes his head
> "M'fine."
> His lips compress, then part ever so slightly, then close tightly again
> "Kitchen, before."
> He must have had a quick drink then, you suppose
> You aren't really sure how to continue, but sometimes you just have to say things
"Do you...find it scary, talking to ponies?"
> You smile at him encouragingly
> He looks down at his hands
> "Yes, its-"
> He starts breathing deeply, lips twisting and trembling
> Your heart sinks, if only you could wrap him in your wings and take away his troubles, but that might just make things worse
"If it's too hard to say, maybe you could write it down?"
> He looks you in the eyes, startled
> Then he rushes off up the stairs
> ...
> Hopefully he's just getting some paper, and not hiding from you
> You wait on the couch, each minute passing by making you wonder if you should leave so he can come back down
> Then he comes down the stairs with an armful of paper sheets, and hands one to you
> [I've never been good at making friends, and it only got worse as I got older. I don't know how to meet people, or how to make conversations. I just stand on the edge of the crowd, afraid. What if they think I'm rude? I know I look weird, and I don't want to make people uncomfortable by trying to make them interact with me. I don't want to make people talk with me while they want me to leave. I know they say things about me, I can see them whisper while they look at me. So I try to stay inside as much as possible, which just makes it harder to go outside and face people.]

> [I just want to have some friends, but I think it's impossible for me, now.]
> You blink rapidly, to keep from crying
> This poor colt
> This poor, poor colt
> You notice a pen on the table, and pick it up
> You suppose you could just say this, but you think he would accept it better as words on a page
> You write your message below his
[I can be your friend, and help you make more friends.]
> You push the paper towards him
> He picks it up and reads, his eyes widening
> Anonymous looks at you, then the paper, then you again
> You smile and nod encouragingly
> He sets the paper down with shaking hands and writes back
> [Thank you, thank you so much!]
> You warmth blooms in your chest, and you start to compose your next message

> Be Anon, leaning against your front door
> It's late in the afternoon, the orange light of the sunset filtering in through the windows
> Your new friend...!
> Your new friend Fluttershy is walking home now, after hours of passing notes
> The coffee table is littered with pages of small talk, of likes and dislikes, of hobbies and doodles
> You collect them in a rough chronological order, and sit in your chair
> You look down at the first page
> [I can be your friend, and help you make more friends.]
> You read that sentence again and again until everything becomes blurry
> You lean back, letting the tears fall down your face
> You won't always be alone
> You clutch the papers to your chest as you sob in happiness
> You finally have a friend