CHAPTER 3
While I was stirring, beginning to wake up, I felt a strange sensation, like I was being watched. When I decided I couldn't stand the taste of my own breath anymore, I opened my eyes. But as soon as I opened them, I saw nothing but a ring of sky blue, and black pupils.
"AH!" I jumped upwards. Pinkie was standing in my room, looking at me with the biggest grin I've ever seen.
"Morning, sleepyhead!"
"What the hay were you doing?"
She raised her eyebrow, giving me a confused look. "I was waiting for you to wake up. DUH! You look so happy when you sleep!"
I shuddered. The crazy mare had watched me while I was sleeping. Anypony else think that's just a TAD BIT creepy?
"Pinkie, you can't do that."
"I can't?"
"Yeah. It's creepy."
"It is?"
I just stared at her in amazement. She still had a smile on her face, even though I just said she was being creepy. I let out a small chuckle.
"Alright, I get it... So, what is it that you wanted?"
"Well, I was hoping I could teach you to be more social!
LikeIcouldteachyouhowtowalkuptosomeponyandthenyoucantalktothemandbealllikehappyandstuffbecauseyouhaveafriend..."
I tuned her out, waiting for her rant to end. I was still thinking about why she was so kind to me, even after I had tried to avoid her, twice.
"I know it could be kindness... But I just don't know... What does she want?"
"...AndthenIwasalllike 'Oatmeal, are you crazy?'"
I started listening after my little thought, and I just looked at her.
"What're you talking about?"
"Oh... Sorry... Anyways, ready to go have a super-duper awesome day together?"
"Um... Sure, I guess."
"OKTHENLETSGO!"
"Wait, wha-"
I couldn't even finish my sentence. She grabbed my hoof, and started dragging me at crazy speeds across the streets of Ponyville, looking for one of her friends to introduce me to... Or, for me to introduce myself to. The first pony she dragged me to was a cyan pegasus napping lazily on a cloud, who I knew to be Rainbow Dash from some conversation I overheard while serving Twilight's table.
"DASHIE! DOWN HERE! I HAVE A NEW FRIEND FOR YOU TO MEET!"
Rainbow Dash rolled over, and looked down, her eyes only half open. She was apparently still groggy. She wiped her eyes, and glided down to us.
"Hey Pinkie, what's up...? Hey, aren't you that waiter? Umm..." She tapped the side of her head to try to remember. I lifted one of my front legs slightly, and looked down and away.
"Umm... I'm Shadow Weaver..." My voice was so quiet, I doubt anypony could have heard me.
"Huh? What was that?"
I cleared my throat, and sank my head lower. "My name's Shadow Weaver..."
"Oh! Yeah! You're the one Twilight was talkin' about! Nice t' meet'cha!" She stuck a foreleg out, offering to shake hooves.
I lightly grasped her hoof, and lazily shook, pulling away the moment she stopped moving.
"Geez, what's his problem?"
"He's just a really shy pony, that's all." Pinkie gave me a kind smile, looking at me like she was expecting something of me. When she realized I had no idea what she wanted, she just giggled and grabbed my hoof again, this time dragging me towards a large, purple building. It looked like a building you would see in Canterlot.
When we entered, a bell above the door jingled, and the white pony with the purple mane and three diamonds as a Cutie Mark came in from a nearby room.
"Ah, hello Pinkie! Who is this then?" She looked at me through her red glasses, which I never saw her wear. I assumed she only wore them while she worked, so she could be more precise.
"This is Shadow Weaver! He's a nice stallion, but he's really shy!" She nudged me in the side. "Say hi!"
"Um... Hello..." I looked away again. I never looked at ponies when I introduced myself, mainly because I was paranoid of anypony knowing my face. The only reason I really opened up to Pinkie was because... I dunno. She's just easy to talk to, y'know?
"Oh my! You don't have your Cutie Mark!" Rarity pointed to my blank flank.
"Yeah... It's a long story... I don't wanna talk about it..."
Rarity just nodded sympathetically, and then turned around to walk away, looking behind her to talk to us.
"I have to get back to work now, but it was wonderful meeting you Shadow. I'd like to see more of you around. Goodbye!"
She went back into her room, which I assumed was her sowing area. Before I looked at her, Pinkie dragged me off again, but I was getting used to it.
The next place we ended up at was a cottage near the edge of the Everfree Forest. When we approached, I saw a yellow mare with pink hair, and three butterflies as a Cutie Mark. She was tending to some animals, like chickens and birds, singing a familiar tune.
"Hey Fluttershy!"
"EEP!" The yellow mare jumped a mile at the sound of Pinkie's voice. We had accidentally snuck up on her.
"Oh, hi Pink- Eep!" She squealed again when she saw me, and I flinched whenever she looked at me. I did the usual "step back and raise front hoof and look away" thing, as did she.
"Um... Hi..." I was just barely audible.
"Hello..." The mare started to calm down, and seemed to inch a bit closer to me.
"Er... The name's Shadow Weaver. Nice to meet you, Fluttershy."
She smiled, accepting that I wasn't a threat. "Nice to meet you Shadow. I'm sorry I got scared, you're just a little intimidating."
"I am?"
"Yes, your eyes are quite frightening. Not to mention that you are jet black... Oh! That probably sounded mean! I'm sorry...!"
I waved my hoof in the air. "It's nothing, don't worry about it. You know, you seem really nice. I love animals..." I looked around, and saw all of the creatures looking at me, friendly looks on their faces.
"Oh, me too. I just feel like I have to help all animals that are in need. So whenever they are hurt or hungry, they come to me."
"Well, whenever there was a mouse or something in my house, I would always just release it outside of town instead of kill it."
Her smile widened when she heard that. "Oh, that's so sweet of you! I need to get back to my animals, but it was wonderful meeting you, Shadow. Maybe you could come over sometime and help out."
"I'd love to."
Pinkie didn't grab me this time. Instead, she just started walking, and I followed suite. We headed off to a HUGE apple orchard. I just stared in awe at all of the apples, my mouth watering.
"So many apples..."
"Yep. It's th' pride o' mah' family."
I looked back, and saw the friendly orange mare who had given me the apples a while ago.
"Oh, it's you! You gave me the free apples. Thanks for that, I wouldn't have had anything to eat if it weren't for you."
She rubbed the back of her head and grinned sheepishly. "Well shewt, Ah' never knew Ah' was helpin' Ya' that much... But Yer' welcome anyways. Mah' names Applejack. Pleased t' meet'cha!" She grabbed my hoof and shook violently. Eventually, she saw that I was beginning to feel ill, and stopped, blushing slightly.
"Heh... Sorry 'bout that..."
"Oh, it's no trouble..." I looked up into the sky, and the sun was near the edge of the horizon. It was about six o' clock at night.
"Pinkie, we better get home, it's getting late. It was nice meeting you Applejack, I'll seeya later!"
"Y'all come back any time now, Y'hear?"
Pinkie walked alongside me, grinning ear to ear, staring at me.
"What?"
"You just made five new friends! And you and Fluttershy were so cute!
Imeanthewayyoubothshiedawayfromeachotheratthes-"
I covered her mouth with my hoof. "I get it... Now lets just get home, it's late, and I'm tired. Thanks though, Pinkie... I had fun today."
"Me too! We should hang out again sometimes! You're really quiet, but really fun!"
"Heh. Alright then."
I trotted off in a separate direction, heading for the library.
"What a nice town... I might be able to turn my life around yet!"