Chapter 9: Breaking the WHAT?!
Sweetie raised an eyebrow, “What’s what like?”
Breezy blushed behind her mask, “Being naked….”
Sweetie kept that eyebrow raised, “Um…I’m not sure what you mean. You’ve never been naked before? Not even when….”
“No!” Breezy snorted, realizing the vagueness of her question and trying not to chuckle, “I meant, what’s it like to be naked… around other people.”
“Oh, you mean being a nudist?” Sweetie asked.
Breezy meekly nodded.
Sweetie took a moment to process the information. It wasn’t surprising that Breezy would be asking about it, heck most of her new friends asked about it when she first started. Then again, asking now was slightly unconventional since Breezy had already inquired somewhat back at their first hung out. Still it never hurt to figure out the reason.
“Well that depends on why you’re asking. Are you wondering why I’m a part of it or…?” Sweetie asked.
Breezy responded quickly, “Because you’re so nonchalant about it. You act as if it’s nothing, yet you’re so confident about your body.”
Sweetie snorted for a moment, “Well to be honest, that’s because it really isn’t anything.”
Breezy froze and gave Sweetie a questioning look. But Sweetie leaned in slightly, “That’s actually more apt than you realize. Yes it’s weird, but we’re not doing anything different from everyday life. We sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, and some of us even work just like everybody else. The only difference is that we do it without clothing on. For us it’s only natural, hence the term naturists.”
“But don’t you get scared of what people think of you? Even if you have a deformity or don’t….” Breezy asked.
“Don’t look beautiful?” Sweetie answered for her, “Well, taking from personal experience, yes it can be very scary when you’re first trying it out. Even more so for people who do have lots of scars or deformities. But there’s one thing I remembered from a book I read: the only thing to fear is fear itself.”
Breezy leaned back for a moment and said nothing.
“Once you get over the initial fear of doing something, everything else becomes a whole lot easier.” Sweetie added.
This girl has never seen the world for what it truly is. Breezy’s head told her.
Breezy simply sighed, “Sometimes, that’s easier said than done.”
She then bit her lower lip and pondered her next question. Breezy thought about how Sweetie was talking, she wasn’t talking down or lecturing. It was more of a friend talking to another friend. And yet there was another part of that. While Sweetie was very accommodating, Breezy was restricting her new friend from being in her “Natural” state.
ARE YOU CRAZY!!! Her brain screamed, Don’t ask her that! She’ll hate you for it!
But Breezy forged ahead, “Umm… would you be naked… if I wasn’t around?”
Sweetie blinked for a moment before starting to giggle, “Are you asking me to take my clothes off right now?”
Breezy blushed red behind her mask, “N-no, it’s not like that! It’s just… I…um…. it’s not that I ….I just don’t want you to feel….”
Sweetie’s giggling burst out into full blown laughter. After a moment she collected herself and looked at Breezy, “Don’t worry about me, I’m perfectly fine.”
“But you’re… fully clothed.” Breezy pointed out.
“Point taken, but let me ask you this Breezy: Why?” Sweetie asked.
Breezy didn’t need to ask for clarification, she just shifted in her seat. A cold emotion took over her as tears filled her eyes and she could feel her heart start to break at the realization of the answer.
“Well it’s because I’ve… I’ve never had a real friend before.” Breezy murmured meekly, “And you’ve been so nice and accommodating to me. I just want to try and do the same for you.”
Sweetie leaned back looking at Breezy. That was certainly an answer she had never considered. Breezy had been on the move most of her life, and even with the constant changings of home, she’s never been able to settle down with any friends. Plus there was the fact that she was, in fact, bullied for her scars. Even if Breezy didn’t admit it flat out, the evidence was plain to see. And now she had the opportunity to make a friend in Sweetie, who was a nudist. In a weird way, Breezy was trying to fully build a bridge with Sweetie.
Leaning forward again, Sweetie looked at Breezy, “You sure it’s not gonna be too overwhelming for you?”
Breezy raised a hidden eyebrow, “Define overwhelming.”
“Most people, upon seeing a naked individual, usually either turn away in disgust or embarrassment. But sitting next to and being with someone who is naked can be a little weird for most people. It’s just… well overwhelming. I really don’t know how else to describe it.” Sweetie grimaced.
Nodding, Breezy sighed, “That’s a valid point. But… you’re my friend and I want you to be comfortable. I don’t want you to feel like you have to hold back for my sake...”
Sweetie Belle had heard enough. Although, if Dinky was here right now, Sweetie would've had a much better bearing on the situation. Trouble was, Dinky and Ditzy were busy with house chores, Silver Spoon was helping her mother with financial work, and Apple Bloom was on the farm. While Sunset was still available, getting Breezy over to Sunset’s place was a tall order.
Even worse, having Breezy interact with someone she’d never met before, who was also a nudist, might erode all the efforts Breezy was making right now. Sweetie had a choice to make: she could either get naked and risk Breezy becoming overwhelmed by the situation or back off and risk hurting Breezy’s feelings. Neither were very good options.
Meanwhile, Breezy was sweating slightly as her brain was going ballistic. She had literally just asked the first potential friend she had ever made to strip right before her, a question only the most perverted individual would even remotely think of. And yet, Breezy wasn’t doing it for sexual reasons.
She wasn’t gay, far from it, but in her mind the ideal friendship was compromise. However, the relationship Breezy had with Sweetie right now was more of give and take with Sweetie doing the lion’s share of giving. So for Breezy, getting things back to an equal footing was to have Sweetie return to her natural element.
Still there was one nagging issue.
What happens if you do see her naked? Her brain asked, It doesn't look like she has any scars, and she'll definitely be prettier than you.
You don’t know that, Breezy responded, and besides, I’m sure nudism isn’t about beauty.
Everything is about beauty my child. Her brain responded, and what you’re asking is to have her put her beauty on display.
I know that!
What are you going to do if she asks you to join her? Are you willing to put your hideous form on display as well?!
Breezy had to contend that point as the punishment the Goddess had bestowed upon her. She was left with few appealing features. Yet there was no turning back now.
I will cross that bridge when I get to it! Breezy snapped.
That seemed to end the conversation, for now. Breezy was sure of her choice.
And so was Sweetie as she turned to look at the stairwell, “Um what will your guardians think?”
For the first time in a while, Breezy laughed, “Oh, I did ask them about it and they said they wouldn't have a problem with it. My aunt and uncle are the coolest people around, I’m sure they understand nothing funny will go on. Besides, they won’t bother us.”
That calmed Sweetie’s nerves, “All three of you can be assured that nudism isn’t about sex. Not in the slightest! Still, I don’t wanna just jump into this, is there a bathroom down here?”
Breezy pointed over the couch to a door placed behind the Viola Organista. Sweetie nodded and stood up, “One last chance, are you sure about this?”
Breezy took a deep breath and nodded, “I’m sure.”
Sweetie nodded and walked over to the bathroom, “Are there any towels in here?”
“Yes and a robe,” Breezy responded.
With that knowledge in hand Sweetie walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. In no time in all Sweetie had discarded her clothes and folded them neatly on top of the counter. She turned around and pulled off the robe before examining it. Thankfully, it was close to her size and slipped on rather easily. She tied it up and made her way to the door.
Just before she opened the door, she took stock of the situation. She was about to get naked in front of a traumatized and physically scarred girl who was afraid to even show her face in a private setting. This was odd. This was very odd. Yet, somehow, Sweetie felt it needed to be done. Breezy was calling out for normalcy, calling out for friendship, and calling out for help. Maybe in this weird way, this could help her break free.
Was this crazy? Yes. But Sweetie was going to do it anyway. She opened the door and walked back into the den. Breezy hadn’t moved, and more reassuringly, hadn’t lost an article of clothing. At least this wasn’t a repeat of Sunset’s house last Spring Break. Still, Sweetie found some comfort in this, Breezy was taking baby steps.
However when Breezy caught sight of Sweetie, she seemed disappointed.
Sweetie quickly understood why. “I didn’t want to ambush you with my nudity.” She said offhandedly.
“Oh, okay… um… thanks.” Breezy said as Sweetie sat back down in her chair.
“Like I said, it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience.” Sweetie answered.
“Was it for you?” Breezy asked.
Sweetie nodded, “Seeing my friends for the first time was. As well as attending my first nudist party, but I got over it fast.”
Breezy nodded, “How did you?”
“By telling myself that everyone’s the same naked.” Sweetie smiled.
Everyone’s the same naked… Breezy thought to herself.
Except for us,her mind added. But Breezy ignored it.
Then Sweetie took a deep breath, “Okay. I’m ready to lose the robe, are you ready?”
Breezy then felt a twinge of nervousness, “Um… can I close my eyes first?”
“That’s fine. And if you want me to put my clothes back on just say so.” Sweetie offered.
“Thanks but… I wanna do this.” Breezy affirmed. She then closed her eyes as Sweetie stood up.
Nodding, Sweetie untied the robe and slid out of it. She placed it back on the chair she was sitting on, using it to act as a towel, and then sat back down. “Okay you can open your eyes.” Sweetie smiled.
Breezy did so, and much to Sweetie’s prediction, was slightly overwhelmed by the sight. There Sweetie Belle was, sitting in the chair; naked as the day she was born. She wasn’t sitting in any revealing pose nor was she doing any lewd gesture, she was just sitting there naked. Breezy couldn’t explain why, but it was overwhelming. Though she had wanted it, this is what she got.
After taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves, Breezy smiled behind her mask, “Wow this is… really awkward.”
“It is isn’t it?” Sweetie chuckled.
“And you’re not creeped out by this?” Breezy asked innocently.
Sweetie shook her head no, “Are you?”
Breezy pondered for a moment. Sweetie was naked in front of her yes, yet the world wasn’t ending and nothing bad seemed to be happening. It was just, normal. “No, it’s just…. now what?”
“Well we can watch TV or play some videogames?” Sweetie offered.
“Yeah let’s do that, it’ll help me adjust.” Breezy joked. Then a thought entered her mind, friendship was compromise.
NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO THAT IS TOO FAR! Her brain screamed, I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!
But she is naked with me, I must do something! Breezy responded.
BY EXPOSING YOUR DEFORMED FACE!
Look at her! Look at how calm and confident she is! Don’t you see she doesn’t care!!! Breezy shot back.
SHE WILL IF SHE SEES YOUR FACE!
But Breezy steeled herself and turned back to Sweetie, “Actually, mind if I do something too?”
“No, but what did you have in mind?” Sweetie asked.
Breezy didn’t answer directly, but asked, “Promise you won’t freak out?”
Sweetie wanted to point out her current state, but thought better of it. “I promise.” She responded.
Breezy took a deep breath and silenced her brain. Then she lowered her hood revealing her long dark hair. After pulling it out from underneath the hooded shirt she reached over to one of the buckles holding her mask on. It was then Sweetie realized what Breezy was doing.
At first, she wanted to object and ask Breezy if she was okay with this. But then she thought better. If she did object that might send the wrong message, or worse make Breezy crawl back into her shell. If this was the next step, then Sweetie was going to take it.
Breezy unclipped the first strap and pulled it off before unbuckling the second. Soon her mask was free and she tentatively pulled it away from her face before looking at Sweetie Belle. Sweetie’s eyes widened slightly, but it was more in surprise rather than fear.
A pair of deep brown eyes peered out from magenta colored skin that had signs of old scars but barely noticeable. Most of them were on her cheeks and forehead, while her nose was practically one giant magenta scar. The scars themselves were magenta with blemishes all over that looked like freckles and sunspots more than burn marks. Traces of blue could also be seen on Breezy’s face where the scars weren’t, indicating what Breezy’s original skin color used to be.
Her lips were also surprisingly normal, plump and red. The image was mismatched, but it wasn’t horrible looking at all. In fact, Sweetie would even go as far to say that she was still beautiful despite all the damage.
Breezy’s expression was a mixture of unease and fear, so Sweetie moved quickly to deter her emotions.
Sweetie smiled, “Wow Breezy, your face…”
“Stranger than you dreamt it huh?” Breezy asked.
“No, actually. I would call it pretty.” Sweetie smiled.
Breezy’s eyes widened and began to shimmer with tears. Pretty. That was a word she'd never thought anyone would say to her. And the tone: it wasn’t cheap, hollow, or laced with lies. It was sincere. Breezy bit back tears as she looked at Sweetie Belle. Breezy had finally done it. She had made her first friend.
“Than… thank you!” Breezy said. Now reassured she smiled again, “Let’s go watch some toons!”
“Sure, I’m game.” Sweetie smiled.
And soon, the unlikely duo was watching television. Secretly watching from the steps, Uncle Skyrocket and Aunt Whistler looked on, proud and overjoyed for their niece.