//------------------------------// // I Would Have Been Your Daddy // Story: Apple Bloom's Huragok Helper // by Vigilance //------------------------------// The Sun’s brilliant morning rays illuminated the world and threw off the shroud of darkness that had previously ruled. With the coming of the Sun came the buzz of activity from the many daytime animals. A blue jay ruffled itself awake, looking about at the brightening world. Taking flight, the cerulean avian whizzed about in search of food. Catching sight of a worm, the blue jay dived and scooped up the creature. Flying to a nearby tree, the blue jay swallowed the worm whole. The bird chirped and sung happily at its morning catch. The bird’s song was flowed through the air, reaching into a nearby window. The pony sleeping inside, a slender yellow Pegasus, perked her ears at the sound. Yawning gracefully, Fluttershy sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Looking to the sound of the blue bird, the shy mare smiled back. “Good morning Mr. Blue Jay, thank you so very much for the beautiful wake up call.” The Pegasus continued to watch the avian sing as she got out of bed. The Pegasus made her bed and then made a beeline to the bathroom. Washing herself and fixing her mane into its signature style, the shy pony gave a deep breath of contentment. Today was a new day! Heading to the bottom floor of her cozy cottage, Fluttershy went for her storage closet and picked up all the animal feed she’d need for breakfast. With a degree of speed that was slightly frightening, the mare filled all her animal friends’ food bowls. Fluttershy sucked in a large amount of air. “Breakfast’s ready!” She shouted (Though to be fair, it wasn’t a very loud shout). Animals of all kinds burst from their sleeping places and hidey-holes, racing to get their fill in. Rabbits, dogs, cats, and a turtle were only a few example of the plethora of creatures that poured into the mare’s living room. Even Angel got up from the warm comfort of his basket, albeit reluctantly, to sample some new carrots his owner had bought. The shy mare smiled proudly as her friends ate their meals. Only a rumbling from her own belly pulled her from watching the scene, her own needs taking hold. Trotting into the kitchen, Fluttershy made herself a simple bowl of cereal with some wheat bread and an orange to top it all off. As the yellow Pegasus ate her meal, she squee’d at her plans for the day. Sundays were always when she was with her animals the whole time. First she’d help a family of rabbits dig out a new home, then she’d help one of her bear friends gussy up for a date, and that was only the beginning! Yes, it was going to be a nice quiet day for Fluttershy and her animals. Finishing up her meal and tossing the dishes in the sink for later cleaning, the mare went back to her living room. Her animals had finished eating and had gone on to other activities, so Fluttershy took upon herself to clean up the mess and leftovers still littering the floor. It was just before she finished that a knock could be heard at the door. Fluttershy’s head swung towards the door just as another knock resonated through the room. The mare tilted her head slightly, “Who could that be? Nopony usually visits me this early.” Placing her cleaning equipment down and walking to the door, the mare opened up to see who had arrived to meet her. “Oh… Hello Apple Bloom.” The pale olive filly smiled at Fluttershy. “Hey Fluttershy, good mornin’.” She greeted back. “Whatcha doin’?” She asked in an overly innocent tone. Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow. “Nothing right now, I was just finishing up some cleaning, the animals can get really messy sometimes.” “Really, ya don’t say?” Apple Bloom replied back. The yellow Pegasus frowned. “Umm… do you need something Apple Bloom? I mean if you do then… that’s ok, but I was wondering why you’d come here this early and… well, I mean you have every right to come here whenever you want I suppose it’s just strange is all… but I mean, I’m calling you strange I’m saying that what you’re doing is strange… wait, I’m not implying you do strange things it’s just…” “Uh Fluttershy,” Apple Bloom said, cutting off Fluttershy’s sorry rant. “It’s ok, Ah just wanted yer help with something…” The filly paused for a second. “Help with an animal Ah mean.” “Oh…” Fluttershy said, looking at the filly with quick blinking eyes. A wide smile suddenly broke across the mare’s face. “Well why didn’t you say so Apple Bloom? I’d be more than happy to help you with any animal problems. Is Winona sick? Did she eat those weird bluish-green mushrooms again?” “Uh no.” Apple Bloom replied. “Ah found an animal and Ah thought ya’d wanna take a look at it.” “Is it hurt?” Fluttershy asked. “No, Ah don’t actually know what it is, so Ah was wondering if ya’d take a look at it fer me.” Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow innocently. “Alright Apple Bloom, I’ll help.” “Really?!” Apple Bloom asked happily. “Of course.” Fluttershy replied. “I could not leave a poor animal hurt in good conscience. Just let me get a bag full of medical supplies ready and we can set out.” The Pegasus turned to retrieve her things when she felt a tug on her tail. “Uh Fluttershy?” Apple Bloom asked as she held the mare’s tail. “If we see Applejack on the way there can ya not tell her what we’re doing?” Fluttershy squinted her eyes. “Why?” “Well… uh…” The farm filly thought for minute. “Cause… she… Ah don’t want ta worry her, ya know? She’s got so much work and Ah just hate ta distract her with something like this. Ya know what Ah me?” Fluttershy thought about it then smiled. “Alright Apple Bloom, I won’t say a word, if it’s so Applejack doesn’t have to get worried.” The filly smiled and released Fluttershy, who promptly went inside to get her medical equipment. Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief, that was a lot easier then she thought it’d be. ~~~~ Apple Bloom and Fluttershy walked past the front gate of Sweet Apple Acres, trotting merrily along the dirt path that led from Ponyville to the farm. The duo made for the path that led to the orchard that contained the Crusader’s Clubhouse. Apple Bloom was giddy; they were almost to the path with no sight of Applejack. Maybe Apple Bloom would be able to pull this off after all… “Hey! Apple Bloom! Fluttershy!” The filly and mare stopped dead in their tracks at the voice (Apple Bloom gulped). The two turned to see Applejack trotting towards them, baskets full of apples strapped to her sides. “H-Hey sis…” Apple Bloom managed out. “Hey Apple Bloom, we missed ya at breakfast,” The older sister stopped in front of the two. “Where’d ya go? And why is Fluttershy with ya?” “Hi… Applejack.” Fluttershy squeaked out, hiding behind her pink mane. Apple Bloom tried to stay composed. “Well Ah, um, Ah woke up really early today and went ta my clubhouse ta get something. That’s uh, when Ah noticed a rabbit that looked a lot like one of Fluttershy’s.” “And so I came here to get it.” Fluttershy added in meekly. “Really?” Applejack asked. “Then why do ya have a medical bag with ya?” “Well… Well…” Fluttershy tried to think of a good excuse. “I uh, you uh, never know if the bunny could be hurt, so I brought it just in case.” “Makes sense.” Applejack admitted. “Do ya need help?” “No we’re fine.” Apple Bloom interjected. “Ah’m just gonna bring her ta the rabbit and she’s gonna bring it home.” “Alright then. Good luck you two.” Applejack tipped her hat. “Nice seeing ya Fluttershy.” The Earth pony began trotting away. “Same here.” Fluttershy replied quietly. “Bye sis!” Apple Bloom waved her sister as the mare left. The filly sighed in relief. A stray thought entered her mind: This thing’s gonna make me a problem liar… Leading Fluttershy to her clubhouse, Apple Bloom stopped as the two walked up to the tree house. Apple Bloom steeled herself; this was it. The two walked up the gangplank. As the filly stuck her hoof in the door hole and twisted the door open, she turned to Fluttershy. “Umm… Fluttershy? Ah just wanna tell ya now that there’s no injured animal in there.” The filly watched the Pegasus’s expression become confused. “What… What do you mean Apple Bloom?” The mare took on a very nervous and scared look. “Ah found something… some Ah really can’t explain.” The door slid open and Apple Bloom stepped inside. “So Ah was hoping you could.” Fluttershy stepped inside the tree house and looked around. She noted how different it appeared compared to when she had seen it once. The changed of decorum was the least interesting thing though. In one corner of the little structure floated a creature. It’s bluish-purple skin looked luminescent and its six tentacles were busy with some strange looking pieces of equipment that seemed to have been ripped from a small boxy device. Fluttershy felt her mouth drop slightly, but the rest of her felt numb and unresponsive. Apple Bloom chuckled nervously and stepped in the two meters between the two. “Uh, Fluttershy, this is Floats Low.” The filly waved at the creature. “And Floats Low.” The creature heard its name and turned to the source. Apple Bloom waved her hoof at an equine with wings. Curious evolutionary turn, Floats Low pondered. “This is Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom said. Floats Low floated to Fluttershy until the two were snout to snout. The six beady eyes of the Huragok stared at the wide expression of Fluttershy. The mare’s mouth was still agape, apparently stuck in a silent scream. Floats Low seemed to ignore Fluttershy’s condition as its head twisted this way and, looking over the mare. Apple Bloom noted that it was especially interested with Fluttershy’s wings. Floats took a tentacle and reached for one of Fluttershy’s wings. Taking in its tentacle, the Huragok seemed to examine it in every detail. Fascinating… The Huragok admitted. It wondered what kind of predators existed that would cause an equine to evolve in such a way. Perhaps this was the work of the Forerunners. Apple Bloom watched this interaction of Pegasus and Huragok with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Floats Low seemed to be enjoying itself. On the other, Fluttershy looked shocked into an open-eyed coma. Maybe it had been a mistake to bring Fluttershy here without telling her any of the real details. “Apple… Apple Bloom…” The mentioned filly looked up to see Fluttershy, visibly shaking. It broke the filly’s heart somewhat. “Y-Yes Fluttershy?” “Where… Where’d you find this creature?” The mare didn’t so much as blink the entire time. “The… Everfree Forest.” Apple Bloom responded. “Ah found it in a crash site of… something. Ah fainted and it took care of me why Ah was out cold.” “I see…” Fluttershy stated. “Fluttershy.” Apple Bloom started. “Please don’t be scare, Floats Low is actually…” “Scared?” Fluttershy asked, cutting the filly off. “Apple Bloom, scared isn’t the right word for what I am feeling right now.” The filly bit her lip at that. Fluttershy continued. “No, right now all I can feel is… is…” The mare burst into the air and shouted at the top of her lungs (still pretty quiet though). Fluttershy smiled as she hopped up and down. “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it! Would you look at this?! I must be dreaming! Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!” “Wut.” Apple Bloom took on a confused look as she watched Fluttershy look over the Huragok. The filly thought she was looking at a slideshow of pictures, Fluttershy hopped from observation point to observation point so quickly it looked as she simply teleported to each new spot. The mare’s barely contained excited caught Apple Bloom by surprise, the filly had no words to respond with. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Look at this body structure!” Fluttershy poked one of Floats’ bulbous gasbags, the mare squee’d hard as she watched it inflate and deflate. “Sustained floatation via lighter than air bladders! That method of flight is supposed to be only theoretical!” Fluttershy looked to the Huragok’s tentacles. Taking one in her hoof, she observed it closely and noted the microscopic cilia. “Extremely large amount of cilia to allow precision grasping ability! Amazing!” The Pegasus floated down towards the Huragok’s neck, watching the creature’s skin glow slightly. “And he’s bioluminescent! Apple Bloom, do you know how many land based animals are bioluminescent?!” The filly thought about it. “Well, Ah know that fireflies count, other than that…” The filly didn’t get to finish her sentence as Fluttershy continued her scrutinization of the Huragok. The mare took Floats Low’s slender head into her hooves and looked straight at it. “Six eyes? Interesting.” The mare raised the Huragok’s head up to look at its chin. “Hmm… no fully developed mouth? So that must mean it must communicate differently… maybe using complex body language? You can whistle too, can’t you?” Fluttershy smiled again, the mare looked absolutely drunk off her happiness. As for the Huragok, it was now far from the interest it had had several minutes ago. Now it cowered somewhat from Fluttershy’s observations, a little frightened by the near mad fervor the mare before it was exhibiting. “Fluttershy? Are you ok?” Apple Bloom asked, even more worried then when the Pegasus had looked frightened. “Ok? OK?” Fluttershy landed in front of Apple Bloom, her smile still etched across her face. “I’m more than ok! I’ve never gotten the chance to ever see a creature like this before! I went to college to learn all I could about animal care. For a pony that loves animals so much, this situation is a dream come true! To see something so exotic, so alien, I feel like Twilight when she gets a new book in the mail! It’s even better considering this thing doesn’t want to violate me brutally and lay eggs in my abdomen so I can be its broodmother and birth the next generation of its species!” “You went to college?” Apple Bloom curiously found herself asking, seemingly skipping over Fluttershy’s last statement. “Well… It was more of a take home college program, but I still had to take it and get a degree so I could work with animals. It’s not like anypony would entrust their animals to an unlicensed mare, that’s just crazy!” “That does make sense…” Apple Bloom admitted. “Now…” Fluttershy pulled up two chairs and sat down in one, prompting Apple Bloom to do the same with the other. “Tell me everything that’s happened so, right from the beginning!” Apple Bloom nodded and took a seat. “Alright… so it started three days ago when I was walking home from school late at night…”