>The market place is bustling with activity as you walk through it >Looking over the list again, you see that there is only a few items left to get. “Milk, eggs, and a loaf of bread.” >You are Anon, and you’ve only been in this place for a few weeks. >No one is really sure how, but you were dropped here likely because of magic fuckery. >And no one knows how to get you back. >So you’ve been getting used to this place and its inhabitants. >Long story short, you’re in Equestria and this town is called Ponyville. >Their leader, Princess Celestia, was kind of enough to give you a place to stay. >Though truthfully, you hate how you’re basically on welfare. >In any case, you’ve been trying to make some friends here. >Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked out too well. >Even the princess’s student who has been helping you out, is one of the few you can call a friend around here. >Though you’re certain it’s more likely because you’re from another world. >As for her friends, with the exception of Pinkie Pie, the others don’t mind you. >But are not really your friends either. >Sure they talk to you, but more or less are just acquaintances. >As you’re dwelling on these thoughts, you accidentally run into a pony. “Shit!” >You stumble and look back towards the pony you knocked over. >It’s a gray earth pony mare with long white bangs, a bit of sky blue wrapping around one ear, and the rest of her mane is purple. >She looks at you with wide golden eyes and is shaking in fear. >You attempt to calm her down and apologize. “Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t watching were I going. Let me help you up.” >Just as you reach out to her, she gets up quickly and gallops away. “Great, that went well.” >Looking around, you see some ponies staring as if you did something wrong. >No point in standing around, not like you can fix this. >Just as you start to move again to finish your list, you step on something. >Pausing to look down, you see a book on the ground. >The mare must’ve dropped it when you ran into her. >You pick it up and take a quick look inside to see if there is an address. >There is nothing inside, and you realize the book is full of blank pages. >Probably a sketch book, wouldn’t hurt to return it though. >Who knows, maybe you can make a friend from this. >You go back to shopping and pick up the last items on your list. >After dropping off your groceries, you head out to see if Twilight can help you identify the mystery mare. >You reach Golden Oaks and knock on the door. >Spike, her baby dragon assistant, answers the door. >”Oh, hi Anon, what’s up?” >You smile at the little guy. “Hey there Spike, is Twilight around?” >He beams and nods. >”Yep, come on in.” >You walk in after him and immediately see Twilight sitting nearby with a stacks of books surrounding her. “Hey Twilight, got a moment?” >She places a bookmark on the page she is on and looks up to you. >”Hey there, of course I do. What do you need?” >You give her a quick rundown on what happened earlier and a description of the mare. >She raises a hoof to her chin and starts to think. >”I’m surprised you didn’t ask Pinkie first, but she does sound a little familiar.” >You shudder. “Yeah, but Pinkie would’ve talked my ear off, so I came to you first.” >She giggles and continues. >”That’s Pinkie, but the pony in question sounds like that one sketch artist I’ve heard of.” “Alright, just give me an address so I can return this and apologize.” >Twilight smiles, but shakes her head. >”I’m afraid I don’t know where she lives, so you will have to ask Pinkie.” >A part of you was afraid she would say that. >You sigh and slump a little. “Alright, fair enough.” >”Oh come on Anon, she’s not that bad.” >You give her a deadpan stare. >Normally you would argue, but screw it, you’d rather save your breath. >Just as you’re about to leave, Twilight calls out to you. >”By the way, I’m certain her name is Happy Accident.” >Considering how weird these ponies names are, you don’t question it anymore. >You wave your hand in acknowledgment and head out. >Doesn’t take you long to reach Sugarcube Corner, and you take a breath before heading in. >Finally catching your breath, you set down your bags and start locking the door. >After the last lock is in place, you feel relieved. >That creature nearly scared you to death at the market. >It looked like a deformed minotaur with no fur. >Getting up, you open up your bags and go through your purchases. “...More pencils, erasers, some more drawing paper...Where is the sketchbook..?” >A small bit of panic hits you. >You must’ve dropped it in your escape from that creature. >It hurts to lose it, but you accept it. “...Co-couldn’t risk that thing yelling at me...” >Wiping away an errant tear, you pick up your things and head over to your easel. >You focus on a bowl of fruit you set on the table in the center of the room. >After staring for a few seconds, you start to sketch. >Your eyes shoot back and forth from the bowl to the paper before you. >Quickly moving the pencil and stopping occasionally to erase your mistakes. >Minutes pass, and you finish. >Setting down your pencil, you pick up the sketch and place it next the bowl of fruit. >Looking back and forth between the two, you pick out the differences. “...Needs work, my shading is off...Still terrible...” >You mark it and set it on the ever growing pile of scrap. >Setting up for the next sketch, you hear a knocking at the door. “...Who could that be..?” >Your anxiety flares up as you approach the door. >Slowly, you start to unlock it. >Most ponies have told you that you have too many locks. >Most ponies don’t have the fears you do. >Finally you finish the last lock, and very slowly, open the door. >As you peak your head out, your eyes hurt for a moment from the light. >As they finally adjust, the sight before you makes you freeze. >”Hi, I came to apologize and to bring the book back you dropped.” >It’s the creature from earlier. >Your heart starts to race, and you want to run, but you can’t move. >You stand there frozen for a while, before the creature starts to talk again. >”So, here you go. I’m sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going earlier.” >It holds out the book you bought earlier. >Finally you snapped out of it, and take the book back. >Words return to you, but all you can manage is a mumbled thank you. >It gives you a unfamiliar look, and rubs its claws? Hands? You’re not sure what, before backing up slowly. >”I’m gonna just go. Uh, take care and...Well, bye.” >It leaves your porch and walks away. >You close the door, lock it back up, and hold the book close to you. >Heart is still racing, and your fear is still there. “...Th-that was close...At least I got my book back...” >You look it over, it’s undamaged thankfully. >Slowly you calm down, and walk back over to start sketching again. >Though as you try to sketch, you find yourself distracted. >While that thing scared you nearly to death, its form fascinated you. >You feel driven to try to sketch it out. >Placing another sheet on the canvas, you try to draw it from memory. >Try as you might, you’re unable to get it correctly. >A bit of frustration brews from within and you squeeze your eyes shut to focus. “...Come on, come on...I-I can do this...I’ve done this before...” >You try again, but the form is wrong, of this you are certain. >You stomp your hoof in frustration, and set down your pencil. “...I’ll just make some coffee...An-and try again...” >Heading to the kitchen, you make a fresh pot and think more about the shape. >The pot finishes brewing, and you grab a cup to bring back to the living room. >Going back, you try once more at sketching. >More frustration brews as you fail once again. “...I-I don’t get it...May-maybe I was too afraid to focus on the details...” >You feel a little sad, but an idea comes forth. “...I could ask around about the creature...Wait, that means I’d have to talk to another po-pony...” >Before you give up entirely, you decide to go ask the one pony who would know. >Pinkie Pie. >You wouldn’t resort to this, but you must sketch that creature. >Thankfully, you don’t have to ask her face to face, you can just write a letter. “...Sh-she will understand...” >You pull out a sheet of paper and an envelope to get started. “...Dear Pinkie Pie, I’m writing to you...”