>Still an average joe. >Owner of Plumsweet, an adorable fluffy pony whom you purchased to try and bring your father out of his alcohol fuelled depression. >It's been an hour since Plumsweet asked you to place your dad's vodka in her litter box, and proceeded to take a crap on it. >Your mother gave Plumsweet a cuddle and a chocolate for that. >Your dad stormed out of the house, and hasn't been seen since. >You're expecting there'll be hell to pay when he gets back... If he's not blacked-out at the pub again. >For now, you're enjoying the late evening sunset while Plumsweet gets used to the backyard. >It's November, meaning summer is just around the corner. >So a warm evening like this is not too uncommon. >Good thing you had some drinks on ice. >It really is a beautiful evening; Bell birds are sounding in the bushland behind your house, the sunset has painted your surroundings a pleasant orange, and there are skinks on the small stone wall of your garden, basking in the last few hours of sunlight. >Plumsweet finds them adorable in the extreme. >"Hewwo widdwe not-fwuffy! Yoo wan pway wif Pwumsweet?" >Skinks, being skittish little lizards, bolt at the sight of this strange, comparative giant. >Plumsweet thinks it's all a game and starts chasing them. >"Widdwe not-fwuffy pway wun awound! Wuv wun awound!" >Eventually she loses the skinks in the grass, only to move on to another, with whom she engages in another rousing game of "Run Around". >You're not diabetic, but God DAMN do you need some insulin.   >Plumsweet's behaviour with these little lizards is interesting. >From what you've seen of other fluffies your friends owned, they HATED lizards. >As well as large roaches, mice, magpies, minahs, etc... >Couple that with the way she shut your father down, and you begin to wonder what this little fluffy has been through. >Fortunately for you, the RSPCA has begun a process of providing "Pet Records" to those who adopt animals. >It compiles a full list of what the animal has been through before coming to you. >It's supposed to help owners who have adopted animals that have been abused treat the psychoses that the animals usually develop. >Right now, it seems like a good way to get inside your new pet's head. >Flipping through the literature the RSPCA gave you (Including such classics as 'Sorry Sticks and You' and 'Milk Titty for Coffee: Australia says No'), you eventually find Plumsweet's records.   NAME: N/A (CALLS SELF "FWUFFY") DOB: XX/XX/2XXX COLOURATION: WHITE COAT WITH PINK, RED AND FUCHSIA STRIPED MANE NOTES:         - BORN IN CAPTIVITY         - KIND PARENTS LEAD TO HEALTHY, HAPPY FILLY         - ENJOYS BALL, STRING, RUNNING AND HUGS         - LOVES TO SMILE AND SEE OTHERS SMILE         - FIRST HEAT AT 2 MONTHS         - MOTHER AT 3 MONTHS         - ONE COLT MISCHIEVOUS, SOMETIMES MALICIOUS         - WOULD ATTACK OTHER FOALS TO GET MILK, TOYS, ETC.         - FLUFFY STOPPED BEHAVIOUR WITH "TOUGH LOVE"         - FOALS HEALTHY, GROWN TO FULL HERD MEMBERS AT 2 MONTHS     >Now that's interesting. >She's been a mother before! >Seems like her colt was a handful, but she managed to tough it out and rear the foal. >Is that why she acted that way towards your dad? >Since you're her daddy, maybe she doesn't see him as an authority figure. >Just a sulky human who is acting like a baby? >Your eyes are then drawn to the bottom of the page...   *WARNINGS*         - FLUFFY SHOWS SIGNS OF POSSIBLE 'SFS'   >What in the hell is 'SFS'? >Maybe you should call the RSPCA and- >"Hewwo hissy not-fwuffy! Yoo wan pway wun awound too?" >Hissy...? >You look up only to see Plumsweet smiling into the face of a hissing Blue Tongue. >OHSHIT. "Plumsweet, get away from that lizard!" >Plumsweet turns to you and opens her mouth to say something... >... Only to have the Blue Tongue latch onto her front right hoof. >Plumsweet lets out an ear-piercing shriek. >"OOOOWWWIEEEEESSS! HOOFSIE HUWWWWWT! WAAAAAAHHHH! WHY HUWT?!?" >She starts shaking her hoof around, but her strength isn't enough to shake off the angry lizard. >You're off like a bolt, scooping up your pony and pulling the Blue Tongue off her hoof and putting the squirming reptile back in the garden >Plumsweet is crying in your arms >"Waaahhhh! D-Daddy, hissy not-fwuffy *hic* H-huwt Pwumsweet!" "I know Plumsweet, shhhh. It'll be ok... Come on, let's get you patched up." >Through her tears, she nods meekly. >The lizard goes back to sunning itself. >You make a mental note to stop Plumsweet coming out on her own for any long periods.   >You carry Plumsweet inside, put her on the counter and take a good look at her hoof. >The lizard broke the delicate skin under her fluff, but the wound isn't as bad as it looks. >Just needs a clean and a bandage. >But first, you need to trim the blood-stained fluff around it. >Plumsweet ain't gonna like that. "Plumsweet, I need you to be brave girl so Daddy can make you better." >She sniffles and nods slightly. >You take out the first aid kit and pull out some scissors, and begin the delicate operation of fluff styling. >"W-why daddy take fwuff! Need fwuff!" "It's ok Plumsweet, your fluff will come back, I promise... Now, be very brave. Daddy has to..." >Brain switching to "Fluff Mode" >"Daddy has to make tiny little hurties so you don't get big hurties. Trust Daddy?" >The tiny pony looks into your eyes slowly. >"Pwumsweet twust daddy. No wan big huwties." "Good girl." >Plumsweet still squeezes her eyes shut, despite her words of trust. >Thanks for the vote of confidence, fluff-ball. >You pull out an antiseptic swab and wipe the wound. >Plumsweet lets out a squeak of discomfort and sobs a little, but otherwise remains silent. >You then wrap a small bandage the tiny leg.   "Okay Sweetie, all better!" >Plumsweet opens her eyes and rolls over and tries to stand up. >She's a little wobbly and favouring her leg, but otherwise she's fine >"Pwumsweet aww betta! Daddy magik! WUV Daddy!" >She potters up to your arm and cuddles it as tightly as she can. >HNNNNGGGG. "And I love you, little lady." >Once she's finished wowing over your 'Majik', she looks up at you again with a serious face. >Well, as a serious as a fluffy pony can be. >"Daddy, pwease take Pwumsweet ou'side 'gain?" >... Is this the famous fluffy pony short-term memory you've heard about? "Why do you want to go outside again, Plumsweet?" >"Wan find meany not-fwuffy. Need teww him sumfing." >WHAT. >Either this fluffy is a moron, or she's got balls of steel. >You're probably going to regret this... "Ok darl, we'll go out again. But I'm staying with you the whole time."   >You carry Plumsweet outside again, holding her to your chest as you walk over to the 'Scene of the Crime'. >'Lo and behold, there's the culprit, still sunning himself before the night falls. >Plumsweet wriggles a little in your arms >"Daddy, Pwumsweet go down, pwease?" >... God, you wish you weren't such a push-over. >You place her down, and she waddles over to the Blue Tongue >It, of course, starts hissing again and baring it's titular blue tongue. >Plumsweet stares it down for a few seconds, looking as serious as she possibly can >Before suddenly bopping the lizard on the nose with her good hoof >"Yoo bad not-fwuffy! No bitey ow be meany, be nice and nu bitey! Nu bitey, nu get owies fwom Pwumsweet!" >The lizard hisses some more, but backs way slowly. >Plumsweet waddles back over to you and asks to be picked up again. >As you carry your tiny pony back inside, one thought is going through your mind. >... WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED. >Was this the "Tough Love" mentioned in Plumsweet's Pet History? >A facet of the 'SFS' mentioned in the warnings? >Either way, you're probably going to have your hands full with this one...   >4 hours later, after a hearty dinner of left over pizza for you and your mother, and big helping of spaghetti for Plumsweet, you're all in the back lounge room. >You watching a movie, your mother reading, Plumsweet curled up in your lap and snoozing. >All of you are then jolted out of your reverie by the door bursting open >"WHERE'S THAT LITTLE FLUFFY FUCK?!" >Oh God, Dad's home...