It was hours upon hours filling out paperwork at the courthouse before Fluttershy could leave, walking out of the building with a smile upon her face she looked down at Casper as he slept in the new stroller they got that morning. A pacifier in his mouth and a stuffed pink overly fluffy pony at his side, he slept far more peacefully and comfortably in his new mode of transportation under Fluttershy’s loving care. Every now and again he had a bit of a faint fuss as he tossed and turned in his sleep, a few ponies stopped to see the new foal under Fluttershy’s care as they pondered who the father was.
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While some were more welcoming of the change and adoption of the young changeling. Others seemed to glare at Fluttershy and her choice to take on caring for him, some even willing to go so far as to whisper how she was betraying her friends and their efforts. There were even some who ran at the immediate sight of the infant, a few among them almost woke the infant as they screamed in this haste to leave.
Fluttershy did all that she could to calm him back into his faint slumber, “Well that was quite rude.” She faintly fumed to herself as she shouted in a whispering tone, “Can’t you see he’s trying to sleep!?” Casper let out a faint whimpering coo as he fidgeted in the stroller, “There, there, it's all right.” She whispered to him as she nudged the stuffed doll closer to him, watching as he grabbed hold of it unwilling to let go, “Oh we need to go shopping.” Fluttershy whispered in realization, “I know you are almost out of diapers, but I think there’s also some things I need to get for dinner. What do you say, want to go shopping with mommy?” Casper let out a faint yawn as he rubbed his tiny hoof against his cheek, “Is that a yes?” Fluttershy whispered only to hear faint burbling sounds as he seemed to snore in his sleep, “I guess it is.”
The walk to the store was as Fluttershy had come to expect, some older ponies found the young infaint cute and adorable, while those around her own age had mixed feelings about the situation. In the end Fluttershy ignored the ponies who were opposed to her situation, as they often asked why she was taking in a creature like him.
She had even once gave the more than obvious remark about being a mother to an abandoned infant, as well as the chance to raise him in a natural loving environment. Where the love he needs to live is given to him of her free will, rather than him taking it without a second thought. A few ponies who overheard this explanation were willing to accept a possibility like this, while far more had it set in their minds that the foal was a changeling; and that was the only thing about them that wouldn’t change.
As Fluttershy reached the shopping area she feared the bustling crowd, and their chatter would wake Casper from his sleep.
Before she knew what was going on a strange pony walked up to the stroller, “My, my,” She said as she looked down at a shy little foal hiding behind his doll, “what a handsome young foal you have.” Casper gave a faint coo from behind the doll before nibbling on its ear, “Are you his mother?” She asked reaching into the stroller to lightly tickle him, only for Casper to smile and giggle as he fidgeted to her touch.
Fluttershy gave a faint nod as she smiled, “Yes I am.” She claimed with the most pride she had ever felt in her life, “I just adopted him today.” She stated in a loving tone as she leaned in to kiss Casper, “Oh where are my manners,” Fluttershy shockingly stated before returning her attention back to the mare next to herself, “My name is Fluttershy.”
Brushing a piece of her long yellow mane back behind her ear she replied, “My name is Dark Topaz,” Fluttershy shook her hoof as she marveled at how the mare’s mane went down to her hooves, “but you can call me Topaz.” She stated as she let go of Fluttershy’s hoof, “It’s nice to meet you.” Her coat was brownish in color with little white patches on her back, nose, left ear, and back right hoof.
As Fluttershy started her shopping, Topaz followed next to the new mother. The two of them chatted for a while, giggling at the few things they found funny. Every now and again Topaz would ask questions about Casper, such as where he came from, who his father was going to be, and how Fluttershy was going to handle raising a changeling given their need to feed on love.
Casper let out a fussy yawn as Fluttershy noticed the sky darkening "Oh, I better be going home now, its almost Casper's bed time...goodbye." Fluttershy said waving to Topaz as she started walking home.