//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Mail Order Orphan // by kudzuhaiku //------------------------------// There was another series of knocks at the door. Insistent knocking. Fluttershy opened the door. Three ponies smiled at her. Ponies that she had watched grow, ponies she had foalsitted, ponies were now squirming impatiently outside her door. “Hi!” They said in unison. “Help has arrived! Cutie Mark Crusaders foal hauling service!” “You practiced that didn’t you?” Fluttershy said, a smile spreading on her lips. “Yeah, we did,” Applebloom said, “with friends like Scootaloo, we have to work hard to get things right.” “Hey!” Scootaloo gave Applebloom a shove, causing her to collide with Sweetie Belle. The Crusaders paused, frozen in their scuffle, as they became aware at Ivy was staring at them. “Oh my gosh!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “She’s adorable!” Ivy darted behind her mother. Fluttershy looked at the three fillies. They were all at that awkward stage, not quite adults, but no longer little fillies. “Hi hi?” Ivy’s voice came out from behind Fluttershy. “Hi!” Said Scootaloo. Ivy stepped out, moving forward cautiously. “I think we were being a little bit obnoxious,” Applebloom commented, “and spooked her.” Ivy pushed her way out the door, hurrying outside. “Go out!” She explained as she scurry-hurried away. “Oh my,” Fluttershy said, “she’s got to go.” “Rainbow Dash told me all about this!” Scootaloo said. A safe distance away, Ivy let loose with an indigo fiery blast. The Crusaders were awed into silence. “Good Ivy!” Praised Fluttershy. “Ivy good!” Ivy replied. Scootaloo pointed to a wagon parked nearby, hitched to her scooter. “We’re good to go any time you are,” she explained, “and I promise, I’ll stay at sane speeds.” Fluttershy looked at the wagon, and then at Ivy. She felt a twinge of panic, Scootaloo was fast, and Scootaloo’s idea of sane speed was probably different than what Fluttershy believed was a sane speed. She was about to protest, but remained silent. Ivy would probably enjoy the ride. She knew Scootaloo would be careful. Scootaloo worked to deliver baked goods for Sugarcube Corner now, and her deliveries were never damaged. Cakes and baked goods were far more delicate than Ivy was. “OK.” Fluttershy consented. “Sweetie Belle, you owe me five bits!” Scootaloo said, laughing. “Oh come on!” Sweetie protested. “Even Applebloom said she’d never agree.” “Pay up horn head.” “Later.” Sweetie agreed. “Do I look like I am carrying bits?” Fluttershy took to the air, flying over to collect Ivy. “Ready to go for a ride?” She asked. “Ride?” Ivy asked. Fluttershy scooped up Ivy and deposited her into the wagon. “Sit right there and hold on Ivy.” Ivy gripped the edges of the wagon with her talons. Fluttershy hovered near. “Ready to go girls?” Scootaloo inquired. “Any time.” Applebloom replied. “I’m good for a run.” Sweetie Belle added. Scootaloo mounted her scooter and flared out her wings. “Hold on Ivy, we are good to go!” Scootaloo’s wings buzzed, and her scooter lurched forward. The wagon jolted into motion, causing Ivy to grunt. The forward motion smoothed out and they began to pick up speed, with Fluttershy flying close behind, ready to catch Ivy at any moment. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were trotting on each side. Ivy was flying. She felt the breeze caressing her body, ruffling her feathers, and tickling her nose. She spread her tiny wings and flapped. She gripped the edges of the wagon, securing herself with her claws. Her crest rose with excitement. She leaned her head into the wind. Her tail whipped in the breeze behind her. The two ponies on either side of her were smiling at her, their hooves clopping on the road. She could feel the wind on her wings and something in her chest ignited, a warm feeling that spread quickly through her whole body. Out of everything she had experienced so far in her short life, this was the best so far. Even better than bathtime. Fluttershy flew just behind Ivy, watching her foal. Ivy was having the time of her life. “Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said, trying to make her voice heard over the wind, “I think you can go just a little faster.” Scootaloo’s wings blurred a bit more, and the scooter surged forward. Ivy reacted to the speed with a squeal and a giggle. Her wings flapped faster. Ponyville was rapidly approaching. “I’m in a hurry to get to Sweet Apple Acres,” Fluttershy insisted, “I don’t want to be rude to anypony, but I don’t want to stop. There will be time to introduce Ivy to the townsponies later.” “Gotcha!” Scootaloo replied. “Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, make sure I have a clear path through town!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle broke away, running ahead. “Beep beep!” They shouted together. Rainbow Dash swooped down from the clouds. “Hi ‘Shy!” She shouted. “Hi Ivy!” “Hi hi!” Ivy trilled. Ivy was thrilled. There were ponies all around her. The colourful pony had joined mama. And she was flying. She was getting a little tired though, her wing joints beginning to ache. She started to pant a bit. She eased off on her flapping. “Spike told me her name!” Rainbow Dash said. “It’s awesome! Climbing Ivy!” She rolled through the air effortlessly. “I’ll have a buddy to take naps in a tree with me!” She swooped down, flying directly above Ivy. “One day I’m going to teach you how to fly Ivy.” Fluttershy watched the ponies as they raced through town. Some stared. Others offered only a passing glance. Others waved. A bright pink pony began to bounce in place, her face beaming, her curly frizzy mane bobbing. After a few bounces, she took off in a bouncing run to intercept the fast moving group. “Hi Ivy!” Pinkie giggled. She bounced along with the group with practiced ease. “Hi hi!” Ivy answered. “We almost have a parade,” Sweetie Belle observed, “we need a horn section.” “We have a unicorn!” Applebloom offered. Sweetie groaned. “That’s awful!” “I’ve got to get back to baking!” Pinkie lamented, breaking away from the group. “And I have weather duty.” Rainbow Dash added as she too, began to pull away. Scootaloo blasted past Mayor Mare, who stood back wide eyed with shock. “Obey the speed limit!” She shouted. “Maybe tomorrow!” Scootaloo replied. “You don’t complain about my speed when I bring you your frosted cookies!” The edge of town rapidly approached. Their passing had probably set off a commotion in town, which caused Fluttershy some worry. She would deal with it later, but she suspected many knocks on her door in the future. How long before Ivy could answer the door she wondered. Ivy folded her wings to her sides. Her tongue flapped in the breeze along side her, freakishly long in a way that only dragon tongues could be, the forked tip waving near her wing joint. She was panting, her eyes wide with excitement, her talons locked onto the edges of the wagon. She was in no danger of falling out. Her grey eyes darted around in all directions, trying to take in the world around her. A flying bug was sucked into Scootaloo’s airstream, and Ivy’s tongue sprang to life, snatching it out of the air before it blew past. She crunched her well earned treat. “Nature is so fascinating!” Fluttershy remarked. “Bug!” Ivy shouted. Ivy’s tongue returned to flapping in the breeze behind her. The smell of apples filled the air now, causing Ivy to sniff as the landscape hurried past. There was a hill ahead, and Scootaloo picked up speed in anticipation. “Almost home!” Applebloom announced. “Home sweet home!” Sweetie Belle agreed. “You don’t live here!” Applebloom retorted. “I might as well live here,” Sweetie replied, “I spend most of my time here. The clubhouse is my second home.” “You two are sappy!” Scootaloo said breathlessly. Applebloom slowed, coming up beside the wagon. “Hey Fluttershy, do you think Ivy will get a cutie mark?” Applebloom inquired. “She’s part pony! Ponies get cutie marks.” “I don’t know Applebloom,” Fluttershy admitted, “she might. I hope she does.” “But not too soon,” Applebloom commented, “the real fun is the journey, finding out all of the things you can be good at. I think when ponies do finally get their mark, most of them stop trying new things and learning new skills.” “That’s very wise Applebloom,” Fluttershy agreed, “I hope you never stop learning.” “I’m still a blank slate waiting for life to make its mark on me.” Applebloom said sagely. Scootaloo buzzed up the hill with little effort. Ivy was sitting in the wagon now, worn out, but still having the time of her life. As they crested the rise, a barn came into view, along with corn fields, gardens, and a vast orchard. Scootaloo began to slow down a bit, easing off her speed so she could come to an eventual stop. She was practically coasting now. Ivy was taking in everything around her, her head turning from side to side, her nostrils flaring, sniffing, trying to take everything in. She slurped in her tongue. Ahead of them, two stallions stood in the yard, a house behind them. One large and red, the other shorter and blue-grey. The red stallion began to trot toward them to greet them, while the other watched the incoming group, his eyes squinting in the sun. “Big Mac! Stumpy!” Applebloom shouted. Scootaloo was slowing, coasting, gliding along gently. Big Mac drew near, and finally, he stopped. He looked at Ivy, cocking his head. “Hi hi!” Ivy waved. “Howdy do.” The stallion replied. The ride ended, the scooter and wagon finally coasting to a stop. The house was a short distance away. “Applejack is inside,” Big Mac said, “upstairs, in her room. In bed.” He turned to look at Stump Puller, and then turned back to Fluttershy. “I’m going to be an uncle.” Big Mac said flatly. He then strode off to the orchard, forever a pony of few words. Ivy watched him go. “Big!” Ivy observed. “Big big!” Fluttershy turned to Stump Puller. “Hi there,” she said shyly. “are you excited about being a father soon?” Stump Puller considered her words for a moment, his eyes focusing on some distant point. He was stubby legged, kind of short really, heavily muscled, blue-grey, and his mane was the colour of autumn wheat. His eyes were green. He finally nodded his head thoughtfully. He turned his gaze to Ivy, studying her. “Hi hi!” Ivy said, looking at the pony studying her. Stump Puller said nothing. He moved forward slowly, leaned down slightly, and kissed her on the head, between her horns. He smiled a gentle smile, made a faint knicker, and then trotted off to join Big Mac in the orchard. “Big Mac is a motormouth compared to Stumpy.” Applebloom commented. “I’ve only heard him say four words since I’ve known him. “ “Really?” Fluttershy asked. “What did he say?” “Will you marry me.” Applebloom replied. “He said it to my sister. I don’t know if he’s said anything since. He might talk to her in private. He writes real fancy letters though. Applejack told me that. Him and Big Mac have long winded conversations when they are out working. One will raise an eyebrow, the other will make a funny face, somepony’s ear will twitch, and nopony can get a word in edgewise.” Scootaloo laughed. Sweetie Belle stood panting. “I’m out of shape.” Sweetie Belle complained. “Round is a shape the last time I checked.” Scootaloo replied. “Quiet emu!” Sweetie Belle shrieked. “Oh, that’s low Sweetie Bulge!” Scootaloo protested. Sweetie Belle stood at gaped at Scootaloo. “That was a good one.” Applebloom commented. “You’re all awful.” Fluttershy said. “Aw, it’s all in good fun.” Sweetie Belle protested. “Emu!” Ivy blurted, repeating a new word. She looked at Scootaloo. “Oh thanks a lot Sweetie Bulge. Look what you did.” Scootaloo winked and blew a raspberry at her friend. “I’d like to go in and see Applejack now,” Fluttershy interrupted, “I mean, if that’s OK. If you don’t mind.” “Of course,” Applebloom replied, “that’s why we helped you get Ivy here. And we’ll help get her home too. Later, of course. Applejack has been dying to see you ever since she heard the news.” “Appleyack.” Ivy interjected. “Appleyack!” She repeated. “Yeah, my sister can run her mouth,” Applebloom giggled, “Ivy, you’re adorable. Let’s get you inside so you can meet her.”