- > 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
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