//------------------------------// // Saturday, 6/11: 'The Pegasi's Pride.' (Melody Song) // Story: Diaries of a Zephyrwing // by NavelColt //------------------------------// “Zoom? You’ve been in there a while, are you ready?” Thunder knocked on the door of his longtime friend’s bathroom. He carefully tweaked the cufflinks on his suit – brand new, and it went perfectly with his Sky Slayer ZP Lites. The spring green pegasus stallion eyed the door that concealed his friend from view with an air of mild concern. Something told him that everything wasn’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped. “I-I… you know what, maybe this was a mistake, we should cancel our RSVPs. Sorry to bother you Thunder, maybe we can go get dinner instead-?” “Nope!” Thunder called cheerfully, sitting down and facing the closed door. “Come on Zoomster, you’ve already held off long enough with this. Every time, you chicken out. Well not this time. What are you so afraid of, Zoom…?” “Thunder…” A soft thud was heard, and Thunder knew his friend had sat down to face the door as well. “I’m not… I’m not as expressive as you are. I’m not as loud, as eager to show off… if I do something like this… it will make a scene… and I don’t want a scene.” “There won’t be one.” Thunder swore. “No one is going to look at you any more than usual, I promise.” “H-How can you be sure?” “Because that’s not the kind of behavior that the Royals will allow.” Thunder stated firmly. “You know them, Princess Pipp is always about encouraging positivity, and we all know Princess Zipp has strict rules against bullies in the palace.” “I suppose Queen Haven – long may she reign – is the supportive type as well… but, what about… Thunder, these things are always publicized and Princess Pipp already announced she was going to stream everyone’s entrances!” “Okay, well…” Thunder sighed and leaned forward to press his forehead against the door, attempting to transmit his calm presence to his friend. “I-look, you and I both know there will always be ponies who… who want to take away your right to be yourself. But you don’t have to listen to them, Zoom.” “Even when they’re screaming in your ears?” “Not even then! They don’t get to dictate how you live your life, Zoomer. Because they don’t know you, Zoom, you know you. And you’re awesome. I know you Zoom, and you wanna know what I see when I look at you?” “...What, Thunder?” “I see a strong, brave, courageous pegasus who is not afraid of what other ponies think. But right now, you’re holding yourself back because you’re worried that there will be a bad reaction from the ponies whose opinions you actually care about.” “I just… I don’t want the others to… to think differently of me. It’s not like I’ve changed, I just… look different…” “They won’t Zoom!” Thunder laughed softly. “You know them! And even if some of them do, you could totally kick their butts!” “...Well, I am good at kicking butts…” “Exactly!” Thunder smiled. “Do you remember back in cadet training, the old verse we were taught?” “Of course I do…” “Remind me again, how’d it go?” “...Pegasi are heralds of the wind and skies, free are we to soar and try. Even when the fiercest of the fiercest storms collide, we hold close to our hearts, the Pegasi’s pride.” “You’ve got plenty of Pegasi pride in you, Zoomster. What do you say? Are you ready to soar and try?” “...You really think it’ll be okay?” “I know so. Now… you ready to come out, or am I gonna have to come in there myself and drag you to the party?” “Okay, okay, fine. Step back, the door swings out and I don’t want to break your muzzle.” Thunder chuckled and stepped backwards, adjusting his tie and running a hoof over his carefully brushed forest green mane. He waited eagerly for his friend to exit the bathroom, beaming as the door slowly cracked open, and Zoom Zephyrwing stepped out. Zoom was wearing a deep indigo suit that perfectly matched the pony’s sky blue coat and violet mane. Thunder’s eyes trailed over the golden trails on the suit’s blazer, swirling around the lapels to bring ponies’ eyes up to the wearer’s face. Thunder smiled as his cyan eyes locked with Zoom’s amethyst ones. “There’s the Zoom I know. You ready to go?” Thunder asked, offering his hoof out to his friend. Zoom looked down at his hoof hesitatingly, before a small smile emerged, and he had grasped his fellow stallion’s hoof. “Yeah, let’s go.” “Alright! We’re gonna rock this ball! Come on, Zoomster!” Thunder cheered, practically dragging the poor stallion behind him in his haste. “Alright, alright, I’m coming! Wait up!” Zoom laughed, the door to his home slamming shut behind the two. “Hey hey out there to all my beloved Pippsqueaks!” Pipp squealed at her phone screen, the comment section of her livestream currently blowing up with responses. “As I’m sure all of you know by now, this is a very special broadcast. Everypony out there, I’d like to welcome you to the very first Unity Ball!!” Pipp flipped her camera to show her viewers the grand ballroom of the Royal Family’s castle, which was currently being filled up by guests of every pony race, who were milling around and talking to each other happily. Flipping her phone back, Pipp gave her audience a dazzling smile. “As you all know, the three pony tribes are friends now! And to commemorate this momentous occasion, my mother, Queen Haven, has extended invitations to the Earth Ponies and Unicorns to come to our very own castle for the Unity Ball, a creation of Sunny Starscout and Izzy Moonbow! And there will of course be a broadcasted performance by moi, don’t worry if you weren’t able to snag tickets, my lovelies!” “Pipp! Get down here, the guests of honor are arriving!” Zipp called loudly. “Oh! That’s my cue! Don’t worry guys, I’ll be bringing you along for this, you have to see which ponies our esteemed chairponies have extended Guest of Honor invites to!” Pipp waved to Sunny, Izzy, Hitch, and Zipp upon the mention of chairponies, joining her friends at the entrance to the ballroom, preparing to greet the coming ponies. The five friends stood together, Pipp eagerly recording as a few on-duty guards opened the doors for the guests of honor. “And first up, we have the unofficial ruler of the Bridlewood Unicorns, Sir Alphabittle!” Pipp beamed happily at the gruff, slate colored stallion. He seemed a bit confused as to why Pipp was announcing his arrival, but gave her and the others a friendly smile before entering. “Everypony welcome Alphabittle! He’s been doing a great job helping to establish ties with us, and his little armadillo friends are adorbs!” The comment section flooded with greetings from Pipp’s fans, as expected by the mare, and her smile grew even brighter. “Keep that positivity coming guys! Next to enter the Unity Ball is the one and only Miss Phyllis Cloverleaf, the unofficial leader of the Maretime Bay Earth Ponies! Let’s give her a big helping of cheers!” Phyllis, who was slightly more familiar with the technology that was Pipp’s phone, gave her a matronly smile and wave, before trotting out of the camera’s frame and further into the ball. Pipp continued to encourage and hype up her fans as more distinguished guests entered, mainly consisting of some of Pipp, Zipp, Hitch, Sunny, and Izzy’s friends from their towns. The newsponies of Zephyr Heights had just finished greeting Pipp’s fans when the next guests stepped through the double doors. “And here come the last Very Important Ponies, some of Zipp and I’s very own guards! I guess these two made a good impression on Izzy and Sunny, they immediately agreed when Zipp and I suggested them for the list! Please everyone, give a very warm welcome to Sir Thunder and Miss Zoom Zephyrwing-!” Pipp’s voice caught in her throat in slight surprise as she finally looked up from her phone after switching the camera once more. She, her friends, and her fans were now staring directly at the two off-duty guards – and Zoom’s attire. The pegasus froze the second he felt eyes on him, but Thunder was quick to gently guide his friend closer, smiling at Pipp and her phone. “Hey Pipp! The ballroom looks great, your decoration skills have never been more on point!” Thunder said eagerly. The compliment seemed to be enough to snap Pipp out of her stunned gaze, and she gave the two a smile. “Why thank you, Thunder! Don’t you two look dashing tonight! You must tell me where you got your suits!” Pipp then turned to Zoom with a sheepish smile. “I certainly didn’t expect-that is, not to say that mares can’t wear suits, but-” Zoom managed a smile back at Pipp. “Heh, uh… it’s alright, Princess, I should have done this a while ago, honestly, but… I go by he/him, if that’s alright with you?” “Oh! Oh, of course! So sorry Zoom, my mistake!” Pipp was quick to turn to her livestream, smiling happily. “A quick amendment, my Pippsqueaks! Allow me to introduce two of the best guards in the castle, the lovely gentlecolts, Thunder and Zoom Zephyrwing!” Pipp had her phone at just the right angle, and though Zoom didn’t mean to snoop, out of the corner of his eye he could just glimpse the flood of positive emoticons in the chat. A familiar blue, white, and pink flag was popping up a few times, as well – all proudly following “me toos!” and similar cries. “Well, welcome to the ball, you two.” Zipp took over for her sister, who was back to chatting it up with her viewers. “Have fun.” Zoom felt himself being tugged away by Thunder, the ever-curious stallion eager to explore the crowded ballroom. He gave one last wave to Zipp and her friends, before allowing himself to be dragged around by Thunder. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Thunder asked, turning to give his friend a smile. “Just one quick little conversation and it was over!” “Y-Yeah… thanks, Thunder, I… I’m really lucky to have you as my friend, you know?” Zoom gave the shorter stallion a fond grin. “I’m glad that of all the ponies that I have in my life, you were the first to know. Thanks for helping me, Thunder.” “Anytime, Zoomer.” Thunder nudged his friend in the side gently. “So, you wanna show these ponies how to party? I hear Pipp’s going to be singing later, we can dance to Glowing Up togetherrrrr~” Zoom laughed loudly. “Never change Thunder, please, never change.” “I don’t plan to.” Thunder retorted smoothly, grinning as he took his hoof. “Now come on, we’re the guests this time, let’s check out the refreshments booth! I want to see if they have those cupcakes we like!” “I thought you wanted to dance.” Zoom reminded the stallion, though he followed Thunder along anyway. It was nice, Zoom decided, as Thunder held up a cupcake in triumph before passing one to the sky blue stallion. It was nice to be out like this, for the first time and hopefully not the last. It was nice to be himself.