//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Putt Putt Becomes a Pony // by Rainbow Sparkle //------------------------------// After a short two minutes explaining to Putt Putt how the restroom worked… and what he needed to do to relieve himself, Fluttershy quickly hurried back down to the kitchen where Twilight was sitting at the table. Her brow was furrowed as a frown draped her muzzle. “I told him to take his time… so I think we have a few minutes.” Fluttershy said as she took a seat. Twilight sighed. “I really don't know what to make of this. Just the bit you told me left me thinking you had found an over-imaginative foal… but not knowing how to do… that…” She shook her head and rubbed her head with a hoof. “Can you start over, from the beginning? Maybe this'll make more sense hearing it again.” “Of course Twilight.” Fluttershy said, relaying the story that Putt Putt had told her. How he visited a friend called Mr. Firebird, how he'd shown Putt Putt a machine that could make portals to other dimensions, and how he had been sucked into said portal when it went haywire. She even told Twilight that Putt Putt had told her this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, but that all he had said was that it involved time travel and school supplies. “But that's impossible! Time travel isn't scientifically possible!” Twilight let out a groan and thumped her head on the table. She frowned and added as an afterthought, “And so are dimensional portals.” “Well, then what does that mean for Putt Putt?” Fluttershy asked as she heard hoofsteps coming down. “I don't know, but we're going to find out.” Twilight replied as she got up. She glanced to the open arch leading into the kitchen as Putt Putt walked in with that… smile of his. Something about it was… offsetting to Twilight, but she couldn't put her hoof on what. “All done! I even washed my hooves and brushed my teeth!” Fluttershy smiled at this, even as she idly wondered which toothbrush he had used. She had several up there and only one of them was for house guests spending the night. “That’s good to hear Putt Putt. Well, if your ready, we can head on into town so Twilight can talk with Mayor Mare, and they can see if they can help you out.” Putt Putt’s smile seemed to widen at that. “Gee, that sounds like a swell idea. I’m ready and all revved up to go!” Twilight and Fluttershy both quirked an eye up at that phrase, but Twilight took the lead as they headed on out. As Fluttershy waved goodbye to Angel Bunny, Twilight stole another peek at Putt Putt’s expression, catching the wide, beaming smile on his face. It reminded her a bit of Pinkie Pie… so then… why did it leave her so unsettled? “Make sure to stick close Putt Putt.” Twilight said as she and Fluttershy took the lead. Putt Putt nodded and made sure Pep was comfy on his back before trotting on behind them. The two mares stayed a bit ahead of Putt Putt, shooting glances back his way every so often as he seemed to drink in the world around him. After a bit, Twilight looked to Fluttershy and asked “Has he been smiling like this for a while?” Fluttershy nodded her head, keeping her voice low. “I think he was smiling even while being chased by the Timberwolves.” Twilight shook her head at that and paused when she saw Putt Putt was being distracted by a big butterfly that had landed on his muzzle. He seemed to be talking to it, to which Twilight saw a bright smile spread across Fluttershy’s muzzle. “If he’s been smiling like this the whole time, especially while being chased by Timberwolves, I’m even more worried than I already was.” Fluttershy was about to inquire why, but Twilight beat her to the punch. “I don’t know about you, but there’s something strange about his smile… and a normal colt who’d just been chased by Timberwolves wouldn’t be smiling… and they certainly wouldn’t be talking about portals or time travel!” “Well, when you put it like that…” Fluttershy said, while Twilight gave her an incredulous look. Fluttershy retreated a bit into her mane as she said “W~Well after Discord, it’s a bit hard to say some things are impossible… but you are right about his smile. There’s something… strange about it.” “I know that Discord could do impossible things… but from what Celestia told me, he can’t use his powers while he’s in his stone prison.” Twilight said as she rubbed a hoof to her head. “And even if Discord was somehow involved… when we used the Elements, it undid everything Disord messed with. So, if he WAS a talking carriage…” “Car, not carriage. I think it’s like a carriage.” Fluttershy interjected. “Whatever. The point is that even if he was one of those, and Discord somehow brought him here, he should have been sent back by the magic of the Elements. That he’s not suggests to me that he’s a lost colt with a very overactive imagination… or…” Fluttershy gave Twilight a worried look as her friend stopped. “Or what?” Letting out a sigh, Twilight replied “Or he might be a colt who's gone through something… traumatic. And this story of his is his way of coping with it.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened at the implications of that, and was about to ask something, when she saw Putt Putt saying goodbye to the butterfly and was now moving to catch up with them. Twilight gave her a nod as she instead turned to give the colt a smile. “Did you make a new friend?” Putt Putt nodded his head. “I sure did. He said that my mane is a very pretty color, and I told him I liked the patterns on his wings. I also told him it was a little weird that he talked like Pep and your critters do.” Fluttershy quirked an eye up at this. “What do you mean by that?” Putt Putt tilted his head for a moment, a thinking expression making his smile thin a bit… if only for a few seconds. “Well, the animals I met at the Zoo, and at the Circus, could all talk like we do. Pep… and well, a cow who lived in Cartown, were the only animals I knew that talked like an animal.” Now it was Twilight’s turn to quirk an eyebrow up. “And that doesn’t sound strange to you?” For a brief moment, Putt Putt seemed to consider that, frowning a bit as he looked at the ground. Then he just smiled that wide, unnerving smile as he said “I guess it’s just something about the dimension I’m from! Maybe most animals here just can’t talk like us.” Twilight resisted the urge to facehoof, just giving Putt Putt a smile of her own as she said “Maybe. Anyways we need to get going, shouldn’t be long before we’re in Ponyville.” “Hot Ziggity!” Putt Putt said as Twilight and Fluttershy shared a look again before turning and continuing on towards the town. -*- Walking on legs, or more specifically, hooves, was certainly not as fast as he could go on wheels, but he didn’t mind too much. It was actually rather fun to trot along and feel the grass and dirt under his hooves. Not that he couldn’t when he had wheels, but there was something that was more… Real. Thinking that felt a bit odd, but well it made sense. Tires were rubber things after all. He could have them get popped and replaced but wouldn’t get hurt if they busted, like when he forgot his magnet and tried to drive past those nails someone left on the road. Hooves however… well, he could feel when he stepped on a rock, could feel his fur get damp when he stepped in a puddle… yeah, that was more real than a tire. Though, even with such reasoning in his head… describing it like that made him feel… strange. Shaking his head, he was about to return his attention back to the road when he stopped, blinked… then blinked again as he found himself looking into a big pair of bright blue eyes ringed by pink. “Uhm, Hi?” Putt Putt asked, his ears catching the sound of Twilight and Fluttershy stopping before he found himself in a tight hug and a big squeezing hug. “Eeeeehhheee your so cute and adorable!” The pink thing exclaimed, which now that he wasn’t able to only see it’s eyes, he realized was just a pink pony with poofy mane and tail. “Pinkie Pie!” Putt Putt heard Twilight exclaim in some surprise before he was released from the hug and set back down. His head was spinning a bit from how tight and swinging it had been, eyes spinning about a bit before settling back to where they belonged with a shake of his head. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!” The mare he assumed was the formerly named Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she turned to the others. “I sensed a new pony was in town, and I came to see them, and I just thought ‘Oh my gosh, such a cute colt! He looks so huggable and cuddleable!’, so I just knew I had to come over and say hi and give him a big Welcome to Ponyville Pinkie Hug~!” Putt Putt blinked a bit, trying to catch all of that, but Pinkie Pie had said it all really quick. Twilight and Fluttershy must have been used to this though because they seemed to understand. “Still, you should be more careful. You might have scared him.” Twilight chided, to which Putt Putt smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry Twilight, nothing scares me!” After all, he’d been to the moon, through time… even when he’d lost Pep during his time travel adventure, he hadn’t been scared, just worried. At this, Pinkie Pie hummed, turning back around and peering at him. Putt Putt returned her gaze with a smile… though as she continued to study his face he felt something… strange within him. A feeling he wasn’t familiar with was welling up inside, the urge to squirm in place being resisted as he just kept smiling… not noticing how wide it was getting as he continued to stare into those bright blue eyes that seemed like they were boring into him. He didn’t notice how his heart started to beat faster and how he was beginning to sweat… No, he just kept smiling. Putt Putt knew it was important to smile. After a moment, Pinkie Pie finally smiled again, ruffling his mane as she said “Okie Dokie Lokie silly billy!” The feeling that had been filling Putt Putt faded, and he let out a breath he didn’t know he’d bee holding in. His smile returned to its normal state as he giggled and watched her walk over to her friends. As he ran a hoof through his mane to fix the mess Pinkie had made, Putt Putt heard Pep give him a questioning bark. “Huh? Am I okay? Of course I’m okay… why wouldn’t I be?” Pep gave him a strange look, but settled back down on his back as Putt Putt turned and saw the three mares beckoning for him. With a shrug, he brushed aside that confusion and quickly trotted over to rejoin the three as they made their way into Ponyville. The rest of the trip was relatively quiet, at least for the three mares as they conversed quietly. Putt Putt however made sure to look at everything… he even reached out with his magic to poke at some things and see what they did. Most things didn’t seem to do anything, but here and there silly things happened. An apple suddenly spat seeds into a picture of a smiley face. There was a bush that reshaped itself into the image of a fish. A pie was suddenly carried away by ants that hadn’t been there before. A trio of mares at a flower shop fainted after their flowers started singing Winter Wrap Up to them. Oddly, nopony else seemed to notice these events, especially since as soon as Putt Putt’s magic faded, the silly things returned to normal. Well, maybe a certain Pink Pony did, given every so often she had to raise a hoof to muffle a giggle. Nonetheless, soon the four reached Town Hall. Pinkie Pie slowed for a moment, so she could ruffle Putt Putt’s mane again as she said “That’s quite a nifty trick your magic has. But let’s save more clicking around for later alright?” “Sure thing Miss Pie!” Putt Putt said, even if he wasn’t sure what she meant by ‘clicking’. “Just call me Pinkie, all of my friends do!~” Pinkie replied with a wide smile which Putt Putt returned as she held the door open for him. Putt Putt nodded his head in understanding and went on in, catching sight of Twilight and Fluttershy waiting for them at a big arch with stairs leading up and down. “This way Putt Putt.” Fluttershy said as the pair started up the steps, Pinkie Pie bringing up the rear. Putt Putt happily followed along, even as a tiny part of him wondered what sort of thing was here in Town Hall that could help him get back home. They soon walked into an office, where a grayish-amber coated mare with a gray mane was busy reading a scroll of some kind. She looked up at the sound of their hoofsteps and gave them all a smile. “Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, what an unexpected surprise. And hello there little one.” She said as she nodded to each, then turned her to Putt Putt. He was about to introduce himself when Twilight spoke up. “Mayor Mare, we need some help with something, but first we need to ask some questions in private. Is that alright?” Putt Putt tilted his head a bit at that, but didn’t pay it much thought. It was probably an adult thing. Mayor Mare quirked an eyebrow up at this, but nodded as she said “We can talk in the committee room.” Twilight nodded, and she and Fluttershy turned to Pinkie and Putt Putt. “Do you think you can keep Putt Putt company while we’re busy?” Pinkie gave one of her own trademark smiles and saluted “Yessiree Bob!” “I think you mean Twilight. Her name’s not Bob.” Putt Putt said, causing Pinkie and Fluttershy to giggle while Twilight and Mayor Mare rolled their eyes but smiled in amusement. “We’ll be back in a bit.” Twilight said, the three stepping into another room as Pinkie Pie pulled a checkers box from her mane. Putt Putt’s eyes widened in amazement as he asked, “Can you teach me to do that?” Pinkie giggled. “Sorry, Pie family secret! But we can see how good of checkers player you are!” That was enough to distract Putt Putt as he quickly sat down and watched her set the game up. If there was one thing he enjoyed more than helping others, it was playing fun games! -*- “... And that’s the situation as it stands Mayor.” Twilight finished as Fluttershy gave a simple nod of affirmation. She’d mostly let Twilight do the talking, only chiming in with any details she might not have mentioned. Mayor Mare frowned, looking over the notes and papers Twilight had inquired about before explaining what was going on. “There’s been a fair bit of chaos even with everything being set right after you sealed Discord back up. Just because things returned to normal didn’t mean some ponies still didn’t end up lost on the other end of Equestria after walking through a wall or stepping on a checker panel and winding up in somepony else’s house.” “But looking through local reports… and the ones I’ve been forwarded from Canterlot… I’m not seeing any notices for a lost Unicorn colt of his age or coloration. Certainly none named Putt Putt.” “Oh my…” Fluttershy squeaked, while Twilight sighed and shook her head. “I was worried that might be the case.” Mayor Mare offered them a sympathetic look. “It’s possible it hasn’t reached Canterlot yet… he could be from one of the more remote villages on the edge of Equestria. And well…” Mayor Mare shifted a bit uncomfortably as she tried not to think of some other alternatives to explain why this colt was all alone in the Everfree… “Well, I’ll make sure to send Princess Celestia a letter asking if she can look into it. In the meantime, we need to make sure he’s taken care of until we learn more.” Twilight declared, earning nods from both mares. She looked to Fluttershy and asked “Would you be up for taking care of him for a bit?” Fluttershy’s answer was immediate. “Oh of course I can! He’s been well-behaved and sweet so far, I don’t see any problem with it. And he seems to like the animals, and they don’t mind him.” “Well then, let me go fetch the Guardianship forms so everything’s done right, then I recommend after we ask him some more questions that you take him to Ponyville Hospital for a checkup. Just to be safe.” Twilight nodded. “Already planned on it.” Mayor Mare then left to fetch the paper work, while Fluttershy looked towards the door. She could hear Pinkie and Putt Putt talking sometimes, or one of them cheer at a move they made as they played their game. “You think he’ll be okay with us doing this Twilight? He thinks we’re trying to help him get back to Cartown…” Twilight squirmed a bit at that, but then said “I know you said he seemed to believe every word he was speaking Fluttershy… but I don’t think we should just take the word of a colt on something like this as true without more facts.” She smiled and reached out to place a reassuring hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “Don’t worry Fluttershy. We’ll sort this out. If it turns out he’s telling the truth, I’ll do everything I can to try to help him find a way back to his dimension… and if not, we’ll still help him find his real home.” Fluttershy smiled at that, giving Twilight a nod. “Thank you Twilight. I think I needed to hear that.” Twilight seemed like she was about to say something, but Mayor Mare returned with the paperwork and set the sheets in front of Fluttershy. “Hear they are. If there is any need for help, I can walk you through it.” Fluttershy nodded, grabbing the offered quill and ink as she got to work. She made sure to look every single line and detail over… this was going to be a big responsibility to bear, and she didn’t want to mess anything up. Especially for Putt Putt’s sake.