Author's Note

Planning on making the next few much longer chapters, but for now I figured I'd better put something out!

RW: Added some more content to the bottom in order so stuff will go a bit more in-depth as well as correcting some sentences that I thought needed it.

Off Guard (RW)

A number of questions went through Fauna's mind as he sprinted after the fillies, like, where in Tartarus were there parents? Surely this wasn't a normal occurrence in Ponyville... right? He could see in his blurred vision many ponies gawking at him. 'Maybe I should just stop... I mean, surely someone else will step in?' The stares taking a toll at his confidence.

"Mister, grab the rope!" Came a cry from the unicorn filly as a rope was thrown haphazardly his way.

He promptly did as he was told and grabbed it in his mouth, slamming his back hooves into the ground. A sharp pain rushed through them.

'Let's try not to do that again...' He thought to himself as he felt pain shoot through his legs and into his back.

The runaway wagon and scooter skid to a halt as Fauna felt his lungs burn. Letting go of the rope, he felt a sudden build of anxiety.

'They're watching me..' He thought to himself as he once again noticed the ponies stares directed at his flank.

"Thank you mister!" The pegasus filly said, before also becoming transfixed on the fact he had a cutie mark.

"Cool!" The white unicorn said as she leapt from the cart, admiring the cutie mark.

"I... uhm.." And with that, Fauna Leaf took off.

It felt like the world was closing in around him, he could almost hear their laughter as he quickly sprinted back home. Slamming the door shut as he entered, he sighed.

'There goes all my confidence... What were those fillies doing anyway?' He shook his head 'Was there not supposed to be some sort of party going on soon..?'. He headed straight to bed, done with today. Fauna silently prayed this wouldn't be a common occurrence, and that tomorrow he could go to the market. He was quite hungry. He bundled into his soft hay bed and quietly dozed off.

He was on the ground, weak and afraid as he had been for the last 5 years.. He could hear their voices berating him. A buck much older than him yelling at him, his antlers stained with Fauna's blood after having just charged him. Fauna trembled in fear as his wings flapped uselessly, trying desperately to pull him out of the situation he was in. This only sent blood flying, the wings too damaged to do anything more. He called for his unicorn magic, pleading with it to do anything, but it was far too weak. So, Fauna just sat and wept, powerless against the much older buck. He could faintly hear the buck mocking his cutie mark, the one he'd been so proud of the day prior, and the wings that flapped uselessly.

A freak, that's what he was, that's what he always would be.

Pop!

He was awoken from the nightmare by the sound of a balloon popping, having nearly fallen out of bed. He cautiously followed the sounds creeping down the stairs. It was dark out, but he didn't remember turning off the lights. As the first hoof made contact with the floor, a mare suddenly called out.

"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie called out from her place on the ceiling as the lights turned on. A rope holding her was attached to the ceiling as confetti cannons from Celestia knows where went off.

Fauna instantly made way for the door, but skidded to a halt when Rarity entered. Frantically looking for a way out of this mess, he glanced around, but all his exits were blocked. He was cornered, he was trapped. What were they going to do to him? Fauna crumbled to the ground, shaking, as a familiar yellow pegasus galloped over to him, placing a wing over his shoulder.

"We didn't mean to startle you... I'm so sorry!" Fluttershy cried as she pulled him into a hug.

The others all too soon joined in in apologizing to him, leaving a very confused deer on the floor.

"Sorry sugarcube, if we'd known you'd react that way ah woulda put my hoof down." Said a mare Fauna didn't recognize.

'Why're they being nice to me, what are they planning...?' He though to himself, however he still openly accepted the hugs he received. After the hugs, the party kicked into full force. Despite his wariness, Fauna felt himself actually enjoying the party. He also got a chance to learn about the ponies attending. However, he still couldn't wrap his head around Pinkie Pie, she seemed to have no rhyme or reason anything she did. Wandering over to Twilight, Fauna mentally prepared a list of questions as Twilight seemed to prepare hers.

"So.. uh.. is Ponyville always.. chaotic..?" Fauna asked.

"It's normally quite chaotic, it'll take a bit of time to get used to.. it certainly did for me. Just don't try to explain Pinkie's Pinkie Pie sense, it drove me half insane." Twilight jokingly said, although Fauna could detect a hint of seriousness in her tone.

Twilight pulled out a list of questions and seeing this, Fauna sighed in annoyance. He could see in the corner of his eye Pinkie pie riding... a unicycle while juggling cupcakes...? Fauna shook his head as Twilight began with her long list of questions.

"So, who are your parents?" She eagerly asked.

'This was going to be a long night...'

"My mother was a pegasi and my father was a deer..." He muttered, making himself comfortable.

"How'd they meet?" Her pen clicked quickly as she continued taking notes.

"Well... they met right outside of our village;"

A light purple mare stood near a pair of old looking gates, picking flowers from a nearby flower patch. Her yellow mane blew gently in the wind as she picked a couple roses out of the thorn bush.

"Hello..?" A voice called out, making the pegasus mare jump.

A buck emerged from the gate, roughly the same age as her. His coat a dark brown and eyes a bright emerald. He smiled.

"Picking roses?" He asked.

The purple mare took a step back. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know these were yours-" His gentle laugh interrupted him mid-sentence.

"They aren't mine, take as many as you'd like."

She smiled, embarrassed. "Thank you.. Uhm.. What's your name..?"

"Tin Antler, and your's?" He asked with a playful smile.

"Velvet Rose.."

'Am I blushing...?'