>You’re soaring high above the clouds and can see landscape far below. >Letting out a cheer, you dive through a cloud. “Woohoo!” >Looping back up, you somersault a couple of times. >The wind blowing through your mane and the freedom of flight, wraps you in a joyous blanket. “I never want this to end!” >You let out a giggle and gently glide through the air. >The sun shines brightly, and its warm rays bathe you its magnificent glow. >As you’re gliding, you notice you’re starting to fall. “What?!” >You panic, and try to flap your wings. “What’s happening?!” >You fall further and further. >Looking back, you can see your wings disintegrate and you plummet. >You start to scream as your end approaches. >The ground rushes to meet you and you jolt awake. >Looking around, you see you woken up in a cold sweat. “...It was just a d-dream...” >As you get out of bed, you wipe away the fresh tears adorning your face. >It’s almost always the same. >You never learn from it and you always wake up. “...Someday...Maybe...” >You quickly go through your morning routine and bring a cup of coffee with you into the living room. >Setting down the cup, you start to warm up by drawing the basic shapes. “...Circle, Square, triangle...” >Moving onto more advanced shapes after you cover one sheet. >Mostly three dimensional shapes, it helps to keep you sharp. >Finishing up, you look at the time. “...Thirty minutes...Need to be fa-faster...” >Rather than doing another warm up, you settle on sketching the book you got the other day. >Bringing the nearby coffee table closer, you set the book on it and start to sketch. >Helps to challenge yourself with perspective. >As you finish up the final touches, you pause to look at the time. >You didn’t tell Anon what time to come over. “...Does-doesn’t matter...Not like I intend on leaving home today...” >Looking over the sketch, you try to find the imperfections. >Don’t see any yet, but that doesn’t mean anything. >You take a drink of coffee before looking again. “...The shading isn’t right...” >Marking it and setting aside like the rest, you prepare another sheet. >Before you settle on another object to sketch, you hear a knocking that causes you to jump. “...Must be A-anon...” >You make your way to the front door and start to undo all the locks. >Your fear rises slowly and try to quell it. >Eventually you finish off the last lock and open it slowly. >Can’t be too safe. >As you peak out, you see Anon standing there like yesterday. >He smiles as he looks at you. >”Hello Addie.” “...Um, hi...” >He stands there waiting. >Oh right, you should let him in. >Backing away from the door, you head over to your easel. >As you hear him close the door, he starts to talk. >”So, do you want me to do anything different today?” >Immediately you know what to sketch. >Picking up the book that you drew, you bring it over to him. “...Ju-just hold this...And look like you’re re-reading it...” >He opens it up and looks exactly the way you want. >”Like this?” >You nod and head back to the easel to prepare a sheet. >Picking up your pencil, you start to sketch. >The way the light plays with his form is interesting. >You’ve always enjoyed drawing three dimensional living things. >It’s bit more challenging, but you embrace it. >All the more to improve your skills. >Time creeps by, you notice Anon is trying to stay still. >You finish up and set down the pencil. >As your eyes shift between the two to see the mistakes, Anon starts to talk again. >”Is it done? Because my arm is starting to get tired.” “...Yeah...” >Before you can pick up the picture, he sets down the book and comes over to look at it. >As he stares at the picture, he nods. >”Your work is amazing Addie, I’m not sure how you do it.” “...Not really...I need to be bet-better...” >”Nonsense, this is far better than anything I’ve seen. I can’t draw if my life depended on it.” “...Anypony can draw...I bet you can too...” >He shakes his head. >”Nah, nothing like this, I probably could manage a stick figure right now.” >Why is he being so nice to me? “...Most of my work is gar-garbage anyways...” >Anon laughs and turns to you. >”I seriously doubt that.” >Heading over to your reject stack, you pull out several to show him. “...Look...These are awful...” >He looks them over one at a time, before looking back to you. >”You call this garbage? You could probably sell them for quite a bit. The quality on them is really superb.” >Your heart starts to race again. “...I do sell them sometimes...At the mar-market usually...” >”I figured as much, these could easily be in a art museum.” >Could they really? >No, you know for certain they are not good enough. >Not by a long shot, no matter what he says. >There is one question on your mind. >As you look at the drawings she showed you again. >Addie mumbles something out. “Sorry?” >”...I’ve never seen anything like you before...So, what are you..?” >A part of you was wondering when she would ask that. >Several thoughts run through your mind, but you settle for a short answer. “I’m a human, and well, I come from another world. No one is sure how I got here either.” >She stares at you with wide eyes again. >Addie remains silent for a while, and you’re starting to worry if you broke her. “Addie?” >Shaking her head, she rubs one hoof over the other looks around the room. >”...So-sorry...Just a lot to take in...” >Yeah, no surprise there. “Been here a few weeks now. Your Princess was kind enough to help me out. So, I’m still getting used to this place.” >”...I-I see...” >Now is as good time as any to ask. “So, what do you do? Other than drawing of course.” >Addie freezes up. >Well shit, didn’t think that would bother her. >She snaps out of it and looks at the floor. >”...Um...I don’t go outside, except for supplies...And to sell some sketches...” >Considering how she is, you’re not shocked in the slightest. “You don’t have any friends to hang out with?” >She mumbles something out. “What was that?” >Addie looks up at you, though her eyes don’t quite settle on you. >”...I-I don’t have friends...” >Well good going jackass, you made her feel bad. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” >She shakes her head, her bangs bounce a little. >”...It’s fine, I’m okay without anypony...” >That’s pretty depressing, but you remember how some people are loners, guess it’s the same for ponies. >Maybe you can change that, but seeing how she is, it’s probably going to be difficult. >Handing back the drawings, you figure you can try to chat with her to open up. “Other than drawing, what are your other hobbies?” >She sets the pictures back and stares at them. >”...I-I really don’t...I just sketch...” >Alright, this is really going to be a pain in the ass. >Don’t get frustrated, just try something else. “How about I show you my drawing skills.” >She perks up and turns around to face you with a surprised look on her face. >Before she says anything, you pull out the grocery list you left in your pocket. >On the back of it, you quickly doodle a pony and show her. >Addie takes one look and lets out a little laugh before covering her mouth with her hoof. >”...Sorry...I didn’t mean to laugh...” >There we go, laughing always seems to be the best way to break the ice. “Nah it’s fine, I know it’s nothing like you draw. But now you see what I mean?” >She nods and uncovers her mouth, a small smile is there now. >”...I guess so...All you need to do is practice to make it better...” “Of course, though I doubt I could ever reach your level.” >Addie shakes her head. >”...N-no, mine still need a lot of work...I’m sure anypony could do better..” >As you’re about to say something she continues. >”...How about another sketch..?” >Looking over to the clock, you still have some time to kill. “Yeah sure, anything in particular?” >She reaches her easel and starts to set up. >”...Um...What ever you think is f-fine...” >You sit cross legged on the ground, least this will be a bit more comfortable. >She gets to work right away, with her pencil flying across the canvas. >The minutes pass and she finishes. >Before you can ask, she brings the picture over to you. >It’s insane how detailed these drawings are. “Wonderful work Addie.” >She blushes and mumbles something out before giving you the drawing. >You look it over once more, really soaking it in and hand it back. >However, she shakes her head, causing you to raise an eyebrow. “Is something the matter?” >”...N-no...You can keep it...” >It’s hard to say something, but you manage. “Thank you for this drawing Addie, it’s really wonderful.” >She nods, and looks around the room again. >Unfortunately, you see it’s getting late. >Letting out a sigh, you stand up. “I’ll be back tomorrow if that’s okay with you? Around noon-ish.” >”...O-okay...Bye Anon...” “Bye Addie.” >With that, you take the picture and leave her home. >On the walk back, you have high hopes this is the beginning of a new friendship.