This is a loooooong read!
Introduction to my second Fluffy OC. Ramses is 1 year older than Tulla.
The Birth to Order
Ramses was born an earthie stallion at the same Pure Fluffy breeder mill as Tulla. He too was an ordered birth to very certain specifics. It was supposed to be a female Fluffy, resembling a cross between the visage of ancient egyptian Cleopatra with fur like the desert sands. When Ramses was born, he had an identical twin sister which was a stillborn. At this point, the breeder had some decency and asked their clients if a stallion-born would be fine since they would remove his genitals anyways. It was fine. His new owner would settle his identity.
As a baby foal he was also subjected to Pure Fluffy brainwashing, and he got very indoctrinated. Ramses as a foal stood by the principles settled into him: always be a good Fluffy, always obey Mummah or Daddeh, trust your human family, always follow what humans tell you no matter if it’s morally good or bad. This was the destiny - to be a human’s toy, cause no trouble, appease & entertain your owners. And this stallion was going to be the best fluffy at his new home. His new family would be in awe and adoration from how much of a good Fluffy he was going to be. Surely, his efforts would pay off, he was going to a very good homesie; a forever homesie. You had to be a good Fluffy at your forever home.
The stallion was sent to his first home at Talkie Baby age, as a gift from loving parents to their only son and only child. He was an excellent student with newly found interest in ancient Egypt history and religious mythos. What would be better than a living toy reflecting his hot new past time study? Since it was supposed to be a mare looking like a Cleopatra, the new owner named his fluffy Kleo. Foal didn’t object, it was the first name ever given to him. Besides, he’s a good Fluffy who trusted his new Daddeh.
Kleo had a wonderful first home. He had everything he needed AND wanted, his Daddeh even gave him a royal blue collar with a golden ankh pendant. Daddeh played with him a lot. They studied different subjects together, but ancient Egyptian history was their obvious favorite. Unfortunately, it didn’t last for long. As Kleo became a Fluffy yearling, his Daddeh began neglecting him to maintain his straight A student status. The boy simply focused on studying very hard and most of the time he was caught up in his own world. Kleo had to play on his own, ask multiple times for the litter box to be cleaned, even remind his Daddeh to feed him. There was no malice in Boy’s actions, the desire to appeal to his parents through good grades overriden everything else. Taking care of a pet became too much to handle.
The family decided to surrender Kleo to a non-kill shelter. He deserved a good home, he was always so well-behaved and sweet Fluffy. He was still but a colt, young, he would adapt quick to new surroundings. Or so they had hoped.
When the last day arrived, nobody said anything amongst themselves. The boy put his Fluffy into his carrier and once it was all locked, he said:
-“Goodbye Kleo, you were a good friend, but I can’t take care of you anymore. I hope you find a good new home.”
Before Fluffy could properly respond to what happened, his carrier was grabbed and next thing was a car ride in the darkness. Colt was shaken, he didn’t know what to say. Nobody ever told him what would happen if your Mummah or Daddeh decided they didn’t love you anymore. Nobody ever told him what would happen to him once he lost his forever home. He didn’t utter a word throughout the entire ride. At this point he was already far and out of the house, and nothing he could say would change his fate. Kleo could feel that his family was immensely set on getting rid of him. The decision stood firmly and a Fluffy had no power here.
His admission to the shelter went quickly and soon he was in the single fluffy enclosure with bare necessities. Kleo lied down at the back of the enclosure, where makeshift pillow bed was settled. He didn’t respond to anything - all the sounds were a staticy cacophony forming unintelligible mass. All he could see was a bright light emanating from the ceiling, making everything tinted in a cold manner. He knew the objects he saw, but he couldn’t name them or realize them in his head. Moving creatures, big or small, were also familiar, yet there was no viable way to understand what they communicated. But one creature was standing out somehow, piercing their presence through the chaos. Red blob with blue eyes kept staring at him intently. Kleo couldn’t react to it, even though something told him to try. Anything, do anything, just show that you could see it. Kleo in his desperate attempt let out a squealy bark while looking back at the Red blob. He didn’t know how, but he knew that Red smiled back at his lousy bark.
Kleo’s mind raced, his thoughts were too many, too loud, too mean. He couldn’t process his new reality. He didn’t sleep that night, not even for a moment. He couldn’t calm himself down. And yet, he didn’t cry. Not a single tear from colt’s icy blue eyes.
The faint new morning came, the sun rose slowly behind dressed window. At the strike of 6am the lights turned on and a small commotion of Fluffies and people began. Kleo’s eyes were still wide opened from the shock, but tiredness started to show. Eyes themselves stung a little from being so open for so long. He felt weakness in all of his four leggies. There was a persistent tightness in his chest forcing Kleo into shallow breathing. Colt gasped for air when suddenly a pair of hands pulled him up and out of the enclosure.
-“There you are! We need to do a little check-up on you, it’s gonna be really quick! If you’re a good Fluffy, you will get a treat for being a brave patient!”
Being carried by a human, in their arms, was somehow both soothing and traumatic. Kleo understood that he wouldn’t be receiving any kind of affection for a long time. It stung him like a wasp. He wanted to cry, he wanted to be upset and scream for help. He couldn’t, something took his voice and his tears. And before he realized he was already done with the check-up thingy. His headrush made him completely oblivious to his surroundings.
Kleo’s first day at the shelter began with confusion, weakness, feeling of misplacement and struggle to connect with reality around.
But then, a familiar Red figure approached.
First Long-term Shelter
-“Hey. Ams Chuck. Ams gonna hewp yous awaund. Dom wowwy if yous kant tawkie, ees okay. It happun sometaims. Youw tawkies wee com bak, buh yous neewd to west amd git stwong agien.”
There he was: a middle-aged pegasus stallion, very tall and bulky for a standard Fluffy, candy red coat, black mane and tail with first silver hairs, and those striking deep blue eyes. His whole body was scarred in variety of ways and directions. Wings were tattered, visibly missing feathers and also showing first silver spots. When Chuck came closer, Kleo didn’t oppose to his presence. He felt oddly comforted by a battlescarred stallion much bigger than himself.
-“Wat aw yous namesie? Yous muss hab a namesie… Yous nu kan tawkies, wait hewe.”
Stallion trotted over to one of the shelter people, exchanged some words and came back.
-“Owkay, yous namesie ees Kweo. Ees a nice namesie, buh yous domt smeww wike a mawe. Maybe hoomans got konfuused amd gabe boy fwuffy a giwl fwuffy namesie.”
-“…”
-“Anyhoo, Chuck weew be dehwe wiv yous fow nao. Nou wone gonna huwt or buwwy Kweo on Chuck watchies!”
How strange. Why would he want to hang around Kleo? Compared to Chuck, he was still but a boy - why a mid age male wanted to hang around a teenager? But the stallion stuck to his decision.
-“Chuck! I see you have already taken to our new resident! Remember to not be too strong with Kleo, he is very very heart hurtie.”
-“Yes ma’am, Chuck weew be vewy gentehw tewwapy fwuffy! Kweo be saif amd sawnd!”
Red stallion proudly saluted like a soldier with a grin that had a few chipped teeth. He was a therapy fluffy for other fluffies? Bulky scary looking stallion as a comfort fluffy? And yet, it somehow worked.
-“Chuck dearie, can you show Kleo around here? He’s gonna live with us now, it would be good if he knew his new homesie!”
-“Yes ma’am! Chuck weew show Kweo awaund!”
Stallion’s disposition swiftly changed as he turned to the young colt.
-“Owkay Kweo. We weew go on som swow wawkies awaund deh shewtew homesie. Ams gonna expwain diffwent pwacies in deh homesie. Domt be scawed to ask aboud tingsies. Yous kan point amd Chuck weew teww.”
Kleo perked up like an enticed foal, even his tail rose from the slump. He shakily stood up and took a few shy steps beside Chuck. He was still very stiff from stress and confusion. Older fluffy already knew this was going to be one of the biggest works he would be doing in his lifetime. Kleo could be turned around, they just needed “enough” time - however long it might be.
Boys went on a sightseeing tour around the entire shelter. During the walk, Kleo seemed to regain his composure and fluidity of movement. The more the two walked, the more colt relaxed as he focused on new sights.
They went everywhere, even to a secret tunnel at the back of the yard. Chuck said it was an emergency tunnel for Fluffies to escape through. He didn’t explain though why would they ever need to suddenly escape. Kleo didn’t try to ask, he was sure he would know when to run for it. Of course, playroom was the best part of the new shelter homesie - so many different toysies were in there! Plushies, action figures, blockies, toy cars… Colt swished his tail in delight after seeing so many toysies in one place. Chuck offered they could play together later, and with anything Kleo wanted.
It was lunch time already, so the duo headed for the “dining” room. It was the biggest room of all, housing all shelter fluffies and probably even more feeding bowls.
-“Kweo, yous aw lucky fwuffy! Todai ees sketties dai! Ams shure yous gon’ feew bettuh aftaw eatin sketties. Sketties weeft ap ebwy wone!”
Red stallion grinned and pointed with his hoof to a pair of mares. One was young, spry and giddy; other was an old pillowed breeder, slowly but happily chewing her sketties.
-“Dis am fwends wike Chuck amd Kweo! Gwanny woz vewy saddies wen got to shewtew, but CheeChee befwend Gwanny. Wook dey aw su happies eatin sketties!”
Maybe… Maybe there was a normal life for the colt after all. He was still getting fed, still being able to play with toysies, damn, he even got a new friend day one! He just wouldn’t have a Daddeh for now. Perhaps with Chuck around he wouldn’t need a Daddeh so much? The sight of the old pillowed mare still having enough joy in life to keep smiling… something clicked in Kleo’s Fluffy head, some kind of wall just fell to rubble. His eyes went down to the bowl of sketties settled down for him. The moment the smell hit his nose, an instant surge of overbearing hunger took a hold of him like a curse. He ravenously ate his share, taking care of every little string of pasta until there was none. Safe to say, Kleo was now covered in sauce from face to chest. Chuck was impressed and relieved to see such appetite in a newcomer. This was the best outcome and a good prospect of the future. But Kleo’s change was not entirely so positive and innocent. Kleo acknowledged he didn’t need his old Daddeh and family. He already had everything here, even better, he also had other fluffies. His old family was just obsoleted. He didn’t need them, but still, something about them continued to hurt.
Under Chuck’s special fluffy-to-fluffy therapy Kleo regained his voice after 1 month at the shelter. While he was still silent, dark and cold thoughts brewed in colt’s head. Thoughts which stirred up feelings of anger, resentment, betrayal. All that he knew about life and world was a lie. His whole early life he was made believe it was enough to be a good Fluffy, care only about your Mummah or Daddeh, love them, and you would live forever in a happy home. The better you were, the better it was supposed to be. He believed his first family would be his only one. He gave it all for them, he was always a good Fluffy, never misbehaved or ask for anything more than necessary. He held himself to the high standard and took pride in it. All this and for what? To get suddenly taken out of his only known home and family, literally dumped at this shelter, and it was all like he didn’t matter.
Bitterness set itself deep within young colt. He had no problem with other fluffies around, but humans were another thing. Kleo began treating people with a lot of distance, especially for a fluffy. He has shown signs of distrust, anger, sometimes even fought and wrestled with shelter care staff (he never aimed to hurt, rather he was doing his damnest to wiggle out of the grasp). After near 1½ months of anger tantrums, wrestling and general high tension, Kleo finally broke down. Like he should have when he first got here.
-“BAAAAAWWWHAAAAAHAAAWW!! KWEO EES SOWWI! AMS JUS’ SO HEARTIE HUWTIE AMD THINKY PWACE NOU UNDESTAN!! AM WOS GOOD FWUFFIE, WUB DADDEH SU MUCH! HAB BESTEST DADDEH EBA! WAI DADDEH WEFT KWEO HIEWE?!! NU FAIW, NU FAIW!! KWEO PUT SU MUCH WORKIES TO BE BESTEST FWUFFY!! DUMMEH DADDEH NEBA WEAWWY CAWE ABOUT KWEO!! HUUUUHUUUU HUUU HUUUUUUU!! NOU FAIW! NOU FAIW! Nou faiw, nou faiw… Hic…”
-“Kweo, Chuck nous eet ees vewy beeg huwtie, buh yous daddeh mus’ hab a weason to wet gou of Kweo. Yous kan wemembew any wordsies…?”
-“(having hiccupy spasms from crying and yelling) Kweo… Hic… Wemembew… Hic… Nu kan HIC nu kan take cawe… Hic… Nu mowe… Kweo fout dat… Fiwst homesie ees… Foeba homesie…”
As it turned out for fluffy kind, first home is hardly ever a forever home. Kleo was too brainwashed by his breeder to even consider possibility of having another family beside his first. There was a lot to be undone and mended. Young stallion finally got to express all his frustration and confusion, and also there was someone to guide him through the chaos.
He spent next 3 months under ever so watchful eye of the red pegasus stallion, slowly learning real gripes of fluffy life. Coming to terms with not so savory parts didn’t come easy, but with Chuck’s support and reassurance Kleo accepted the new reality he was in. Not all humans were good, even if they appeared so. Not everything that people said was good and they shouldn’t be obeyed so blindly. If your Mummah or Daddeh hurt you so bad you were bruised and had bleeding wounds - it was time to run from them, no matter if you loved them.
There were fates out there way worse than being surrendered to the shelter. And now that be was aware of it all - it was then when Kleo’s innocence was mentally shattered. Young stallion felt so exposed, like if all of his fur disappeared leaving him naked. And he had nothing to fight back with.
Kleo understood that bad people are bad not only because they outright violently abused Fluffies, they did so to see them cry, bleed, flail in pain, to hear them scream and beg for mercy. He understood that bad people wanted those certain reactions out of Fluffies to selfishly enjoy them. And this young stallion was not about giving bad people what they wanted.
Kleo developed a strong defense mechanism in basically keeping his mouth shut if he deemed given person unsafe. He would only respond to sass the person and show disrespect. Of course that meant every stranger was sassed, huffed at and even got a classic “raspberry” (
).
There was no way to fool a Fluffy nature though - Kleo warmed up to people fairly quickly if he was treated well. He wanted to experience having a home with humans again. Very cautiously, had to check twice and look twice too, but he wanted to be in human care. He wanted to be a cherished pet once more. Just like he was when he was a babbeh. Like his old Daddeh used to treat him as the one and only.
After Kleo’s last positive reassessment, confirming he was rehabilitated, young stallion was up for adoption. Within 2 weeks from his official listing he was adopted by a fresh pensioner lady. He waved his goodbyes to the shelter staff and Chuck, as his new bright road unfolded.
-“Chuck ams pwoud of Kweo! Be gud at nyu homesie! Chuck weew wemembew Kweo foeba!”
-“Bai bai Chuck!! Kweo weew wemembew yous tou!!”
Instability of Home
After living at the shelter for the past 6 months, Kleo very glad to be finally out of tatters. His new Mummah provided him with everything he needed, and it was quality too. Mummah was a sweet early-grandmother type who loved gardening. Kleo kept his name and accompanied his Mummah throughout next year and a half. What he was not aware of, his presence was a recommendation. Doctor’s recommendation to the patient. Mummah was diagnosed with incurable stage of cancer. She took in a Fluffy as a means to drive her thoughts away from incoming death. One day Mummah felt very bad and an ambulance took her away. Kleo heard a conversation between two people, the discussion was frantic and uncomfortable. Stallion gathered enough to realize his Mummah was now most probably Forever Sleepies. Now he knew what was next, so he wasn’t scared - he let himself be sad about his loss. Another good homesie he unfortunately lost. Stallion’s only regret was not knowing his Mummah had very bad ugly illness - he would have done more to keep her occupied and smiling.
Kleo was surrendered to the same shelter as before, so there were familiar faces welcoming him back. Chuck was still there, but now his mane, tail and wings were considerably more silver. Pegasus was just as much of himself as Kleo remembered.
Young stallion spent but a month at the shelter before he was adopted again. It was a less happy experience. Not entirely bad, but not good either.
It was a cliché scenario where grandpa came in with his granddaughter, and in goodness of his heart he adopted her a Fluffy. The girl was happy and that was what grandpa wanted. Parents of the girl, however, were against keeping Kleo.
For first 3 months the girl was “held on trial” to prove she would take the responsibilities of caring for a Fluffy. Kleo was forced to live outside in an old doghouse, tied to it on a leash. Graciously, his new family gave him some old blankets to lie down on. At first, the girl was keen on him, and Kleo himself wanted to show his best sides to possibly win new people over. The parents were strict and good intentions weren’t enough; the girl herself progressively lost her enthusiasm when Fluffy physiology became an apparent problem.
Kleo’s frequent urination and defecation quickly crossed out his possible stay. His waste generated stench all around, as he had no other way than to relieve himself behind the doghouse. Nobody walked him or gave him a litterbox. On top of that, the girl started to refuse bringing Kleo food and water because of the smell. There would be days when he had no food and no water for the whole day. There would be days when the girl didn’t bring out anything, but one of the parents would bring it later; they took pity on the creature.
Just as the stallion felt unsafe, he fell into his half-mutism. Even though he didn’t need to say anything, the family simply rejected acknowledging it - Kleo was covered in bruises, cuts, scratches, his fur was cut in weird places. He was constantly covered in dirt and grass. It turned out to be kids who skipped school and happened to notice a lone Fluffy tied to a doghouse. They teased and pestered the stallion through the fence. But very often they managed to grab his tail or mane through said fence to mess with him. If they managed to sneak up on him, they would throw stones to watch how he panicked. Kleo was getting too beaten up and the parents decided it was the high time to get rid of him. There was no way they would be paying any fluffy doc bills or be forever named as Fluffy-killer family. Stallion was again returning to the known shelter.
This time, Chuck was a little more silver, and Gwanny - the old pillowed mare - has passed away to Skettiland. It seemed there were lots of new faces around. New comfort mare named Puffy has joined the shelter. She was taking care of abandoned foals, youngest one at the time was a chirping baby. That was actually the first time Kleo saw a mare caring for babies.
It was then when he learned where the Fluffy foals really come from, brief demonstration by Chuck and Puffy. The two explained everything there was to know from a Fluffy standpoint. But there was something not quite right - Kleo didn’t have Special Lumps and No-No Stick because if he did, he would go to a bad fiery place where Fluffies get hurties all the time, forever! He was taught that when he was a little baby foal… He didn’t know Fluffies were supposed to have families like that. To him it was something forbidden, bad, wrong and would result in his eternal torture. Chuck and Puffy took it onto themselves to properly show Kleo what a genuine Fluffy family was supposed to be and that it wouldn’t lead to anyone being harmed.
Kleo remained at the shelter for next 2 months to learn about Fluffy family and to rehabilitate his brainwashing. At least, rehabilitate to some acceptable point - what if he ended with a pregnant mare or mare with foals WITHOUT being shown it’s normal? His Fluffy programming would most likely resurface and drive him to kill the foals and their mother. Anything unknown or unnatural was always “munstah” for Fluffies and such threats must be eliminated. Everyone knew - people, fluffies, even animals - that if a Fluffy deemed something as “munstah”, and that something was another Fluffy… Monster Fluffy was murdered then and there. That was how Hasbio made them.
Kleo was now more experienced and versed with his life in this world. He knew there was still so much more he didn’t know about. He understood his upbringing has made him “very not see” and “very not know”. As a creature driven by curiosity and desire to belong, Kleo didn’t oppose to staying longer with Chuck, Puffy and whatever foals were currently at the shelter. He enjoyed his Fluffy family experience! Even when foals cried and peeped at night; he loved to scoop the crybabies and cuddle up with them pressed snuggly into his belly. That way the babies were soothed and nights slept through. This stallion was exceptional with his attitude and care towards Puffy and the foals. Perhaps his lack of genitals was a wasted potential. His unique genetics and a natural fondness of babies could have given many pretty Fluffies… and many happy daddy times for Kleo.
Stallion was again positively reassessed and ready for a new human caretaker. This time, sadly, nobody who came to the shelter to adopt was even remotely interested in Kleo.
It loomed over him like a dark cloud. Why wasn’t he getting adopted? Was he too ugly, or a bad fluffy? Thank goodness, there was Chuck still around.
-“Kweo dun wowwy about nou gettin nyu homesie. Somtaims we need to waits, maybe Kweo muss meet som wone ow dou som fing fiwst. Maybee dew’weh ees a speshil mishon fow Kweo.”
-“Speshul mishon? Kweo nou undastand… Wat am speshul mishon Chuck tawkies hiewe?”
-“Maybee Kweo habs to meet a cew-tayn hooman ow fwuffy amd den weew moov oun. Yous weew nous, yous kan feew eet in yous heawtsie. Chuck fewt dat wen Kweo got to shewtew fiwst taim. Buh Chuck waited a wong wong taim befow Kweo shouw app. Eet woz vewy gud Chuck waited, ow Chuck wooud neba met Kweo!”
Alicorn Mare
The great awaiting began. Time passed differently for Fluffies. Even 15 minutes was already a small forever, let alone a week or a month. With no change in sight.
Kleo stuck with Puffy and foals to occupy himself and to enjoy playing with babies a little longer. He was great at his nursing job, many foals grew to like him and dubbed him Unkew Kweo. He focused more on playtime and huggies while Puffy taught them how to be good Fluffies now and in the future. Things were going splendidly well for the passing 2 months.
It was a sunny mid-autumn day. Morning roll call started- no, it pierced sandy stallion like a dagger. His very best friend and mentor, Chuck, was lying on the floor of his enclosure; pegasus was wheezing for air and his snout was stained dark reddish brown from nosebleed. Shelter staff swooped Chuck and ran out, most certainly to the medical room. Kleo completely forgot the world around him and dashed after the staff who took Chuck. Once he got there, someone was already looking for him. He was brought up onto a typical hospital bed. Chuck was lying there with an oxygen mask on. His snout was cleaned. Kleo was looking back and forth at Chuck and the staff person, confused and scared.
-“Kleo, now we have to tell you… Chuck has a very very bad illness. Very ugly and mean. Do you know what a… cancer is, Kleo?”
-“Y-yus miss, Kweos owd Mummah went foreba sweepies becus of kansur… E-ees Chuck…?”
-“I’m so sorry to say it, but yes… Chuck also has cancer. That’s why he was going white, his body started to save up energy to keep living. The ugly cancer started to give big hurties to Chuck’s tummy and poopie place. And today… Chuck is going to join Granny in Skettiland.”
-“Kweo… Kweo nyuu Chuck whitey pwaces wew stwange… (sob) Wai Chuck nu teww Kweo soonew?”
Pegasus smiled through his mask.
-“Dat wood make Kweo saddies… Kweo nu need saddies becuz Kweo need to gwow stwong. Chuck hope-ed Chuck wood gou to Skettiwand wen Kweo away in nyu homesie… Sou Kweo wemembew Chuck wiv nu dummeh iwness.”
-“Buh Kweo ams hiew amd ees vewy gud am hiew! Becus nao… (sob) Nao Kweo kan say goodbaisies to Chuck… (sob) An’ thankies fow ebewy ting Chuck taut Kweo.”
-“Kweo… Kweo ees stwong stawwion nao. Kweo kan take cawe of babbehs, den Kweo kan take cawe of any fing. Kweo nous aww da ne-seh-sawwy tings… Chuck ams vewy pwoud of Kweo… Kweo ees gwown app. Yous kan comtinue wat Chuck… Taut yous… Hewp… Anoda… Fwuffy…”
Pegasus’ last words were labored, but he had to tell them. And just as he finished, his time ran out. The room fell silent. Chuck’s body was lying motionless, his face holding that gentle smile. Kleo knew that once Fluffies stopped moving like this, they’re already gone to big Skettiland in heaven. He nuzzled Chuck for the last time.
Chuck’s death weighted heavily on Kleo. He mourned his beloved mentor for a long time. Stallion withdrew himself from Puffy’s foalcare and spent his days quietly in his enclosure; he allowed visitors, but didn’t engage in any playtime or too much of a conversation. The shelter began to worry he would spiral into “wan die” loop.
Despite his woeful disposition, Kleo was actually thinking a lot - Chuck’s words of special mission and feeling it in his heart echoed loudly. He trusted Chuck more than anyone ever, but now it felt more… Intense, burning even. Red pegasus was such an exemplary good Fluffy. Everyone in the shelter liked him. They listened to him. His welcoming and supportive nature garnered a lot of love both from humans and fellow Fluffies. This was the true form of a good Fluffy definition. It was Kleo’s role model. His legacy was too good to let it go to waste. Kleo decided to honour Chuck’s last words - he would help others around until he met that special human or Fluffy. Then he would focus on helping them grow strong, like he grew strong with Chuck.
The mourning made Kleo speak in this tired, monotone voice. He was, in fact, emotionally exhausted from his loss and it felt as if he lacked something to heal completely. That’s when on a fateful evening an alicorn mare was surrendered to the shelter.
She was put in an enclosure right next to his, making them immediate neighbors. Oh, she was a huge mess. Incomparable to how Kleo was back in his first surrender day. Her name was Tulip and she was a really pretty girl, with colors that could make other fluffies jealous. The prettiest mare who was absolutely grief-struck, distraught and inconsolably sad. She cried for about an hour and a half before her energy ran out. Kleo finally felt and understood the special sensation - when he saw Tulip, he felt as if a wave of electricity washed over him, and his heart did beat faster. This was his special someone and his special mission to follow.
Following weeks were rough to say the least. Tulip was unresponsive, didn’t talk, didn’t eat, didn’t want to play. She only lied curled up on her old pillow bed. Kleo decided it would be best for now to silently accompany her. He sat down on his haunches beside her enclosure, not too close and not too far away. Just enough to see her and observe the surroundings. Stallion was now on a guard duty to protect the hearty hurtie mare. Chuck protected him at the start, and now he would protect Tulip the same way.
Kleo slowly started talking to Tulip without expecting her to reply in any way. At first he just described what he saw was going on at the shelter at the given moment. If anyone entered or left, where other fluffies were and what they were doing, a piece of paper that fell down or Puffy having a hard time teaching that one foal about the litterbox. Maybe she wanted to say something, but she too lost her talkies and couldn’t. Kleo noticed Tulip’s ears perked up when he spoke certain words. That made him a little bit relieved, it meant she was picking up interest in her new surroundings! Stallion began addressing the alicorn mare directly, so she knew he was here if she needed anything. Her first real sign of improving was her little tail wag when Kleo was in her sight. Soon enough she again picked up nibbling on the kibble in her enclosure and tried her best on sketti day.
Kleo accompanied Tulip all the time he could. He ate with her, lied down with her, he brought up two toys to play with in front of her like a little teather for Tulip to watch. And the day arrived when he heard her speak normally, for the first time since her admission to the shelter.
-“Kweo… Kweo ams hiew in Kweo’s skoo-ware…?”
-“YUS! Yus Kweo am hiew! Tew’weep need any fing?”
The two started talking with each other, and sometimes it was just Kleo telling stories from his good past homes. It was apparent they were growing closer, even if Tulip occasionally questioned Kleo’s motives. He gave her no reason to doubt him and it was just he plainly liked her from the day one. The shelter staff observed them and they knew when Fluffies were falling in love. They couldn’t breed, yes, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t be together as a pair. Those two might have not said “wub” one time, yet their actions suggested it was there.
Kleo went far and above for Tulip, so by this point it would be cruel to separate them. They simply had to go together. Immediately as their adoption listing went up, a young lady phoned in, interested in reserving the fluffies. She arrived around early afternoon, already prepared with fluffy carriers. When she stepped into the room to take a look at them, Kleo felt it again - the wave of electricity going through his body. This was the special human for him, for Tulip, and they all were somehow instantly connected. Stallion had not a shadow of a doubt they were getting a new homesie with the lady.
When their enclosures opened, stallion felt genuine excitement, like a foal that just got a new toy. He tried to keep his blank-face composure, but smiling was too strong to deny. He so happily accepted the occurring events, he allowed himself to lie down in the carrier in a “loaf” manner. Being vulnerable right now was not just fine, but also kind of cozy. Kleo saw Tulip’s confusion and unease as she got packed into her carrier.
-“PSSSST Tew’weep! Hiew Tew’weep!”
-“Huh, Kweo…? Ees scawy…”
-“Ees okay Tew’weep, dis bee gud homesie. Nyu Wady feews vewy pwetty amd Kweo nous pwetty fwom ugwy. We bee gud Fwuffies, at gud homesie, wif gud nyu Mummah. Yous am wait amd see wif own eyesies!”
He sent her a wink to sweeten the deal, and it worked perfectly. Tulip smiled back at him, settling down in her carrier. They ran through the pouring rain and into a waiting car. Quickly enough they were on their way to the new homesie. Tulip unfortunately got a bit too stressed out, but who could blame her, given her circumstances.
Kleo knew it once they finally got to the new home and into the saferoom - this was going to be a good good homesie. Maybe it was a tad “poor” at the first glance, but that would surely change once they settled down. Tulip was still deep asleep from the ride, new Mummah carefully took her out of the carrier and onto a plushy bed. Stallion nodded to himself, pleased with the sight of kindness. New Mummah then turned to him. She had that welcoming and warm smile on her light skinned, freckled face surrounded by poofy curls. She spoke to him in whispers:
-“Hi there, sweetie… Since you are awake, let’s go to the kitchen. I will get you some nummies and we can have a proper introduction too.”
Kleo was sat down on the floor with a bowl of sketties and he listened intently to his new caretaker.
-“My name is Salomea, but everyone calls me Sally for short. And you can too! Sally will be totally fine. I got you two because once I saw your pictures, I knew you and the girl were waiting for me. I can’t explain this, oh my, it’s like, like…”
-“You feew eet in yous heawtsie? Yus, am nous de feewing!”
-“Yes, yes like that! Ooohh I can feel it alread, all three of us gonna click so well!”
Fluffy and his new Mummah chuckled.
-“I know your past names and I think it’s time for new ones. New home, new name! How about we call you… Ramses! Like one of the ancient Egyptian rulers!”
-“Fiwnawy! A nyu namesie fow mey! Ams sou happies ees nu mow Kweo… Ams awways been boi fwuffy amd nao hab boi namesie.”
-“I’m glad to hear that! Ramses is such a strong name, a strong name for a strong fluffy! But the girl… She’s gentle, she’s such a lovely gentle flower. I don’t want to put her through too much change… Do you think Tulla would be fine with her?”
-“Yus, Wamses fink ees a vewy gud namesie. Nawt too difwent fwom Tew’weep. Tuwwa saunds nais amd showt.”
-“Aww, I bet she’s gonna like it too then! Let’s go and see how she’s doing…”
Tulla’s Backstory|Hasbio EU AU|BunBunThaDunDun
Fluffy AU - Hasbio Europe [first draft]|BunBunThaDunDun