On The Wings of Wind

by Chazonic

Chapter 31 - A Violent Surprise

I woke up still feeling incredibly off due to my switched gender. I wondered if this is how mares always feel and if they're so used to it, it doesn't bother them.

I got up even earlier than usual to get wind duties out of the way before Rainbow came out to do weather. She would definitely see through my ruse if she saw my two pairs of wings and if she saw me doing weather, as well as never seeing 'me' anywhere in Cloudsdale yesterday.

I can only hope she's convinced by Scootaloo if she asks her where I am. I probably shouldn't throw her under the carriage like that, but... considering how she normally acts, that's a risk I want to avoid.

Returning home, I see Scootaloo getting ready for school. I made a quick breakfast of pancakes, the only thing I know how to make besides oatmeal, before seeing her off and heading towards Rarity's at her behest yesterday. I knew she accepted that my gender change was an accident, but I still felt uneasy even as I knocked.

"Just a minute~!" She opens the door and smiles upon seeing me. "Ah, Zep-- I mean, Gale! Come in, I'm so glad to see you've made it!"

"A-are you sure you're okay... with me like this?" I give her a worried look as I entered.

Rarity closes the door before letting out a sigh. "Darling, I understand you didn't want this to happen and that you didn't want any of us to think negatively of you. But please give your friends some credibility, none of us will think any less of you because of a simple accident."

I sigh sadly. "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to any of this that's happening to me as of late, not just this."

"Of course... the "friends" of your younger age would of tossed you aside and made you suffer for it. I've never had that happen to me, but I'd imagine letting something like that go would be difficult." I droop my ears in a nod.

"Oh my gosh! I forgot my-- oh hi Zephyr!" I jumped two feet in the air before realizing it was Sweetie Belle.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Sweetie, did you forget your lunch again?"

"Sorry, I guess I was just in too big of a--"

Sweetie was interrupted by Rarity holding out her lunch bag for her. "I understand, little sister. All I ask is that you remember what we agreed on at the spa."

"Yup! Until he turns back to normal, call Zephyr 'Gale Singer'. I can see why you called yourself that from what you sang yesterday. I can't believe I missed the message of that, but that's in the past. See you around!" With that, Sweetie runs out of the boutique in a hurry.

I look to see Rarity giving me a confused stare. "You sang yesterday?" With a blush, I nod and told her her what I sung. "Ah, I suppose you heard of our falling-out. That's exactly what I realized when I saw what she drew and what flowers she got me."

"It... made me sad to hear she wanted to be sisterless, which is the reason why I sang that, I suppose."

Rarity sighs. "Well, you're definitely right in that little song. If only I realized it before it was too late. Ah well, we've made up and it's in the past now." She smiles. "This might be sudden, but can I hear you sing?"

I blanch. "Wait, what? I swear I'm not a good female singer!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Gale. While I don't approve of the genre you sing for, I can still vouch for your singing as a male and I doubt it's any different with a switched gender. Even if it's the little piece you sang yesterday, I would like to hear it."

I look around nervously, like I was making sure no-pony else was listening, before nodding and singing that piece. Rarity let out a soft hum. "You definitely would pass off as Fluttershy's twin sister if you were born a mare. Your singing voice is a bit deeper than hers, but soothing in it's own way."

I shudder. "For some reason, hearing that I could pass as my sister's sister doesn't comfort me one bit..."

"You know that it confirms that you're related to her anyways. If both the blood test results and this incident hasn't convinced you, I don't know what will."

I let out a small cough. "Right... so, uh... why did you have me come here again?"

She gasped. "Oh, yes. Remember when I said that being groomed at the spa is one way of knowing what a mare does in her life?"

I tilt my head in confusion. "That sounds more like a Fluttershy and you type of thing."

"That's besides the point. Why don't I show you another mare thing."

I have to wonder how many "mare things" there are, although I'm afraid to ask.

Rarity led me into the back room, much to my initial confusion, until she showed me a dress which made my entire face burn in embarrassment when I realized what she implied. "Y-you mean w-wearing dresses?"

She smiles at me. "Don't be like that, Gale. If you're going to be a mare for a while longer, you might as well get the full experience."

My face continued to burn for a little bit longer until I began realizing how nice all of the dresses I was trying on felt. I told Rarity my worry that I was beginning to enjoy it too much, but she said that it was only because well-designed dresses have that effect on most ponies. She also assured me that, while she knows that I'll be back to being a male, she wanted to find or make a dress that suited my female persona in case I happen to gender change again.

This went on for a while until Rarity decided that I had enough. "I wouldn't want to drown you in all of your choices now, would I?"

I roll my eyes as I got out of my final dress. "I think you already did."

This merely got a giggle out of her. "Don't worry about it too much, darling. I'm sure you'll be fine as soon as you're gender is back to normal."

I highly doubt it...

"Oh, yes. Perhaps you would like some more gold ribbons to cover up your secondaries?"

I thought about it for a moment. "I... should be fine if I hurry enough and don't use them. I'm going straight home right away anyways."

She pursed her lips, uncertain. "If... you say so, darling. Come to think, they are kind of hard to tell from your coat, so you should be fine."

With her plans for my mare form's dress, she bid me farewell before turning to her work. I started heading back to my house, being discreet about it as possible.

"Hey, you!" I freeze as I hear Rainbow's voice from above me. She lands in front of me with a scrutinizing look. "You must be Gale Singer, am I right?"

"Y-yes I am. W-who are you?"

"The name's Rainbow Dash. I must ask this: You say you're Fluttershy's cousin, right?"

I didn't like the way she worded that. "Y-yes. I-I wanted to pay her and her family a surprise visit from Las Pegas, b-but she had left for an animal convention the day before I came."

Rainbow raises an eyebrow. "So I've heard. I'm Fluttershy's filly-hood friend, in case you didn't know."

"O-oh... really? I didn't know that."

She scoffs. "Now you do. Since you're here and all, why don't we go to my place to chat? Makes sense that you would want to get to know your cousins' best friend, right?"

I really don't like where this is going, but I can't say no for fear of invoking even more suspicion.

"A-alright. Lead the way." Rainbow gives me a look before taking off with me in tow.

I follow her for a while until we come across the cloud house I always see during wind duties. When Rainbow started descending towards it, I finally realized that it was her house.

She never told me this before...

As I approached the front door, I gazed at the beautiful design of the house and at how pretty the rainbows coming off of it looked. I never really stopped to admire it before, as I always focused on my work and never remembered to come back afterwards.

The interior was nothing different from the other cloud buildings outside of the fact that it looked like it was built more for a family, not one mare. No longer mesmerized by the house's exterior, I look around nervously. "I-is there anything in particular you wanted to talk to me about?"

Rainbow looked around aimlessly. "Oh, nothing much really... except for you perhaps."

"Oh, that's fine-- wait, what?"

I suddenly find two magenta eyes glaring into my vision. "You don't think I haven't caught onto your tricks yet, you poser? You may have fooled Ponyville, but you can't fool ME!"

I yelp in fright as I skid away from her, only for her to follow me the entire way. "I-I-I d-don't know w-what you m-mean!"

"Feigning ignorance, are you? Perhaps it should interest you to know that Fluttershy doesn't have and family in Las Pegas, nor does she have a cousin named Gale Singer."

My heart felt like it stopped, yet at the same time it was thumping madly in my chest as she continued to stare me down onto the floor. "B-b-but I-I--"

"Give it up, I've already caught onto your tricks. Just tell me who, or what, you really are and maybe I'll ask Ponyville to go easy on you!"

The pressure... the intense glaring... the accusations...

The hatred directed at me...

I started to shudder pretty badly. "Okay, okay! Just... please stop!"

"Oh, going to finally confess?"

"F-f-fine, y-you caught me. I... I..."

"You what? Spit it out, or am I--"

"I'M ZEPHYR, OKAY?!" I burst before covering my head with my hooves and waiting for her response.

I hear a huff of disbelief after a pause. "You really are delusional, aren't you? There's no way you're Zephyr when you're a mare and he's a stallion."

"B-b-but I am! I-I swear to you I a-am! P-Pinkie promise!"

There was another moment of hesitation before she said, "Well... Zephyr is very different from most pegasi. I don't see--" I hear a gasp from Rainbow after extending both pairs of wings as I continued cower behind my hooves, thinking she truly hated me now. Not only for posing as a fake relative, but also because of my switched gender.

I continued like that until I feel her hug me, much to my shock. "W-why a-are you--"

"I'm so sorry, Zephyr, for doing that to you! If you had told me from the start, I wouldn't of scared you so badly like that."

"D-don't you hate m-me?"

Rainbow suddenly holds me at forelegs length with a tear-filled glare, one that spoke saddened frustration rather than hatred. "Stop thinking I'm going to hate you, you idiot! If anything, you should hate me for doing what I just did to you."

"B-but... don't you see m-me as a p-pervert for changing g-gender like this?"

"I don't care about that! I never wanted to hurt any of my friends like that... not ever again!"

I start hugging her back, now feeling guilty over causing Rainbow such distress over my attempts at keeping my gender change a secret. We both stayed like that until we calmed down. "I'm sorry I kept this a secret from you. It's just... I didn't know how you would take it and I didn't want to become Ponyville's laughing stock."

"It's fine. I suppose I would of made fun of you if you did come forward with it any sooner. The reason why I did what I did is because I thought you were some poser trying to take advantage of Scootaloo or something." She breaks the hug and gives me an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, I'm actually surprised most of Ponyville bought it. Applejack figured me out pretty early and Rarity found out after, although both of them took it rather easily."

"That's Applejack for you, although I do have to wonder how this happened, though." I tell her what happened at Twilight's place, causing her to shake her head. "So much for your "resistance" to magic. I knew Twilight was powerful, considering she lifted an Ursa Minor out of Ponyville, but dang."

This got a shocked look from me. "Wait, what? She seriously did that?" Rainbow nods and I deadpan. "Remind me never to get on her bad side."

"You and me both... on most occasions." Both of us sat there in silence for a bit. "Hey, uh... mind if I take you around town for a bit tonight, just to make it up to you? We can bring Scootaloo along as well."

"No-pony said anything needed to be made up, but I'll take you up on that."

Rainbow smiles. "Alright, meet up with me after the Squirt gets off of school."

---

When Scootaloo and I met up with Rainbow, Pinkie Pie invited us to a party and, since we couldn't think of anything better, we decided to accept.

When we got to Sugar Cube Corner, we found the rest of our friends, excluding Fluttershy, there as well. Twilight told me that the potion for reverting my gender needed to sit for a while before it would work, though It would be ready by the time the party ended. Applejack and Rarity realized that Rainbow had found out about my gender issue, though what surprised them was how Rainbow was handling it. I didn't tell them about our 'episode', thinking that Rainbow didn't need that kind of flack.

The guest of honor was a piano player from Canterlot, but when most of the ponies asked her to play for the party, she had qualms over playing without somepony to sing to her music. Most of the ponies sounded disappointed about it.

At least until Scootaloo started beaming at me. "Gale, perhaps you can sing to her music? I'd like to hear you sing a proper song."

This definitely got a nervous reaction out of me. "I-I don't think I'm up to the challenge."

Rainbow scoffed. "Come on, it should be a breeze for you. It would help you live up to the "Singer" part of your name anyways and I'm curious how it will sound."

I was about to retort when Rarity squeed. "That sounds like a wonderful idea! You should definitely do it, darling!"

"... Don't I get a say in this?"

"Well... you wouldn't want to disappoint the party now, would you?" Pinkie suddenly popped up in front of me with a smile, causing me to yelp in fright. "Besides, you did fine the last few times you've done it. What's one more song for the time being?"

I'm not even going to question how Pinkie knew it was me...

I let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll do it. I'm so easily pressured..."

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "You think you're easy to pressure, you should see Fluttershy on some days."

"Point taken."

I head to the back where the light-violet mare was practicing her piano. She hears me approaching and smiles. "Are you the one who's going to sing to my piano's music?"

"I wouldn't be back here if I wasn't."

She laughs. "Fair enough. I'll play something for you right now and see if you can't formulate any lyrics."

She starts playing again and, because of how beautiful it was, I started humming along with it. Thinking back to earlier today and how much I wavered in front a pony whom I should of trusted from the start, I thought up the perfect lyrics for what she was playing. "I think I got something thought up."

"Already? Well, if you say so and got the confidence to back it up."

I shake my head. "Truth be told, I've only sang lyrics I made up on the spot only once. It was... decent enough, but no promises about this one."

"I'll keep that in mind. My name is Lilac Keys."

"Gale Singer." Thinking for a bit, I ask, "Do you know a stallion named Iron Keys?"

She widens her eyes. "Yes, he's my older brother and he plays piano for a band named--"

"Dead by Sunset? My cousin sings for that band, that's how I knew his name."

She nods. "Then when you see him next, tell him Iron won't be back in Ponyville for a while longer."

Ironic that I don't have to convey that message... unless I want to tell my other band-mates.

As she brought out the piano to play for the crowd, I notice my friends and my little sister giving me supportive gestures. I simply waved back at them and mentally braced myself for the song.

Feeling prepared, I signal her to start and began to sing immediately:

Silver lines of tears fall.
Hope...
Come and find me.

Courage rises steadily.
Will I...
Get through it all?

Faith...
Please...
Save me...
And create in me an Unwavering...
Heart of gold~.

Pain, like blackness
Soon depart.
The white...
Heals our ruby hearts.

Like a diamond
We will start to shine.
We won't fall apart.

Faith...
Please...
Save me...
And create in me an Unwavering...
Heart of gold~.

I hummed loudly to the piano for a bit longer before Lilac stopped playing. The entire bakery exploded into applause and cheering, much to my embarrassment as I went back to my friends.

Applejack was the first to speak, "Boy, howdy. No matter what situation you're in, ya sure sing a good song."

Rarity hummed a bit. "I take back what I said earlier about you singing similarly to Fluttershy. The similarity is still there, but outside of one exception, Fluttershy usually sings more... up-beat tunes. Your singing drifts much closer to being lullabies." As if on cue, Scootaloo let out a yawn.

I give a small smile. "As long as it's pleasing to hear, at the very least."

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "You really need to have more confidence in yourself. Even Twilight would agree."

"Speaking of Twilight, where did she go?"

"Oh, she said something about 'checking up on a potion' or something along those lines," Pinkie happily explained. “Don't worry, she only left at the tail end of it and told me to tell you how soothing it sounded."

I nod before looking outside and seeing the sky painted in the colors of a sunset. "I suppose we can mingle a bit longer at the party. Don't really need to be anywhere desperately." Noticing Scootaloo with a slightly tired look on her face as she chatted with her friends, I add, "At least until Scoots get's too tired."

Pinkie squeed. "Then what are you waiting for? There's a party to be had!"

---

It was dark out as we left Sugar Cube Corner. The party was still going, but I decided to get Scootaloo home as soon as possible, though she was obstinate about coming with me to make sure Zecora's potion worked. She was able to keep up the facade of not being tired and insisted that she can walk just fine, but I could tell she would soon be dead on her hooves.

Sugar Cube Corner was a fair ways away from the library, so I kept an eye on her as we started trekking through the less lit streets of Ponyville.

"Well, what's a fine young lass doing out this late at night?"

I squeaked in surprise as I whipped around to face where the voice came from. I saw four pony outlines emerge from a nearby ally-way and instinctively pushed Scootaloo behind me with my wing as we started backing away. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"Innocent too. Just the way I like it."

I kept backing away from the stallions as they continued to slowly bear down on us. I hear Scootaloo whimper, which instantly put a scowl on my face. "I don't know what you want with me, but you're sorely mistaken if you think I'm just going to play along with your--"

"Ah ha ha, feisty as well. But we wouldn't want THAT, now would we?" I lost some of my bravado as they continued to bear down on us, unfazed. "We've met others like you. We shouldn't have to tell you what might just happen should you... 'refuse' our company." I connected eyes with Scootaloo briefly, long enough to see her apparent fear. "Smart girl, you know exactly what I mean."

The burning enmity in my chest was getting hotter. "What power do you hold over me if my cousin is right next to me?"

I couldn't tell what the leader's coat color was, but I COULD see his smile. "The answer is very simple; come with us quietly to 'entertain' us and your cousin will be left alone. If you refuse... well, you're still coming with us, but not only is your stay more... permanent, the filly gets punished for it as well."

"WHAT?!"

Suddenly one of the other stallions spoke up, "Perhaps I could keep the filly?"

Another one yet to speak shook his head. "You always had a thing for fillies, didn't you?" I start gritting my teeth.

"Shut up, you two." The leader turns back to me. "So what's it going to be?"

"I refuse!"

He adopted a fake look of hurt. "Oh? But don't you care for your little cousin, whom you've only know for a short while and was practically a street rat until recently?" I give him a smoldering glare as he shakes his head. "Now, know that I am a fairly understanding stallion. As such, I'll give you another chance to make the 'right' decision."

I cast one last look at Scootaloo and silently bid good-bye to any shred of stallion left in me. "Fine... I'll do it. But only if you let her go!"

He smiles even bigger. "That's a good girl. Always eager to please." I gave Scootaloo an apologetic look before walking over. As soon as I reached them, two of the stallions, pegasi, immediately flanked me on both sides. I cast one last look at the filly, who had the look of pure hopelessness.

I'm sorry, little sister. I don't think I could of done this any other way... I failed you.

"Bring the filly as well."

No sooner did he utter those words, did the two stallions flanking me start pinning me down. I struggled harshly as I shouted, "You told me you would leave her alone!"

"I lied. Not only would letting her go cause complications, you did refuse my first offer of coming quietly." Scootaloo let out a distressed cry as the other remaining stallion grabbed her. The leader smiles down at me I give him a look of pure rage, the enmity threatening to tear my chest open. "Don't worry, we'll be sure to take good care of her as well. I'm sure it'll... be... fun."

The last thing I remember was yellow covering my vision before being swallowed up by a hazy red veil.

---

They shouldn't of done that.

---

"...--Op, Zephyr! Please stop! PLEASE!"

Scootaloo's voice suddenly made me come to, only to find that I'm sitting on one of the stallions from before with a broken and bloody face, clearly unconscious. I clamor off before slowly looking around and seeing the three other stallions, all of them also unconscious with bloody faces and bodies.

All it took was one look at my bloody hooves to realize that I was the one who did it.

I was the one who almost killed them.

"Oh... w-what... what have I done? What have I done?!" I collapse on the cold cobblestone, sobbing into my hooves with the smell of blood invading my nose. I didn't hear anything from Scootaloo outside of panicked breathing.

"Hey, what happened here?" I look to see Thunderlane and Rumble rapidly approaching us, shocked looks on their faces. He looked over the unconscious stallions before coming to my side. "Are you alright?"

I whimper. "I... I almost... I almost..."

"Please calm down, Gale. What happened to these stallions?"

"They approached... threatened me... threatened her... almost... what have I done?"

Thunderlane looks back at the unconscious stallions with slight distaste before looking at Rumble, who was trying to comfort Scootaloo. "I need you to tell the authorities what happened here while I take--"

I whimper again. "Library... Twilight... please..."

"-- Her and Scootaloo to the library. Come straight back to me after you're done." Rumble nods and scampers off. Thunderlane puts me, still shaking with fear and regret, on his back before picking up Scootaloo and flying right to the library. He burst through the door with a loud bang.

Twilight looked down at the entrance in annoyance. "Try to keep the door on it's hinges pl--" She gasped when she saw us. "Dear Celestia, what happened?"

Thunderlane shook his head. "I found them like this in front of four beaten up and unconscious stallions. I think they threatened them, but Gale is too terrified to really say anything."

"I can't believe her doing it, but if she really... come upstairs and put them on the bed after cleaning her hooves."

As soon as I was on the bed with Scootaloo, she curled up against my side with a whimper. Seeing how I flinched and continued to shudder, Thunderlane put a hoof on my withers. "Gale, please calm down. You're among friends here, so please tell us what happened."

Scootaloo nuzzles me, prompting me to hesitantly start telling them what had conspired. Twilight had a shocked look when I finished. "To think such shady characters were in Ponyville of all places. Then there's also--"

"Thunderlane, where are you?" Rumble's voice comes from the floor below.

"Up the stairs!"

Rumble's confused face soon made it's appearance. "When I showed them the ponies, they mentioned something about being part of a syndicate before telling me that a great deed has been done by rendering them capturable."

Thunderlane's face darkened. "I thought, and feared, as much. They were part of an unnamed criminal syndicate spanning Manehatten and Las Pegas." Seeing Twilight's confused look he added, "I know this because Rumble was almost foalnapped by some of it's members. I managed to find him in time and hold the members off until security arrived, but the memory still burns in my mind."

Twilight gaped at the revelation. "That doesn't explain why some of its members are in Ponyville."

"From what I've heard, most security and local militia caught on to their tricks and have been squashing out all resistance in those two cities. I'm willing to bet my wings that they decided to try their luck somewhere that lacked much law enforcement."

I whimper a bit more. "T-that doesn't e-excuse my b-brutal violence..."

"That was actually a natural reaction." Everypony except for Rumble gave Thunderlane a confused look. "It's hard-wired in all three races, but pegasi always tend to act violently whenever their kin, sibling or child, is threatened. I suppose you were close enough to Scootaloo for it to trip off when she was in danger."

Twilight put a hoof up to her chin. "I've never heard or read about that."

"It's not very well documented, I know that much." Thunderlane gives me a pat. "So cheer up, Gale. Not only did you do Ponyville a favor, but what you did is completely normal."

"I still don't..."

He sighs. "Just try not to agonize over it too much. Anyways, I'd better get Rumble home, as it's starting to get late." Both him and Rumble wave good-bye before heading back downstairs.

Twilight sighs. "This is turning into quite the night..." She looks at me for a bit before realization dawned on her. "Oh right, the potion!" After teleporting twice, she holds out a filled bottle in her magic. "Drink it before going to sleep and you should wake up as a stallion again."

"T-thank you... But don't you--"

"This again? Zephyr, you can't expect us to hate you every time you do something "wrong". Just believe in yourself and everything should fall in order."

I nod as Scootaloo let out a yawn. "You're right... but I still get plagued by doubts all of the time. Still, it's late to be agonizing over it and Scootaloo needs to sleep."

"Do not..." Was her tired response before yawning again.

Twilight shook her head. "Then you'd better get going. I need to report to Princess Celestia about this incident when Spike gets back. Don't worry, I'll keep you anonymous."

I nod and say my goodbyes as I exit the library with Scootaloo on my back. I got her in bed as soon as we got home and took the potion, but sleep didn't come to me, knowing something else was wrong.

---

---

Rumble gave his older brother a quizzing look. "Why did you--"

"Why? Gale looked traumatized enough already and I didn't want to send her into a state of irreversible shock." Thunderlane sighs. "That doesn't mean I feel good about lying to her."

"When you saved me, you had a look of rage and determination."

"That's because us ponies fight harder when our kin is in danger. But no-pony ever escalated to brutal levels of violence, even in the most perilous of situations. What makes Gale so different?"

Author's Note:

This is probably the most disorganized chapter I've written thus far. Between getting writers block and playing FFXIV, I've constantly put this off until now. Hopefully my writing didn't suffer because of it.

Also, An Unwaivering Heart belongs to Trickywi of Youtube. Check out her other songs because she sings beautifully.

Comments

[ShadedTz]

Nuuu I don't wan't zephyr to change back?!?!

[Rose Cloud]

6385580 why?

[ShadedTz]

6388683 Cause i'm weird like that.

[Chazonic]

6388853

Okay, you got a laugh out of me with that. I will say that's not the last time you'll see the gender swap, since it was inspired by a somewhat similar situation in an anime called To Love Ru.

[Rose Cloud]

6388887 ... Why you bloody genius! Also please make thunder fall in love with gale!

[deathcombo99]

6388936
Bro.......WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU GAIL IS GOING TO BECOEM A GUY AGAIN