Chapter 5: Toughies
So Verdant wanted to be a toughie now. Erin kind of liked the idea. She hadn’t thought Verdant would ever fall into the role. He’d called himself a poopie fluffy before. She supposed that now he saw what he was capable of he had more confidence. Erin saw no harm in it. She’d looked up toughies and toughie friends. She’d make sure he was the good type. The one that protected his friends. She texted her new friends, telling them her plan. Ripper’s owner, Cris, contacted her saying Ripper wanted to be a toughie too. So it looked like the two of them would begin fluffy training together. Luckily there was a market for such things. There was a market for everything to be honest. Erin and Cris decided what each of them would buy. The selections were vast including little fluffy obstacle courses, weighted balls and blocks, little weighted leg bands for all sizes, and little fluffy pads to go on walls to buck and run into without injury. There was even a little fluffy treadmill. The mascot was a hilariously and improbably muscled stallion fluffy surrounded by a few mares looking at him adoringly. It was pretty funny to see Verdant’s reaction, claiming he wanted to be a ‘stwong stawwion’ too.
The two owners had placed their owners, but for now, they decided to let Ripper and Verdant practice on each other. No hard hoofsies. It was mostly wrestling for the two of them. The two fluffies were laughing the whole time, having fun with it. It was adorable, really. The foals had both grown a little since the last meetup, and were tripping over their little hooves. Running around the house and wrestling was the best way to tire them out until they got to training. There was even a DVD that came with each order that taught fluffies how to be ‘gud tuffies’. Erin supposed that meant it was lessons on using their new strength for good, and not to be a bully. Erin was pretty sure she and Cris could teach those lessons, but she’d watch the DVDs to make sure.
A few days later, the equipment arrived. Cris had a bigger yard and no other pets, so training would be in his backyard. Precious and Sharona were brought over on the first day of training to watch the two other fluffies train. The four of them enjoyed some food while watching the foals look over the new toys and explore it. Verdant seemed to be drawn to the bucking pads. He used his front and back hooves to push at it. He liked to bat his hooves, which made silly poofs of air when he hit it. He puffed up with pride when Precious cooed that he was ‘su stwong!’ The sappiness could make Erin’s heart melt.
The training began. Running, well waddling in their case, on the treadmill for thirty seconds. They were young, after all. They had to get a little taste of it. Then there was pushing the weighted balls across the yard. They seemed to like that the most, as it felt the most like playtime. They would push them across the yard calling out ‘baww!’ Next was the blocks. They only had to stack on on top of the other. Their little legs needed to be worked on. The last part was bucking. Two front hoof hits and two back leg bucks on the pads. It only took thirty minutes including breaks, but the two little colts looked exhausted. Verdant and Ripper smiled tiredly at each other.
Erin pet her colt on the head with a finger. “Good boy. You did so well on your first session.” She told him. “Tank you, mummah.” Verdant cooed and nuzzled against the pets he received. “Ant wuv twaining.” The fluffy was on his belly.
“I’m sure you do. You’re going to become a really strong one, aren’t you?” Erin asked. “You’re gonna need a bath when we get home.”
“…Wif bubbwes?” Ant asked after a whine.
“Warm with bubbles.” Erin promised. Verdant didn’t like water, but he would sit quietly through a warm bath, especially with bubbles.
“Wuv bubbwes.” He said sleepily. Erin smiled at the group. “I’ll take him home now. Same time tomorrow?” After getting the affirmation, Erin picked up her fluffy, and carried him home. They’d walked here with his harness but he was too tired to at home.
Once home, Erin couldn’t take her fluffy to the bathroom. No, she had to sit down, and let the dogs smell her. So many new smells were on her. Especially the smell of fluffies! Verdant got a few sniffs and more than a few licks, but he giggled about ‘tikwles fwom bawkie fwiends’. It took a good three minutes for them to calm down, and Erin was free to get up. Though the dogs would keep coming back for more sniffs again, which Erin teased them about. She started the water in the sink. Verdant was still small enough for baths in the bathroom sink. He’d graduate to the tub soon, but Erin didn’t want to have to be on her knees, bending over the tub more than she had to. She had enough back pain as it was.
She had put the fluffy safe bubble bath in the water, and was lathering Verdant up as he clapped his hooves, and batted at the bubbles. This was why people liked fluffies, she realized. Yes, they could be annoying at times with the high voices, bright colors, and utter stupidity…but here she had a cute little creature enjoying a bubble bath. Or maybe she was biased because he was a far sight easier than bathing the dogs.
She rinsed him off, and tried to get a washcloth in time…nope. She was splattered by Verdant’s shake off. She saw his cheeky little smile beneath the shaggy fur, spiked from the shaking. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” She asked playfully. She dried him carefully with the small washcloth. “Silly boy.” She told him softly. “Let’s watch some TV.” Erin said.
They decided to watch anime. Well, kid friendly ones so far. Avatar and Pokemon. Erin wouldn’t call herself a weeb. She liked her anime, but she didn’t go overboard. Just an average fan…who also collected figures…and poster…and plushes. But wasn’t a weeb. She didn’t try to speak in Japanese anymore, even if she still wanted to visit the place. Erin sighed, and played the show on Netflix. It was the first season of Pokemon, which she hasn’t seen in years and years. She happily answered all Verdant’s questions. She knew her extensive knowledge of Pokemon would come in handy one day! Take that mom and dad!
“What ur favowite pokmon, mummah?” Verdant asked.
“You’ve seen them before. Vulpix. The pretty red one Brock has.” Erin said. “And their evolution, Ninetails. I’ll show you that one later.”
“Vupix su pwetty! Wike mummah!” Verdant exclaimed, his tail wagging.
“Aw, thanks Ant. Who’s your favorite?” She asked.
“Buwbsore. Am green wike Ant.” Verdant said.
Bulbasaur because he was green. Fair enough, she supposed. “He’s a good choice.” Erin said, deciding now was not the time to admit she’d never chosen Bulbasaur. Charmander was her first choice, followed by Squirtle.
They watched a couple episodes before it was time for Verdant to go to bed. “Goodnight, little one.” She told him as she put him in the nestie.
“Night mummah.” He mummered, and was asleep in seconds. Lucky guy. Erin never got that sleep at will ability. She headed to her own bed. Warmed by the two dogs who slept beside her, and the cat by her head. Things were getting exciting in her life.