Enchantè

                                                            A Few Awkward Moments

As soon as he’d finished his letter, Pawise went in search of the post office. When he did find it, and walked in, there appeared to be only the one employee working the counter. There was one other customer ahead of him, another stallion with what looked like an hourglass as his Cutie Mark. He was wondering what such a Mark could possibly indicate as the pony’s talent, when he got a good look at the mare running the counter. He tried not to stare, but one glance told him she has esotropia: she’s cross-eyed. Thank Celestia she didn’t see his surprised look, for she seemed like a sweet mare, if a little too preoccupied with the other stallion.

Now he was glad of the delay, for it gave him time to compose himself and get his feelings under control. He of course didn’t know her, but he felt a wave of both pity and anger wash over him: pity that she had obviously been poor as a filly, and such an easily treatable condition had not been addressed, and anger towards whomever her parents or caretakers had been. At the very least she could have been given corrective glasses, but now that she’s grown the condition is permanent.

The mare finally looked up from her flirting and saw Pawise because she quickly leaned over the counter and planted a kiss on the hourglass stallion’s cheek, then sent him out. Pawise, from the quick look he exchanged with the other stallion, guessed that he had not been expecting the kiss, but the stallion looked pleased all the same. They both nodded at each other as he walked out.

“Mailing a letter, sir?” she asked as he approached the counter.

Despite himself, Pawise kept his eyes down when he replied, “Yes, this going to Fillydelphia.” He held the letter out to her, but she didn’t take it. After what seemed like an eternity he looked up at her to see what was the delay. She was looking right at him, more or less, waiting and smiling.

“You’re new to Ponyville, aren’t you?” she asked.

He felt like a clump of dirt. “Yes, Miss, and I’m so sorry for not looking at you!”

“Please don’t worry about it! I’m used to it.”

He felt even worse, for she really was a sweet mare. “Okay…”

"So that’s regular postage to Fillydelphia…two bits please.”

Pawise fumbled for the money and laid it on the counter. The mare hummed to herself as she wrote out his receipt, then turned to place the letter in one of the postage bins behind her. As she turned, she tripped over one her own hooves and went sprawling.

“Oops!” she cried.

Full of concern, Pawise leaned as far over the counter as he could and asked, “Are you okay?! Are you hurt?”

The mare was laughing at herself. “No, no…I’m fine. Just a bit clumsy.”

Pawise stretched as far as he could and extended a hoof to her. “Please. Let me help you.”

Still laughing at herself, she took his hoof and allowed him to help pull her up. When she did, Pawise looked her full in the face, and smiled.

Looking at her name tag, he said “That was quite a tumble Miss…Hooves.”

Dusting herself off, she said, “Call me Derpy. All my friends do!”

Pawise smiled. “Okay, Derpy. I’m Pawise.”

Derpy smiled back. “So you’re Pawise! I was wondering who was getting all this mail from Canterlot. Why haven’t I ever seen you?”

Pawise blushed as he said “I…wasn’t feeling well for a few days, so I stayed in my room.”

“But you’re better now?”

“More or less. For one thing, I met Pinkie Pie!”

Derpy and he shared a laugh over this, and then she tilted her head to one side and asked, “Still feeling awkward about my eyes?”

To his surprise, he answered, “No…no I don’t,” as he looked her full in the face and smiled.

She returned his smile and said, “I’m glad. I don’t like making other ponies uncomfortable.”

“I’m not anymore. See youse later!”

She covered her mouth with her hoof to suppress a giggle. “You really are from Fillydelphia! No other ponies say ‘youse!’"

Pawise laughed, “Yes, sometimes I still say that! Take care!” She waved good bye as he left.

It took him two hours realize: she did that fall on purpose!

It was almost noon, so Pawise made his way over to the café and looked for Zecora. It wasn’t like her to be late, so he ordered a limeade and took their usual outside table to wait.

He had his head down going over some notes, and so he did not see her when she walked up…with a friend. He was getting to his feet to say hello when he noticed the mare standing next to Zecora. In shock he knocked his drink over, splashing them both!

As they both stood there with limeade dripping out of their manes, Zecora smiled and said, “Dear Fluttershy, this is Pawise. Pawise, please meet Fluttershy.”

Pawise was completely mortified! “I’m so sorry! Let me get you both a towel!”

He looked over to the waiter’s station and quickly levitated two dishtowels over to them, inwardly cursing his awkwardness. As Fluttershy wiped the drink off her head, he tried to think of something else to say, and was completely speechless.

Fluttershy saved him the trouble. “Pleased to meet you, Pawise,” she said, as she sat and rubbed the towel through her mane.

Pawise felt his knees go weak, and had to sit down. It was the first time he’d heard her voice, and it was sweeter and lovelier than he’d imagined. With an effort, he got his own voice back.

“H...How are you, Fluttershy? AND Zecora!” He remembered just in time.

Fluttershy quietly said, “I’m fine.”

Zecora just smiled at him, and later on he would realize that she had taken the towel from him, but instead of using it she had simply passed a hoof over her face and been completely dry.

Right now he only had eyes for the beautiful mare in front of him. He was also too enraptured to notice his notes were dripping as well. Zecora used her towel to gently blot them dry and said, “Our research can wait a day; you two sit and have your say.” With that she hugged Fluttershy, waved goodbye to Pawise, and then left, leaving the two of them alone.

“Why don’t we get another table?” said Fluttershy, "if you don't mind?" she added.

“What? Oh, no I don't mind, we should!”

Once they were settled, Fluttershy said,” I think you are more nervous than I am. If that's okay to say!"

That put Pawise greatly at ease. “Of course it's okay, but you’re nervous?”

She nodded. “O my yes. But I’m doing a lot better. It wasn’t that long ago I would have run from here if I had a drink spilled on me in front of all those ponies. But it also helps that Zecora has told me so much about you. I’ve never before met a stallion, or any other pony, who had a Cutie Mark for an animal talent. Please tell me about it. Only if you want to, of course."

With that they fell into easy conversation for the next few hours, comparing their talents and interests. He also talked about his home in Fillydelphia, and his parents. She in turn talked about her original home in Cloudsdale, her parents and how she moved to Ponyville. When he mentioned his meeting with Pinkie Pie and Applejack, she laughed, a lilting sound that touched him deeply. It seemed as if no time at all had passed when she finally said,

“I’d better go now, Angel Bunny and the other animals need to be fed.”

Pawise rose to his feet. “I would be honored if I could see you again, Fluttershy.”

She blushed, and said, “I think I would like that.”

Pawise sat and watched her go, his heart filled almost to bursting. Just as she reached the bridge, she turned back and smiled at him.