Fluttershy and the Wild Stallion
Part 5: Scary Stallion’s Shrieking

Mossy Mane awoke with a loud snort, for a piece of Fluttershy’s carpet was lodged in his nose. Snuffle-sneezing, he lifted his head and looked around. There were dozens of little animals perched around the room, peeking out of tiny houses and staring from their little angled resting places. He blink-blinked at them and slowly stood, but they didn’t flee. To them, he smelled of the wild earth and thusly was more trustworthy than the average pony. He felt a blanket slide off of himself and he turned to look at it. It was decorated with flowers and other mare-ish things. He liked it, it was warm. Taking it in his teeth, he flipped it up onto his back again and stood there content. Smiling and nodding to himself, Mossy explored his surroundings a bit more.

There was a little pile of wooden debris in the corner, and signs of company here and there—but no yellow mare. He cocked his head. Where had the alpha mare gone? He wilted with worry, separation anxiety setting in almost instantly. He was all alone. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all. Whimpering loudly, he began to pace back and forth, tossing his head up and down. The little birds and squirrels watching him worry and fret. He nickered loudly, sniffing and snortling back and for—there was her scent. He stopped, perking his ears.

Following his nose, Mossy exited the den and moved towards the bedroom. Cocking his head, he pushed the door open with his face and peered around. The room was dark, and filled with milky colors and thick curtains to block out the rising sunlight. The alpha mare lay curled up on a raised nest of some kind with her own covers. Well of course. She was the alpha mare, she had her own sleeping space. It made sense. Smiling in delight and anxiety draining out of him, he cantered up beside the bed.

Fluttershy lay in the bed, breathing quietly in her gentle slumber. Her mane was halfway across her face, her beautiful long lashes accenting the quiet curve of her beautiful muzzle. The butter yellow of her fur was soothing to the eyes, and the slow rise and fall of her chest comforted Mossy. She turned over, murr-gurgling in a sleep language, curling up a little more. Her wings flexed open, then fell limp again. She looked so peaceful…

So of course his first thought was to shove his nose under her curtaining mane and nose at her. Neighing aloud, he nose-nose-nose’d at the sleeping mare. Wakie wakie!

Fluttershy startled awake with a shriek, an unfamiliar something rushing her out of her dreams. She pulled up her covers to cover her nakedness (even though she was a pony), peering around blearily. “O-oh, good morning…” she said nervously, leaning away from the affectionate wild stallion. He smiled grandly when she spoke to him. “Meep!” he’d leaned some more, putting his hooves on her bed and wanting more good morning nuzzles. “Y-yes, hello there. I’m awake.” She said shyly, turning pink in the cheeks. She rubbed the side of his face like she might an animal, and he purred in appreciation. Satisfied that she was up, Mossy jittered back and forth, making clip-clop sounds on the hardwood floor. “What is… *yawn*… what is it?” Fluttershy asked, looking at him with curious sleepy eyes. “Is something wrong?” He jittered again, tossing his head up and down. His back legs were pressing together. “Oh… oh!” she rose quickly, showing him to the door. He knew well enough not to pee on her floor (thank goodness he knew a dwelling when he saw one), so she let him outside. Mossy trotted a short distance, then stood in the middle of the yard to see to nature’s call. Fluttershy moaned a little, face-hoofing. This was going to take some getting used to.

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“Oh hey there, Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie saw the yellow Pegasus coming into Sugar Cube Corner… with a stallion at her side? “Heyyy, good to see you on your hooves, big guy.” She gave a brilliant smile to Mossy, who eyed her up and down curiously. Hadn’t he seen her before, in the sterile non-smelling place? He vaguely recalled something VERY pink being there. Maybe it had been her. “I came and visited you at the hospital when Fluttershy told us about you. You sure ate a lot of icky stuff!” she chuckled a bit. “But now that you’re here you can eat good stuff!” the pink mare leaned on the counter a bit, shifting her gaze back to Fluttershy. “The usual then, Fluttershy? A banana bread loaf and half a dozen blueberry muffins?”

“Yes, please.” Fluttershy said in her usual whispy voice, nodding daintily.

Mossy wandered away, since the alpha female was conducting mare’s business. She must’ve been powerful indeed if every day she simply received food from anypony she demanded it from. It occurred to him he’d never seen her fight, but she’d probably already established her dominance long ago and was reaping the rewards. Good stuff. Pausing mid-thought, the earth-brown stallion spotted another stallion on the far side of the room. Oh! Who was that?! He cantered quickly over to investigate before he came too close to his herd. He’d have to be stealthy.

Mr. Cake was an absent-minded stallion, going about his morning ritual of stocking the cases for display. Ponies could point to what they wanted behind the glass, and could survey just about anything they had for sale. He was a skinny, knobby-knee’d stallion, but he had a wife and foals and he was happy. Humming idly, he set a fresh tray of chocolate candies on the counter and bent to open the glass case. Adjusting his Sugar Cube Corner hat, he pawed around with a hoof until he got the clasp undone and slide the little door open. When he stood again, he noticed that one of the chocolates on the tray was missing. “I thought I made a perfect hundred…” he said, frowning. The square of ten by ten chocolates was missing one of their comrades.

Meanwhile on the other side of the counter, Mossy was crouched down and chewing on it. The skinny stallion was none the wiser! No threat was he, if he couldn’t even protect his food. Mossy decided not to attack him. Just steal his food. When the stallion leaned down again, he popped over the counter like a jack in the box and snatched another chocolate with his long tongue before ducking down again. Nom-nm-nm-nm…

Mr. Cake had prepared the little afkan for the display to sit on, and swept out yesterdays’ crumbs. When he stood erect again, he reached for the box of fresh confections. “There we g… what the…?” he frowned, leaning over the square of chocolates again. “Ten, twenty, thirty…” he counted the rows. Now there were two missing. He flicked his gaze over at Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, scratching his chin. They were some feet away, it couldn’t have been them… narrowing his eyes, the yellow stallion took a row of the chocolates and set them in the glass display case.

While Mr. Cake was focused on the shelving and making sure they were perfectly aligned, Mossy struck again. “H’omph. H’omph. Omph!” he took three that time, greedily chewing at the new food he’d just discovered. “H’omph!” when he saw the stallion rise again, he quickly hid at the floor again.

“Oh come on!” Mr. Cake gave a shout, seeing his perfect chocolate rows were all messed up now. Fluttershy and Pinkie looked over curiously. They saw Mossy ducked in front of the counter, his cheeks bulging guiltily with chocolate. Fluttershy gave a fretful squeak and Pinkie Pie covered her mouth with a hoof, giggle-snorting several times. “Do you girls know what’s going on?!” the long-necked stallion asked, leaning over the counter to try and catch whatever ninja was stealing his products. He couldn’t see all the way to the floor though, or he would’ve seen Mossy still chewing. Growling in frustration, he narrowed his eyes… “Hmm…” he squatted down slowly…

Mossy rose to take more…

“AH-HAH!” Mr. Cake jumped up like he was Spiderstallion, jabbing an accusing hoof at the green-maned stallion. “I caught you!”

There was a long silence, shop-keeper staring at wild stallion. Who would make the next move? The two mares stared. One could hear a pin drop there in Sugar Cube Corner… “OMPH-OMMPH-OMPH-OMPH!” Mossy used both front hooves to start shoveling all the chocolate he could into his mouth, cheeks bulging like a chipmunk!

“AHHHH!” Mr. Cake gave a whinny of rage and scrambled over the counter. “Give those back!”

Mossy took off running around the shop, bucking wildly and losing a chocolate here and there. The candy-maker chased him around, shouting obscenities and waving a broom to beat him with. Mossy reared and flailed his hooves, ready to fight for the sweet food he’d just stolen. Leaping up on a table he gallantly flew over Mr. Cake’s head, making the skinny stallion skid while he tried to turn.

Pinkie Pie was laughing so hard she had tears going down her cheeks, lying flat out on the counter while the two stallions rushed back and forth. Fluttershy watched them go. She knew she was going to have to pay for all this. Whimpering a little, she heaved a big breath and flared her wings a bit. That caught Mossy’s eye and he wheeled to gallop towards her. Finding solace under one of her wings, he was almost knocked down when Mr. Cake caught up to him.

“He stole my chocolates! And then he-- blehh?!” He had to stop speaking, for Mossy was in his face again. Leaning out from under Fluttershy’s wingspan, he gave a peace offering. Leaning and lifting one of Mr. Cake’s jowls, he stuffed a half-chewed chocolate into his cheek and then lowered it again. Then, he beamed at him like it was all square. “Hck!? Bleh! BLEH!!” The stallion squawked angrily, clenching his teeth and then spitting it all out.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Fluttershy said, getting her bits purse out as quickly as she could with her shaking hooves. “H-How much?! I’m s-so sorry! He doesn’t know any better!” she actually spilled her money on the floor and gold coins went everywhere.

“Out! OUT!” Mr. Cake shouted, red in the face and roaring.

Mossy went full-defensive at all the mean mouth-sounds. The alpha mare needed him, he could see how she trembled. Turning with a neighing shout, he jostled Mr. Cake right onto his side with a grunt. The skinny, knobby-knee’d stallion went down hard. Herding the yellow Pegasus outside he pushed the door closed with his face. Time to flee! Pinkie Pie could barely watch the scene, could barely breathe, she was laughing so hard.

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“Oh my…” Fluttershy stared forlornly at her empty bits purse. She’d spilled all of her money all over the floor in Sugar Cube Corner. Soft in the eyes and trying not to cry, she also tried not to think about what it meant. She had no money at all. Unless somepony came by with a sick pet, or she somehow came up with a way to get some bits, she had nothing! She sat on her haunches, burying her face in her hooves. She was broke! If only she’d kept a closer eye on her… guest!

Mossy cocked his head, not sure of what to make of it all. She looked so sad. He shuffled his lips a little in a horse-ish sound, plopping down next to her. Leaning, he set his chin atop her head. She looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears. Why was she so sad? He had the vague feeling it was because of all the hubbub in the sweet-smelling place. Maybe that other stallion had frightened her. The wild stallion sat there, firmly pressed to the yellow Pegasus, wondering how to remedy it all. Hmm. Well, his herd had six mares and one stallion (himself). Maybe he needed another stallion to help protect them. Then, she wouldn’t be frightened when an aggressor came by? Hmm… he didn’t like the idea of recruiting another stallion into his herd, but if the well-being of his leader was at stake he would have to stomach it. “Flutter-blubber-bubber…” he mumbled.

“Fluttershy.” Fluttershy corrected absently, looking into her empty bits purse still. Sighing in a depressed way, she leaned into him and pulled it closed, putting it in her saddlebag. “I didn’t even get the banana bread and blue berry muffins I wanted…” she sighed, wilting her wings. The brown stallion nosed under one of her wings and she giggled a little, ticklish. “I know, I know…” she said softly, looking at him. “I should’ve kept a closer eye on you.” Mossy took her ear into his mouth, nomming on her affectionately. “Eeek!” she squeaked, pulling quickly away with a blush. “N-none of that, now!” she scolded embarrassedly, flicking her ear a few times. He smiled at her innocently and she quickly looked away. “We’re going to have to do something for money…” she sighed. “And soon.” Mossy just then saw something amazing, and wandered off.

Fluttershy sighed.

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Big Macintosh was the biggest stallion in Ponyville, a great barrel-chested thing with a gorgeous crimson coat and a messy mane that made mares swoon. He was delightedly single, the subject of more than a few female fantasies, and stoically silent most of the time. When he set up his apple stand in the market, he sometimes had the sneaking suspicion that mares would come to buy an apple or two just to talk to him. It was a liiiiittle prideful, but like any red-blooded stallion he kind of enjoyed the attention. Just don’t tell his sister that. Smiling stoically, he waved a little when Lyra and Bon-Bon wandered away with their weekly bag of green delicious apples. Humming and putting their bits in a tried-and-true strong box, he straightened so he could address the next customer.

A brown stallion with a mossy green mane had appeared in front of the apple stand, and he was eyeing up Big Mac like one might do with a piece of livestock. The crimson draftspony shifted a little uncomfortably. The stranger scratched his chin a little, his critical eye going from Big Mac’s massive hooves, to his big chest, to the broadness of his forehead and muzzle. His lips were pressed together and to one side in a classic expression of hard thought and consideration.

“Er…?” Big Mac ventured, a single syllable to question the stallion’s motives. The brown stallion stomped his four hooves animatedly in a running motion, making circles around the apple stand. Big Mac swerved his great head back and forth with a frown, watching the odd pony do his thing. The stranger bowed forward, then reared up and flailed his hooves. He made inviting gestures, hopping up and down on his back hooves a few times. Big Mac blinked at him. The brown stallion sighed loudly, growling and going up behind the crimson stallion. Using the crown of his head, he began to push. Big Mac dug his hooves in, but the momentum was already there.

Ponies stopped to stare while the apple farmer was pushed away by his butt by another stallion who looked positively determined to take him somewhere. A mare off to one side commented about maybe trying that on Big Mac herself some other time. There was giggling.

Fluttershy, still sad and forlorn, perked her ears a little when she heard somepony coming. She looked up with a startled little yap when she saw a growly-faced Big Mac being pushed her way. There were grooves being carved into the ground from the apple farmer digging his hooves in, but it did him no good.

Big Mac saw Fluttershy and his anger evaporated, though. Why was she so upset? A look of concern came across the mute stallion’s face, and he stopped struggling. Walking forward, he leaned over the butter-colored Pegasus. Was she hurt? He looked her up and down. “O-oh, hullo Big Macintosh…” Fluttershy said softly.

“Yup?” said Big Mac curiously, honestly wondering if the crumpled pony had twisted her ankle or something and needed assistance. No wonder the strange stallion had insisted he come with him, maybe Fluttershy needed aid?

Mossy Mane leaped out from behind Big Mac, gesturing grandly to him. A new stallion for the herd! Wasn’t he big? Wasn’t he impressive? Didn’t she like him for his big-ness? Now they would be safe, and the herd would prosper with two stallions instead of just one. Mossy threw out his chest and beamed at Fluttershy, who blinked in mild confusion. “U-uhm… yes, this is Big Macintosh.” She gestured with a hoof. “Why did you go get him?” she asked softly.

Big Mac looked back and forth between them. When the brown stallion didn’t answer, only looked happy to see him, he shifted awkwardly. Then, he felt himself being shoved forward. He grunted in surprise as he was rather unceremoniously shoved into Fluttershy—who squeaked aloud—and then left that way. “Er!” he said, trying to right himself and give her back her personal space.

Mossy appeared on Fluttershy’s other side, pressing up against her with great affection. Fluttershy went crimson in the face. She was now in the middle of a Big Macintosh and Mossy Mane sandwich. She seized up in feminine distress and was unable to move, her rising panic gripping her tightly. "Eep!" she squeaked. Mossy grinned wordlessly, nickering at the prosperity of their herd. And it had only been a day or two!

End of Part 5

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