Fluttershy and the Wild Stallion
Part 6: Humble Hereditary History

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Sometime in the Past…
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The plane bobbed, sagged, chugged along through the air. The storm was abusing the old vehicle and the stallion at the controls was having to manhandle the thing to make it stay even a little steady. The baby Mossy Mane whimpered in distress, shifting in his wrappings as his mother coddled him. He jarred when the plane landed and began to cry loudly. “Ohhhh sh-sh-sh-shhhhh… you’re okay, we’re okay see?” his mother nuzzled and laid kisses over his earthy-brown face. The baby colt pressed into her, hugging her muzzle with his tiny adorable hooves. She kissed the little curl of dark green atop his head before helping him into his chest-basket for her to carry.

“Hang on, this rain is making the landing a little rough.” The stallion at the controls said. Smiling back at his wife and child briefly, he steered the plane along the runway as they came to the proper stopping spot. Shadows came out of the darkness of the storm to greet them, and as soon as the engine was off the side door popped open.

“Hullo! Glad you could make it!” Three more members of the Mane family stuck their heads in, grinning from ear to ear. “Come on out to the barn, we’ll get ya settled!” A teenage colt grabbed the nearest piece of luggage after pecking his aunt on the cheek. He hauled it away quickly so it wouldn’t get soaked down.

Taking off his pilot’s gear and undoing his safety straps, Mossy’s father got out of the seat and grabbed his own luggage. After some struggling and dashing through the rain, every pony was safe in the nearby farm’s barn. The airstrip was thankfully near, so they’d not had far to go.

Mossy was fussy, whimpering and squirming about. The wind was cold, and the rain was weeeet! He didn’t like being wet. Why didn’t momma keep him dry? He began to cry again, and lamps were lit up as the barn door was pulled shut. It was warm and dry inside, and the barn had an inviting scent of old hay, dirt and dust. “Ohhh, is this him? He’s adorablllle!” the nearest mare said, leaning over him. “He looks just like his father, my goodness!” she crooned over the little colt. He stared up at the new face, not sure what to make of her just yet. When she leaned and smooched the end of his nose, he gave a little shriek of giggles and waggled his tiny hooves at her.

“He’s a hoof-full, that’s for sure.” Mossy’s mother smiled shyly. The little one was so new he’d not met most of his family yet. They’d come by plane over a section of Everfree to meet with one branch of said family, so the herd could have a nice look at him. “Here you go, Mossy, go ahead. Say hi to your aunt and cousins?” she gingerly set the bundle down.

Most foals learn to walk within hours of its birth, and Mossy was no different. He sprang up on his stubby little legs as soon as he could untangle himself from his warm blankie. Peering around with big soft infantile eyes, he toddled around much to the delight of everypony present. He walked under them, looking up curiously. Their big long legs were like trees to him, but he felt safe among the herd that was his family.

“So how long will you be staying?” Conversation started up right away. “We got the loft ready, just like you asked. I don’t understand why you like that makeshift bedroom over the house, but you’re the guest so…” one of the mares smiled a little embarrassedly. It was a farm family, they grew Hearthswarming Eve trees—they had enough room to house everypony that came to visit them. Mossy Mane’s parents smiled softly.

“Well, a few days if that’s okay.” said Mossy’s father, leaning to hug a pony here and there now that they’d all gathered. “We like the loft since, well, it’s nice and quiet and out of the way.” He smiled, his cheek puffing out and his eyes looking to one side. The real reason was that the loft had been where Mossy was conceived, and had been the site of plenty of romantic meanderings with his wife. Staying there openly was like a romantic getaway for them, even if they were staying near family.

“I got a little nest for the squirt there all set up.” said one of the male cousins, nodding a bit. “Dinner’s in a few hours, we’ll give y’all a minute to settle in and freshen up, huh?” The family departed, leaving the husband, wife, and foal alone.

“Don’t think there’s going to be any friskiness with little Mossy around, mister.” Said Mossy’s mother as soon as they were alone. “I know how you think.” She chuckled at his wilted expression.

“Not even a little?” he playfully gave her puppy eyes.

“Maybe a little, but just a little.” She conceded. The youthful couple giggled like the newly weds they still felt like. “Come on, Mossy, we’ll get you settled for a little nappie-poo while your father and I get settled… in…?” she trailed off, for Mossy Mane was not anywhere in sight. “Mossy?” she said, lifting a hoof with a tenseness in her voice.

“Mossy?” his father called, eyes darting around quickly. “Where did he go? I only took my eyes off him for a second!” he ran over to the little blanket they’d had their son wrapped in. “Mossy!” he called again, louder and a little panicked. He rushed about the barn, checking dark places and corners.

“Oh no!” the mare suddenly cried, pointing. Her husband wheeled around. Their family had left through the front of the barn, outside was the air strip and the family house… but the barn’s back door was open too. Just enough for a foal to get out. Beyond the back door of the barn? Everfree. “Mossy!” she ran and bucked the barn doors open, eyes wide and fearful. Rain was pouring like crazy outside. “Oh Celestia! Mossy----!”

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Present Day…
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Mossy was watching the big red stallion very, very carefully. He had something attached to him that was splitting the ground and turning the soil over. He was walking slowly back and forth, pulling it behind him. It sure looked heavy. The green-maned stallion turned to check on his herd. They were gathered around a red and white speckled sheet, having lunch some distance away. Mare’s business, it seemed. Leaning, he made to get a mouthful of grass, but then he noticed something.

At any given time, at least two of the six mares seemed to be watching Big Macintosh. Watching him pull the heavy thing around. Mossy eyed the alpha mare, wondering what she thought. Now and then the butter-yellow Pegasus would take a bite of her sandwich, listening to whatever conversation was going on, then flick her eyes at both of the herd’s stallions. When their eyes met he would smile broadly back at her.

He felt really comfortable in this area. The big red structure was roomy, there were lots and LOTS of fruit-bearing trees around… it was great! Curiously all the fruit-bearing trees had the same fruit on them, but Mossy was not about to complain about this. Food was a constant worry in the wild, so having a place that had so much food was a blessing. He marveled at the grand fortune his herd seemed to have. His eyes slid back over the barn for a long few moments. Hmm. Why did it look familiar? He’d not been here before, had he? The shape looked familiar. Mossy gave a loud huff and hunched when suddenly his head throbbed. He whimpered for a moment, rubbing his temple with one hoof. Owwie!

Fluttershy saw her strange friend suffering and went over to him. The rest of the group watched her go, but made no comment. Their Pegasus friend had been doing her very best to take care of the strange stallion—they weren’t about to poke fun. That is, until, Rainbow Dash caught Rarity’s eye and made a lewd gesture with both hooves, grinning. Rarity swatted the back of her head, very unlady-like. Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes.

“Are you, uhm, okay?” Fluttershy asked when she neared Mossy.

Mossy looked up, ears perked. He smiled grandly as the alpha mare approached. His throbbing, trying-to-remember headache vanished, and he came near to her. She yipped a little when he settled his chin on her shoulder. It wasn’t really nuzzling, but a sort of friend-hug with just his neck. “Pb-b-b-b-ht.” he ruffled his lips in a greeting. “Flutter-shabababab.” He tried.

“Fluttershy.” She whispered, a little pink in the cheeks from the close male contact. She backed up a little, looking out at Big Mac as he plodded back and forth in the field. His face had a far-away look on it, his thoughts elsewhere, she could tell. “Uhm, have you been watching Big Macintosh?” she said in a friendly way. “He’s nice, huhm?” she gestured with her head to him. “Maybe you two will get along, since neither of you talk very much?” the quiet mare said meekly, looking at his hooves.

Mossy looked over at Big Mac with Fluttershy gestured to him. He didn’t understand her mouth-sounds, but the ‘go on’ gesture was clear. She obviously wanted him to do something with the herd’s new stallion. Did they need to fight, for mounting privileges? Mossy didn’t know if he could win. Or oh, wait wait wait. He leaned around Fluttershy, looking at the other mares of his herd. They were watching Big Mac go back and forth with the heavy thing that split the ground. Ah! He understood!

Leaning, he nosed Fluttershy (who eep’d and turned red) and then hopped over the fence into the dirt field. Galloping over to Big Mac, he shouldered up to his new friend with a big grin.

Big Mac regarded him with a curious look, pulling his plow along. He watched the strange pony, who had been explained to him as a ‘wild stallion’, lean and take one of the leather straps in his teeth. He made to protest, but watched him pull it over his neck. The plow had straps enough for two ponies to pull it, though Big Mac was strong enough to do it alone—now he had a pulling partner apparently.

Mossy looked over at Fluttershy with a great big smiling face. She watched him from afar, tilting her head a little. What was he doing? Helping Big Mac? Ohhh, how nice. She favored both stallions with a shy smile, flapping her wings a couple of times.

Hah! Mossy knew it! The heavy thing that split the ground was a tool that stallions used to get approval from their mares! Look! Look how he could pull the heavy thing! Why, he could even pull it faster than the big red stallion could, just watch! He could impress the entire herd all at once.

“Whuhhh!?” Spilled out of Big Mac’s mouth as Mossy Mane suddenly jolted forward with a burst of strength. The farming stallion staggered forward as his plow hit him in the butt and he ran recklessly to keep up. With both boys pulling, the blade moved quite quickly.

The startled cry got the attention of all six mares, who turned and stared in shock as Mossy ran back and forth with the plow and Big Mac in tow. Vrooom! Vrrrrrooom! Vrrooom! Vrrooom! They arced back and forth, carving straight lines through the dirt as they went. Mossy understood the straight lines and making the whole field look like lines, he could do that. Vroom! “Well criminity, I think he’s trying to show up Big Mac!” Applejack laughed, stomping a hoof with laughter. The other mares nodded dumbly, watching the crazy pony go. A short time later, most of the field finished, Mossy slowed to a crawl, sweating and panting loudly. “Y’know, if he wants to help at the farm while he’s trying to get used to regular life, ah don’t see why we don’t just hire him on!” Applejack snickered behind a hoof, eying her brother. Big Mac was covered with blots of dirt, and looked just as miserable as Mossy. Both stallions flopped down beside each other, still strapped to the plow. “Just look’it how fast they got that field done!”

Fluttershy worriedly went out to see both stallions, and the rest of the group drifted that way too. Mossy glowed despite his misery. It had worked! Pulling the heavy thing meant mare attention, maybe nuzzles too! The alpha mare leaned over him, her mouth sounds soft and sounding concerned. He pulled himself to his hooves, throwing his chest out, still panting.
Applejack came, bearing a bucket of drinking water for both boys. Big Mac lapped and drank noisily, not used to such sudden strain. It was like sprinting, but for way too long. Mossy shoved his head into the bucket, drinking when it was his turn, sploshing water everywhere. When he righted himself the bucket stuck to his head. He whinnied a little, flailing about until it came off. Then he was all smiles again, water dripping down his front. “Uh-well listen!” Applejack smiled awkwardly, turning to Fluttershy. “Ah ain’t one to turn down extra help, so here’s some bits for his hard work. Ah don’t want him to try an’ eat them or somethin’, so I’ll leave ‘em with you, alrigh’?” the stetson’d mare leaned and presented Fluttershy with a tiny little bag of golden coins.

Fluttershy perked a little. Money! She was so strapped for bits she couldn’t help but look a little entranced at it. She looked over at Mossy, smiling gratefully. They’d be okay for a little while with this much. “Th-thank you.” She said softly to Applejack, nodding some from behind her mane. When the picnic was over and Mossy had recovered enough for the journey back to Fluttershy’s home, the two of them walked side-by-side.

He glanced over his shoulder at the barn, his mouth a neutral line for a few long moments. It really did look familiar, the shape of that building. He couldn’t understand why. He’d never been to that particular place before. Huh. He’d seen the rest of the herd wander off to their own devices. Perhaps they’d meet up later for grazing? He didn’t know. The new stallion he’d picked out looked tired, he’d catch up to them later, no doubt. Hmm… “Flutter-shabubub-bab.” Mossy said to her, smiling in his usual charming way.

“We’ll get you to say my name someday.” Fluttershy sighed, smiling. She then flinched and blushed at what she’d just said. Why, it sounded almost… dirty, to say it like that! Oh dear! “We got a little money thanks to you.” She quickly praised, changing the subject. “I’ll get you a blanket for tonight, so you’ll have your own little nest other than just the couch or the floor.” Her eyebrows bunched into a fretful little hieroglyph on her forehead. It wasn’t as though she could share her bed with him. He needed his own sleeping stuff.

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That Night…
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Thunder and lightning exploded across the sky, making Fluttershy toss and turn in her bed. Her little cottage moaned and creaked in the harsh winds. Sighing softly and knowing sleep would not come easy, she lay staring at the ceiling. She still didn’t have a name for her friend. He didn’t have a cutie mark, and he never said anything so she could really think of a great one. His mane was dark green like the deepest of forest mosses, and his brown coat reminded the yellow mare of a rich and fertile earth. She could hardly name him after his colors, but that was really all she had.

Ka-boom! Thunder rattled the windowsills again, and the Pegasus became aware there was a figure in her bedroom doorway. It was Mossy, and he looked frightened out of his wits! Standing there shaking and trembling and looking around, he jittered on his hooves and made whimpering sounds at her. His eyes were big and soft, and his new powder-blue blanket was hanging in his mouth. He set it down on the floor, “Flutter-shabaaaab!” he whimpered, his eyes watering. He looked claustrophobic, looking at the ceiling and all the furniture and strange angles. He was used to open spaces, and bushes to hide under during such severe weather. Ka-boom! He flinched like he’d been struck. “Flutter-shaaaa!” he wailed louder, lower lip quivering. Unfamiliar place, scary loud weather, the poor thing was shaking like a leaf. Would his alpha mare not protect him?!

“Oh my…” Fluttershy whispered, eyeing the grown stallion. He was so frightened, he was like a foal. Her knowledge of animals told her that any shift in habitat combined with something stressful like a thunderstorm was enough to wrack the nerves of any creature—much less a wild pony. Looking around quickly, she spotted a little love seat sitting against the wall. Rising from the bed, she pushed it until it was lined up with her bed (not QUITE touching it). “Come on. Here.” She patted the loveseat a couple of times. He cantered close, inspecting it and sniffing a bit. “Up. Up-up.” She patted it a few times, encouraging him. He tested the soft surface with a hoof, then clambered up into it and settled onto his belly. Mossy looked around nervously as Fluttershy went to fetch his blanket. Draping it over him with a kind smile, she slid back into her bed. Hopefully being near her would soothe him.

Ka-boom! Mossy yelped like he’d been slapped, pulling the blanket over his head fearfully. He didn’t like it! He didn’t like the big noise in the strange place that he didn’t know where it was! He missed the forest! He missed the ferns he could hide under and be away from the rain! Fluttershy lifted her head a little bit when she heard him begin to start crying. Her expression softened sympathetically. Many animals feared loud storms, the poor thing… Sidling a little , sure the sheet was still over her and his blanket over him, she opened a wing to caress his back a few times. The stallion shifted so his nose was poking out and sniffled some. “Flutter-shahhh…” he mewled softly.

“There-there…” she whispered quietly in the darkness to him. “Fluttershy. Fluttershy is here.” She tried to coax him into her real name since he wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon.

“Flutter-shabbab…” he whispered, perking his ears a little.

“Fluttershy.” She cooed softly, glad to distract him. They looked into eachother's eyes. She almost felt motherly all of a sudden, like he was her frightened foal—come to be safe with her from the scary storm. Fluttershy didn’t fear thunderstorms, she’d taken basic weather classes like any other Pegasus. But, he was an earth pony, the poor dear had every right to be frightened of the big noise and scary lights. She sighed, a quiet smile coming over her face. “Flutter?” she whispered.

“Flutter-rrr.”

“Shyyyy.”

“Shaaahhb.”

“Shyyyy.”

“Sh-yahhhy.”

“Shhh.”

“Shhh.”

“Eyyyye.”

“Eyyyye.”

“Sh-ighhhh.”

“Sheeet.”

“Fluttershy!” She tried to get him to put all the syllables together.

Mossy put it all together finally. How could he have been so blind at pronouncing the alpha mare’s name? Now he had it! “Fluttershit!” he belted proudly. Fluttershy gaped at him until thunder struck and he hid under his blanket again.

End of Part 6