//------------------------------//
// Spending Time 
// Story: Society as We Know It 
// by Comma Typer 
//------------------------------//

"I'm glad you could come visit," Fluttershy said, walking on the ground with her taller, younger brother. Around them were stalls and small shops filled with the noise of ponies buying and selling, of products being exchanged and bits being thrown and dropped and transferred. "It's going to make my grocery time much easier and much lovelier having you around."
"Don't worry about me, sis'!" Zephyr replied with a flamboyant accent. "I just wanted to rest from the troubles of my new job as a barber!" He sighed dramtically, stopping his walk to place a hoof above his forehead. "Oh, that is just how the corporate ladder works!"
Fluttershy glared at him. "You know what you were getting into when you wanted to be involved in mane therapy, right?"
"Of course, Fluttershy!" He laughed. "I know that, to get to the top, you must first start at the bottom! And, I'm telling you, it's not that I'm getting bored of snipping and cutting ponies' manes all the time! It's just, the schedule is too hectic!"
"Which is why you went here to spend some time with me, right?"
"Exactly!"
Fluttershy sighed. "Well, as long as nopony else bothers us with their problems or anything else, then this day will go just fine."
Then, a changeling flew in and hovered right in front of them.
"Fluttershy!"
Zephyr looked at his sister. "You were saying?" He smiled.
Fluttershy looked shocked.



"And, why are you here, Humerus?" Fluttershy asked, carrying two bags.
"Because you're one of my favorite ponies in all of Equestria!" Humerus yelled. "Because, you've saved Equestria a few times already, and you're also one of the Elements of Harmony, and the ponies in Ponyville are really having a nice time with you since they're living with all the Elements of Harmony and one of those Elements of Harmony is a Princess and isn't that awesome?" He took in a deep breath. "And, to spend a day with just one of the Elements is fantastic!"
"Yeah." Zephyr picked up one of Fluttershy's bags and placed it on his torso. He chuckled nervously. "My sister's pretty awesome, right? I'm very proud of her!"
"Come on, Zephyr," Fluttershy responded, giving her brother a concerned look. "I don't brag about my achievements in public, or at all, really."
"Saving Equestria a few times is worthy to be proud about, sis'!"
"Yeah!" Humerus shouted. "And, what if I meet the rest of your friends again today, right here in Ponyville where they live?!"
"Don't get too excited, Humerus," Fluttershy said. "I and Zephyr are just here to buy some groceries for the animals and for ourselves, and then we spend some time together as brother and sister." She gave Zephyr a pat. "Zephyr's relaxing from some of his hard work as a barber."
"What about you give me a manecut?!" Humerus yelled.
Zephyr had a look of surprise on his face. Fluttershy, also, had such a face.
"Uh, changelings don't have manes," Zephyr bluntly said.
Humerus frowned.
"Uh, don't you be worried, Humerus," Fluttershy said, getting closer to him. "There are other ways you can spend time with me and Zephyr." She looked at Zephyr and gave him a stern look. "Did you invite him?"
"Uh, actually, uh, probably, maybe, seriously or not, depends?" Zephyr scratched his head while smiling at her nervously. He quickly glanced at Humerus and then back at Fluttershy.
She was still looking at Zephyr with that stern look.
"Come on, sis'! It's not that bad! I wanted to add a little variety to our time together!"
"And you managed to invite the most annoying changeling in Equestria?"
"Annoying?!" Zephyr shouted. "He's just very excited with you and your great friends! I mean, if we just let other ponies be with him, then he won't be that excited and annoying! Just look!"
He pointed a hoof at the changeling.
Fluttershy looked.
Pinkie Pie was passing by a stall.
Humerus flew up to her. He was smiling, even a little jittery. "Pinkie Pie!"
"Oh, hi!" Pinkie Pie greeted. "You're really excited, aren't you?" She gasped. "What about we buy ingredients together?"
"That would be great!"
And then, Humerus rushed off with her to a carrot stall.
Zephyr looked back at Fluttershy, still smiling at her with that nervous smile.
"I'm not convinced," Fluttershy replied.



"And, a few more apples?" Fluttershy asked.
"Sure, Fluttershy!" Applejack said.
Then, the Earth pony threw a few apples into Fluttershy's sack.
"Are ya' sure ya' can handle that?" Applejack asked, looking uneasy at the sack Fluttershy was carrying.
"We can carry this together," Fluttershy replied, looking at Zephyr.
Zephyr, meanwhile, was looking at the many apple trees around them.
"Wow, Applejack!" Zephyr let out. "I can't believe you have this many apple trees!"
"Heh-heh-heh-heh." Applejack smiled. "That's quite thoughtful for ya' to say."
Then, there was a buzzing sound in the distance.
It was getting closer and louder.
The three ponies looked.
There was Humerus, flying past the apple trees.
Fluttershy sighed. "Not again."
And then, Humerus landed right in front of the ponies. He was smiling.
"Alright!" Humerus yelled. "Three Elements of Harmony met in one day in Ponyville! How many times can I do this? How many days?" He looked at Applejack.
She was giving him a tough look.
"Hi, Applejack!" Humerus greeted. "How's the Apple family?"
"Uh, they're doing well. However, don't ya' think that this is getting way out o' hoof?"
Zephyr chuckled and walked to Humerus's side. "Hey! You gotta be a little kind on him! He's, uh, a really good changeling who just needs a little more—what do you call that?—attention!"
"Ah don't know what yer' tryin' to pull off, but 'attention' is probably not the right word," Applejack said, maintaining that tough look on her face. "We have lives to live, ya' know, and we can't have anypony or any changelin' just treatin' us like that all the time!"
"He's just excited to be with his heroines, girls!" Zephyr went on.
Applejack stomped a hoof onto the dirt road. "If that's the case, then he'd better wait! Ah'm mighty tired of this!" She looked at Fluttershy and her tough look went away. "Sorry, Fluttershy, but I had to do something."
"It's alright," Fluttershy said. "I understand."



As they stood outside of Fluttershy's cottage, Zephyr Breeze and Humerus looked at each other then they looked at the cottage.
Sounds of the many animals inside can be heard. There were also the sounds of the many animals outside. There were the birds, there were the ducks, there were the rabbits, there were the mice, and there were more.
It was a peaceful place with the grass, the trees, and the plants giving a sense of calmness to it all.
Zephyr looked at Humerus. "So, now that Fluttershy basically banished us until she's done with giving her animals food, where do you want to go?"
"What about we go to the Castle of Friendship?" Humerus asked. "I'm sure I'm going to meet Princess Twilight Sparkle, and maybe Rarity is going to be there, too, and—"
"No!" Zephyr placed a hoof on his face. "If Fluttershy finds out that I allowed you to go there and go crazy over those ponies, we're both going to be in serious trouble!"
"But, I want to be with them!" Humerus yelled, whining.
"Uh, what about we meet other ponies, Humerus?" Zephyr placed on a smile. "You cannot just spend time with the same ponies all the time! You've gotta learn that there are other ponies out there!"
"What about Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie?" Humerus complained.
"I just told you that you have to spend time with other ponies!"
"But, the Elements of Harmony saved Equestria a few times and they're cool!"
Zephyr groaned. He looked back, scratching his head. He looked at Humerus. "OK, what about you spend time with other ponies who have done something else other than saving Equestria a few times?"
"That's not cool!" Humerus said.
"That's what you think. What I think is that what other ponies are doing is cool, also."



In front of the schoolhouse, swarms of colts and fillies ran towards the changeling, flooding him with shouts and laughters. Not all the colts and the fillies were there—some were sitting at their places inside the schoolhouse.
Cheerilee stepped out of the building. "Well, students, please settle down!"
Yet, the ponies went around the changeling, asking him questions, giving him their names, all while they smiled.
"Students? Class?"
Humerus looked at the teacher. "Hi, Cheerilee!" he said, waving a hoof at him while he was being partially engulfed with ponies. "Just paying a visit to cheer up the little ponies!"
Cheerilee made a smile. "Uh, OK." She looked at the rest of her class in front of her, moving about and looking at Humerus. "Class!"
And the ponies looked at her.
"You can spend time with Humerus after class, so you better get back here!"
"Aww!" the ponies collectively blurted out as they solemnly walked back inside the schoolhouse.
Cheerilee looked at Humerus. Then, she looked at a tip-toeing stallion.
"Zephyr!"
He turned around. "Uh, what?"
"Did you orchestrate this?!"
Zephyr shrugged. "This what?"
"Interrupting the class with a changeling?!" She pointed at Humerus.
Humerus waved at Zephyr. "Am I doing a good job?"
"I'm just doing what I need to do in order to keep him out of unnecessary trouble, Cheerilee!" Zephyr said hesitantly, grabbing Humerus. He looked at Humerus. "I think this idea is not as good as we thought," he whispered.
"You're only causing more trouble!" Then, Cheerilee went inside and closed the door.
Zephyr looked down and sighed. He faced Humerus. "There must be a way to get you to spend time with other ponies without causing a disruption. It's not like I have many friends in Ponyville—they're all back at Cloudsdale! And, I cannot just let you go to Cloudsdale—Fluttershy's going to notice!"
"That's why I wanted to be with the Elements of Harmony!" Humerus insisted. "I don't want any more convoluted plans if it doesn't mean I'm going to be good friends with them!"
"What about you start with making other friends?" He smiled. "Friends other than your changeling friends, I mean."
"What about Rainbow Dash?" Humerus asked.
Zephyr seemed surprised. Then, a smile appeared on his face. "Actually, that's a good idea!"



Inside the Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow Dash was in front of a wooden table, reading the book in front of her. Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie rushed here and there, serving customers delicious sweets like cakes, pies, and cakepies. The sweet aroma of sugary foods was in the air, floating and drifting around, sweetening the mood of the bakery.
Rainbow turned the page.
She read on.
And a plate slammed onto the table.
"Woah!"
Rainbow looked up from the book.
A blue pegasus stallion and a green changeling was there.
"What are you doing here, Zephyr?" She looked at the changeling. "And, sorry." She held out a hoof. "I'm busy reading the latest Daring Do book!"
"And, how many times did you read the latest Daring Do book?!" Humerus shouted. He pushed the plate. "And, here's some cake we bought for you!"
"Wait, you bought me cake?" Rainbow pointed at Zephyr, glaring at him. "Alright, I want to know what's your plan here! I'm not in love with you, if that's what you're thinking!"
"Aww, Rainbow," Zephyr said. "Your attempts at making yourself think that way isn't going to deter you from me. Besides, I brought a book with me!" And, he pulled out a Daring Do book. "See?!"
Rainbow placed a hoof on her face. "Is that what it's all about, Zephyr? I don't even understand why you brought a changeling here!"
"He has his own reasons."
Rainbow looked at Humerus.
"I get to meet four of my favorite ponies today! What's left is Rarity and Twillight Sparkle!"
Rainbow sighed.



The door opened.
"Welcome!" Davenport greeted happily, wearing his blue and white suit. "Would you like a—uh, that's a changeling, right?"
"Yes, uh, what's your name?" Zephyr asked anxiously. He glanced at the changeling who was hovering freely above the ground. Zephyr closed the door. He looked at Davenport. "Uh, again, what's your name?" He raised an eyebrow. "Uh, hello?"
Davenport looked at Zephyr. "Oh, sorry. What were you asking me about again?"
"Davenport!" Humerus shouted, pointing a friendly hoof at him. "Of course, I remember you!"
"Oh, right." He stared angrily at Humerus. Then, he smiled. "I'll try my best to help both of you find the best quill and the best sofa just for you!" He gestured towards the rest of the room. "Behold my colleciton of quills and sofas!"
Lined up on the walls were sofas of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some were normal—they were quite ordinary. Others were more radical, more extreme, like a sofa with wheels on it. "This sofa is guaranteed to keep you moving!" Davenport proclaimed, walking towards it while keeping his focus on Zephyr and Humerus. "With high-tech wheels that will certainly never scratch your floors, you can even take it out of the house and use the sofa outside!" He chuckled nervously, looking particularly at the changeling.
Humerus was smiling. "I want that one!"
"Come on, Humerus," Zephyr said, "I don't want to spend all of my money on sofas!"
"Don't worry!" Davenport ran to them. "That sofa is, for today only, at the low price of seventy bits! Yes, with the wheels, too!"
"Of course, with the wheels," Zephyr responded, giving Davenport a mean look.
Davenport frowned.
"Well, if you just wanted a normal sofa, then I've got that in supply, too!" Davenport ran towards a sofa that was more normal. It was orange and looked comfortable. "This sofa is also at a low price today, and only today, at the low price of forty bits!"
Humerus's smile grew wider as he looked and beheld the sofa. "Our sofas are usually made out of rocks and other rough materials! I wanna buy that one!" He looked at Zephyr. "I didn't know you could have sofas that are OK to sit on!"
"Uh, I thought you went here before," Zephyr asked, confused.
Davenport glanced at the shelves containing quills. "Uh, don't forget to leave with one of the best quills ever made and produced in all of Equestria!" He grabbed a quill from the shelf and placed it on his hoof. He stretched out his hoof towards the customers in front of him. "Now, this quill is not just any ordinary quill! This isn't a quill you'd fine in normal quill shops! No, this quill is of the finest quality, of the greatest value! You can write with it for hours, and you would never feel tired because of its unique grip!"
"Zephyr!" Humerus yelled, grabbing Zephyr by one of his wings.
Zephyr looked irritated.
"Zephyr! What about we buy one of those fancy quills?!"
"I did not bring you here to buy a sofa or a quill!"
Davenport looked at Zephyr, wearing a worried face. "Wait, so, why are you in my shop again?" His face lightened up. "Maybe you want a bed?"
"No!"
Davenport backed away. "Uh, OK. I'll just stay by the orange sofa and I'll, uh, let you handle this problem yourself." He walked towards the orange sofa.
Humerus looked afraid, shuddering, slowly backing away from the irritated pegasus.
"The reason why I brought you here was to make a friend with somepony other than Fluttershy and her closest friends!"
Then, he sighed.
"OK, Humerus?"
The door opened.
"So, Twilight," Rarity said as the two ponies walked in, "we need to add more royal furniture to your castle! We cannot just let you run away from fashion! You are a Princess, after all."
"As long as we don't spend too much time trying to think about the details of each sofa and bed," Twilight replied with a hint of annoyance.
And the two ponies stopped.
The two other ponies and the changeling looked at them.
Humerus gasped. "Rarity and Princess Twilight Sparkle!" He screamed. "You're here!"
Twilight smiled. "Rarity and I are just looking for some sofas and beds for the castle. It's not much to worry about."
"It is!" Humerus yelled.
"Oh, no!" Zephyr blurted out.
"Oh, hi, Zephyr!" Rarity greeted, waving a hoof. "I didn't know you were friends with Humerus! How has he been?"
"Please, Twilight!" Humerus yelled. "What about we spend the day together?! Also with Zephyr?!"
"What?!" Zephyr yelled.
"Stop your yelling!" Davenport yelled. "I have other customers here, you know!"
"You're yelling, too!" Twilight yelled.
"OK, you're all yelling!" Rarity yelled.
Zephyr looked at Humerus. "Alright, Humerus! That's enough!"
"What?!" Humerus yelled.
"Stop yelling!" Davenport yelled. "Just, keep yourselves quiet, OK?!"
And the rest of the ponies there and the changeling looked at him.
Davenport placed on a smile. "Uh, sorry for that."



"No!" Humerus shouted. "No! I was so close to spending time with just one of them! Why are you this terrible and bad?!"
"Because you're just annoying everypony in town," Zephyr answered as he dragged Humerus on the dirt path, past the bird houses, on the bridge, past the rabbit holes, and right up to the door. "I have tried my best to stay calm and to stay, well, calm with you, but you've proven to be too much even for me! And I was the one who invited you here to Ponyville in the first place. It was supposed to be a good time!"
Fluttershy opened the door. "What's with all the yelling?" She looked at Humerus. She looked at her brother who was holding Humerus. "What happened, Zephyr?"
"Uh, you're the Element of Kindness, right, sis'?" Zephyr smiled nervously.
"Zephyr!"
"So, uh, is it OK if you, uh, be kind to him and teach him a lesson about, uh, not bothering and interrupting ponies' lives like what Applejack said earlier at Sweet Apple Acres?" He maintained his nervous smile. He fixed his bunned hair, still smiling nervously.