//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Child of the Swamp 
// by Topazzia 
//------------------------------//

Mud frowned at the yellow Pegasus, resenting the sleepily made decision to let this Pony thing into her room. 


Fluttershy was forcing a friendly smile, every sign was completely visible. But Mud also picked up the vibrations from her rapid heartbeat, and the smell of fear emanating from the Pony’s short fur as Fluttershy approached the bed. 

“What is it?” Mud grunted, “This is the only time I’ve ever been able to get full nights of sleep, I’d like to not break that stride.”

Fluttershy tilts her head, becoming curious. “Oh? Why?”
Mud let out a low hiss, “Whatever, what do you want?”

The Pegasus flapped her wings, lifting herself up to sit next to the Kelpie. “Do you have trouble sleeping? Or did?”

Mud thought hard, her grogginess making it difficult. She sat hunched next to the Pony, letting out a sigh as she met Fluttershy’s gaze. “You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?”

Fluttershy looked sympathetic, “I won’t force you, but it would help us to know more about you. And it would help you, to talk to someone.”

Mud straightened up, her thinking visible as her gaze drifted away from the pony, and brought it back. 
“So just talk?”


Fluttershy nods, a smile forming. “Even if you don’t feel like you can, if you’re shy, that means you need to talk to someone even more.”
Mud’s expression softens, looking around at the crystal walls and ceiling. “I guess… could you tell me how you built this place?”



Starlight flipped through a book, she looked closely at the pages. Then stopped, her eyes going wide as she read each word. Excitement welled up, causing her to stand and declare her victory. 

“YES!”

Apple Jack who was in the library with her, whips around in surprise. “Wut!?”

She watches as the Unicorn puffs into sparks, appearing in the empty air a centimeter from the Earth Pony’s nose. 

The Unicorn lifts the book up to AJ, setting a hoof firmly on the page she found. “Look at this!”
AJ looks at it, “Ah, see it… What am I lookin’ at?”
Starlight sits back, holding the book in front of her as she directed her reading with a hoof. 

“This is a book of old myths and stories from the Earth Pony shores, most of them were written by the Mighty Helm. And there’s a piece here that mentions Kelpie’s!”


Apple Jack looks at the book, “Well they ain’t myths, one of ‘em is sleepin’ here.”
Starlight nods, “Exactly, that means the rest are somewhere. Somewhere Ponies have been!”

AJ realized then, “Gatcha Starry, what else does the book say?”
The Unicorn turns the book to herself, “Well, it mentions Kelpie’s love water, and frequent areas like swamps.”

“Well the only swamps we know about are in the Everfree and Hayseed.” AJ points a hoof at the book.

Starlight nods, “That’s just it; the book doesn’t mention Everfree or hayseed. Here, it says “Long ships stopped by the river of land, the narrow canal rapped the mountains foot, and its mountain that shown its shadow on the shadow of Pony.”

Apple Jack tilts her head, “Shadow of Pony, How’s that a Kelpie?”


Starlight shrugs, “Don’t know, but it fits. Look here.”
She levitates another book over to the Earth Pony, “This book is filled with fairy tales and ghost stories, many of which are old and from the beginnings of Pony settlements back in the day. It’s the only one that has a couple stories about Kelpies. But the words they use only translate to Kelpie, that’s why.”


AJ looks over the two books, “Any place mentioned where they come from?”
Starlight turns the pages of the first book, “About… Here, the Mighty Helm had to cross the land bridge in order to reach the north eastern shores in Luna Bay.”

“So the Kelpies are on the land bridge?” Apple Jack shifts to stand, eyes widening in attention.
Starlight smiles big, “Yes, the same land bridge the Zebras use to cross over into Equestria.”



Mud had reoriented herself on the bed so she faced the Pegasus, listening intently to the things she said. Using crystals to banish monsters, chaotic weather patterns, the sun and moon in the sky at the same time, and the castle, the castle that grew from a seed like a tree. 

It was all so amazing, so hard to believe. Mud tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “And all this really happened?”

Fluttershy nodded, “Every single one.” She smiled, then lifted a hoof. “Are there any things like that where you come from?”


Mud looked down, mind bogged down by all the things this pony had told her. She lifts her head, “I can fight any Kelpie and win.” 


Fluttershy’s smile didn’t leave, but her eyes widened. The Kelpie wore a proud toothy smirk, her posture improving. 
“Really? Any Kelpie?” The Pony urged on.

Mud lifted a hoof to her chest, “Yup, I’m the best hunter too, those Dirt Pelts couldn’t catch a rock.”
Fluttershy leaned forward, “It must have been difficult, with all that water.”
Mud shook her head, “Not at all, Kelpie’s are great swimmers.”
The Pegasus shifts her hooves excitedly, “That would be interesting to see…” An anxious spark flashed through her brain. “Was there anything else that may have made things challenging?”


Mud tilted her head, looking off at the wall. “No… No, I don’t think so.”
Fluttershy pulled back slowly, “What about… Plants?”

Mud looked at the Pony like she had a frog on her face, “Plants? Why would plants be a problem?”
The Pegasus flitters a wing, “Oh, well, some plants can… Do things to you.”
It didn’t take long for the Kelpie to suddenly remember, “Oh, I guess Rainbow Weed would really mess things up.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widen, expression turning to surprise. “What’s that?”
Mud points a hoof up at her own eye, “It’s a weed that makes things go all weird. Like colors, like a rainbow. Didn’t take long for Kelpies to figure out a name.” 

Fluttershy sat still, finding she was surprised, even though she knew. The Pegasus blinked, “How often do you use it?”

Mud stared for a moment, but answered as a frown began to form. “Not often, it was the only thing that helped.” She turns her gaze to the floor. 

Fluttershy’s shoulders drop slightly, and she leans close, a sympathetic look forming. “You had problems, like what?”

The Kelpie huffs with agitation, ears flattening against her head as her gaze flicks around. She thought for a moment before muttering. “Some of the others, other Kelpies, they always messed with me. I couldn’t walk a fox length without seeing one those Dirt Pelts looking to ruin my life.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widen with apprehension, she pauses a moment as Mud goes on.

“It’s always been like that, they steal my prey, attack me when my back is turned, and chase me away from water.”

Fluttershy shuffled close enough to sit beside the dark mare, “Is that why you used the plant?”
Mud nodded, “It was the only way I could sleep… When I actually got the chance.”
Fluttershy extended a wing across the Kelpie’s shoulder comfortingly.

Mud looked up with surprise, the pony smiled. 
“If it makes any difference, I know how you feel.”


The Kelpie was taken aback by the comment, ears upright as her thoughts spun frantically. 
Fluttershy continued, “I had problems with bullies when I was little, but then I met Rainbow Dash.”
Mud hesitated, listening on. 
“I made my first friend, and ever since, I didn’t care what others thought of me. Now I have all my friends to help whenever I need it.”


Mud’s panic faded, hearing the sincerity in the Pony’s voice. 

But it didn’t last, the Kelpie straightened up. “Well, I didn’t need help.” 
She put on a confident face, “I’m not helpless. I fought, and beat, each one of those mongrels!”

Fluttershy smiled amusedly, “Oh, did you?”
Mud grinned, “Yeah, they were all just jealous because I’m a better hunter and fighter.” 


The Pony leans off the edge of the mattress, “Well, your new friends are here to help.”
Mud stared in bewilderment as the Pony dropped down, and walked over to the door, and watched her leave.

The kelpie was left alone, her gaze falling on the floor again. She huffed, mind filling with dark thoughts. Mud grunted angrily, “I’m not helpless…”
She stands up on the bed, hissing loudly as her fur rose along her spine. “I am the best Kelpie! No one can beat me!”

She stomped in a circle on the bed, stepping down with a growl. “I’m stronger than anyone, no one can stop me.”

Her anger rose until her ears burned, memories returning, growing the snarl on her face. Mud stepped off the bed, and up to the window. She looked out at the expanse of land.

“I can do whatever I want.”