“So!” boomed a rather muscular, royal-blue colored Pegasus. “You must be the new student that Buck’s been talking all about!”
Fall scurried behind Bucky upon being greeted by such a powerful presence at her friend’s house.
The stallion let out a hearty guffaw before stating, “No need to be scared, little filly! I don’t bite!”
“Perhaps you should dial down the volume a little bit!” called out who was presumably Bucky’s mom from another room.
“Oh!” the stallion gasped. “Thanks, Brights!”
Bucky looked towards Fall and said, “That’s my uncle.”
The stallion laid himself down on the floor so that he was at Fall’s level.
“Sorry, little filly,” he said. “I’m Bucky’s uncle.”
Bucky stepped back to allow Fall to approach his uncle.
“Uh…,” said Fall as she slowly extended her tiny, brown hoof. “Nice to…, meet you?”
Bucky’s uncle slowly moved his large hoof towards Fall’s and gave it a gentle bump.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” he said.
Another Pegasus entered into view. This one far less intimidating in appearance.
“Hello,” the sky-blue colored Pegasus greeted. “I’m Bucky’s mom, Bright Skies.”
Fall made eye contact with Bucky’s mom and felt something she had never felt from a stallion, or mare before. This being a sense of warmth. It was nothing like what she had come to notice in the eyes of those grown-ups at the orphanage who’s eyes often were cold and resentful. Fall also took notice of how her mane looked a number of shades of orange, like a sunrise, and how her Cutie Mark appeared to be a bright-orange sun.
“Hi,” said the little, brown Pegasus. “I’m Fall.”
“How do you do that?” asked Bucky’s uncle.
Bright Skies laughed and said, “Because I don’t greet every pony as if they are the competition in a hoofball game.”
“Really?” he asked.
“You do,” Bucky chuckled.
“You, too, Buck?” asked Bucky’s uncle.
Bucky nodded his head and said, “It’s okay. It’s why I love you.”
Fall felt her jaw drop a little upon hearing Bucky use the word ‘love’ towards his uncle. Love was typically used to refer to toys, food, or other things back at the orphanage. Never could she remember it being used towards another pony.
“Well,” said Bucky’s uncle as he stood himself back up. “We don’t want to be late to your friend’s party.”
“Nope!” agreed Bucky. “Fall and I just need to get something out of my room and we’ll be ready to go.”
“If you can find anything in it,” remarked Bucky’s mom. “How many times have I told you to clean that mess up in there?”
Bucky blushed as he replied, “It’s clean.”
“By your uncle’s standards,” stated Bucky’s mom. “But I expect things to actually be put away instead of shoved in the closet or under your bed.”
Bucky rubbed his hoof upon the carpet as he replied, “Yes, mom.”
Bucky and Fall headed for the staircase that lead up to the house’s second floor.
“Please forgive the mess,” said Bucky’s mom. “Bucky’s going to have his room like his mother likes it after we get home from the party.”
Bucky stopped halfway up the stairs.
“But, mom,” he pouted.
“But, nothing,” she stated. “No playing outside or anything until that room is clean.”
Bucky sighed as he and Fall continued up the stairs and made their way into his room.