There was a light drizzle outside. Their hoof steps seemed to ring out better through the thick, hot air. Dominiq found it hard to breath for some reason, but it was just him feeling the vapor collecting in his lungs and being released with each breath. What a strange feeling it was.

They started to enter a busier part of town. The ponies he planned to watch from the height of his house now towered above him. Of course, they were still walking to whatever destination each had, but now these strangers smiled and nodded as he and Starlight trotted past. Some tipped their hats if they had one. Dominiq also nodded and smiled back at these strangers as it was common courtesy around these parts.
Some of the better dressed ones paid him and Starlight no mind, walking with their heads held high and noses turned up. Dominiq involuntarily smiled even though their strong perfume and cologne literally left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Mmm, are we gonna meet someone for lunch?” he tried to break the silence.

“Dominiq, it’s still the morning. The sun isn’t even halfway up the sky!” and she laughed.

“Oh, sorry.” and he sort of laughed and sort of smiled with her. They couldn’t see the sun though, just backlit clouds.

After a while, he started to notice that they were walking much deeper into the pony-made forest than he ever remembered. It was busy just as the the earlier section was, but a different kind of busy. A worried busy, a paranoid busy, maybe he was just making this all up in his mind, out his own paranoia. This place was different after all. Many didn’t have any scarves, necklaces, ties, or even cuffs that he was used to seeing. It was nice though, Dominiq always tried his best to not wear anything anytime he got the chance. Ties and cuffs were uncomfortable and it was nice to see those who shared his opinion.

Her tail whipped out just once as, “Dominiq, stay close.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah stranger danger. I already knew-”

“I know you know, Dominiq, just giving it to your attention.” He instinctively started to trot closer to her. She was not one to cut him off, so he could tell that she was being serious this time around.

Suddenly the world around him felt more hostile. The buildings and the passerby grew taller and the cobblestone under his hooves started to become more and more cracked. He could feel his heart rate begin to rise, in a good way. The sense of danger felt good, like going to the zoo and realizing that the one thing separating you from a venomous snake was just some glass. His maroon eyes glowed fiercely against the colorless world around him, until they stopped at a huge plaza like area, full of stores and ponies barking catchphrases in hopes of attracting customers. /Everything/ was hot and busy and loud and smooth and rough all at the same time. It was almost hypnotizing.

“Isn’t it marvelous?” Starlight said, slightly raising her voice over the rumble.

“Most definitely!” he chirped, his eyes going wide with wonder until Starlight started to push /him/ out into the rushing river.

“W-what?” he stammered holding back as much as he could with his hooves locked in place. Were they actually disowning him this time? His eyes darted around wildly, thinking of places he could go to and was terrified when he couldn’t think of a single address or even area. Oh, he would certainly die out here in the unfamiliar heart of the city! With no one to-

She let out a deep and hearty laugh and allowed him to scurry back to her side. “Okay, okay, let me explain.” she was thoroughly amused.

“Then explain already!” Dominiq blurted, distressed from his near death experience.

“I want you to go out there and socialize with somepony.” she said simply while scanning the area.

“But I already do that all the time.”
“Not with ponies your age, though.”

“I do that at school though!”

“When was the last time you talked about inviting a friend or even visiting one?”

“Well, they aren’t the ‘visiting’ type.” he looked away

Hey, Athens!
Long time no see, ah?

Lovely art and the story is great :D

The writing that accompanies your drawings is excellent. They capture the scene wonderfully.