Fluttershy flicked an ear at the sound of the door to her cottage banging shut and loud whining met her ears.

The yellow foal snuggled close to her belly squirmed uncomfortably at the ruckus, whimpering.

She gently lifted the colt onto a pillow and swaddled him to soothe him back to sleep. Fluttershy then quickly hurried out of her room.

She found her firstborn son running toward her, weeping with bruises and dirt mixed with tears all over his face. “Whistle Tune! Oh dear, what happened?!” Fluttershy sat and held out an arm for a hug. Whistle sniffled and buried his face in the soft fur, wrapping his long tail around hers for comfort.

“I hate school!” His cries where slightly muffled in the fur, but still were loud enough to echo off the walls. “I hate it! I hate it!” cough! cough!

“There there.” She rubbed his back comfortingly. “Tell me all of what happened.”

He coughed again and sniffled. “Some kid started picking on me and hurt me. He pulled my tail a lot and threw dirt in my face. So I ran home. Don’t make me go back!” Whistle whined more, tightening his hug.

“Shh shh it’s okay.” Fluttershy soothed, trying not to show her anger. Only his first day of kindergarten and he was being bullied. He’s only six years old! “Was Thunder Rage bullied too?”

She felt her son scrunch his face in discomfort and pain. Oh dear.

“Whistle?”

Whistle sniffled and lifted his head to look up at her with big watery eyes. “H-he didn’t do an-anything…..he just stood there….”

Fluttershy went speechless. Kind helpful Thunder Rage just sitting by letting his own friend get attacked? But they’ve been close since they were in diapers! Why wouldn’t Thunder say something?

“They said I was a freak.” Whistle murmured and flattened his tufted ears. “Th-they said you and Daddy weren’t my parents and you found me in a trash can…..”

“Oh my poor sweet melody…” Fluttershy turned the colt to cradle him.

“…..is it true?”

Her ears pricked in shock at the question and she accidentally let her voice raise. “Of course not!” He flinched in surprise and widened his eyes. Fluttershy quickly put a hoof to her mouth and cleared her throat. “Whistle, you are my baby inside and out. And you belong to your father just the same. You are our little miracle. I don’t want you to forget that.”

The colt looked down at his strange, long tail and ran his tongue over his fangs. “Then…..why am I a batpony and you guys aren’t? Even Speedy is a regular pegasus like you…. Why am I different?”

Fluttershy furrowed her brow in thought. She knew she had to explain one day, but waited until he could fully understand. This seemed too soon…

“Mommy?” Whistle cocked his head slightly, waiting for his mother to answer.

Fluttershy finally let out a calm long sigh, then said, “Whistle, honey, there’s something I need to show you.”

His ears perked in curiosity and he focused on his mother. Fluttershy slowly opened her mouth wide to reveal one small but sharp fang on the right side of her mouth. His eyes widened in surprise. “Mommy?”

She closed her mouth and explained, “There was a spell that turned me into a batpony by accident several years ago. Your aunts managed to change me back, but I guess I had a little still left inside me.”

Whistle blinked, letting the new news sink in. “You were a batpony once? Just like me?”

“Yes….sort of.” Fluttershy glanced away, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. “Maybe a liiittle more so than you are. Heheh.”

“So….do I need to be changed too?”

“Oh nono of course not! You are wonderful the way you are. Being just a silly normal pony isn’t all that fun. And besides I’d hate to do this,” she began to rub his belly, forcing him to purr and wag his tail, “and not get such an adorable reaction.”

Whistle chirped in embarrassment and kicked his legs. “Mommy, stop!”

“Oh, but you’re so cute when you act like a little kitten~” Fluttershy began to tickle his chest, making him purr louder and squeal.

Whistle began to giggle involuntarily, to Fluttershy’s pleasure. “Mooooom!”

“Are you gonna be sad anymore?”

“Mom!”

“I can’t stop until you give me a yes, dearie.”

The green colt squealed, “YES, Mom! Pleeease!”

Fluttershy giggled softly and pulled her firstborn closer to her chest. “That’s much more like it.”

Whistle nuzzled close to the butter yellow fur, purring low enough for her ears to faintly catch. “Feeling much better now?”

He nodded with his eyes closed, looking somewhat blissful.

“Good.”