Author's Note
Sorry about the 'Story Tags'. I'm still trying to figure out how to do them with a 'Screen Reading Program'. Being 100% blind can really be the pits at times. *Shrugs*
Tally Meets Fei
Most know of Equestrian towns and cities like Ponyville, Canterlot, and Manehattan. However, there was another part of the thriving country that was making its own strides bringing the Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies together through friendship and love. This being the ‘Towns Of Nature’s Nest’ which were spaced entirely around a beautiful forest teeming with life.
Ponies had begun uniting under a far more positive ideal of being kind and thoughtful. This lead to the region creating some state-of-the-art places where all could play while not interrupting the precious forest that was home to many wonderful species of flora and fauna.
One such collaborative effort was a super fun, water park that used the local stream as its source of water fun while Unicorn magic and Earth Pony know-how came together to develop filtration systems that made sure they never took too much from their beloved ecosystem. However, if there ever seemed to be trouble, the Pegasi would get water from the nearby ocean, filter out the sea salt, and replenish the river while giving the salt to the park and local retailers to sell for seasoning their foods. It is here we start our story.
***
“So how are we going to do this?” asked a unicorn mother as she magically moved her foal from her back into a covered stroller.
Tally, a grey-brown coated, appaloosa unicorn, looked to her brother, Trinket.
“It’s okay,” her more rust-colored, pegasus brother replied with a smile. “I think Note wants to help me to help teach Bramble to swim in the ‘Foal Of Fun’ pool.”
The parents nodded in agreement looking towards their other charge, Fae.
“Sounds fun to me,” she said, briefly nudging against Tally. “I think somepony needs me to teach her how to have fun.”
Tally blushed feeling the playful contact of the freckled, green Pegasus.
“I know how to have fun,” she tried to argue.
Trinket moved alongside the stroller as the mother put a sun visor on his head to protect his eyes from the sun.
"But ya don't much" Trinket replied.
Tally’s blush grew deeper.
“Fine,” she replied.
Trinket’s green-eyes watched, seeing how his older sister was finally starting to relax. He knew she was trying to protect him from so many things that ‘could’ cause him harm but they were safe now. Being eight years older though meant she still had alot of memories she was working hard to come to terms with through the guidance of Note and Coral.
The foal, Bramble, giggled and kicked in the stroller. "Guh!" He shouted trying to get them moving.
“Okay, okay,” chuckled Coral as she activated her magic to move the stroller. “We’ll meet back here for a snack at three o’clock.”
***
Everyone left for the ‘Foal Of Fun Pool’. Tally watched anxiously as the rest of their group left her alone with Fae.
“Achoo!” Tally sneezed as Fae used her wing on her nose to snap her out of whatever zone she had allowed her mind to drift off to.
“Come on!” cheered a very happy Fae while tapping her front hooves upon the ground with anticipation. “What are we standing round here for? I want to go have lots of fun with my best friend!”
Tally’s blush returned. She was feeling ‘something’, but couldn’t wrap her mind around what it was. The only thing she knew was that she didn’t feel the far more common feeling of fear, panic, and anger that she had once held so tight to herself.
“Okay,” she said while she admired the green freckles on Fae’s right cheek. They made her feel butterflies in her stomach. However, these were not the nervous sort she felt when working on putting words to her feelings.
“Follow me!” the jovial Pegasus proclaimed as they headed towards the more ‘grown-up’ attractions.
***
Fae and Tally were truly an interesting pair of ponies. Tally felt on-guard and thought out everything before doing it. On the other hoof, Fae just kept laughing, smiling, and finding all sorts of off-the-wall ways to enjoy the water slides, wave pools, and those mounted water guns that allowed her to blast Tally when she felt Tally forgot to leave her worries at home.
“You really don't relax much do you?” Fae asked as she dropped off a hoofful of bits to rent body boards for her and Tally to use on the biggest of the wave pools. “Maybe you just need a hug"
Tally was feeling awkward at how Fae, without any thought, paid for everything she and Tally needed to enhance upon their water park experience. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. It was nice back when she had had nothing, but she had an allowance now. She wasn't sure what to make of it anymore. However the ‘threat’ of a hug made those thoughts disappear completely as she soon found herself wrapped in Fae’s hooves.
“Feel better?” the Pegasus asked. “My sister always gives me a hug when I’m upset. Makes me smile every time!”
Those butterflies returned to Tally as she felt emotions she didnt fully understand. She had given some brief thought to sharing these with one of her foster parents, Notes or Coral, but something told her that it wasn’t a good idea. It just didn’t feel like something she should share. Not until she had a better grasp of what it was. All she knew was that being around Fae made her very happy and she didn’t want the day to end.
***
Fae felt Tally needed to show her ‘tough sides knowing she didn't like appearing vulnerable, so she suggested they do some competitive body boarding in the massive wave pool. Fae was full of giggles as Tally got her game on while feeling her head start to clear enough to free a smile from her otherwise hardened muzzle.
***
“Here’s your tube,” announced the gleeful Pegasus as she and Tally decided to hit up the lazy river before meeting back up with their chaperones. “maybe some smooth sailing will help you relax a bit more?”
Tally felt like she couldn't hear a single statement from Fae that didn't make her blush. How could she be so open? How could she be so carefree? How could she be so…
“Alright!” called the green Pegasus as her orangish-brown tail shimmered before the Unicorn. “It’s our turn!”
Tally froze as she felt drawn to how the mane and tail of her friend looked so beautiful. Maybe she should think of doing something with her mane and tail? Perhaps she could ask Fae to style her…
“What are you waiting for?” Fae asked while starting down the lazy river all cozy in her tube. “You’re not afraid of the lazy river? Are you?”
The statement was enough to snap Tally from her thoughts as she entered into the pony-made river that had a device built by Unicorns and earth Ponies to ensure a constant current was maintained. She then quickly caught up with Fae before taking to a relaxed position on her tube. She felt like she was living in a dream with how happy and safe she now felt.
***
Everyone gathered back near the entrance for snack time. Again, Tally found herself blushing bright red as Fae dropped more bits to buy her a funnel cake, seasoned hay fries, and a chilled berry punch.
“Seems your speed,” the Pegasus added after hoofing over the food to Tally. “The fries are great and the funnel cake may bring out more of your sweet side.”
Tally looked at the confection and felt the butterflies return to her tummy.
“That’s it,” nudged Fae as she spotted a full smile on the older Unicorn’s face. "I knew that'd make you smile"
***
Tally’s smile remained until it was time to leave the park and return Fae to her parents house.
“Well?” asked Trinket as he hovered by his sister. “You’re smiling. Smiling like me. Are those ‘big kid’ rides that good? Or..” he looked over at fae. It was pretty obvious to him what she was really smiling about.
Tally felt her cheeks flush red.
“Yeah,” she replied. “Though.. I guess it wasn't just the rides.."
Trinket flapped his wings while skipping about on the ground.
“Bramby and I had fun makin' him a super swimmer,” he added. “So it looks like we both had lots of fun.”
“Shh,” Coral shushed as she tried to gently stroll the slumbering foal in his stroller. “Don’t want to wake your brother.”
Note fell back to meet with Tally and Trinket.
“So we should do this again?” he asked eagerly.
Trinket almost shouted out, “Yes!” until he remembered that Bramble was sleeping. So he just said it in a lighter tone.
Tally’s thoughts shifted to memories of Fae. The way she looked, the way she smiled, the way she was just so…
“I’d be cool with that,” she replied while holding her blush. “It was nice."
Notes nodded and nuzzled Tally and rubbed young Trinket on the head with his hoof.
“Wonderful,” he stated. “Coral will be happy to know you want to play again"
***
That night, Tally slept the best she had in a very long time. Her dreams filled with thoughts of the pegasus who gave her a most special day and a feeling towards other ponies she never thought she could ever have.
