Nightmare

The new pony walks timidly into town. Her eyes dart back and forth. Her breathing is short. She is so busy concentrating on being stealthy that she fails to notice the small rock in her path sticking up from the ground. She trips and falls flat on her face. Quickly she gets up, hoping that, by some miracle of Celestia, nopony noticed. But all the ponies in the street turn to look at her, and she felt the sudden urge to gallop away. Before she could, another pony galloped up and said, "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

She just looked at the new pony with a look of horror, like a trapped animal. Was she going to say mean things? Make fun of her for tripping? Make everypony laugh at her? The new pony looks at her for a moment, and then tries to hide her face behind her wing. Gently, the other pony pries her wing off her face and smooths her ruffled feathers. She smiled at the new pony, tried to make eye contact. "Hey, it's alright. No harm done! What's your name, new pony?" He voice is bubbly, kind. It breaks a little of the protective shell around the pony's heart.

The new pony tries to speak, stumbling over her words. She winces, thinking how these ponies must think she's incredibly stupid for sounding this way.

"Hey," said the other. "It's okay. My name is Fillyshy. What's yours?"

The new pony took a breath and looked up at Fillyshy. "H-H-Hey, my name is S-Shy."

"There, progress!" Fillyshy giggled to herself.

She's really trying to make me smile. I... I hope she's not hiding something. Shy tried and failed to maintain eye contact. She looked at he ground, poked at it. She looks up again at Fillyshy, who is looking at her expectantly. Say something, stupid!

"You're very cute, Fillyshy," she mumbled.

Fillyshy smiles with delight at the complement. "Thanks Shy! I know I'm cute. I'm the cutest pony in all of Ponyville".

The corners of Shy's mouth pick up slightly at that adorable remark. She really is cute. "Um... I don't really have a place to stay or anything..."

A gasp comes from Fillyshy's mouth. "Omigosh! You need a house!"

"I was actually thinking of--"

Before she can get another word out, Fillyshy grabs Shy by the hoof and pulls her through town to the main square. Town Hall sits in the center, colorful flags flapping in the mid-afternoon breeze. Like a whirlwind, Shy is dragged up the stairs and into the main hall. In the center, talking to two merchants, was a gray pony with a scroll on her flank. She appears to be somepony of importance. Fillyshy trots up to her, leaving Shy to stand next to the wall and try not to make eye contact. As she counts the rings in the knot on the floorboard for the third time, she hears Fillyshy say, "You're in luck! There's a place to stay

Shy tells Fillyshy that she needs a place to stay, so Fillyshy leads Shy to the mayor and asks how much a house would cost. Fillyshy looks back, seeing Shy hiding. Fillyshy walks over to her and asks her what's wrong. Shy looks up to see Fillyshy, but doesn't answer, shaking in fear. Fillyshy hugs her and tells her that it's okay.

Shy is surprised. No pony would stop to give another pony a hug in her old town.

Shy stands up and hugs back with a smile. They walk to the mayor, and are informed that a house is open for 50 bits. Shy is happy, but only has 40 bits. She frowns, but Fillyshy openly offers 10 bits with a smile. Shy looks at Fillyshy, saying that she couldn't take her money. "Please, Shy, it's the least I can do to help my new friend."

Shy's eyes widen. She is speechless. "F-F-F-F-Friend..." Stutters Shy.

Fillyshy looks at her. "Yes, silly! Friends!"

Shy smiles at the thought. She was surprised that she had made a friend at all. She had thought Fillyshy was doing this only to mess with her. Shy gets sad that she'd judged Fillyshy like that, but quickly hides it and pays the mayor for the house.

"Hey, Shy. Let's head over to your new house," Fillyshy says.

Shy looks at Fillyshy.  "Okay!" So the two ponies trot out to the new house.

"So, Shy, where are you from?"

Shy looks at Filly and gets sad. She says that her old town was bad and wasn't as friendly as this town.

Fillyshy hugs Shy. "It's okay. You're here now. Be happy!"

Shy smiles as they reach the house. Shy is happy that she had made a new friend. She hugs Fillyshy and starts to weep of tears of joy.

"Shy, are you okay?" Fillyshy asks with concern in her voice.

Shy looks at Fillyshy and says yes, wiping the tears away and smiling.

As the sun goes down, Shy looks at Fillyshy and says bye and goodnight. Fillyshy gets sad and turns to walk off but Shy stops her, and offers her to come in. Fillyshy walks in and Shy gets nervous. She sees that the house is already furnished, and is puzzled. Fillyshy says that they lease houses like this so that residents already have everything they need. Shy smiles and goes to get some water. She comes back and offers the glass to Fillyshy. "Thanks!" Fillyshy smiles and takes the water. Shy yawns, and Fillyshy asks if she is tired. Shy nods, saying that she'd had a long day, making a pallet for Fillyshy to sleep on before going upstairs. "Night, Fillyshy." Fillyshy looks at Shy and says goodnight, and the two ponies go to bed. Shy doesn't sleep easy that night. She tears up as her eyes glow dark, fearing that the pain and sadness in her heart could rush forth at any moment...