//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Putt Putt Becomes a Pony // by Rainbow Sparkle //------------------------------// Putt Putt was just starting to read a book on the Everfree Forest, curious about what else had been in the dark and creepy place he’d woken up in when the library doors were thrown open and three foals called out “Twilight! Spike! We need a book!” Spike let out a yelp, falling off the ladder he’d been standing on to do some of his dusting. Thankfully, Putt Putt’s magic grabbed him before he could hit the floor. “T-Thanks uh P-Putt Putt. Nice catch.” Spike said as he was lowered to the ground, shooting the purple foal an appreciative look. Putt Putt just smiled widely and said “Your welcome Spike, happy to be of service!” This exchange served to distract the three fillies, who glanced over to Putt Putt with interest. “Woah nelly, that was some really fast thinking!” The yellow one with a soft rose mane exclaimed, while the white one with a horn was eyeing Putt Putt up a bit. “You look like your about our age… but I can barely use my magic to cast even basic levitation…” She looked at his purple coat and asked “Are you related to Twilight?” The orange filly with the purple mane and small wings was more excited however about his flanks, which Putt Putt found a bit odd… even more so when she squealed “He doesn’t have a cutie mark! He’s a blank flank like us!” “Hey girls, you said something about a book?” Spike called out from the other side of the room, setting his duster aside for now. “Yeah yeah, hold yer horses.” The yellow one replied again, earning a quirked eyebrow from both Spike and Putt Putt, though for different reasons. “We got something more important to do now!” The three fillies formed a half circle around Putt Putt, not seeming to be bothered by the wide grin he was bearing as he turned to give them his full attention. “Hi, I’m Putt Putt!” The three fillies beamed and each one took one of his front hooves and gave it a shake, the yellow one giving the most vigorous one that left him bouncing in place a bit. “Apple Bloom!” “Scootaloo!” “Sweetie Belle!” They chimed out one after the other, adding “And together we’re…” They drew in a long breath before shouting at the top of their lungs… “THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!” Putt Putt’s smile had been wiped off by the force of the shout, and he had been sent tumbling over the desk he’d been reading at. His eyes spun a bit as he laid on the bottom of his neck, back hooves in the air and his tail tangling a bit over his head. As Putt Putt shook his head to make the little stars spiraling around his head fade away, he could see that, even if he hadn’t been right in front of it, Spike was also rubbing at his own ears. “You girls really, really need to dial down the volume on that cheer of yours.” The three ignored that comment, with Apple Bloom coming over to help Putt Putt back up. His smile managed to return to his face as he gave a nod of thanks. “It’s really great to meet you, but uh, what’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders?” “It’s our secret club!” Sweetie Belle chirped, earning a mutter of ‘some secret’ from Spike as he returned to his chores. “We’re on a mission, a crusade to find out Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo added, as if that explained everything. They quickly frowned though when Putt Putt just gave them a confused look while continuing to smile. “You do know what a Cutie Mark is, don’tcha?” Putt Putt shook his head. However, he was observant, and after glancing to their own flanks, recalling the comment of “Blank Flank”, he thought about how Pinkie Pie had balloons on hers, and that Fluttershy had butterflies. Twilight had some kind of starburst or firework. “Are they those things Fluttershy and her friends have? The pictures on their flanks?” The fillies nodded their heads enthusiastically. “A Cutie Mark represents your special talent, what your really good at and the thing that you want to pour your heart and soul into!” Sweetie Belle explained. “My sister Rarity has three gemstones for hers, and she got it after making a bunch of costumes with gems she found in a giant boulder.” “And my Sister has three apples for hers, representing her love of our farm and working there. I couldn’t picture Applejack doing anything else in the whole wide world.” Apple Bloom added. She looked ready to say something else, but then Scootaloo jumped and hopped excitedly in place, wings buzzing. “And my idol Rainbow Dash got hers after performing a Sonic Rainboom to defend Fluttershy’s honor! Or something like that.” “Wowie zowie, it sounds like there’s great stories behind each of those.” Putt Putt said, the girls nodding their heads in agreement. “We could tell ya about them if you like! Though they are a bit mushy, finding yourself stuff.” Scootaloo said, while Apple Bloom took another look at Putt Putt and sat on her haunches. “Hey, now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve seen you around town before, and we know just about every other foal in town. Ya’ll just move to town or something?” Putt Putt’s grin returned in full force. “Oh no, I’m just visiting. I’m actually from a town in another dimension called Cartown.” All three fillies blinked, giving him disbelieving looks. Putt Putt just smiled and started telling them everything that lead to him being in Twilight’s library… -*- “... He didn’t tell me much of anything about the dream, just that he was alone in it, and that it was dark. It seemed to really, really bother him.” Fluttershy finished filling Twilight in on how the rest of the day and night had gone by for Putt Putt. Twilight had paused in her study of a pile of books, many of them seeming to deal with the inner workings of a ponies mind, as well as a few books on foals and their behavior patterns. Fluttershy’s mention of a nightmare had caught her attention, and she hummed as she considered the possible implications. “That might give us a clue… but not much of one. It doesn’t have good implications given he can’t remember anything about his parents or family.” Twilight replied, and then after a moment added “And even if by some chance he was telling the truth, it doesn’t fit with the stories he’s given us of his friends back in ‘Cartown’.” Fluttershy gave a worried nod, poking the tips of her hooves together. “That’s one reason why I wanted to mention it… his first night out of the Everfree, and even in a house full of critters, and with his dog pep sleeping with him, he had a nightmare about being alone… maybe even abandoned.” Twilight let out a sigh, hanging her head down as she said, “I know… that’s one of my fears. I can’t imagine why anypony would do such a thing… but it has happened before. Putt Putt wouldn’t be the last foal abandoned…” Twilight didn’t mention a worry that Putt Putt might have been abused, not sure how Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness of all things, would respond to that. She knew from her own cutie mark story that Fluttershy had been bullied and teased… but abuse by a parent to a foal seemed like something the kind mare wouldn’t be able to fathom. The sound of the CMC’s trademark call drew their eyes to the stairs leading up. “Oh joy… that’s the last thing we need right now…” Twilight groaned and stuffed her face into one of her books. Fluttershy did her best to hide her smile and giggle with a hoof, before saying “I don’t know, it might do him some good… I mean, if he is a Car, from the sound of his stories all or most of his friends are adults. Not kids.” Twilight lifted her head up to ponder that, then said “True… I can’t argue with that… but I also feel a need to point out that he might confuse or scare them, either with that smile of his or telling them his stories.” “Really? You think the CMC of all foals would be scared by those stories?” Fluttershy asked, to which Twilight gave a sheepish smile and looked away. “Okay, maybe I’m more worried it’ll give them ideas… his going to the moon story alone could do that…” That Fluttershy could understand. “We’ll head up in a few to check on them… and as long as we don’t hear any loud crashes they should be fine. Besides, Spike’s up there to keep an eye on them, and he knows how much trouble the CMC can be.” Twilight gave an absent nod at that, already beginning to pull books out and letting them float before her. Pages flipped by at a pace that Fluttershy knew most ponies wouldn’t be able to get anything… but getting to know Twilight over the last year and a half lead her to know Twilight was skimming the books with a practised eye. It took a little under fifteen minutes for Twilight to sigh, setting the last book down. “Well, I think I know what books will be useful, but I’m not sure if they’ll actually help us with Putt Putt. There were two spells that we might be able to make use of, but I’ll need to look into them more.” “Oh? What spells are those?” Fluttershy asked as she looked at the trimmed down pile of about twenty books from the original… well, fifty or so. “One of the spells is one that will let me see the dreams of another Pony… if Putt Putt has any more nightmares, I can use it to see them and get a better idea of the imagery his subconscious is bringing up.” Twilight explained. “The other is called the “Mind Delve” and it’s a spell meant to seek out the deeper problems in a Pony’s psyche…” -*- Pinkie Pie, who’d been putting the finishing touches on the front dining room of Sugarcube Corner, stopped what she was doing and looked up to the ceiling. “Really? You went with that?” She asked nopony in particular, shuddering before shaking her head and returning to her work. The Cakes both ignored this, used to such things from the hyperactive party pony. -*- “Well, those sound like they’d be really good to know even if we can’t use them to help Putt Putt.” Fluttershy said as Twilight grabbed hold of the other books and made for the stairs. “Certainly true, I’m sure I could find other times when either of those would be a big help for somepony.” She tapped a hoof to her chin in thought and said aloud “I wonder if Ponyville has a counselor or therapist… maybe I should have asked Mayor Mare…” Fluttershy was about to comment at the idea of Twilight being a therapist, considering what had happened just three days ago, but instead was stopped when she ran into Twilight. She stumbled back, noting that Twilight had stopped and was staring into the main room of the library, eye twitching. Curious, she stepped to the side and peered through… and saw Putt Putt helping Sweetie Belle draw what she assumed was a car version of herself, while Applebloom and Scootaloo were using some art supplies to try to make a cardboard version of one. “Well… at least they haven’t broken anything yet?” Fluttershy offered, before Scootaloo let out a yelp as one of the rubber hands she’d been fiddling with snapped, flew through the air and smashed into a vase sitting nearby, which promptly fell onto the floor and smashed into a dozen pieces or so. Twilight gave Fluttershy a flat look, the pegasus hiding most of her face behind her mane as she blushed a bit. “Don’t worry about it… I’ll fix it.” Twilight muttered as she gathered the pieces up and fused them back together with her magic. “Spike, can you put these back for me while I talk with Putt Putt for a bit?” Spike looked at the pile of books floating in her magic, sighed, and braced himself as she handed the tall stack over to him. “S-Sure thing T-Twi.” “You sure your okay with all those Spike?” Putt Putt asked as Twilight walked over to him, his silver hued magic helping to stabilize the stack. Spike flashed him a quick smile and nodded, while Twilight gave a little cough to draw his attention to her. Twilight opened her mouth, ready to start with a simple question, despite what one might have suspected given her questioning the previous day and the books she just read, only for a pair of pink hooves to slip under Putt Putt. Said hooves quickly picked him up and deposited him on her back, much to his own confusion even with the smile plastered across his muzzle. “Twilight Twilight Twilight, you can play therapist pony later! Right now it’s time for something much more important!” Pinkie Pie said with a cheery tone as she booped Twilight on the nose before sliding her and Fluttershy an envelope. “We’ll see you there shortly!” With that Pinkie Pie turned and pulled four more envelopes out of her mane, tail, and from under Sweetie Belle’s chin of all places and gave one each to the CMC and Spike. Then she happily trotted out with Putt Putt on her back still singing “Lalalalaa!” Twilight and Fluttershy both blinked, before looking to the envelopes. A quick flick of magic opened both theirs, and she pulled out an invitation to a “Welcome to Ponyville Party! Putt Putt style!” “Putt Putt has a style?” Spike asked in bewilderment, receiving only shrugs from all the rest. -*- Putt Putt eventually hopped off of Pinkie Pie’s back and trotted along beside the bouncing party mare, his smile ever present as he wondered just what exactly was going on. Pinkie Pie was even more excitable and cheery than she had been the day before, and seemed eager to take Putt Putt somewhere. Said somewhere was soon rather obvious as they drew closer to Sugarcube Corner. He perked up, having been told that it was a bakery full of delicious sweets and pastries of all kinds. He hoped the stuff inside looked as tasty as the outside did. Once they reached the door, Pinkie Pie gently set him down with a smile as she opened the door for him. The inside was dark and dim, and he could hear a few whispers being quickly shushed. Putt Putt had a feeling he knew what was about to happen, but didn’t want to say anything. After all, if it was that, it’d ruin the- “SURPRISE!” Putt Putt had started in, and just as he was thinking that, the lights flicked on and the entire room lit up. The place was full of Ponies of all sizes and colors, and they were all smiling and waving. He saw a sign saying “Welcome to Ponyville Putt Putt!” which even had a drawn version of his pony self on it. There were cakes, muffins, tarts pies, candy and oh so much more on several tables. There was even a small pile of presents on a table with a little note that said “Welcome Gifts!” Also present, he noted with interest, a fair number of randomly placed items across the room, that seemed to have ‘click me’ notes on them. He could see a few ponies eyeing them with some slight confusion, not sure exactly what they were. He of course beamed a fair bit more at the sight of them, knowing somehow that they would do even more exciting things if he used his magic on them than just any random object. “Wowie Zowie! Is this really all for me?” Putt Putt asked, turning his eyes up to Pinkie Pie. The premier party pony gave a very vigorous and excited nod as she said, “Yupperoni! I throw one or everypony or thing that comes to Ponyville and hasn’t been here before! Though I think this one is going to be one of my bestist!” She ruffled his mane and then gave him a light push “Go on! Go mingle and have fun!” Putt Putt didn’t need to be told twice, racing off to start saying hi to the many ponies present. He noticed that there were plenty of older ponies as there were younger ones, and they all seemed eager to meet him. Well, except for two fillies, and only after they noticed he had no cutie mark. Their expressions had changed to something that he wasn’t immediately familiar with… but he just kept smiling at them despite the odd looks until they eventually wandered away to grab some punch. It was about this time that Twilight, Fluttershy, and the CMC arrived to join the fun, with Fluttershy coming over to check on him while Twilight moved off to talk to Pinkie. The kind pegasus watched in some bemusement as Putt Putt lit his horn up and ‘clicked’ at a balloon, watching as it changed into the shape of a present box, then a car, and then into a basketball. “How about something to eat?” Fluttershy offered when his stomach let out a soft rumble, drawing his attention to the treats that were scattered about the place that many a pony were already digging into as they chatted amongst each other. There were little rock candies in the shapes of nuts and bolts, bags of what looked rather close to cheese squigglies, chewy fruity wagon wheels, and even a cake that even he gave a rather confused look at, given that it was in the shape of an H and e resembling an exclamation point inside of a circle. “Sure thing!” He said as he quickly grabbed a plate, taking a piece and finding it was flavored like cotton candy and grapes. Certainly an interesting combination and one he didn’t mind in the least. He’d barely taken more than three bites when Apple Bloom called out “Hey Putt Putt! Wanna play pin the tail on the pony?” He tilted his head at that, asking “Gee, that sounds fun, but uh, which pony?” That earned some laughs from everypony who heard. Nearby, Pinkie Pie chortled a bit as she and Twilight watched the three crusaders go over and grab the colt to take over to the aforementioned game. Twilight saw that Pinkie Pie was in very high spirits, and asked, “I take it this is mission accomplished for you?” “We’ll find out over the course of the party. He’s definitely having fun, well, except for when he was meeting Tiara and Spoon.” She tapped a hoof to her chin, then added “Though since it seems like putting a smile on is his default expression, maybe he has trouble reading other faces. But at least his own smile is better now!” Twilight sighed, mentally adding that to a list of things she needed to look into… and mention to Fluttershy that perhaps some sort of flashcards with various facial expressions might not be a bad idea. Still, as she heard Putt Putt exclaim excitedly when his tail ended up being one of the closest to where it was supposed to go, she could at least agree with Fluttershy on one thing. He certainly did seem to be having a fun time as he talked and played and made new friends...