//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Putt Putt Becomes a Pony // by Rainbow Sparkle //------------------------------// Putt Putt sat there for a bit, just crying into Fluttershy’s shoulder as he tried to come to grips with the choice he was making. Just because he was making it didn’t mean there weren’t doubts or fears… especially when you were abandoning… n-no, letting everything you thought you knew about the world go. If I was never a car… then I’m… well, I’m not alone now… but what happens to me next? I don’t have my own place to stay… Putt Putt thought to himself as he let out a few sniffles, his tears running dry after so much crying today. He was about to pull away and try to ask Fluttershy that same question, but the shout of “There you three are!” from Twilight stopped him as the unicorn raced on down to them. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you Putt Putt! And Fluttershy, when did you find him?” “O-Oh, I uh, just a bit ago I think.” Fluttershy said, giving a sheepish smile as she said “I found him crying and Pep found me.” Twilight let out a sigh at that, then frowned. “Why didn’t you use that flashlight I gave you to signal us?” “Oh!” Fluttershy exclaimed, and Putt Putt watched as Fluttershy ruffled about in a pair of saddlebags that he hadn’t noticed. She finds the flashlight in question, and points it up to the air as she mumbles “I forgot.” A second later and a flick of her tongue against the switch, and a beam of light that had Fluttershy’s cutie mark pierced through the leaves and shone high above the canopy of the Everfree forest. “Well, that’ll at least let the others know we found him.” Twilight said, her expression softening as she then sat down next to Putt Putt, her face on his level as she asked “Are you alright? Did you get hurt at all?” Putt Putt gave a soft nod, and for the next few minutes Twilight checked him over and used her healing magic to deal with the bruises and scrapes he had gained in his fear induced dash. Twilight then squirmed in place for a moment, before surprising Putt Putt as she said “I’m so sorry Putt Putt. I… I shouldn’t have told you what I did, at least, not the way I did. I was too absorbed in the enormity of what I saw in your memories… the implications… I didn’t think about how it might affect you.” Putt Putt wasn’t entirely sure why she was apologizing… after all, if he really wasn’t a car, believing he was couldn’t be good could it? And his ‘Cartown’ memories didn’t offer anything to explain for before them. Not that they were much to work with. Still, he tried to give her a shaky smile as he said “I… I think I forgive you.” When he saw her wince at that, he quickly added, “I… it’s… a lot is going through my head right now. I just… I don’t know anymore… I’m, I’m left feeling even more alone now.” “But you’re not alone.” Fluttershy said with a soft smile. “We’re here, even your good friend Pep is here, and he was very worried about you when I found him.” Pep let out a bark of agreement at that, which made Putt Putt smile for a moment before his expression fell again. “I know that… but it doesn’t stop me from feeling like it here… or here.” Putt Putt said as he placed a hoof to his chest, then his head. He then looked between the two as he asked “S-So… what h-happens now?” Twilight and Fluttershy shared a look for a moment, then Twilight said “How about we start with something simple, like getting out of here and meeting up with the others.” That seemed sensible… and given his stomach was rumbling, Putt Putt wasn’t inclined to argue too much about it. Figuring out everything else could come later… It took a bit before they set off, as Putt Putt’s legs were all still sore. He’d likely have to take it easy for the next few days, even after the spells Twilight cast on them. They walked in silence as they made their way out of the woods, with the occasional nuzzle from Fluttershy or Pep to try to help raise his spirits. He appreciated the gestures, which helped to put a smile on his face for a bit but soon his mind would drift again. Drift is a good word for it… Putt Putt thought to himself. His mind was wandering this way and that, wondering what was in store for him. There were so many questions to ask, one of which was wondering about his own past. And of course, whether he wanted to know more about said past. After all, the feelings he’d gotten just from seeing that one moment, with the concerned, worried, maternal voice… he wasn’t sure he wanted to see that again, and he’d probably have to if he wanted more answers to that. And that didn’t even touch on asking who he really was if what he thought was real was a lie. “Hehe, you don’t need to worry about that silly billy!” A familiar voice said, making Putt Putt blink. They were reaching the edge of the forest, and Pinkie Pie had joined them and was now walking in front of Putt Putt. Backwards. “H-Huh?” Putt Putt asked, drawing the attention of Twilight and Fluttershy who both slowed, so they could listen in on the conversation. “Well, for a start, Putt Putt’s a great name for you.” Pinkie Pie said with a smile. “And more importantly, I can see the kind, friendly, helpful, and fun loving colt you are. All things that it sounds like the Putt Putt from those stories was.” “Besides, whether they were stories or real, they’re a part of you. An important part of you, one that when all was dark and empty, you used them to keep going. You didn’t let that darkness take you!” Putt Putt started to smile a bit at that, finding Pinkie’s words to be striking a chord with him. “And if they were just stories… stories that you loved, and that somepony knew you loved, then what better way to honor those stories then by being the best Putt Putt you can be! Car or Pony, you can have fun adventures, make new friends, and help others out all the same!” Putt was nodding now, the smile on his face not quite as wide as it used to be, but it was a real one which made it all the brighter. “I… I think you’re right Pinkie Pie.” She closed her eyes and gave him a brilliant smile at that before ruffling his mane. “Doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy, but I think you know rather well nothing worth doing is easy.” Putt Putt couldn’t argue with that too much. After all, in those… story memories he supposed he could call them, Putt Putt the car hadn’t had an easy time. Those adventures had involved solving problems and finding ways to reach his goals, whether they be joining a parade or traveling through time to retrieve his school supplies. Putt Putt the Car had faced such challenges head on, smiling and knowing that as long as he persevered, he’d reach the end. Now, he supposed, it was time for him, Putt Putt the Pony to do the same. The future was uncertain and unknown. It wouldn’t always be something where he could smile… he was rather certain of that now. It wouldn’t always be easy… But seeing what lay ahead, seeing what adventures he could have, what friends he could make, that… that was something worth seeing til the end. That was something worth leaving the past in the past and looking ahead to the future. He did appreciate how Pinkie Pie didn’t seem to assume his memories of Cartown were made up… even if perhaps she was doing it for his sake. But given he hadn’t been able to find where he’d fallen in the Everfree, and there’d been no sign of anything to show anyone from there was able to trying to get him back… Either way, it seems I’m here for good... Putt Putt thought to himself as they exited the forest, three other mares whom he’d met at the big party Pinkie Pie threw for him waiting for them. They rushed forward, eager to check on him and just as concerned as the others had been. Putt Putt felt his cheeks heat up just a bit as he got both worried queries, some lecturing about running blindly off into the Everfree, and a bit of back-hoofed praise from Rainbow Dash on just charging into the big wild Forest without a second thought. Putt Putt didn’t mention that at the time he’d been too afraid of other things to worry about the forest. A few more grumbling stomachs put any further chiding or worrying to rest, as Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy lead the way back to her cottage to make something for everypony’s hungry tummies. Putt Putt did his part to help as well, using it as an opportunity to put his questions and worries aside for a bit and just enjoy the company of all these ponies who cared so much for him. And as Twilight said when they walked in, there’d be time to deal with such things later. -*- Later that night, Putt Putt found his dreams to be… peaceful this time. He did have a short-lived visit from his fears of being alone… but he’d felt the form of Fluttershy hugging him in his sleep, and the nuzzling of Pep into his neck as they shared the same bed. That had been enough to chase those fears away. And when morning came, Putt Putt was strangely feeling… much better than he had since the first day he came to Ponyville. It felt like… it felt like something was slowly lifting off his shoulders, a weight he’d never known was there being taken away. And another was about to be dealt with as Fluttershy pulled him aside and asked “Putt Putt, I’ve been thinking, ever since we left the forest, about what you said. About what happens next.” Putt Putt felt his heart beating a bit faster at this, a mixture of emotions leaving him only able to give her a curious look as fear and hope warred for dominance. “And I talked it over with Twilight… and well… i-if you don’t have a problem with it that is… I figured that I could… well… not be just a temporary guardian but a… a permanent one.” Hope began to grow stronger in Putt Putt’s heart, and he began to smile as his head worked through the implications. “I-If you want… I… I was thinking I could be your… well… your Mama.” Putt Putt found himself giving the butter yellow pegasus a warm smile as his eyes teared up, then he threw his hooves around her neck as he nodded his head feverently. “T~Thank you Fluttershy… I~I mean… M~Mama…” Pep was letting out happy barks and bouncing around Fluttershy, just as happy as Putt Putt was as Fluttershy returned the hug, nestling his face into the crook of her neck as she held him tightly against her. The question of where he would go had been answered… he wouldn’t have to go anywhere. The pony who had shown him so much kindness and been so patient with him was going to be his caretaker… no, more than that, she was going to be his mother. There was a brief feeling of pain as that memory that Twilight had found resurfaced… but now, he could feel it better… it was an old memory. If the voice had belonged to his original mother… he hadn’t heard or seen her in person in a long time. And something told him that she would want him to be happy… to be able to put a real smile on his face. Not force it like he had been. “I~It’ll take a bit to make it official… but Twilight said she can send the paperwork to Celestia to speed things up. But we don’t have to wait till then if you want to call me Mama.” Putt Putt giggled a bit as he pulled back. “Gee Zippity, I don’t think I could wait even if it took a month!” As he was released from her hug, he joined Pep and his happy bouncing as he sang out “Mama ‘Shy, Mama ‘Shy!” Fluttershy blushed a bit, but was beaming just as much as Putt Putt was. She let out a soft little giggle as she reached out and pulled him back in for another hug and some nuzzles to the top of his head. “My little Putt Putt… you’ll have a family again, and me and all my friends, pony and animal alike, will do our very best to make you happy and make sure you never feel alone again. It might not always be easy… but I’ll do my very best to be a good Mother.” With some nuzzles of his own, Putt Putt smiled and said “Don’t worry Mama, I’m sure you’ll do a great job.” A thought then struck him, and he giggled a bit as he looked from Fluttershy to Pep. “Hehe, you know what boy?” Putt Putt asked, earning a curious bark from his eager and excited friend. Putt Putt reached out with his magic, drawing Pep over so he could join the big cuddly pony hug. “I think I was right… this is going to be a great adventure… and everything’s going to be okay!”