My thanks to KitKatVintage for
the image of Fable Gusty.
Gusty in Europe
Gusty's European release is a bit murky, in part
because we lack all of the evidence to know exactly where she
was and wasn't sold. It is clear that some countries, like
Germany and Austria, had an Italian version of Gusty who was
probably sold on the same art style of card as the Hong Kong
Fable Ponies (in fact, it is from this German translated card
that the name Fable Pony - Fabelpony - has its origin). Other
countries, like the UK, did not get Gusty until 1987, in the Movie Star
set. Inbetween these two releases is the Hong Kong 'Fable' set,
including a version of Gusty with GLITTERY purple leaves and
GREEN eyes.
This version was sold in Scandinavia (at least
Norway and Sweden), Finland, Australia and South Africa. She may
have been sold in other places as well but the evidence has not
yet come to light. Although the cards say 'distributed in the
UK', however, this set never was.
Fable Gusty was not sold in the United Kingdom.
Gusty's Character
Gusty was depicted as a bit of a grump in the animated series. She
was a little caustic in her observations and was unkind to Wind
Whistler in Crunch the Rock Dog when Wind Whistler had trouble
expressing her feelings. Animated Gusty also had the ability to
make breeze from her horn.
In the UK comic, she could not have been more different. Gusty's
UK persona was as one of Ponyland's succession of 'nurses', and
she was frequently drawn with a nurse hat or called 'Nurse Gusty'
by baby ponies. Her responsibilities were twofold - one, to look
after medical issues, and two, watching over the baby ponies.
"Nurse" Gusty looking after the newborn twins
My Little Pony Comic, UK
Gusty did not have a backcard story in the UK,
but her factfile entry associated her magic to autumn leaves.
Not only did she have the magical ability to make the leaves
'burst with colour', she was also able to return fallen leaves
to the trees, presumablty meaning she could reverse or control
the autumn leaf fall.
