The stars shone brightly overhead as a lone figure trekked across a few shallow hills, finally stopping at the edge of a large pond. A few cattails whipped back and forth in a gentle breeze, the air slowly taking on a slight chill.

Toxic prodded one of the cattails, a slight smile on his face as it bent back, then settling back into its normal swing of motion.

He wasn't going to write a letter tonight, all he wanted to do was just clear his thoughts.

In other words, Toxic intended to hash out exactly what he felt for Sky Duster, in his mind of course.

Well...do I like her? Sure, she's nice, that's a plus. She actually likes talking to me, I think.

She has a pretty name, and is rather cute...

Toxic's eyes widened, and he facehoofed.

Well, darn. Now what?

That thought truly stumped him. His last relationship, if he dared call it that, was one of the things that had stomped his self-esteem into bits and pieces. Dare he risk another?

To that question, he didn't have an answer.

Ok, so you're interested in her...

Admitting it to himself, check.

Do I want to move things forward? No, I need more time to sort out everything. So, I need more time to get to know her. Sure, I know the basics, where she is from, and that she has one older brother, but nothing in-depth...

Establish strategy, check.

Toxic's plans promptly wrapped themselves into a ball of yarn as he heard the soft hoof-falls of another pony. Who in the world would be out at night, in the middle of a field, let alone this field?

“Toxic?”

Ponyfeathers.

-

Sky apprehensively waited for a response from the quiet stallion, his demeanor screaming nervousness. Maybe she shouldn't have come here...it was clear she was interrupting him. Maybe she should leave...

“W-why?”

She blinked, not understanding. Toxic continued to stare out across the pond.

“Why what?”

The stallion then turned to her, his green eyes shining in the moonlight. Even with her uneasiness, the sight caused her heart to do a little flip. His expression wasn't that of hostility, or even anger.

It was of sad curiosity.

“W-why are y-you he-re?”

Sky stayed silent for a moment, and Toxic turned back to the pond, waiting for a response as the mare sat down, shifting restlessly.

“I saw you in the forest today.”

The reaction was immediate. Toxic's shoulders slumped, and he turned away from her slightly.

“Oh.”

The following silence wasn't as awkward as it was painful. Sky realized with an increasing obviousness that Toxic hadn't meant for anyone to see his little display, much less her.

“ Ple-ase d-don't te-ll an-yo-ne. T-then th-ey wi-ll thi-nk I'm a.....” Toxic's voice dropped off, and Sky could see his hooves shaking slightly. He turned to look at her briefly, and Sky almost gasped. Toxic's green eyes were wet with tears, and he then looked to his hooves.

He was terrified.

“Th-ey w-ill th-ink I'm a f-frea-k t-too.”

“I never said that I thought you were a freak.”

At that, Toxic's head snapped up to meet her gaze.

“W-what?”

Sky admitted that she wasn't the best at reading other ponies. Celestia knows Pepper had pointed that out plenty of times, much to Sky's displeasure.

Even so, only one thing stood out in the mare's mind of what to do. The question was, would Toxic be ok with it? It would help him, and maybe, just maybe, convey what she wanted to.

“I never thought you were a freak.”

Toxic simply stared for a moment, emotion churning in his eyes.

Sky buckled down on her own emotions, wishing she was as in-touch with her feelings as Pepper seemed to be. All she knew was that this stallion was hurting, and she wanted to help.

Sky also knew that she was definitely interested in him on some level, but that was about it.

“W-why no-t?” Toxic's voice carried a fair amount of suspicion with it, snapping Sky back to the present.

“Everyone has off days. Besides, sure you looked angry, but you looked...really sad.

I felt bad for you-”

Sky didn't get a chance to finish, Toxic's demeanor changing suddenly. His green eyes narrowed, and a disdainful snort left his nostrils as he turned away.

“You p-pity me t-then.”

His stutter was definitely reduced this time, but his voice was deadened, almost borderline angry.

“Well yes...”

–

Toxic forced his mind to settle somewhat, but a fair part of him wanted to teleport away. The attractiveness of this mare was rapidly dwindling as she said all the wrong things.

“S-o you cam-e here bec-ause you p-pitied me? F-elt sorr-y for me?” Toxic almost spat out the words like they were poison. He knew he was being a bit harsh. The mare had no idea how much he hated such comments, but he couldn't stop himself. His feelings boiled out of control.

He wanted to scream at her, but he channeled the emotions differently. What he spoke next was cold and calculating, his nerve and emotions shoving aside the stutter.

“I don't want ponies being around me just because they feel sorry for me!”

For once, he thought someone might want to talk to him out of free will. But he was wrong. Just another sorry-

“You think that's the only reason I came here?”

Toxic's thought slammed to a halt at the sound of Sky's voice. He turned to look at her, and was ashamed to see her startled, but he was more-so surprised to hear the slightly accusatory tone to her voice.

“Y-ou ju-st s-aid so.” His stutter and fluctuating tone returned, his emotions now in check.

“I said that I felt sorry for you, that was it. I came here because I'm curious!”

–

Sky Duster's eyes widened as she blurted out her intentions.

Oh. She had so NOT meant to say that out loud.

Toxic had lost all sense of anger and hostility, and now was looking at her curiously.

Which, Sky had to admit, was rather adorable.

Shut up brain. Think about the handsome stallion later.

“C-curious? Ab-out what?”

Well, so much for being subtle.

Sky hadn't been one to lie, and she figured that honesty would serve her well in this situation.

Well, it couldn't turn out badly, could it?

“I'm curious about you.”

Toxic's thoughts screeched to a halt, and then disappeared. His eyes widened, and he looked over to the embarrassed mare next to him, mouth slightly open in shock.

“W-what?”

There was a tightness in his chest, making it difficult to breath. There was no way Toxic had heard correctly.

“I'm curious about you.”

Sky met his gaze, and the anxiety in Toxic's chest dissolved into...something. Her gaze held no animosity, no deception, only curiosity.

She wasn't lying.

He still couldn't understand. Why would this mare be curious about him? The incident in the woods perhaps? No, that didn't make sense...

“Wh-y? I'm n-ot tha-t iner-esting...”

Toxic snapped his mouth shut, not having meant to let the last sentence slip out. He glanced away, not wanting Sky to see his expression. He knew the true meaning of that admittance. True, there was plenty that made him 'interesting.' A speech impediment. A strange job. The small oddities that cause him to stand out.

The things that made him a freak.

“You really believe that, don't you?”

The shock in the mare's voice caused Toxic to turn back around. Sky was looking at him with a strange expression, halfway between sorrow and amazement.

“I g-get it. I'm a b-bi-t str-ange. I ta-lk f-unn-y-”

“You don't understand, do you Toxic?” Sky interrupted him, somehow knowing where his thoughts were going.

Understand what?

Sky struggled to control the apprehension nagging at her mind as Toxic shook his head in response to her question. She couldn't lie to herself; this strange stallion was causing quite a few strange feelings to swirl in her heart. They weren't bad though, but they urged her onward. She had to explain herself, at least a little bit.

It was a simple action, but Sky knew it would get the point across.

Was it cheesy?

Extremely.

Did it feel right?

Yes.

She looked into his bright green eyes, that alone causing a smile to edge onto her face. Sky reached up a hoof, and poked his chest lightly.

“I'm curious what's in there.”

Toxic looked down to her hoof, his expression conveying his confusion.

“R-ibs?”

Sky placed her hoof back on the ground, shaking her head.

“I wasn't talking about how you speak, Toxic. I was talking about who is in there.” Sky punctuated her words by poking him again with a hoof.

“Y-you'r cur-ious ab-bout me? B-but w-hy?”

Maybe now he was understanding...

A few threads of dark emotion suddenly surfaced, and the mare couldn't restrain a bit of dampness from her eyes. She looked over to the shocked stallion, pointing towards the Everfree forest with a hoof.

“Why? Because I've been there Toxic!”

It was a sudden change, and the onslaught of emotions refused to let up in Sky's heart. She had been apprehensive and pleasantly nervous one minute, and now the bottled up emotions she had contained for so long came bursting out. A few tears slid from her eyes, and Sky shook her head slowly.

“I know what I saw in the forest! Sure, maybe it was a bit freaky, but I've...”

Sky didn't care any more, and started to cry. She just needed someone to listen, someone who might have a chance of seeing through her eyes. Her parents couldn't understand, nor could Pepper.

Maybe this stallion could.

“I don't know much about you, but I know something is hurting! Your scream...”

More tears, her sides beginning to shake. Why she was opening up to Toxic, Sky wasn't entirely sure. Maybe it was the stress. Maybe it was her interest in him. At that moment though, she didn't really care.

At that moment, her memories took over. She was no longer outside underneath the moon, but in a densely packed city. Rain poured down in torrents, and thunder crashed across the sky. She stood in the middle of an empty outdoor theater, and raised her face to the sky, her tears mingling with the rain.

“That scream was like mine, when I was all alone.”

–

“That scream was like mine, when I was all alone.”

Toxic stood stunned as Sky Duster broke down into tears, her admittance making the sobs worse. For a moment, he wasn't sure what to do. In but a short while, he had gone from feeling annoyed, to shocked, to curious...

And now, this.

She was miserable.

He scooted closer, and raised a forelimb. Toxic almost stopped himself, but pushed past the residual awkward feelings. He just wanted to make her feel better....

Sky drew a sharp breath in surprise as a warm foreleg wrapped itself around her shoulder. Of the ways she had wanted this meeting to go, this was not one of them.

And yet, she wasn't regretting it.

It took a minute or two, but finally her sobs subsided, Toxic removing his comforting forelimb accordingly.

“Thanks...sorry about that.”

Finally, a smile meandered onto Toxic's face, soft and gentle.

“No pro-blem.”

Sky swiped a few stray tears from her eyes, a smile managing to regain control again.

“I guess we both have stuff we're dealing with, huh?”

A wider smile appeared as he nodded.

“I gue-ss so.” His stutter was reduced slightly, Toxic's tone softer, more caring.

Wait, was she blushing?

“Toxic.....”

He looked over to her, and Sky's eyes widened with surprise.

He looked...different.

Gone was the insecure and troubled stallion from a few moments ago. A gentleness shone in Toxic's eyes as he glanced over to her, a few stray hairs from his mane meandering down in front of his eyes. The tension that had been so evident had fled, and his sides rose and fell with an even breath.

Toxic must have noticed her gaze, because even in the night, a blush was visible on his cheeks.

Wait, was she going to ask him?

Well, she had come this far. That wasn't the plan to begin with...

Or was it?

Sky swallowed the lump in her throat, managing to meet Toxic's eyes briefly.

“Do you...want to meet again sometime?”

–

Toxic's eyes widened, not blind to Sky's request.

Oh horseapples...is she asking me on a date? Should I ask her, to make sure that's what she means? No, if she doesn't think that-

“L-ike a d-at-e?”

Gee. Thanks brain.

Heat quickly rose to Sky's cheeks. She had not blushed this much...well, ever. At least she knew the answer to that question.

“Ummm. Yes?”

Sky could see the utter shock in Toxic's eyes. He really didn't understand why someone would be interested in him. He really didn't....

–

A mare was asking him on a date.

Apparently the only part of his brain that wasn't rendered speechless was the playful part, because before he knew it, he had bowed onto one knee, a smile on his face.

“It w-would be m-y hon-or, Sky D-Duster.”

He didn't have time to feel embarrassed as Sky burst out laughing. Carefree and light-hearted, her laugh echoed off the shimmering water, matching the stars that twinkled above. There was a glint of fire in her eyes, a roguish energy as she smiled. Her mane was slightly unkept, partially from her breakdown earlier...

All in all, she looked stunning.

“Not exactly how I imagined this evening would go.” Sky couldn't help but smile. Between her request and slight crying session earlier, all the tension she had felt was gone.

“B-but di-d it still go o-ok?”

Sky Duster looked over to him, and must have seen a bit of awkward nervousness on his expression.

“Toxic, can I try something I think will help you understand my answer to that question?”

The stallion nodded, obviously a bit apprehensive.

She wasn't going to.....?

--

The mare met his gaze briefly, steeling herself. Well, so much for being subtle, but it felt right.

Sky scooted closer to him, seeing his eyes widen slightly with surprise-

And wrapped her forelegs around his neck.

For a moment, Sky was terrified that she had done something wrong, because Toxic was as stiff as a board.

Good going Sky. The first stallion you're really interested in, and you've just-

A warmth then flooded her frame as Toxic returned the hug.

A few tears squeezed out of her eyes, but this time it wasn't of sadness. She knew this stallion as a friend, but hoped with all her heart that maybe, just maybe, she'd get a chance to know him better.

Maybe she'd finally learn who Toxic really was, underneath it all.

After a few moments, Sky relaxed her grip, an awkward silence starting to creep in.

“I'll t-ake tha-t as a y-yes. W-would in t-two day-s be o-ok? F-or l-unch? I h-ave wor-k stuff at night...”

A grateful smile came to Sky's face, Toxic's soft voice easily battering the awkwardness aside as she nodded.

“Maybe the sandwich restaurant on main street?” She winced slightly at her words. Wasn't the stallion suppose to plan it all?

Well, not like this had been a normal night anyhow...

Toxic nodded, an adventurous and daring smile twitching at his features, which cast aside all of Sky's doubts.

“B-but I p-pay.”

They began to walk back towards civilization, Sky's laugh echoing off the countryside.

Pepper heard the front door close, and she looked up from the couch, from where she had been reading an easy going novel.

“So, how did it go?”

Her friend proceeded to literally bounce around the living room ecstatically, her voice echoing off the walls of the small home.

“I have a date!”

Author's Note

Woohoo! Another chapter!
Things begin to pick up soon.....

And two new fics will come into appearance. They'll run parallel to this one.
Anyhow. Enjoy this chapter! Feedback always welcome!