The day of Pint’s birthday was partly cloudy and breezy. But, for Fall, all she could see, or feel, was sunshine.
Her morning started out as it normally did. Ms. Powder Puff barking orders, yelling insults, and the other fillies and colts, thanks to Rawhide, mockingly calling her ‘The False Foal’. But this all didn’t matter. Her bond between Pint and Bucky helped her to not let all the cruel things that were said and done to her hurt her, or make her feel as hopeless, anymore.
What made Fall laugh was how it seemed to bother Ms. Powder Puff and the other staff when their mean-spirited actions didn’t hurt her as much as they used to. By Bucky’s advice, she decided to humor them by pretending to be all upset over the awful treatment, chores, and Rawhide’s team of bullies. However, when they all ignored her, she’d allow her smile to return and would think of the fun she was going to have after finishing whatever it was she was forced into doing. Sure they took the sweater, scarf, and even boots that Pint brought her. But it didn’t matter. She was going out to a birthday party. Whatever a party for a birthday was, she knew it had to be good and with all of Bucky and Pint’s talk about it, she couldn’t wait.
***
As it was Pint’s party, he had to stay home with his parents and welcome the guests as they arrived. So it was Bucky to the rescue.
“Hang on,” he said as he prepared to jump over the fence with Fall on his back.
Fall held tightly onto Bucky’s sweater as they glided over the fence and gently fluttered to the ground.
“You’re welcome to stay on my back if you want to?” offered the yellow colored Pegasus.
“IF you don’t mind,” replied Fall.
“Not at all,” said Bucky as he raised his wings to cover Fall. “It’ll help keep you warm.”
“You’re so thoughtful,” said Fall as she started to genuinely notice how much warmer she was feeling against Bucky’s back while being shielded from the wind by his wings.
“I have some things I need to pick up at my house,” stated Bucky. “Is that okay?”
“I suppose,” she said.
Bucky looked back and said, “My mom and uncle know about you and they are both very nice.”
“Uncle?” asked Fall.
“Weird, right?” asked Bucky. “I called him dad for as long as I can remember until he told me to just call him ‘Uncle’.”
“Is uncle another name for a dad?” asked Fall.
“Actually…,” said Bucky. “My mom told me that he’s her brother.”
“Your mom’s brother is your dad?” wondered Fall.
Bucky felt confused as he replied, “I, uh, guess so.”
“Did I say something wrong?” panicked Fall.
“Oh, no,” assured Bucky. “It’s just that my mom and uncle don’t talk much about the whole ‘dad’ thing.”
Fall said nothing.
“All I know is that, when anyone refers to my uncle as my dad, my mom makes a face that makes me feel sad. So I try to let every pony know that he’s my uncle.”
“Okay,” said Fall. “I’ll make sure to call him ‘uncle’.”
Bucky laughed as he said, “And also tell them that you are the new student in the Purple Class I’ve been talking about.”
Fall giggled, nodded, and buried her face into Bucky’s amber-colored mane as she said, “You bet.”
Bucky felt like a big brother as Fall made herself all cozy on top of him. Even though Fall was older than he was, she was very small for her age and her wings were severely underdeveloped.
“I’m glad we’re friends, Fall,” said Bucky. “If I ever had a sister, I’d wish she was like you.”
Fall blushed.
“Really?” she asked.
“Most definitely!” he proclaimed. “I know other fillies and colts who fight and don’t get along with their brothers or sisters. However, I think we’d get along great if we were siblings.”
“…,” Fall sighed as she closed her eyes.
“Well,” said Bucky. “Mind if I get my gallop on?”
Fall just snuggled tighter into Bucky’s mane.
“Here we go!” he cried before heading off towards his house in a full sprint. “PARTY TIME!”