Author's Note

Ewwwww, my first fic. You don't want to read this. Seriously. Might I suggest How To Train Your Pegasus instead?

Chapter 1

“Don’t wander off too far, Angel," said Fluttershy, stooping to look the little bunny in the eye. “Mama’s got just a few more groceries to find, and then it’s back home and I’ll make you up a nice salad for lunch.”

Angel nodded, but was already hopping away to explore the sights and sounds of the market. Fluttershy sighed and shook her head, then made her way over to the carrot stand, humming to herself as she went.

It was a beautiful autumn day in Ponyville. The pegasus ponies had cleared away all the clouds earlier that morning, and it seemed the entire town was out and enjoying the nice weather. The market was bustling with activity, with vendors at their carts selling their assorted fruits, vegetables, and other goods.

Fluttershy had just finished her purchase of a few heads of lettuce when Angel came bounding up to her, urgently tugging at her heel.

“What is it, Angel bunny?” asked Fluttershy. Angel hopped up and down with great urgency, and pointed towards the center of the market. In the center of the square, a crowd had gathered around a cart, and she could hear the sound of excited voices starting to rise over the usual din of the market. As Fluttershy approached, she saw a cart with an illustration of a bunch of cherry tomatoes painted on the sign above. Beneath, glistening in the mid-morning sun, were some of the plumpest and juiciest-looking cherry tomatoes Fluttershy had ever seen. Leaning against the cart, looking very satisfied with himself, was a donkey with a straw hat.

“Step right up, folks. I’ve got nice, juicy cherry tomatoes here, fresh-picked from Phillydelphia just last night. The price is just five bits for a bunch.”

A few “ooh’s” and “aah’s” went up from the crowd. Cherry tomatoes were difficult to come across in Ponyville, and considered something of a delicacy. The ponies in the market promptly began to form a line in front of the donkey's cart. Angel tugged at Fluttershy's heel again, a pleading look on his face. “Oh, alright,” Fluttershy said. “Anything for my little Angel.”

Fluttershy tried to find a place in line, but after several bumps and jostles, found herself at the very end. “Don’t worry, Angel. It looks like there’ll be enough for everypony.” As the line progressed, however, it became clear that some ponies were buying more than one bunch at a time, and it was not looking at all certain that would be any left by the time Fluttershy and Angel got there.

At long last, they reached the donkey’s tomato cart, and there was still one bunch of cherry tomatoes sitting on the desk in front of him.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Fluttershy said to the donkey, smiling in relief. “I’m so glad you have one left. Cherry tomatoes are Angel’s absolute favorite, and we were so worried there wouldn’t be any left by the time we got up here.” She took five one-bit pieces from her bag and placed them gently on the donkey’s desk.

The donkey smiled wide around the piece of hay he was chewing on. “Well I’m glad too, little lady. And since you nice folks have been waiting so patiently in line, I’m going to let you have my very last bunch of tomatoes for the low-low price of 20 bits.”

“20 bits!” Fluttershy exclaimed, in a voice scarcely louder than a whisper. “But… but earlier you said it was only five bits!”

The donkey shrugged. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’m afraid the demand for these red beauties has far outstripped our supply. Nothing personal, you understand.” The donkey smiled, but could not hide his derision. “Just a market adjustment, as they say.”

“Oh dear." Fluttershy rifled through her bag. “I’m afraid that’s much more than I can afford at the moment.” Beside her, Angel burst into tears.

“Aww, now isn’t this just a sad sight,” the donkey said, turning his lip downwards in mock sympathy. “Tell you what, neighbor. I can see these here tomatoes mean a lot to you. Perhaps we can work out some sort of... payment plan?” At that, the donkey tilted his head back and let out a long, braying laugh.

Fluttershy knew when she was being hustled. She was just about to turn and leave, when out of nowhere, a pegasus swooped down from high above. He came to a stop with a single flap of his wings, simultaneously sending a powerful gust of air that sent both the donkey and his cart tumbling along the ground.

Before the donkey had even come to a stop, the pegasus was already standing over him and shouting down at him in a loud voice.

“You miserable little maggot! How dare you take advantage of this pony!” shouted the pegasus. The donkey was laying flat on his back where came to a stop, flinching at every ear-splitting syllable. “Exploiting this pony's good will. Shame on you! What do you have to say for yourself?!”

“Uh... I... ” The donkey began.

“Save your excuses, maggot! How much are the tomatoes?!”

“The uh... what?” the donkey stammered, his lip trembling.

“TOMATOES, MAGGOT! HOW MUCH?!”

“Five bits!” said the donkey, covering his face with his hooves.

“Don’t you have some kind of friends and family discount?” The pegasus spread his wings menacingly.

“Alright, alright!” The donkey reached over into his downed cart and pulled out the last bunch of cherry tomatoes. “Take it! Just take it! I’m sorry!”

“Don’t apologize to me,” said the pegasus, hoisting the cowering donkey to his hooves. He dragged the donkey by the ear over to where Fluttershy was standing. “Is there anything you’d like to say to the nice lady?”

“Umm... ” with wobbling knees, the donkey leaned forward and handed the tomatoes to Fluttershy. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” The pegasus prompted.

“For... uh... ” The donkey gulped. “I’m sorry for trying to overcharge you.” The donkey turned to the pegasus for approval. The pegasus motioned that he should continue. “And for being a jerk.” The pegasus made a circular motion with his hoof. “And for... laughing at you?” The pegasus was still moving his hoof in a circle through the air. “And I really like your mane. I think you’re really pretty!” The donkey flinched and looked back at the pegasus, who at last seemed satisfied.

“Oh… well… apology accepted,” Fluttershy said, laughing a little in spite of herself.

The pegasus grabbed the donkey again roughly, bringing their faces close together. “I’ll be watching you,” he said, his voice all icicles and daggers. “You just watch your ass.” With that, he let go of the donkey, who collapsed to the ground in a heap.

As he turned around, the pegasus saw that all activity in the marketplace had stopped. Everypony had turned to watch the scene, jaws agape. Suddenly looking very abashed, the pegasus lowered his head and began to trot away.

Next to Fluttershy, Angel was hopping excitedly, grabbing for the cherry tomatoes in Fluttershy’s hoof. Fluttershy was still in shock from everything that had just happened. After watching the pegasus trot away, she quickly handed off the tomatoes to Angel and galloped after him.

Fluttershy caught up with him as he kneeled next to a heavy-looking saddlebag and began stuffing things into it. “Um… excuse me?” she said nervously.

“I’m sorry,” The pegasus said without turning. “I didn’t mean to make a scene. I hope I didn’t embarrass you.”

“Oh no, it’s alright.” Fluttershy blushed and scratched at the ground with her hoof. “Actually I… I wanted to thank you for standing up to that awful donkey.”

“You’re welcome. I can’t stand bullies. I guess I just lost my temper.”

Fluttershy examined the newcomer as he fussed with the straps on his pack. His coat was gray, and his mane was brownish with green and white highlights, cut short and flat on top. His cutie mark was a dark thundercloud pierced by a sword, and Fluttershy guessed him to be about five years older than she.

“What’s your name?” Fluttershy asked.

“Thunderspite,” he said. He stopped fussing with his pack, stood, and extended his hoof. “And you are?”

“Fluttershy.” She blushed again, letting him take her outstretched hoof in his.

The pony called Thunderspite froze. “Fluttershy? Wielder of the Element of Kindness?”

Fluttershy was taken aback. “Yes...but how do you know that?”

“I’ve read all about your adventures, you and The Six.” The admiration in his voice was sincere. He shook her hoof with a kind of reverence. “It’s an honor to meet you. Equestria owes you a debt of gratitude several times over.”

“Oh…” Fluttershy’s blush deepened. “It’s nothing, really. Most ponies don’t mention it much.”

“Hmph.” Thunderspite looked back at all the ponies in the market, his expression flat. Everyone had seemingly already forgotten about the disturbance that had just taken place, and were already getting back to their shopping. “They are a forgetful lot, aren’t they?”

Fluttershy changed the subject. “I haven’t seen you in Ponyville before, did you just move here?”

“Oh, I don’t live here, ma’am. Just passing through, looking for work.”

“Oh!” Fluttershy had a thought. “I think they’re looking for help at Sweet Apple Acres. Big Macintosh is away helping some relatives in Appaloosa, so Applejack has been running the farm all by herself. I’m sure she’d be glad for the help.”

Thunderspite considered this for a moment. “How do I get there?”

Fluttershy pointed west. “Big apple orchard. Just a mile or two that way.”

Thunderspite shook her hoof again. “Thank you, Miss Fluttershy. Maybe I’ll see you around.” With that, Thunderspite took to the sky and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy watched him fly off. He certainly is... interesting, she thought to herself. Heading back to where she had left Angel, she turned just in time to see the rabbit finishing off the last of the cherry tomatoes.

“Angel! You silly thing. Those were supposed to go in your salad!” Angel swallowed, then blushed and gave an ashamed shrug.