Late at night, Penny Tumbler patrolled the industrial district of Chicacolt, keeping to the shadows as she prowled.

There had been an uptick in thefts from the factories—and given her own history with such things, it was for the safety of the public as well as the criminals themselves that she put a stop to it.

So far, she had only the night shift workers on her patrol, but she kept an eye and ear out for a car or truck out of place. As she bounced over to Crawdad Alchemical, her ears picked up a distinct sound—but it wasn’t the sound of a robbery in progress or a hasty getaway.

It was desperate barking and yipping, accompanied by the sound of frantic splashing.

Gasping, Penny bounced towards the sound, shifting into her costume form—being her natural form was easier for stealth, but duty called!

She bounded over a tall chain link fence and wound up next to a drainage ditch. A flickering streetlight illuminated the puddle of viscous, multi-colored liquid pooled at the bottom—and the poor dog that was currently struggling to swim in it.

“Hang on, I got you!” Penny called, thrusting her two forelegs down to the poor creature. They stretched and curled around the dog’s struggling middle and hoisted him up without a second thought about what might be in the puddle.

Setting the dog on the ground, Penny grimaced as it coughed and wheezed. He was a bloodhound with a shaggy coat—completely soaked in whatever chemicals had seeped out of the nearby drainage pipe.

Penny bit her lower lip as she recompressed and looked around, but she could see no one nearby looking for their dog, nor any sort of medic that could help. Then her eyes fell down to her unnaturally red legs, capped in black around her hooves, and she frowned with determination.

“Hang on, dog,” Penny said, picking up the shivering hound in one coiling foreleg. The other three coiled like springs and she bounced off into the night. Retracing her steps by memory, she bounced as fast as her rubbery limbs could take her down a desolate road and into the forest.

And before long, she was in front of a familiar hut, fortunately illuminated within.

Penny rapidly beat on the door. “Makazi! Please, I need help!” she called.

The door opened, revealing the shadowy form of the zebra shaman who lived within. His confused gaze turned serious when Penny offered the shivering dog to him.

“He needs help, please,” Penny said. “You were the only one I could think of. Can you help him?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Mazaki said firmly, nodding. “Quickly, bring him inside.”

Penny limped inside, holding the dog close. He gazed up at her, panting, and she flashed him a reassuring smile.

“Makazi’ll help you, I promise,” she whispered. “He worked wonders on me.”

As daylight broke through the curtains of the hut and fell upon the dog in the bed, breathing evenly as he slept, Penny opened the hut’s door. She staggered over to the bed and watched the dog carefully.

Makazi perked up from the hearth in the center of the hut, raising an eyebrow at Penny. “You seem tired,” he said. “Did you sleep?”

“I couldn’t,” Penny croaked, shaking her head—it sagged a little more than it should for a normal pony. “So I just did patrol until morning. How is he?”

“I gave him the same remedy as I gave you,” Makazi said, joining her at the bedside and offering her a steaming mug that smelled richly of herbs. “He has been sleeping since. What happened to him?”

“I don’t know, I found him stuck in a drainage ditch full of chemicals,” Penny said, flashing a grateful smile as she took the mug and took a sip. A zing of energy shot through her. “Phew, way stronger than coffee.”

“I see your compassion has grown much since we last met, Penny Tumbler,” Makazi said with a smile.

The dog stirred, catching their attention. He abruptly climbed out of the bed, tail wagging.

“Hey there, boy,” Penny said, grinning. “Do you feel better?”

“What is that on his nose?” Makazi asked.

Penny blinked, then frowned. Sure enough, in place of his nose was a round, blue orb. Carefully, she reached out and touched it—and it gave like a rubber clown nose. The dog barked in reply.

Bouncing on his legs, the dog hopped onto the floor—and bounced literally around the room. His tail coiled like a spring, and he used it to bounce around, barking excitedly.

“…Where was this drainage ditch?” Makazi asked in wonder.

“By Crawdad Alchemical. You don’t think…” Penny looked to him, eyes wide.

“He may have received the same treatment you did, yes.” Makazi nodded, smiling at the dog’s enthusiasm.

The dog wound up pouncing on Penny, licking her muzzle excitedly. She cackled and giggled. “Ok, ok! Down boy!” she said breathlessly, gently pushing him off.

The bloodhound barked and stood at attention, his tail wagging. It was only then that she realized he lacked a collar as well. Penny stretched a hoof over and pet his head.

“He seems to lack a home—and he has taken quite a liking to you,” Makazi said. “And I believe you would be well equipped for his, ah, newfound enthusiasm.”

“Yeah,” Penny said, smiling down at him. “You’re a regular strechy mutt, aren’t ya… perhaps that’s what I’ll call you. Plastic Mare’s sidekick: Stretch-o-Mutt. Stretch for short.”

Stretch barked happily in response, bouncing on his paws.

Author's Note

Fun fact 1: Stretch-o-Mutt is entirely based off of the character from the Krypto The Superdog cartoon, who is essentially the pet version of Plastic Man. Don't know yet if he'll be canon or not to Plastic Mare.

Fun fact 2: You'll find out who Makazi is in The Heroic Rebound of Plastic Mare.