[Post Stars Dashing] Fluttershy
It was late noon in Ponyville; most ponies were still in the middle of their usual schedules that pertain to their occupation. The market was busy as well as most of the town with things like Sugar Cube corner and other attractions of the town were busy from their usual attractions of the day, keeping all the ponies in town busy.
One thing that Duke Hoof’em was not currently a part of, the stallion didn’t really have much of a job when living here in Ponyville. Other than a few points where the town was in trouble or something that required the safety of the planet, the stallion practically had all the free time in the world.
And at this point the stallion didn’t want much to do with the hustle and bustle that the small town offered and decided to head for the outskirts. The stallion didn’t have much luck with the mares in the town, so he decided to try out and look for the mares available out of the town. He was told from some stallions that there are a small number of mares outside of the town and was willing to give a try.
The stallion had been in the town for about half a year and nothing seemed to work in the stallion’s favor. Duke had tried everything he could think of and at one point, he gave up before the mare could even think of getting with him.
So with limited success from inside the town, he decided to go check and see if the mares outside the town were any better. He was aware that the farmer mare that he has met up with a few times lived outside of the town but at least she tolerated him and at times they could hold a somewhat friendly conversation with.
So going on some information he told about a zebra in the Everfree Forest that was fairly attractive and seeing that she lived alone in the forest he was more than willing to give it a try.
Duke walked along the road to the forest hoping to make some kind of progress with the mare. The path was one of simple vegetation and small animals but he paid no mind, he was looking forward to looking meeting the mare.
As he was meeting the outskirts of the forest, he noticed a small brown, green, and red cottage there, just outside the forest. There were several bird houses, and other items for small animals. He raised a brow in interest as he didn’t expect to see any homes near here, especially considering all the humors he’s heard about the forest.
He was about to continue walking down to the forest till the front door suddenly opened. He watched as a pegasus mare with yellow fur and a long pink mane walked out carrying a small bag of bird seed in her mouth.
Duke’s eyes widen behind his glasses as he watched the small mare flew to a small bird and pored in some bird seed. He smirked as he continued to watch the mare. Duke had to admit, this mare was quite a looker and he was more than willing to give this one a try. He could’ve sworn he’d seen her before awhile back but didn’t dwell on it.
“Oh” The mare said noticing the stallion staring at her and at the same time startling her “Sorry…um…I didn’t see you there…”
Duke couldn’t help but smile genuinely at the timid mare’s reaction but that didn’t deter him from his ultimate goal. “Sorry, I was just admiring your…” while Duke wasn’t the most intelligent pony, he certainly knew that being straight forward would not be a good way to approach the mare “…the animals around the house.”
“Oh.” The mare replied “I just take care of them.” She put the small bag of bird seed down “Um, I’m Fluttershy, do you need anything?”
“My name’s Duke Hoof’em,” he introduced rapidly as he puffed out his chest. Unfortunately, his particular act had the opposite effect he was going for. The mare flew up into a hover with a light but sharp “Eep!”
‘Damn it’ the stallion cursed internally, he wasn’t trying to scare her away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.” He said gently.
“Oh, its okay, I’m sorry I got startled, you’re not mad at me are you? Please don’t be mad at me!” The yellow mare cried.
Duke made a light chuckle “No, I’m not mad, but…I would like to know you a bit better.” The stallion now had a wide grin.
“Um…okay.” The timid mare said as she landed back down on the ground lightly though was actually still a bit cautious. She was currently speaking to a stallion she knew nothing about other than his name. But the general appearance of the stallion intimidates the mare. The stallion was bigger than most stallions and was armed, she was well aware of firearms since the incident with Starscream awhile ago back. On top of that, his eyes were covered and his chest was covered in ammunition. “What would you like to know?”
“Hmm…” the stallion said in wonder “How long have you been living here?”
“Um…since I was a filly actually…” The shy pegasus took a step back, showing she really wasn’t comfortable with this.
Duke noticed this and saw that small talk wasn’t going to be working in his favor. “How about-”
“Um…listen um…Duke I’m sorry but I really must get back to the house, Angel and all the animals inside need to be fed, oh please don’t be mad.”
“It’s okay.” Duke said with a small smile but inwardly he was annoyed “Bye.”
With that, the pegasus quickly grabbed the bag of bird seed and flew back to the house but did wave her hoof good bye to him before closing the door. Duke got annoyed however as he walked away from the house, at this point he wanted to try again with this mare. He didn’t care about the zebra anymore, besides, the shyness actually attracted Duke.
--Next Day--
It was now early morning and the start of the weekend for some ponies. And like usual Duke was out in the open, looking a mare. However, unlike usual, he had plans for a specific mare this time.
Duke made his way to Fluttershy’s home expecting to make a better impression. He had to say the aqua eyed colored mare left an impression on the hardened stallion and her timid nature drew his interest even more.
The stallion followed the same path but later noticed a light impression of hoofprints embedded on the ground that coming from the house when he arrived. He raised a brow but easily moved along and followed the trail. He moved on following the long trail that conveniently stayed away from the small local town.
Within fifteen minuets, Duke made it to what seemed to be the end of the line for the small trip. He came across an apple farm and for some reason, he felt like this was a place he’d remember for sometime or rather, should remember. He really didn’t know why.
He browsed about the trees though never crossing the fence though and only looked on from the trail. After a few moments, he noticed an open barn and saw the yellow timid Pegasus coming out of it and carrying a small saddle with supplies, animal food perhaps.
Duke smirked as he approached her and climbing over the fence “Hey babe!”
“Eep!” The Pegasus shuttered as she took a step back and turned to him. Even after calming down, she was still a little frightened from the stallion. After all she hardly knew him, though she did remember him. “Oh, it’s you…”
“Of course Fluttershy, I’d go anywhere you go baby!”
“Oh…um…”
“Now come on Baby, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know I’d like you to accompany me.” Duke felt this was both forced and a bit rushing into it, but he waited all night for this.
“Oh…oh! Um…sorry to say Mister Hoof’em but um…I already have a coltfriend.” Fluttershy replied.
“A coltfriend huh?” The dark stallion said aloud “I bet your coltfriend is a pussy! I could kick his ass!”
Just as he made this statement to her he noticed a large shadow looming over him. The action hero turned around to see what was causing it and was met up with a large stallion, a bit bigger than he was actually, as well as more muscular. The stallion was mostly red, green eyes, and an orange mane. He had half a green apple cutie mark and was currently glaring at him. Duke didn’t need to be told that this was her coltfriend.
“Can Ah help you with something?” the larger stallion asked with a deep voice.
Duke blinked behind his sunglasses and stood silent for a moment just staring at the larger stallion. “Hmm…I outta break a-”
*POW*
Duke flew back into an idol tree that was on the farm and leaving an indent in the tree. The black stallion shook his head as he got out of the tree and he glared being his black sunglasses at the larger stallion.
“It’s time kick flank and chew hay…and I’m all out of hay.”
Within a short time Duke acquired a small supply of firearms. Usually Duke wouldn’t stoop so low as to use guns against another unarmed pony, but Duke’s usual cocky and for the most part intimidating stature wasn’t going to work. This stallion was larger than he was (a feat he didn’t think was possible till now) and he could tell that he was going to be protecting the yellow mare he had his sights on.
In some ways he actually did respect stallions like this one. For one, he actually was honest; the stallion already had proven that he was going to be protecting the mare. Also it was the fact that he was committing to a single mare that cared for him and he clearly cared for her. He wasn’t after mating. But Duke wasn’t that kind of stallion, he needed more than a single mare and he didn’t have time to commit to a single mare. A stallion like him need something invigorating, new and constant, he needed pleasure not commitment with it.
The Action Hero looked over to the farm where main entrance was. The larger stallion was currently pulling a large plow. His target, the timid yellow pegasus, was gently flying by the stallion. Though he couldn’t hear them, he could tell that the two were talking, not yapping continually but they were conversing.
“Oh my, do you need a drink?” Fluttershy asked as she noticed how heavily sweating the stallion working.
“I’ll be okay.” Macintosh assured the concerned marefriend.
“Nonesense!” Fluttershy lightly scolded “Hydration is very important! Let me go get you something to drink.” And with that the mare flew to the Apple’s home.
The red stallion tried to say something but it was too late. He only smiled at his caring marefriend as he quickly took a hoof to wipe off some excess sweat off his head and continued pulling the plow.
“Alright” Duke said to himself as he walked toward the working stallion “It’s time to show some serious firepower baby!” He chuckled to himself, he was currently armed with his signature golden Colt 1911 and over his back was his handy shotgun. He knew it would take more than a simple handgun to scare off this big guy.
He didn’t want to kill him. While Duke had no problem offing any foolish pony or alien that threatened him or any innocent, but he didn’t kill innocents…his moral imperative wasn’t that out of whack.
He chuckled as he loomed over fence where he saw the stallion working. He black earth pony jumped over the fence high and adjusted the string on his hoof to let out a shot. Just as he was about to reach the apex of his jump, he realized he didn’t jump high enough. His back leg hit the top of the fence making him lose his balance. He accidentally let off a shot with his handgun that was conveniently aiming at the metal gutter and the bullet ricocheted off and hit a branch over a tree he was near.
At this moment the stallion was on his stomach with his back hoofs in the air in an uncomfortable position but was too annoyed to do anything about. Just as this transpired, he noticed the rapidly falling branch came down and fell out of his neck. And just to add insult to injury, a few apples fell on his head as well.
“This sucks…”
In the distance Macintosh turned toward to loud sound but didn’t know what it was. At this moment, the kind pegasus returned with a small tray and a glass of apple juice. “What was that?” she asked nervously from the very loud bang.
“Probably just some ‘ol rodent messing with some farm equipment, nothing to worry about.”
An hour later, Duke got himself out under the branch was no longer willing to play this nice. If one were to consider using firearms as a scare tactic as being nice that is. But Duke wasn’t going to be messing some weapons. He realized that he was going to have to be more…direct. Hoof to hoof!
While he doubted that Big Macintosh was a fighter, he was clearly much stronger than he was. And the only natural way to get by this was by being stronger. And that is where his current plan leads him to. He smirked as he pulled out a bottle of ‘HOOF’EM-RX’. It was a white bottle with a label name on it with its name as well as his own head smirking.
“It looks like it’s time for me to go Postal!” He chuckled as he popped open the lid and poured the pills in his mouth and swallowed them in one gulp. Almost instantly, he felt his heart start racing and his muscles growing. His confident smirk turned to a growling anger.
“Now we’re ending this…the mare is mine…”
The now energized and overpowered stallion ran through the fence he previously couldn’t jump over and ran toward the working stallion. The large red stallion turned around and noticed the charging stallion. Macintosh reacted quickly; he unhooked himself from the plow and jumped out of the way. Duke easily pushed the plow out of the way, knocking it over.
“Now what is your problem?” Macintosh asked as he noticed the very much angry Earth pony.
“Hand over the mare…” he growled intensely.
“Now I know what ya’ll are after and Ah’m not letting you take advantage of her like that.” The red stallion made clear as his green eyes glared through Duke’s sunglasses.
“You had your chance.” Duke growled as he grinded his teeth as he walked closer “I’m going to rip your head off and s-”
“Stop!” a female voice called out. Immediately, a yellow mare flew in-front of the black stallion. The earth pony took a step back as the mare glared at him “How dare you! Come in and attempt to start a fight!”
“Don’t worry baby! I’m-”
“I’m not your baby!” At this point the yellow pegasus stared at the stallion right in the eyes. The stare felt like it pierced through his sunglasses. The stallion took a noticeable step back and his stature weakened as all the adrenaline from the muscle enhancer seemed to just disappear as did is normal strength. He literally felt like jelly as the mare’s eyes continued to pierce through his.
“Uh…r-r-right…” Duke attempted to utter silently.
“Now will you kindly leave the farm and leave me and Macintosh alone from now on?” she asked sweetly but firmly.
“Y-yeah…” the stallion uttered as he took a few steps back as he then turned around and stumped over himself as he attempted to run off the farm.
The pegasus let out a tired sigh and turned around to see smiling big red stallion looking back at her “Well will you look at that? Looks like you didn’t need my help after all.”
The shy mare let out small embarrassed giggle as she hid behind her mane. Macintosh made a small chuckle as he walked over to her and nuzzled her though her mane. “I hope I didn’t scare him too much…”
Macintosh chuckled again lightly “He’ll be alright Sugarcube…”