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// Chapter 1: Thomas Meets Fluttershy 
// Story: A Place in Equestria 
// by GoebelTron 
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The next morning, the sun was shining, and a couple of birds were chirping. Suddenly, a couple of animals saw the basket by the doorstep and went to take a look. A woodpecker knocked on the door to alert the owner inside, until a voice appeared, “I’m coming!” There were strange footsteps appearing, until the door opened and it revealed a creamy yellow pegasus with light pink mane, cyan eyes, and she had a cutie mark of three pink butterflies on her flank. Her name was Fluttershy.

She looked down at the basket and saw Thomas sleeping in it, “My goodness! Where’d you come from, little one?” Fluttershy saw no note next to him, and looked around, but suddenly she saw her pet bunny, Angel appear and he sniffed Thomas, until he heard soft groaning as the sleeping child moved without waking up. Fluttershy suddenly smiled warmly and realized that the poor boy needed shelter, so she asked her birds to help bring him inside her cottage, and then she took him upstairs to her room and placed him on the bed, removed him from the basket and tucked him under the blankets. “He’s so cute,” Fluttershy said. ‘I wonder what creature he is, and who left him on my doorstep last night. He may not have fur, but this colt might need some care,’ she thought to herself.

“Don’t worry, little one. I’ll take care of you,” Fluttershy whispered, until she gave him a kiss on the forehead, then went downstairs to make some breakfast for Thomas.





While Fluttershy fixed some breakfast for herself and started to make some for him, Thomas started to stir in the bed. He could suddenly felt warm and comfy in the bed, until he made a soft yawn, and slowly blinked his eyes open. After he rubbed his eyes and his vision cleared, he looked around and found himself in a bedroom. “Where am I?” he asked. “This isn’t the orphanage. How did I get here?” Thomas then realized that he was snug and warm, “It’s a nice bed, but whose house is this?” He suddenly started to feel scared that the person might yell at him.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of hoofsteps coming upstairs, and he covered himself under the blanket, shaking like a leaf. Fluttershy made it upstairs with Thomas’s breakfast on her back, which was a bowl of oat porridge with milk and mixed berries. It was put on a tray with a spoon and napkin next to the bowl. After she placed it on the side table, she saw movement underneath her bedsheets, and heard rapid breathing like he was shivering, ‘Aww, the poor thing must be frightened to death,’ she thought to herself. Fluttershy removed the blanket from Thomas’s head and stroked his arm with her hoof.

Thomas then saw Fluttershy comforting him, then crawled back and covered himself with the blanket again and whimpered, “Please don’t hurt me. Have mercy.” Fluttershy felt her heart break about how scared he felt, then she wrapped her forelegs onto him and brought him over for a hug, “Shh... don’t be afraid, sweetie. I’m not going to hurt you.” Thomas suddenly felt warm because of the softness of her fur, then he felt better. “I’m sorry for being scared of you,” Thomas said. “Aww... It’s okay, I just wanted to make sure if you were awake, because I brought you some breakfast,” Fluttershy said. “I made you some oat porridge with milk and berries. It’s very sweet, tender, and healthy with lots of fiber.”

Fluttershy gave Thomas his porridge and he started eating. When he was done, Fluttershy took the bowl away from him and she saw him rubbing his full tummy. She giggled and then lifted him up for a nice cradle, “My, you’re such a little one, aren’t you?” She sat on her hind legs and then she used her right foreleg to hold Thomas for a cradle, and she used her left hoof to rub his belly, until Thomas gently touched her hoof, and she started to blush warmly, “It’s very nice to meet you, sweetheart. My name is Fluttershy, by the way. What’s your name, sweetie?”

“My name is Thomas. It’s nice to meet you too, Miss Fluttershy,” he replied, after seeing how kind the pony was being. Fluttershy felt her heart melt from his politeness, “That’s such a nice name, Thomas. But you don’t need to call me Miss. Fluttershy’s just fine, okay, sweetheart?” Thomas nodded, and then realized something, “Umm, Fluttershy? How did I get here from the orphanage?”

Fluttershy realized what he meant, so she put him down and let him walk on his feet, “You see, when I found you, you were asleep... inside this little basket.” She showed Thomas the basket he came from. “Do you remember anything else?”

Thomas then lowered his head down and began to cry, until she walked over and wrapped her forelegs around him for a hug. She shushed into his ears and rubbed his back to calm him down, “Do you feel better, dear?” Thomas nodded and then Fluttershy gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, Thomas,” Fluttershy asked. “Would you like to go to Ponyville and meet my friends?”

Thomas felt nervous, “Yeah, I’d like to, but do you think they’ll like me? Are they nice and caring as you are?” Fluttershy realized how he felt, then she placed a hoof on his shoulder, “Of course they are. I’m sure they’ll think of you as a sweet, precious little colt like I do, and I’m sure you’ll like them, too.” Thomas nodded and then he walked downstairs with Fluttershy.

“Thomas, you also said you lived in an orphanage,” Fluttershy said. Thomas nodded, “But it’s hard to explain. I don’t want to talk about it.” Fluttershy leaned over and kissed his cheek. Suddenly, she saw her animals looking at him, “Now, now, my pretties. There’s no need to stare. His name is Thomas and he’s going to stay with us. Do you think you could all help me make himself at home by treating him with some care and respect?” The animals responded with chirps, chitters, and squeaks of agreement, then they came over to Thomas and played with him, causing him to laugh. Fluttershy saw how happy he was, until she saw her pet bunny, Angel nuzzle on his leg. “Thank you for treating our guest with your kindness, Angel,” she said.

Fluttershy then walked over to Thomas, “Are you ready to go, sweetheart?” Thomas nodded, “Um... is it okay if I ride on your back?” Fluttershy giggled softly, then crouched down to his level, “Of course you may.” Thomas smiled, then he carefully wrapped his arms around her neck, and then climbed onto the mare’s back and placed his hands around the sides of her neck. “Wow, you’re not so heavy after all,” Fluttershy said. “Alright, my dears, I’m going to take Thomas over to Ponyville so he can meet my friends, so I want you all to behave while I’m gone, okay?” The animals replied in agreement with chirps, chitters, and squeaks. “Good. Angel, you’re in charge.” Fluttershy leaned towards the bunny and gave him a kiss on the top of his head between his ears, then he nuzzled with his caregiver. “Mommy loves you too, honey bun,” she said kindly, then she left the cottage with Thomas on her back.