How Wind Met Penny
(Pendleton Dreadful belongs to @PendletonDreadful. This story is based off of a roleplay Pen's mod and I shared once upon a time. Just like “The Ghost Who Guides”, I rewrote this story to better fit the narrative of Wind's ongoing story.)
Pen Dreadful and I were sitting under a large oak tree in Snow's Garden. We were enjoying pipes of herbd (mine was catnip), and talking about nothing in particular. I was visiting His world, as I often did over the last 6 months.
“So, um, tell me Pen…” I said with a smile at my tall friend. “What does it feel like to be in love?”
The strong, oft-silent, stallion puffed on his pipe, and exhaled before answering. “Well, that's tough. Are we talking about parental love or, love-love?”
I giggled and nodded. “Love-love, You Dork. Like the love that you and Snow have.”
Pen puffed on his pipe pensively. “I would best describe it as... incredible. When you love someone, and they love you... it feels like you're invincible.” He said simply. “To give you some idea... whenever I get into a fight, all I do is think of Snow, and the rest is easy.”
“Wow.” I whispered quietly. “That would be an incredible feeling.” I puffed on I pipe some more, and spoke a little louder. “I wonder if I’ll ever experience that feeling.”
Pen levelled a thoughtful gaze as me. “Snow mentioned that you've never had a relationship with anyone... but have you never been in love before?”
I sighed heavily. “No. No relationships. Well, not in the same way you and Snow have. I was in... love once. A year ago.”
Pen tilted his head slightly. “Who was she?”
“A shark girl... named Vex.” I said as my eyes unfocused as I thought of her. “She loved me... though she never said it directly. She called me her precious treasure.” I blinked and looked at Pen. “She was 10 years older than me, and well...” I trailed off.
“Well, what?” Pen said in a soft tone. “Come on, Wind. Don't close down.”
I sighed deeply, and smoked my pipe in thought. “I… I have difficulty with people touching me, Pen. You and Snow know that.”
Pen chuckled lightly. “I remember. You were also very hesitant about accepting my friendship. It took you three months to truly open up to me and Snow. I'm still not able to touch you for too long without you trying to jump out of your fur.”
I nodded. That was fair. “That would be your answer.” I puffed my pipe more. “I’m so afraid of letting people get close after what happened to my parents. Mama Dragon is different. She got to me before my fear set in. I’m so afraid that if I let people in, I might lose them. That, and well, I fear that they’ll only see my scars, and not me.”
Pen nodded in understanding. “A fear that was once shared by me. Until Snow told me, just like she told you, that scars are a badge of honour, not a badge of shame.” He placed his big, strong (yet gentle) hand on my metal shoulder. “Avoiding relationships on the chance that you MIGHT lose someone, is no way to go through life, Little Warrior.”
I looked over to him. “Then what should I do, Pen?”
The large stallion smiled at me. “If I may be so bold… Might I suggest meeting someone that knows what you’ve been through? Someone whom won’t judge you based on your past, or your scars?”
I almost scoffed, and exhaled a puff of smoke. “That person sounds too good to be true.”
Pen chuckled “I often wonder that about Penny myself, to be honest.”
I blinked rapidly “Penny? Who the heck is Penny?”
“Penelope Dreadful.” Pen said simply. “My sister, in a sense. See, a little over three months ago, I was... cloned.” He heaved a sigh. “During one of my adventures, I gazed into a mirror. Turns out, the mirror was a... magical cloning thing...where the looker is the opposite gender. Thus, when I did, Penny came out.”
“Wha...?” I said confusedly. “You were cloned? Magically?”
“Indeed I was.” Pen nodded. “She lives in yet another version of Equestria. One that's... a little more technologically advanced.”
“Huh.” I said, astounded at this turn of events. “Do... do you think she'll like me?”
“Well, since she's a clone of me, I don't see why she wouldn't.” The tall stallion said. “But what are you actually asking, Wind? Are you wondering if she'll like-like you?”
I nodded.
“Tell you what, Wind.” He said as he stood, and tapped a pendant around his neck. “I'll go get her, and bring her here. “ He winked and walked though the portal.
Some hours later, I was still sitting patiently beneath the large oak tree, smoking on my pipe, awaiting the return of Pen, along with his “sister”, Penny.
“I wonder-“ I began to ask aloud, when there was a sudden ‘POP!” as the dimensional portal opened, and two large anthro equines fell through.
“You know…” The large chocolate female began, picking herself off the ground, and dusting herself off, “You would think after travelling through dimensions so many times…”
“…you would get used to it?” Pen finished, as he did the same.
I puffed on my pipe, not really surprised by the violent, and sudden, appearance. “Welcome back, Pen.”
Penny turned around, and faced me. “You’re a tiny thing, aren’t you?”
My jaw dropped, and my face burned crimson as my eyes fell on Penny. She was tall and toned, and had scars just like Pen. Unlike Pen, the lower half of her arms and legs, and snout, where grey. She was wearing a simple white tank top, which did nothing to hide her... ample bosom. Even her khaki pants did little to hide her curves.
Penny crossed her arms under her chest and looked me up and down while she waited my response.
I blushed more, but didn't say anything to her.
“What's the matter?” Penny asked “Your cat side got your tongue?”
“Eep~!”
Pen touched Penny’s shoulder. “This is the girl I wanted you to meet.”
Penny looked at Pen. “This is her? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I was going to, but you didn’t give me a chance to.” Pen huffed, and sat next to Me. “It’s okay, Wind. Penny will play nice now.”
I looked at Pen sideways, and then looked at Penny from under my bangs, but said nothing.
Penny sighed, and sat down three feet in front of me. “You’re not very talkative, are you?”
I squeaked and shook my head no. “I… um…”
“She is, but she can be a little timid around those she doesn’t know.” Pen explained. “Especially to those whom confront I as soon as they see her.”
Penny nodded, and then smiled at the me. “I’m sorry, Wind. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The mare held out her arms in a offer for a hug. “Want a hug?”
I shook my head. “I-I don’t hug…”
Pen rolled his eyes. “Penny. I told you. I’ve known her for six months, and I can barely touch her. She won’t hug you.”
Penny pouted as she looked at Pen. “Aww… how come she won’t?” She looked at me. “Why don’t you hug, Wind?”
“It’s a defense mechanism.” Pen explained. “She’s afraid of letting people get close to her.”
I blushed more. “…S-sorry.”
Penny looked at Pen. “Pen. Go away. Wind and I are going to talk.”
Pen scoffed. “What?”
The mare levelled a glare at her brother. She tossed a bag of herbs at him “Move it, Muscles. Go smoke somewhere else,”
With a huff, Pen easily caught the bag, and then stood up. He dusted his pants off. “Fine. But be nice to her.”
The stallion then walked off towards a different part of the garden.
I watched him leave, and then turned my attention back to Penny. “Um…”
Penny smiled at me. “Wind. You don’t have to be afraid of me. Or be afraid of letting me get close to you.”
“I'm not afraid of you, Penny.” I said, finally managing to calm my nerves and heart enough to speak. “Just, painfully shy around... well, beautiful girls.”
Penny nodded as she ran her hand through the grass by her feet. “Oh, well, thank you for the compliment.” She blushed and looked towards the forest. “Say, did you want to go for a walk?”
I nodded.
Penny stood and offered her hand to me. “Shall we, Wind?”
I gingerly placed my hand in hers and stood up as well. Just like Pen, I barely came up to her chest.
Small hand in big hand, we walked out of the garden and into the pine forest. My heart was beating so fast and hard, I would have been surprised if Penny COULDN”T hear it.
Penny looked down at me as I looked up at her.
“Not so bad is it?” She asked, “Holding hands?”
I shook my head. “N-no. It's... actually quite pleasant.”
Penny stopped walking, and let go of my hand. She moved in front of me, and held out both of her hands to me. “Want to try both hands?”
I looked at Penny’s face, and then at I hand. “I…” I lifted my small paws, and moved them towards the mare’s hand. “I… don’t want to get hurt…”
Penny smiled sweetly and kindly. “You can trust me, Wind.”
I kept my gaze on Penny’s hands. “I want to trust you…”
Penny lowered her voice to a sweet whisper, “I won’t hurt you, Wind. I swear…”
I sighed, and placed my paws into the mare’s larger hands. “Oh… this is nice…”
Penny grinned, and stroked the back of my hands with her thumbs. “See? Nothing to worry about.”
I nodded. “This is the first prolonged physical contact I’ve had with anyone, other than with my Mama.” I whispered, mesmerized by our hands being together. “This... is nice.”
The large chocolate mare giggled. “If you think this is good, you should try a hug.”
I retracted my hands, and took two large steps back. “A hug? Oh, no…” I shook my head no. “No, no, no nononono. If I… hug you… I…”
“Wind...” Penny said stepped closer to me. “Wind. This isn’t healthy. Not allowing yourself to have physical contact, just on the odd chance that you might lose that person… You must know that.”
I whimpered. “Penny… I…” I blushed, and looked at my boots. “I have to be honest with you...”
Penny stepped closer. “…Yes?”
I looked up at her, and locked eyes with the tall mare. “I… I really want to try… dating you.” I admitted honestly, “I need a relationship with someone. I'm just too afraid...”
Penny tilted her head. “Afraid of what, Wind?”
“A year ago...” I said, “I was in love with a shark girl, named Vex. It didn't work out, and ever since, I didn't want to risk going through that again.” My eyes brimmed with tears. “I, um, well... Snow explained that I need someone. To start healing. And well, after Pen told me about you...”
Penny brought a finger to her lips in thought, and then giggled. “I see you’ve put a lot of thought into this. You’re reasoning is sound. You’ve made some valid points. However… there is one little flaw in your plan.”
Wind looks nervous. “What… what is it? I know you like females. Pen told me you were... just like me.”
Penny’s smile widened. “No. That isn’t it.”
I looked confused. “Is it because I’m short?”
Penny giggled again “No. That isn’t it either. I actually like short girls.”
I whined slightly out of frustration. “Then, what is it?”
The mare held out her arms again, offering a hug to me. Again. “How can we date, if you’re too afraid to touch me?”
I nodded in understanding. “Oh… I guess not. I… suppose I could learn to… if you can be patient with me…”
Penny winked. “We’ll start slow, okay? All you have to do is walk towards me, and I’ll do the rest.”
I took a steadying breath, and walked slowly towards the mare. Once she was a few inches from m, Penny wrapped her large arms around me, pulling me right against her muscular, yet surprisingly soft, body.
“See?” Penny sighed happily. “Not so bad is it?” She cooed as I suddenly buried mu face into her stomach and wrapped my arms around her waist. My pent up fear boiled over as I cried into her shirt.
Penny moved her right hand, and began petting the back of my head. “It's okay, Wind... let it all out.”
I was purring, and crying at the same time. “Just… don’t let me go…” I said in a shaky, slightly muffled, voice. “please… just don’t let me go…”
Penny sighed happily, and held me tighter. I had a felling she knew what I meant. “Don’t worry, Wind… I won’t.”
