>You’re flying high above, this time you’re over Canterlot. >It’s a little chilly, but you don’t mind. >You control a slow descent down towards the ground. >As you approach, you can see many ponies below. >However, a lone figure catches your eye. >It’s Anon. >Most of the ponies are going about their day, some see you, but don’t pay attention. >They’re all faceless blurs, but not Anon. >He is watching you and waving. >Landing nearby in a park, you can see Anon approaching you quickly. >You wave to him and smile. “Hey Anon!” >Before he reaches you, a sea of faceless ponies start to come from no where. >They quickly crowd you and him, pushing each other away. >He tries to call out, but no words come out. “Anon!” >The crowd tries to push you along, but you launch into the air. >You can see him being pushed further and further away. “NO!” >Mustering all your strength, you shoot forth. >Just as you reach him you run into a barrier and awaken. >You’re face first on the floor and let out a small groan. >Slowly, you pick yourself up. “...T-that’s never happened before...” >Pulling the blankets off of you, you remake your bed. “...I’m always alone in my dreams...So that’s a first...” >Your muzzle hurts a little, and you head off to do your morning routine. >All the while, your thoughts are distracting you. >It’s getting harder to keep steady on your warm up. “...Why can’t I f-focus..?” >You already know why, there is no point in asking that. >Setting down your pencil, you look over at the drawing you showed Anon yesterday. “...It’s because I opened up to him...Is-isn’t it..?” >Of course that’s the case, but that doesn’t stop you from thinking about it. >This past week has been the closest you’ve been to another. >Probably the closest you’ve been to another ever in your life. “...D-doesn’t matter...I-I need to focus...” >You try to shove aside the thoughts for now and focus on warming up before Anon shows up. >It’s difficult, but you manage to make a half decent attempt. >Looking it over, you try to reassure yourself. “...It’s just temporary...I can get through this...” >Picking back up your pencil, you free draw. >It’s not something you do often, but it helps to get thoughts out of your head. >They’re barely doodles in your opinion, nothing like the sketches you usually do. >As you finish nearly covering the page, you pause to look them over. “...Mostly of me...And Anon...” >Are you in love with him? >No, can’t be, can it? >You’ve barely known him a week, so it must be something else, right? >… >Yeah, it must be what having a friend is really like. >You haven’t had one since you were a filly. >Then again, you never felt like this around another pony. >Letting out a small groan of frustration, you step away from the canvas. “...I can’t...I can’t let this get to me...” >Your thoughts are just messing with you. >Stupid filly, what makes you think that he sees you that way? >No pony just falls in love like that. >Rather than dwell on these thoughts further, you go grab another cup of coffee. “...J-just need to concentrate is all...” >Taking a sip, the black nectar refuels your focus again. >You remove the doodles and crumple them up. “...Don-don’t focus on tho-those...Just f-focus on the sk-ketch...” >As you toss them into a pile near the trash, you set up a fresh sheet. >Opting to sketch your coffee cup, you get to work. >It comes together fairly well, and in the end, it resembles the real thing. >Or least an acceptable version of it. >Your eyes dart between the two and can’t really find errors. “...Fair enough...” >Setting the picture on the small pile, you start another drawing. >This time of Canterlot. >The mountain slowly forms, and the adjourning hills eventually as well. >However, the hard part approaches fast. >The city itself. >Can’t make it too big, nor too small. >In truth, you’ve never been there, but the pictures you’ve seen spoke to you enough. >It forms easily, mostly because of basic shapes. >You erase and add in the harder details as you go along. >Like the landscape or the various buildings throughout the city. >You don’t stop there though, you add in clouds and the sun itself. >Even add in a few ponies that fly about. >Finishing up the drawing, you pull back and look at your work. >As you examine it, you can’t find imperfections for once. “...It c-can’t be...Can it..?” >An actually good picture, just like the one of Anon the other day. >A small bit of glee fills you. “...I-I did it...Something actually g-good...” >Picking the picture, you set in with the other small stack of pictures. >Looking around for something else to sketch, you see the clock. “...I’ll draw that...The sh-shifting hands should give me a challenge...” >Without missing a beat, you let your skills guide your pencil. >It’s a simple shape sure, but that doesn’t matter. >Adding the last touches, namely shading, takes a bit more time than you thought. >You look it over at the clock again, but notice something. “...Anon is late...Again...” >You remember what he said yesterday though. “...I have no reason to worry...Wo-wouldn’t surprise me if Pinkie is bothering him...” >There were numerous times in the past she would beg you to come to a party. >You’ve tried it before, and each time, you left. >You don’t enjoy parties like she does, nor do you enjoy being around large groups. >Quick flashes of memories hit you. >Like when foals made fun of your appearance or your drawings. >You shake your head to forget. “...Where is Anon..?” >Shit shit shit shit. >You’re Anon and you’re late. >Setting everything up with those two took way more time than necessary. >Didn’t help that you had to agree to answer more of Twilight’s insane questions about earth to get her to come over to Cherry’s. >Then you and Cherry had to convince her of the potential this project has. >She wasn’t impressed, and kept pointing out the various flaws. >You mostly ignored the technobabble, you know butt fuck nothing of how magic works. >In the end they started to discuss spells, namely enchantments. >However, as the two talked it out, you noticed the time and booked it. >Running like a fucking Kenyan now. >Your burning lungs are a reminder to never skip cardio, seriously. >As you finally reach Addie’s home, you’re breathing hard. “...Fucks...Sake...” >Note to self, go on more runs. >Slowly you catch your breath and head to the front door to knock. >Like many times before, you can hear Addie undoing the multiple locks. >Still not sure why she does that, need to find out. >The door slowly opens and you see Addie, though she looks a little rough. “Sorry I’m late, had to answer some questions Twilight had.” >Not entirely a lie, but can’t ruin that surprise still. >She nods slowly and turns around. >As you go inside and close the door, you see she is standing at her easel. >Her eyes are darting around again and she is quiet. >Odd, she must’ve forgotten what she said yesterday, you’ll ask anyways. “Do you want to talk or draw?” >Addie mumbles something out and shifts a little. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” >She sighs and picks up a book before heading over to the couch. >Talking it is. >You join her and note how she is lightly shaking. >Strange, she wasn’t like this the other day. “So what’s this book about?” >”...Um...It-it’s on Canterlot...” >Never been there, though you’ve seen it from a distance. >She opens the book up and shows you the various pictures. >Most are illustrations, and a few are very low quality photographs. >Not surprising, Equestria is really far behind in technology. >Then again, they have magic, so that tech is kinda moot. >”...I was...I flew overhead there in my dreams...” “Oh, sounds nice. Never flown to be honest.” >She nods and blinks slowly. >Her eyes shift to yours and she continues. >”...Y-you were there too...” >Unexpected, but okay. “Cool, what was I doing there?” >”...You waved to me...So I went to greet you...But a swarm of faceless p-ponies pulled you away...” >While you don’t know much about dreams, that’s probably a sign or something. “Was it a nightmare then?” >Addie shakes her head. >”...N-no...I was flying normally...Only woke up because...I rolled off the bed and landed face flat...onto the floor...” >You cringe a little, face plants are never good. >She is quiet now, and it starts to become an awkward silence. >You’re about to break it when she gets up and heads over to one of her stacks of pictures. >Addie grabs one and brings it over to you. “Wow.” >”...It’s Canterlot...” >Yeah, you can see that. >Usually can see it on a good day, but like this? >This is something else. “It’s really good Addie, did you draw this earlier?” >She nods and rubs one leg over the other. >”...Sometimes...I draw an image from the top of my head...” >Something stands out though in the image, and you point to it. “That’s you, isn’t it?” >Her eyebrows furrow and her eyes follow your finger to the lone pegasus with the most detail. >Slowly, her eyes widen. >”...I-I don’t...When did I do that..?” “Must’ve been subconscious. Heard of that happening before with artists.” >Her voice quivers and she starts to shake again. >”...Have I...Do I do that in all my sketches..?” >Thankfully, you’ve seen enough of them to calm her fears. “From what pictures you have shown me, no.” >Your words seem to calm her down slowly. “This isn’t really a bad thing Addie.” >”...How...How do you figure..?” >You shrug and hand back the picture. “I was told once the best works of art have a bit of their artist in them.” >Addie stares at the picture and says nothing. >It’s starting to get later, and you intend to fix your lateness starting tomorrow. >You stand up and stretch, a few joints popping in response. >Addie sets the picture back and stands over by easel. >Got to figure out what’s going on her with still. “I’m going to head home, take care Addie.” >”...Y-you too...Anon...” >The walk home is drowned out by random thoughts. >Still, why are you doing this for someone you barely know? >Probably because you’re lonely. >Not like you’re in love with her, right? >… >It would be taking advantage of her, and besides, you’re the only support she has. >It’s not like she would even like you back since you’re different species. >Shaking your head, you continue forth with your mission in mind. >Help Addie fly.