Those Who Need A Friend

With little reluctance Sane agreed to Rainbow's request of flying back to Ponyville with him. They flew side by side just a couple wing spans apart. Rainbow  wanted to test him out a bit so she steadily picked up speed, half her attention on Sane and half on the air before her. He seemed to keep up with no visible effort, as if he didn't realize they were going faster.

Rainbow was impressed, not to mention the saddle bags he wore. While they shouldn't weigh too much every little bit of weight counts. Once she reached about half speed she quit accelerating. Rainbow knew that if she wanted to she could dust the stallion in a race... However she didn't want him to catch on to what she was doing.

A short while later they arrived at the gate where they landed, Sane after Rainbow. One of the two guards at the gate nodded to Sane as they passed by, Sane returned the gesture without stopping.

Once they were out of earshot Rainbow decided to ask about it. “Is that some sort of guard thing or something? Like a personal salute?”

Amusement flickered across his muzzle. “No, we don't really have any secret salute's or anything. I was just acknowledging him.”

“Oh... yeah. that would make more since.” Rainbow blushed for being so naive.

“We're not always so serious or professional... Most of it is just an act for our superiors or for the local Equines. We're just like everypony else really.” Sane explained. “Well... Besides me.”

“I never really thought about it to be honest. I don't really talk to or about the guards.” Rainbow chose to ignore the last comment, not wanting to enable his negative outlook on himself.

“That seems to be the popular opinion.” Sane replied.

“I didn't mean anything by it.”

“I know, don't worry.” Sane offered her a look of understanding.

Rainbow smiled but could not help but to think she was no good at this. None the less nothing bad had happened yet and it wasn't in her nature to quit anything she started. “Want to go to HayBurger?”

Sane was hungry and the sun was already high in the sky.  He couldn't think of a reason why not and so he agreed. “Sure.”

Just as the two pegasi walked through the doors Rainbow scanned the room for anypony she knew. In a booth on the far right wall of the restaurant she spotted Pinkie and Fluttershy sitting across from one another. Fluttershy was staring in awe at Pinkie who was muzzle deep in a plate stacked with burgers, tearing into them with seemingly no end.

“Come on Sane.” Rainbow began to make her way through the isles lined with tables and chairs filled with noisy eating ponies until she reach the booth. She slid into the spot next to Fluttershy who had already scooted over to make room for her once she had seen her coming.

However she noticed that Sane hadn't even made an attempt to take the seat next to the oblivious pink mare. He just stood there, eying the other two.

Rainbow sighed. “They don't bite Sane... Or at least Fluttershy doesn't.” The joke had no affect on him but seemed to entertain Fluttershy for a moment.

“P-Pinkie. If you don't mind could you slide over?” Fluttershy asked.

“Hmm?” Pinkie looked up from her meal with a mouthful of burger before turning to look at Sane. “Yea, Sure.” She mumbled through her food as she slid her plate closer to the window.

“You shouldn't talk with your mouthful.” Fluttershy added, but sighed when she realized Pinkie had already buried herself in the burgers again.

Reluctantly Sane sat in the seat next to the pink mare, dropping his saddlebags next to the booth and making sure to keep his distance. He went to rest his forehooves on the table but stopped when he saw that it was covered in the crumbs of Pinkie's lunch.

Fluttershy took notice and quickly took a napkin from it's holder to wipe them away. “I'm terribly sorry, s-sometimes she lacks manners.” She discarded the napkin on her empty tray.

“Sane this is Fluttershy, Shy this is Sane.”

“H-hello.” Shy stated.

“Nice to meet you.” Sane replied, then shot Pinkie a sideways glance.

“That's Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow shook her head.

“Does she normally do this?” This was another pony he knew by reputation. He has had to crash a couple of her parties that had gotten out of hoof before.

“She has done this a couple times before. We're still trying to figure out where it all goes.” Rainbow answered.

“That was my next question.”

“Pinkie!” Rainbow snapped.

“What Dashie?” Pinkie looked up from her meal once more, swallowing her mouthful.

“You're being rude.”

“I am?” Pinkie looked over to Sane and smiled. “Hi! Are you our new friend?”

“Um... Y-yes?” No sooner did the answer leave his muzzle Pinkie had already squealed with delight and wrapped him up in her forelegs. Sane's discomfort was obvious to everypony but Pinkie. Even worse everypony in the restaurant was staring at them. After a few seconds of struggling he was able to pry her off of himself.

Rainbow looked from Sane to Pinkie with caution. Maybe I shouldn't have introduced him to Pinkie yet. Before she was able to say anything Fluttershy spoke up.

“Um... Pinkie, I think you might want to give him his space.” Fluttershy spoke as softly as she could so her tone did not come out as scolding or upset.

“Why? Did I upset him?” She looked over to Sane. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't hurt you did I? I was just happy to see you!” She flashed him her best smile but the feeling wasn't exactly mutual.

She was still being a little too loud for his liking and a lot of the ponies where still staring, even if they did try to hide it. “On second thought... I'm not that hungry.” He didn't wait for an argument before sliding out of the booth.

“Sane, come on.” Rainbow chimed.

“It's alright Rainbow. I'll talk to you later okay? Bye everypony.” With this he trotted to and out the door.

Rainbow let her head fall to the table in her own disapproval.

“Is he okay?” Pinkie asked. “Hmph., and you said I was being rude.”

“Yeah... He's fine.” Rainbow sighed. She almost wanted to be mad at her but she knew she didn't mean to upset him. That was just Pinkie. She picked her head up from the table. “He's just shy.”

“H-he didn't seem to shy to me.” Fluttershy replied.

“Not that kind of shy.”

“I'm sorry... I don't understand. How many kinds of shy are there?”

Rainbow gave an exaggerated sigh. “He doesn't talk to a lot of ponies.”

“Why not? I-if you don't mind me asking that is.”

“Is he scared of how super awesome we are?” Pinkie pipped.

“Pinkie ju- nevermind...” Rainbow shook her head. “He... It's hard to explain. He thinks that we think he is stupid or something like that. I don't know.” Her agitation was making it difficult to remember anything. “He thinks he is going to say something stupid, and if he says something stupid that we won't take him seriously. I promised I wouldn't tell anypony anything though.”

“W-well Rainbow... I-I don't know but, if you weren't supposed to say anything... Should you have told us that?” Fluttershy inquired.

Rainbow blinked a couple of times at Fluttershy. Fuck. She didn't have to worry about Fluttershy saying anything, they were both so shy neither would initiate a conversation even if they did run into each other, but Pinkie was loud. “Pinkie, if you so much as say a-”

“Don't worry Dashie, I won't say anything.” Pinkie smiled.

“Piiinkie.” Rainbow repeated.

“Dashie?” Pinkie giggled. “I Pinkie promise. There, see? All better.”

Rainbow spared her a warning glance before looking over to Fluttershy with a softer gaze. “Shy?”

“Oh, no you don't have to worry about me.”

“I know Shy. I got to go though, see if I can catch him.” Rainbow slipped out of the booth and made her way to the door, disgruntled. Way to go Dash! You told the first ponies you saw. Loyalty, hmph. Rainbow scolded herself until she was out the door.

When she took a moment to look around she was disappointed but not surprised when she didn't see him anywhere. She almost wanted to take off and look for him but he probably needed his space, however she couldn't shake a feeling of unease. I really am no good at this. She kicked the ground in front of her.

SANE'S HOUSE

Sane kicked his door open a little harder than he would have liked but at the moment that didn't matter. “Way to fucking go Sane. All she was trying to do was help!” He threw his saddle bags down and trotted into his room. “Why? Why do you always freak out over nothing. You're fine now so what the fuck was wrong then?”

Sane was close to tears now. This was so frustrating. He knew it was nothing, he knew nothing was wrong now, and he knew nothing was that serious. However none of that seemed to come to him during the moment. Just fear, anxiety, but no reason. None. All the pink mare did was hug you and greet you with a little enthusiasm. Everypony knew that Pinkie was over zealous, everypony.

“Something so simple.” He growled. “She was trying to help. Trying to help, and all you did was make yourself look stupid... Just like you always do. She probably thinks you really are crazy now.”

“Only if you keep talking to yourself.”

Sane rolled over quickly and nearly fell off his bed in shock as he scanned the room. His window was open, and in it was Rainbow. “H-how did you find me?” It was the first question that came to mind.

“Sorry.” Rainbow scratched the back of her head as she hovered outside his window. “I probably shouldn't have, but I followed you. I was lucky you walked back... If you would have flown I wouldn't have been able to find you.” Her blush deepened. Geez that sounds creepy. Though her mind was put to ease when she saw him relax. “I was just worried.”

Worried? “Come in.” He gestured with his forehoof. In all actuality he was glad she was here. He managed a smile when he saw her climbing awkwardly through his window. “I would have opened the door.”

“N-nah, I'm fi-whoa!” Her rear hoof slipped on the sill and she crashed to the floor with a thud, a low groan followed after. She heard Sane laughing and blushed. Smooth Dash, smooth. She recovered quickly and hid the pain in her shoulder which had hit the ground first.

“Are you-You okay?” He giggled, suddenly feeling a lot better.

“I'm fine.” Rainbow cleared her throat. “Anyway, I kinda heard quite a bit.”

“Oh?” Good feeling gone.

“Yeah, but... I don't know why you're upset. That's not the worst reaction anypony ever had with Pinkie, and I don't think you're crazy, stupid or anything.” She didn't know what else to tell him but what she thought about the situation and how she felt. “You should have seen Fluttershy the first time.”

“You're probably right about Pinkie. I don't know her too well but her reputation precedes her.” Sane replied looking down. “Still, I shouldn't have just trotted off like that.”

“I actually think that was smart. You said that if you stay in an awkward situation like that you only make it worse. So leaving was probably best.” Rainbow smiled in hopes he would mirror the gesture. Her hope was in vain.

“Nopony leaves a restaurant like that without reason, and everypony was staring.” Sane growled under his breath.

“Don't worry about what they think. You could have had something important come up. Even if you didn't, who cares?” Rainbow replied.

Sane said nothing, but growled quietly in response. She's right. “I'm sorry. You should probably just go.”

Rainbow was taken aback for a moment and shook her head. “What did I say?” She couldn't hide the offense in her voice.

“Oh no no it was nothing you said.” Sane replied quickly, immediately feeling bad for the way he rubbed off on her. “I'm just not worth the time. You just met me this morning and I've done nothing but offend you and waste your time.” He sighed.

“Don't make assumptions. If I were wasting my time I wouldn't be here, and I do not get offended that easily.” Of course that second part was a lie but the first was nothing but the truth. If she were going to waste her time anywhere it would be on the branch of one of Apple Jack's trees, asleep.

He believed her, much to his own surprise. The smile returned to his muzzle. “I really appreciate that. Seriously.”

“You're welcome.” Rainbow replied.

Sane kicked the floor with a forehoof and sighed. “I know you want to help, and I'll give you a chance... However I want to be alone for now.”

“Are you going to be alright?” Rainbow asked hesitantly.

“Y-yeah, I'll be fine.” Sane replied. “This is just a bit different for me. It's been a while since I explained any of this to anypony and I want to think things over.”

“Okay, if you're sure.” Rainbow started for the window. “So... I'll talk to you later then?”

Sane smiled. “Yes, yes you will.”

Rainbow giggled and climbed out the window.

“You can use the-” He wasn't able to finish the sentence before she was gone. “...door.” He shook his head with amusement. He'd judged her to harshly. She had an ego sure, but she was actually pretty nice. With one last sigh he jumped atop his bed, resting on his side while he ran the day's events through his head. Who knows, maybe she can help.