Chapter 1

Fluttershy works alongside her father, Sun-Loch as they cut the last of their farm's spring wheat harvest. The cold late fall air makes their fur stand on end. Moving her scarf over her snout, Fluttershy bends down and grabs a fistful of wheat, cutting it with her sickle. The clean, crisp swoosh of her tool dances in her ears. Setting the cut bundle beside her, she moves on, cutting another fistful. Sun-Loch works to her right, his more significant stature allowing him to grab heartier fistfuls.

The early evening dew in the air, condensates on their fur and manes. Sun-Loch moves some of his red mane from his eyes and flicks the water off his hand before returning to task. Hearing his daughter groan, he looks over at her and sees her flapping her wings, flicking the dew off them. "You alright sweetheart?"

"No… My stupid wings!" She looks at her father. "I wish I was an earth pony like you Pa!"

"Why?" He asks, giving her a questioning smirk.

"Because… They always get cold, and they hurt when they molt and…" She grunts cutting another fistful of wheat. "I bet its way easier being an earth pony?" She drops her tool and crosses her arms. She looks down at the ground and stares at her hooves, her lips pouting all the while.

Her father hums as he throws his tool into the ground, the blade sticking to the soft soil. "Well not always." He picks up a mound of wheat, tying them into a sheave. "Unlike you and your mother, I can't fly." He throws the sheave in the back of his putter-wagon.

"But…"

"But sweetie, I wish I can soar through the air!" He interrupts her, placing his hand in his armpits, flapping his arms like wings.

Fluttershy giggles at her father's antics. "But Pa! You're so tall, your wings would be huge!" She chases after him. They run through the fields, laughing and playing their little game of tag.

…

By the large porch window, sitting on the window's bench, is Posey. A smirk is on her face as she watches her husband and daughter play in the stalks. The heads of the wheat bobbing with their movements. "Bah, bah…" Looking to her right, she eyes her one-year-old son, Butterscotch, kicking his tiny legs in the crib next to the fireplace in the corner of the living room.

Smiling she walks over to her son and picks him up, coddling him in her arms. "Look at your sister and pa, aren't they silly." She points at them through the window. The wheat fascinates Butterscotch more than his relatives. With a laughing sigh, she shakes her head and runs her fingers through his mane. "I'm surrounded by sillies." Her wings twitching from her laughter.

…

Grabbing Fluttershy's waist, Sun-Loch raises her over his head. She giggles, sticking out her arms, her little wings flapping. Bringing her back down, he sits her down on the driver seat of his putter-wagon. "So, sweetie, you want to drive the wagon to the barn?"

Fluttershy's ears perk up. "Can I?" She grabs the steering wheel, jumping up n' down on the seat.

"Sure, just let me load the last of the sheaves into its bed." He steps away, heading to the back of the vehicle.

While her father works, Fluttershy hums to herself, her six-year-old mind looking at the buttons, dials, and gauges with excitement. Curious, she presses one of the buttons on the center console. Nothing happens. With a frown, she turns the button a full ninety degrees. Still, nothing happens, building her frustration. Seeing the transmission stick, she moves it around, dull, clunky metallic sounds ring out.

"Bored Fluttershy?" Her father asks, leaning on the putter-wagon's doorframe.

"Yeah…" She continues to mess with the transmission stick.

"Well, let's solve your boredom, shall we?" He chuckles. She nods her head. "Well put that stick your messing with in neutral." He points at the transmission stick.

She looks at it and reads the lettering on the ball on the tip of the stick. "Here? It says N?" She asks.

"Yep, that's the one." He replies placing both hands on the roof of the putter-wagon. She moves the stick into the middle indent. "Now see the key in the ignition, turn it." She does.

The putter-wagon roars to life, is frame shaking from the engine's motions. The radio blares out, a newscast echoes painfully into their ears. "Our stallions are at it again! A year into the war and they have won their first battle! They now celebrate, Mares woo them! Please continue to support our Stallions and push back our enemies who threaten our freedoms..." Sun-Loch presses the button shutting it off.

"Sorry, Pa," Fluttershy replies, rubbing her ears.

He chuckles. "Don't worry sweetie." He scratches her scalp through her bonnet. "Now sit on my lap." He gets into the putter-wagon. Fluttershy sits on her father's lap and holds onto the steering wheel. Placing his left hand on the steering wheel, he puts his right hand on the transmission stick. "Keep your eyes on the gravel path and both hands on the steering wheel at all times." He puts his hoof on the clutch and moves the transmission into first gear.

The putter-wagon rolls forward slowly, Fluttershy feels a giddiness as she eyes the barn. Sun-Loch smiles as he watches her turn the steering-wheel in the right directions. Pressing on the throttle, the putter-wagon rolls along the ground at a faster pace. The motor clunking and whining all the while. Nearing the barn, he helps her steer the vehicle into position. "Easy… Easy… And, perfect." He presses the brake, stopping the wagon. Moving the gear into park, he pulls the emergency brakes' lever and shuts off the vehicle. "Your first time driving, how did it feel?"

"Great! Let's do it again!" She asks, giving her father a smile, as she bends her head back to look at her father with her puppy eyes.

He looks away. "No, we need to load up the wheat in the barn." He sets her down on the cold compacted dirt floor "We need to let them dry if we want to sell them next week." Fluttershy huffs in defeat as she follows her father to the bed of the putter-wagon.

…

Slaving over the stove, Posey watches the thin angel hair pasta simmer in the pot. Stirring it around, she plucks one of the strands from the water and tastes it. Liking what she tastes, she takes the pot off the stove and drains the water. Steam rises from the sink, engulfing her. Butterscotch watches from his highchair, his big eyes staring at his mother and the steam with wonder.

Stepping away from the sink, she places the pot on the counter. Hearing a giggle, she looks over her shoulder and sees her son smiling at her. "What's so funny?" She touches her mane and feels it's frizziness. "Oh… I'll have you know dear, steam is good for a pony." She smiles back at her son.

"We're home!" Sun-Loch sings, stepping into the abode.

"But Pa, we've been home all this time!" Fluttershy giggles, skipping around him.

"Fluttershy it's just a saying… Never mind." He huffs, messing with her mane as he sets her bonnet on the coatrack.

Posey pokes her head out from the kitchen. "Well look at that, right on time." She walks up to the dining table in the middle of the kitchen and living room, and sets down the pot of pasta. Father and daughter sniff the air, licking their lips. Walking up to his wife, he places his hands on her hips and pulls her into an embrace. "Sun-Loch! Not in front of the children!" She pecks his cheek, glancing at Fluttershy who's giggling at them.

"What's the matter dear?" Sun-Loch asks his wife.

"I still have to set the table!" Her blushing continues.

"What? I'm just happy you made my favorite dish." He rubs his snout on her left cheek.

She blushes and pushes him away. "I'm glad you're happy…" She looks at her husband giving him a sly smirk. "But if you don't freshen up this instant, then there will be no pasta for you!"

Sun-Loch's eyes go wide. "You wouldn't dare?"

"GET!" She smacks him playfully. He runs off to the restroom in a fit of laughter. Hearing her daughter laughing as well, she turns her gaze to her. "You too young filly… Go!" Fluttershy shivers, running into the restroom. Posey sighs, stroking her brow as she looks at her son. "Butterscotch, I'm surrounded by sillies…"

…

"Oh, my Lord, I love this tomato sauce!" Sun-Loch mumbles, chewing his pasta in delight.

"Keep your mouth closed dear," Posey states, feeding her son some mashed up pasta. Making sure Butterscotch swallows the bite without a fuss, she looks over at her daughter who's carefully twisting her pasta on her fork. "Sweetie, you don't have to make it perfect."

"I know…" Fluttershy mumbles as she slowly rotates her fork. Getting the noodles to twist just right, she lifts her utensil to her mouth, making sure no noodles or sauce gets on her nightgown. She hums as she chews her bite.

Posey sighs and looks at her husband who takes a sip of his whiskey. She frowns at the drink as she picks up her glass of wine. Noticing his wife's glare, Sun-Loch sets down his drink. "What is it dear?"

"Oh… Nothing." She takes a long sip and sets down her drink before feeding her son another bite. Sun-Loch sighs, turning his attention to the day's newspaper, glaring at the words.

Fluttershy looks at her parents with uneasiness as she eyes their alcoholic drinks of choice. She never understands why they drink them. Every time they did however, their breaths stink of a foul smell and their behavior changes. She hates that fact, but, still, a curious thought lingers in her mind. What did the drinks taste like? "Ma? Pa?"

Her parents look at her in questioning. "What is it, sweetie?" Posey asks taking a bite of her pasta.

"C-Can I have a sip of… Um… Your drinks?" She gives an innocent smile.

Posey and Sun-Loch stare at their daughter with wide eyes. Posey studies her drink and twirls it around in her hand. With a sigh, she sets it down. "Sure sweetie, only a sip of mine, but not your father's."

Sun-Loch frowns at his wife. "Why not mine?"

"Because, Sun-Loch, wine is not as strong as hard liquor!" She glares at her husband.

"One sip won't hurt, besides I thought underage drinking was allowed in your culture?" He sighs, placing both hands on the rim of his plate.

"Wine Sun-Loch! Only wine… Only the poor and the cripples drink beers and hard liquors!" She gives her son a bite. "Beers and hard liquors are for drunkards! One sip and ponies will ruin their life!"

Fluttershy slowly sinks into her chair. "I… um…"

He chuckles. "Posey, one sip of whiskey will not turn her into a drunkard!"

"Simils tibi!" She glares at her husband.

"I-I… Earthen, Posey! Speak it!" Sun-Loch growls.

"You know what I said! You, atque conviviis!" She growls back.

"I'm no drunkard! And besides, you have no right to stand on a soapbox!" Sun-Loch hisses.

"Wine is different than hard liquor Sun-Loch!" Posey retorts, getting in her husband's face.

"STOP!"

Butterscotch cries at the sound of his sister's distress.

Sun-Loch and Posy stare at their daughter, seeing the tears that flood her eyes. Feeling guilty, they give her a soft smile. "Sweetie don't cry." Posey coos as she picks up her son. "Shh… Butters… Shh…" She tilts her head at Fluttershy, giving her husband a low glare.

He sighs and gets up from his seat. "Hey Flutters, we didn't mean it…" Fluttershy lets out a sob and bolts to her room. "Fluttershy!" He sighs as he hears her door slam shut. "I'll let her calm down before I enter." He picks up his and his daughter's plate, walking into the kitchen. "You need help dear?"

Posey nods to her husband as she rocks Butterscotch in her arms. "That would be lovely dear…"

…

Opening the door, Posey and Sun-Loch peek into their daughter's room. All is quiet. The lamp on the nightstand is on, the soft glow of its halogen bulb tinting the room yellow. Stuff animals and toys layout on the floor of the small room. Her desk is full of drawn on papers and a drawer to her dresser is slightly open. Eyeing her bed, they see a lump under the sheets, the end of Fluttershy's pink tail sticking out.

With a sigh, they step into the room. "Fluttershy, are you awake?" Posey asks, getting to her bedside. Fluttershy nods, the sheets moving with her movement. She smiles and sits on her bed, her legs hanging off its side. "Pa is here as well."

"Hi, sweetie?" Sun-Loch calls out from under the doorframe. A moan leaves their daughter's lips.

Posey lays her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Do you want to talk?"

"No!" Fluttershy moans.

"Why?" Posey asks, tilting her head, rubbing her daughter's shoulder.

Fluttershy curls up more, the sheets squishing around her. "I'll make you and Pa angry again!"

They look at each other, feeling guilty. "Oh, sweetie." She looks at the mound that is her daughter. "Ma and Pa were just having a disagreement, that's all." She pats her daughters' shoulder. "Married couples sometimes disagree on things…" Fluttershy pulls the covers off her head and stares at her mother with bloodshot eyes. "Granted, we could've handled the situation better." She looks back at her husband, who nods his head.

"S-So, you don't h-hate each other?" Fluttershy asks, looking at her mother with wondering eyes.

"Oh, we don't hate each other," Posey runs her fingers through her daughter's mane. "Like I said, sometimes married couples disagree."

"But, I started the argument!" Fluttershy moans, covering her snout with her bed sheets.

Sun-Loch sighs. "You started nothing Fluttershy, I will not have my daughter blame herself!" He walks up to her bed and sits next to his wife. "Now, enough with these tears." He wipes them from her cheeks. Fluttershy huffs and lays her head on her pillow.

With a hum, Posey scratches behind her daughter's ear. "You want us to sing you, your favorite lullaby?" Fluttershy nods, wiggling in her bed, getting comfortable. Smiling at their daughter, Posey and Sun-Loch begin the melody. Her voice soft and light, and his, thick and rough.

"Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.

Drifting off to sleep,

Leaving your joyous day behind you.

Drifting, off to sleep,

Let the joy of dreamland find you.

Hush now, quite now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quite now,

It's time to go to bed."

Finishing their lullaby, they open their eyes and look down at their daughter. Her soft snores grace their ears. With a smile, Posey kisses her daughter on the forehead. "Goodnight sweetie, see you in the morning."

…

The afternoon day was a cool one, not as cold as yesterday, but just enough for the breeze to chill a pony.

Sitting on the floor by the coffee table near the fireplace, Fluttershy practices her cursive. She huffs as she finishes the letter 'Q'. Moaning melodramatically, she lifts her head and stares out the kitchen window over the sink. She sees the silhouette of her hometown in the distance.

She never understood why she never went to school like other children. She had asked her parents once before. The only answer they gave was that she would be better off if they taught her instead of a teacher in some old smelly classroom. Still a part of her wanted to go to school, not to learn, but to make friends. She grumbles. She doesn't have friends. All she has is her dolls and brother. She grumbles as she looks down at her 'homework'.

Writing the letter 'R', she huffs sadly and stands up. Stretching out her limbs, she crawls on the couch and stares out the window. Their fields of spring wheat are mostly harvested, only two acres remain from the eight total they have. She giggles. The cut wheat reminds her of when her had to shave off his mane when he set it on fire.

Tearing her gaze from the wheat stalks, she eyes her father who sits on the porch's steps. In his mouth is a pipe, make form cherry and hickory-cork. Light grey smoke lingers around him. The door to the house is open, allow the aroma of the smoke to make its way to her. Her snout twitches, making her rub it. But intregued by the inviting smells, she slips off the couch to quickly finish her work.

"How's your cursive coming along sweetie?" Posey asks stepping into the living room from the back rooms.

"DONE!" Fluttershy shouts, holding up her paper.

"Let me see?" Posey asks. Fluttershy hands over her work. Reading the consecutive letters, Posey smiles. "Well your getting better, but you still need to work on your P's and Q's. Now write it in pegasan." She gives back the paper. Fluttershy frowns, laying dramatically on the coffee table. Smirking at her daughter's expression, she giggles walking up to Butterscotch, picking him up off the floor. "You can take a break if you want." Fluttershy sighs in relief as she bolts out of the house.

Posey eyes the vibrating door with a raised brow.

…

Sitting on his porch, Sun-Loch watches the trees of the Everfree forest in the distance swaying with the breeze. Beyond the forest's tree line, he can just barely make out the bell tower of Hornell's townhall, the closest neighbor to his home tome of Cameroon. With a sigh, he moves his pipe to the left side of his mouth and gives a puff.

"Whatcha doing Pa?" Fluttershy asks as she sits to his left.

"Watching nature and smoking my pipe." He keeps his gaze on the forest, running his finger through her mane. Fluttershy watches her father puff on his pipe. His lips expertly holding the smoking instrument firmly in his mouth. Seeing him hold the stummel in his right hand, she copies him.

Noticing her antics, Sun-Loch makes a funny face. She copies him, but her giggles cause her to falter a bit. He makes another expression and switches hands. She copies him once again. With a chuckle, he looks to his right and rummages through his smoking pouch and pulls out another pipe. Checking to make sure it was clear of tobacco, he hands it to her.

Holding the pipe in her tiny hands, she manipulates it, studying the artwork carved into the wood. Looking up at her father, she copies his pose sticking the pipe in her mouth. The lingering taste of tobacco on the bit and button causes her to shiver. She spits out the bit and licks her lips in disgust. Sun-Loch chuckles at her expression. With a grunt she sticks the pipe back in her mouth and ignores the lousy taste as she copies her father's pose once again.

"Dear what are your plans for the day… SUN-LOCH! Is our daughter smoking?" Posey asks in shock.

Fluttershy jerks, fearing her mother's tone. Quickly Sun-Loch calms both his daughter and wife. "No… No dear, not at all, the pipe is empty…" He chuckles, moving Fluttershy's pink bangs to the side. "She was copying my pose, so I thought of giving her a prop." He smiles.

Posey gives them a raised brow. "Really?"

"Oh yes look…" He makes a grumpy face. As if on cue, Fluttershy copies him. "HA! Oh, Posey, you can't disagree that she looks so adorable, look we're twins!" He leans next to his daughter, their cheeks touching one another.

Posey looks at them, trying to form words as she palaces a hand over her lips. Her son in her right arm looking at his father and sister with soft eyes, oblivious to the situation.

"Oh… Let me get the camera!" Sun-Loch chuckles, getting up from the porch, running into the house.

Fluttershy looks up at her mother as she takes several pretend puffs of her pipe. Posey looks at her daughter with a smirk. "You're turning into your father." She rubs her brow. Fluttershy smiles.