//------------------------------// // Brushy Brushy // Story: Grey Little Pony // by Dusty Miller //------------------------------// “When someone loves you it's like having a blanket all round your heart...” ― Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary Fluttershy’s cottage was the hive of activity. All the small and medium sized animals were inside eagerly waiting to be brushed. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were assisting Fluttershy and Grey. They all sat around the rug in the centre of the living room. The long haired bunnies were first. Fluttershy brushed and collected hair as the Crusaders rotated bunnies through the line while Grey cleaned. Sweetie Belle remarked, “This angora fur will make a wonderful sweater for somepony. You should sell it. It's valuable.” “I'm sorry, that's not my way.” Fluttershy said. “I trade it for food and treats for these lovely animals who have given up some of their beautiful fleece.” Grey inspected a bunny, “It's amazing, one day Fluttershy says she likes long haired bunnies, then suddenly a dozen angora bunnies show up. My girl is full of fussy magic.” Fluttershy reminded him that each bunny should get a treat. “Bunnies get a free brushing, cleaning and a treat. Not fair, what about poor me?” Apple Blume sighed, “Fluttershy, how can you stand him when yawl could be a dattin’ Big Macintosh?” Fluttershy smiled. “Oh, I'm sorry, but I can only train one boyfriend at a time.” “Hm, Wot?” Grey looked around, pretending to have missed something. “But you work for Princess Celestia and he works for Luna.” Scootaloo observed. “You can say Celestia or Luna when not in their presence. It is considered polite to use Princess for both when mentioning both.” Grey corrected. Scootaloo said, “I heard that Big Mac sleeps with a doll.” “He does not! That’s my brother you’re a talking about. Fluttershy, what’s it like having him as a boyfriend?” “Oh, he’s just like a little foal. Grey is fascinated with bunnies and kitties. He likes putting them into tea cups and boxes. Grey is very curious as to how bunnies and kitties interact. I can tell he never had a chance to play with them when he was small.” “I am their hero. They all look up to me because I know where the treats are hidden.” “I’m sorry, but the animals are manipulating you, Grey. You taught them that if they give you the sad eyes or the hungry look, you will do their bidding.” The girls giggled. Grey sat up straight, “Might I remind you girls that I am the terror of the Everfree Forest.” “Yah, but we’re not there Mr. Tea Cup Bunny.” Scootaloo reminded him. “Tee hee, that bunny has lipstick. Looks like my sister in the morning when she forgets to take off her makeup.” Sweetie Belle said. “Oh Grey, I'm sorry, but not the raspberries.” Grey held up a bunny for inspection. Its nose twitched over red lips. The girls giggled. Grey then fed a big raspberry to a small bunny. “Looks like a clown. Clown bunny! Clown bunny!” Apple Bloom joked. “Let me try.” Scootaloo made a mess of feeding a raspberry to a brown rabbit. “Ohooo zombie bunny.” “I'm sorry Grey, but now you have more to clean.” Fluttershy pointed out. “It is not mine to question why. It is mine to wipe and dry.” Scootaloo turned to Grey, “My parents are Royal Guard ponies on a special mission for Princess Celestia. When they return they will get special medals and we will all live in Canterlot Castle.” Grey said, “I thought I was the only guard pony from Ponyville. I can’t wait to meet them.” He felt several bumps from the girls. Sweetie Belle made eye contact with Grey, raised her eyebrows and shook her head. The Siamese cat, The Queen of Siam, pranced through the group, with her tail held high, demanding to be acknowledged. Grey brushed her to keep her happy and out of the way. Apple Bloom whispered to Sweetie Belle then asked Fluttershy, “What would happen if Grey were allergic to animals? You'd have to get rid of him. Then you could date my brother and I could play with the animals every day.” Sweetie Belle’s horn glowed. Grey sneezed. “I'm sorry, he's not and I'm not getting rid of him just yet. I have more important animals to adopt away.” Grey sneezed and sneezed. The girls giggled. “Treachery! Cho! Cho! Evil! Cho! Girls! Cho! Crusaders dungeon! Cho!” “I'm sorry girls; Grey has a very sensitive nose and is ticklish.  Pepper is very expensive. Sweetie Belle, if you could please remove the pepper from The Queen of Siam's fur and Greys nose.” Grey wiped his nose on a towel, “I'm not the wicked one here. Oh Fluttershy, I'm going to need much TLC tonight.” “Sorry girls, see what you've done.” “Grey’s ticklish?” the girls spoke in unison. “Crusaders attack!” Grey laughed, “No! Save me, Fluttershy.” “Some Guard Pony. Needs his girlfriend to save him.” When the work was done and the girls had gone home, Grey asked Fluttershy, “I said something wrong, didn’t I?” “Schootaloo doesn’t have parents. Sometimes she tells stories to comfort herself.” Grey realised, “Sweetie Belle lives with her sister not her parents. Apple Bloom has no parents and Schootaloo is a full orphan. That’s why they are best friends. Hngggg. Guard pony senses tingling. Fluttershy, we have to do something.” He stood at the door prancing his forelegs. “I have something to tell you.” “I’m sorry, but I think I already know.” “You do?” “Yes, I do. You call it gossip. It’s also communication, passing information. Not just story telling like Scootaloo was doing. Once you and I started seeing each other, ponies told me all about you. I filtered out what was nonsense and figured it out for myself. And one, Granny Smith, filled me in on the rest. She doesn’t mess around. Granny Smith admits things weren’t done right with you and that the town will do better with Schootaloo. She has a place to live, is cared for and is loved. It didn’t help that you always ran away when ponies got too close to you.” “You mean that my existence actually made a difference in someponies life? I don’t feel so bad now.” /]*[\ Grey knew he had made a mistake as soon as he walked into Ponyville. The screaming. The yelling. The general running for cover and the slamming of doors and shutters. Grey and the Manticore walked past the town hall. The mayor spoke through a shutter. “I'm sorry, but we need some notice before wild Everfree Forest creatures walk through our peaceful little town.” “Do you mean him or me?” “Sir Grey, please, he is very terrifying.” “He just wants to taste the well water. He wants to know if it’s different from river water or lake water.” They walked to the old well near the centre of town. Grey explained that most of the homes were now supplied by pipes from the aquifer. Fluttershy flew over and hugged the Manticore. He responded by passionately licking her face and mane. “Ahem, Manticore, that's my girl.” Fluttershy gushed, “Manny, Manny Roar! I'm so glad to see you.” “That's your name? You never said you had a name.” Manny looked around confused. The Crusaders walked over. Now Grey was curious, “Aren’t you girls afraid?” Scootaloo spoke for the group. “Nuh huh. Fluttershy’s here and you're here and I'm not a chicken!” Grey tilted his head. “Where did that come from?” The gang spoke in unison, “The CMC is large and in charge!” Grey watched Fluttershy and Manny hug while speaking to the girls. “One of you could try for a bravery cutie mark by kissing the Manticore. Just close your eyes and give him a little kiss.” Scootaloo closed her eyes and cautiously leaned towards Manny. She opened her eyes when she heard Fluttershy say. “Grey, stop it.” Scootaloo saw a dark cave surrounded by fangs and sharp teeth. She backpedalled away, “Ah! Not funny Grey.” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle agreed, “Yah jerk, Grey.” The three of them blew raspberries as they walked away. “I screwed up again, didn’t I Grey informed Fluttershy. “I’m sorry, but yes you did. Let’s walk Manny home.” As the three walked toward the Everfree Forest, Grey asked, “How can I make it up to them?” “It’ll take time. Just wait for them to prank you and all will be right with the world. Or, um, I have an idea. You could put on your butler uniform and serve them tea and then, you know, you could come over to my place with your uniform on.” /]*[\ Fluttershy answered the knock on her door. Grey stood there with what was left of his white shirt. His tie hung as a noose around his neck. His face was covered in an overabundance of makeup. Red cheeks, red lips and blue eyes. His mane was full of hair clips and bows. Grey’s head and ears drooped. He smiled just a little. Fluttershy asked, “Grey what happened?” “They attacked me! The Cutie Mark Monsters attacked without provocation. Everything was going well. I was serving them tea and scones in their little clubhouse. They were perfect little ladies all dressed up and acting very civilized. When they had their fill, they snapped and went nuts. I mean, who has a food fight at tea?” Fluttershy smirked, “Daw poor baby. You must be very confident if you can tease yourself about being beaten by little girls. Come and sit down, let me put a towel on the sofa first. Here, hold Black ‘n Tan. He’s a big bunny that can take a big hug. What else happened?” “Once there was nothing left to make a mess with, they turned on me. You’d be proud of me, Fluttershy. I didn’t yell, or curse, or hit, or bite. I was a perfect gentlecolt as they covered me in this junk. I tried reasoning with them. I tried threatening them. Nothing works on them. I’m the terror of the Everfree Forest.” “Of course you are baby.” “Nopony told me there were four of the little horrors. I can stare down wolves but they don’t care about that. I think they’re envious because I’ve had two cutie marks.” “Uhuh, what would happen if you showed weakness to an Everfree creature or an ordinary predator or carnivore? The girls could tell that you were a big softie and that they took advantage, just like the animals here, didn’t they?” “But I am big and scary and strong.” Grey raised his eyebrows and smiled at Fluttershy. “Of course you are dear. What happened to your tuxedo jacket?” “The fiends took it. They said they would burn it and me in effigy if I didn’t cooperate and bring them more sweets. Why did they use so much junk on me? And what are these biting things?” “I’m sorry, that’s how little girls think. If a little is good, more is better. Let me take off those fur clips.” Fluttershy unclipped the ladybugs that were clamped to Grey’s chest. Then she removed a red bowtie barrette that was locked on his ear and put it in her mane. “I’ll trade all this stuff for your jacket and have a chat with the girls. Although I may keep this one. What do you think?” Fluttershy batted her eyelashes at Grey. Grey hugged Black ‘n Tan, “You are so beautiful and smart. If reasoning doesn’t work, I suggest fire, and lots of it.”