“-and this is your new safe room!”
The two young mares in Tricia’s arms gasped seeing her recently renovated basement.
The wallpaper was patterned with grassy meadows and colorful flowers. The lower third was cushioned with bright green padding nailed to the wall, matching the padding on the floor. At the back corner of the room was a large self cleaning litter box with a ramp leading up to it specially designed to clean any errant litter off fluffy hooves. One wall was covered almost entirely by a large TV, a clear plastic layer to protect it from anything a fluffy could throw or squirt at it. Two large plush beds sat across from it, easily able to hold two adult fluffies each.
Tricia lowered the mares to the padded floor, first the pale purple unicorn and then the bright green pegasus.
No expense had been spared in their set up, as the green mare was a perfect match for the mare on the Rainbow Acres logo. Daniel Turner had been discussing the idea of having a mascot fluffy when he was alerted to the green foal born in the dairy works. Tricia had the foal’s litter taken to an isolated breeder’s room, the mother allowed to raise the entire litter until the filly was at the cusp of adulthood, her sister chosen at random to accompany her to Tricia’s house for proper training.
The rest of the litter was disposed of as normal, sent off to the meat processing department along with their mother.
The mares waddled around the space, cooing over the pretty decor while Tricia sat down in the doorway. It took a long moment for a small frown to form on the green mare’s face.
“Uh, Miss Twicia, whewe am toysies??”
Tricia gave the pair a warm grin. “You’ll get toys soon, but there’s some rules you’ll need to follow over here.”
“Oh! Fwuffy knu wuwes!!” The purple mare scampered up to Tricia. “Fwuffy knu wha’ guud poopies awe, an’ say pwease an’ tank’oo!”
“That’s very good! But there’s a few more rules to learn before you’re ready to go meet your new daddies!”
“Nyu daddehs?!” The pair gasped in unison, scampering around excitedly.
“Yep! Come sit down here like good fluffies so I can explain the rules and give you your names!”
The mention of names made the fluffies run circles around each other while Tricia waited for them to settle down.
Once both fluffies had excitedly sat down in front of her, Tricia gave them their names.
“You,” she pointed at the purple mare, “will be Berry.”
Berry gasped again, tail swishing with joy.
“And you will be Bramble” she finished, pointing at the green fluffy.
“Bwambwe wub namesie!” She chirped.
“Now the new rules. First, no begging. If you want something you need to ask nicely and say please, okay?”
“Otay!” Berry said.
“The other rule is that if you ask for anything, Berry gets to have it first.”
“Wai??” Bramble asked. Her sister nodded, happy but confused.
“Berry came out of your mummah first, so she should get everything first.” Tricia nodded like it was the most normal thing in the world. “It’s just how it is.”
“Huu… otay…” Bramble hung her head sadly.
“Don’t you worry. Good fluffies share, don’t they Berry?”
“Yus! Bestest sissy awways shawe!!” Berry tackled her sister in a tight hug, the pair giggling.
“Now, I have some things to do before dinner.” Tricia stood, stretching. “Is there anything you want before I go?”
“Uhh… Toysies!” Berry chirped.
“Toys it is! What kind of toys?” Tricia opened a closet at the back of the room.
“Bwockies am bestest!” Bramble replied.
“Blocks it is!”
Tricia dumped a plastic bucket of colored blocks onto the padded floor. Both fluffies cheered and ran towards the toys, but Tricia stuck her leg out to block Bramble’s path.
“Remember? Berry gets to go first.”
“Buh… buh…” Bramble tried to push past Tricia’s leg. “Dat am Bwambwe’s fabowit!”
“Mh-hm! And your sister gets to play with them first!” Tricia said, pushing Bramble back from the blocks. “Those blocks fun, Berry?”
“Dey stackies suuuu guud!!” She lifted up a triangular red block and set it on top of her pile, the built in magnets snapping them into place.
“Huuu…” Bramble plopped down onto her rear, watching her sister play. “When am Bwambwe’s tuwn?”
Tricia pulled up her sleeve to check a watch she wasn’t wearing. “Hmmm… I think that’s long enough.” She lifted her foot, releasing Bramble. “Remember to share, girls!”
The green mare ran to join her sister as Tricia left the room, latching a low baby gate behind her. At the top of the stairs sat a foggy-eyed white alicorn, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth.
“Ringo! Stay back from the stairs!” Tricia scolded. “If they see you they’re going to start crying. It’s not time for that yet!”
“Huu… sowwy mummah…” Ringo hung his head. “Wan’ pwetty taiws… Wan’ safewoom.”
“Aw, poor Ringo.” She sat down at the top of the stairs, cupping his chin in her hand. “It’s only for a little while, then you’ll have all the pretty tails and nummie babies you could want.”
“Weawwy?!” He pressed his head into Tricia as she scratched his chin.
“Mh-hm! Now, why don’t we watch a movie before dinner?”
“Da wabbit moobie??”
Tricia chuckled to herself. “Watership down again? Alright. Go get settled on the couch, I’ll be right there.”
Ringo happily shuffled off, muttering about the “wabbits gu foebah sweepies” while Tricia began to set up for dinner. She filled up a stock pot water and set it on the stove, waiting to be heated. On the counter next to it she placed a can of marinara, a bag of pasta, and glass bottle of hot sauce that had multiple warning stickers on it.
“Sketti sound good for dinner tonight, Ringo?” Tricia said as she made her way into the living room.