A Gentle Breeze of Change
Chapter Fourteen: Close Encounters of the Pony Kind
Zephyr was at last with her twin sister, Autumn Breeze, as well as a little Pegasus filly named Cherry Cloud. The arrival of a certain Pegasus stallion named Lightning Storm caught Zephyr almost off-guard, as he seemed to know her all too well. It was evident that Lightning Storm really loved Zephyr, in that he kissed her at least twice. The first time they kissed opened Zephyr’s memories to the time of being his partner in the Equestrian Games’ Aerial Performance Competition. The second time he kissed her was to show that Lightning Storm wanted her to be with him. Her turquoise eyes shone brighter as she felt more happier than her former life.
“My new mission is clear: to help those ponies who were affected by Discord’s spell remember who they are and unlock their special talents. I will need help. Can I count on you, my friends and family?” The light grey Pegasus with the light blue-green mane and tail asked the assembled group of former humans-turned-ponies.
The other ponies all decided to support Zephyr in her new mission. It was just like back home in Equestria, where everypony worked together to solve life’s challenges.
Just then, Zephyr saw a lightning bolt flash across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. “Uh, oh! That’s the storm I’ve been tracking. I think we’d better find some shelter and fast.” She flexed her wings, extending them and flapping them, as the wind picked up. “Sister, please watch over Cherry Cloud and get her to a safe location. I do not want her near that storm unless she feels she is ready for some on the job Pegasus training in weather management.”
A worried look crossed Autumn’s face as she watched her dear sister fly away into the brewing storm. She put a hoof around Cherry Cloud as she led her away from the storm clouds. She brought the frightened filly over to the location of their new home. Now smiling, Autumn pointed to the cloud structure. "This is our house for now."
A look of wonder crossed Cherry Cloud’s face as she observed the complex cloud house. It looked like Rainbow Dash’s house, except 5 times bigger! The filly was silenced by the cloud mass. All she was able to mumble was "Wow..."
Autumn smiled and flapped her wings and lifted off the ground a foot. Cherry Cloud looked at the pony and knew what she meant. "Um, I-I guess I'll try."
Taking a deep breath, the young filly gave a gentle flap of her wings, to not move at all. She looked down, before trying again, this time harder. She did not move, again. Autumn saw the long-disappointed face and decided she wasn’t quite ready to fly yet.
An idea crossed Autumn’s mind as she located a nearby cloud, large enough to hold two ponies. "Hold on a sec." She stated, carefully elevating to reach the cloud. She then tugged the cloud down, so the filly could get on. A crack of thunder echoed through the air, making Autumn more frantic to get up the the cloud house. Cherry Cloud noticed Autumn’s muscles tense and stepped onto the cloud. Autumn then jumped on behind the filly and buzzed her wings, causing them to elevate.
They soon reached the house as another crack of thunder rippled through the air. They quickly trotted inside of the cloud as it was specifically positioned to be structurally sound in severe weather. Cherry Cloud’s eyes couldn't go any wider; the interior of the home was even cooler than the exterior!
Autumn smiled at the filly’s actions as she brought her to the bedrooms. "Choose anyone you'd like, except the third to the left and the one across from it, those are mine and Zephyr’s."
Cherry Cloud looked around before deciding to look inside one of the bedrooms. Nudging one of the doors open, she stared in awe once again. This room was beautiful! On the right was a closet the size of about two ponies. Around the top of the room where shelves for personal possessions. In the back of the room was a large window, and a small balcony looking out on the plains. To the right was a small bed, the perfect size for a filly.
"I think I want this one." She said, still in awe. Autumn smiled, she and Zephyr had designed this room specifically for Cherry Cloud. They had noticed her likes and dislikes.
"Just wait until you see the kitchen! We have a special surprise for you in there." Autumn mentioned to Cherry Cloud. The little filly’s eyes seemed to brighter at the mention of a kitchen.
"Ooh! There's a kitchen!" Cherry Cloud practically screamed, before remembering her manners. "Oh, I uh, I mean, I love baking, eh he he." She said blushing.
Autumn giggled at the filly’s sudden reaction and showed her to the kitchen. Cherry Cloud trotted in first staring in amazement, she had never seen a kitchen so wonderful before.
"Want to see the surprise?" Autumn asked, receiving a nod from the filly. She trotted up to a nearby cabinet. It was larger than the rest, stretching from the ceiling to floor. She pulled it open and it looked quite normal. She then closed it and pushed at the top. To Cherry Cloud’s surprise, it flipped over and revealed a complete baking set. There was a small oven, containers of flour and sugar. To the side was a mini fridge, containing butter and eggs. There was a mini cupboard at the top containing anything else you need to bake.
Meanwhile, while Autumn was helping Cherry Cloud settle into her new home, Zephyr took off to confront the massive supercell. This storm was made up of several cells that could produce tornadoes and hail. The Pegasus continued to flap her wings harder against the strong winds, “Feels like this one’s at least an E-F Three. I’d better pick up the pace.” She said to herself as she did so. Her Pegasi instincts kicked in. She secretly hoped her sister would find a safe location for Cherry Cloud and the others.
As Zephyr was too distracted with the thoughts of her sister and her love interest, as well as the young filly below, she ventured off a bit too close to the area known in meteorologist’s terms as the “Bear’s Cage.” The region of heavy rain and hail in that area pelted her wings and made it hard for her to concentrate on the storm and its potential tornadic activity. The storm continued to grow at a monstrous rate as the telltale signs of the birth of the cyclone began to take shape. Lightning flashed in the sky around Zephyr as she struggled to keep aloft. The light grey Pegasus’s mane was a mess as it was blowed around, out of place in some parts. The poor mare began to panic, but continued to put on a brave face in the dangerous storm.
In the heavy rain, a faint spot of color was visible. It was yellow, and appeared to be waving and calling for her, though the pounding of the rain made it difficult to hear. It had to be another pegasus though, as they were the only pony tribe capable of sustaining flight and managing weather patterns.
Zephyr heard the faint voice calling her name. She could barely make out the yellow color of what appeared to be a Pegasus like herself. “Help! Please! This storm’s way too powerful for me to handle! I didn’t think it would get this bad!” She called out to the yellow dot, hoping it would understand.
The yellow pegasus got closer. “You’re in the wrong side of the storm. This is the Bear’s Cage. That means we need to circle around or else the tornado will hit us.” The pegasus mare yelled through the rain to her.
.
Zephyr heard the female voice reply back. “Okay, you say so! I’ll move towards you. By the way, you sound familiar. Have we met before?” Zephyr moved towards the new voice and was shocked to see a yellow Pegasus with a blue mane with purple highlights and matching tail in front of her. The yellow Pegasus also had a Sun for a Cutie Mark on her flank. The light grey Pegasus continued to flap her wings as best she could to keep airborne.
The yellow Pegasus mare led Zephyr out of the rain and away from the tornado. “Okay, we’re safe for now. Can you answer a question though? Why did you wander into the Bear’s Cage?” She asked.
Zephyr shook her head, “I must have skipped that class on tornadoes that day?” She responded nervously with a question of her own to the yellow Pegasus. The light-grey Pegasus had a sheepish grin on her muzzle. “By the way, you have my thanks. I’m called Zephyr.” She extended her front right hoof to the yellow Pegasus in a friendly greeting. “What’s your name?”
The mare gave her a light hoof bump. “I’m called Sunshine. It’s good to meet you. By the way, you’re welcome.” She said with a sincere smile.
Zephyr smiled at Sunshine warmly. “I left my sister and my friends over at a designated tornado shelter. I hope they are alright.” She looks over at Sunshine again, quizzically. “Have I seen you before? I‘ve been having some problems remembering things lately. I do remember my sister, Autumn Breeze, and the other ponies I met the other day.”
Sunshine shook her mane out of her face. “I need to get that trimmed. Anyway, you kinda look familiar as well. Perhaps we knew each other at some point?” She suggested.
Zephyr began to remember a time where she was taking a break from her weather patrol duties when she was in Cloudsdale. She met a yellow Pegasus like the one in front of her now. “Sunshine? Is that you? Oh, my Celestia! I recognize your mane color. No other pony has that style than you!” She went to hug her old friend. “You remember me, right? Flight Camp? Maybe helping a certain depressed mare at a day spa?”
Sunshine had a confused look for a moment, then it turned into realization. “Oh. OH. That’s right! I remember you now! How did I not recognize you? Was it the mane? Did you do something with it... You know, besides getting it soaked in the rain?” She joked.
Zephyr laughed, “Ha Ha, very funny! And, no, this is the same Mane style I’ve had...since...” she stopped to collect her thoughts, “my sister and I had our birthday party at Sugar Cube Corner. That chaos guy who used to be a statue showed up...you know the guy, right? He had different animal parts, like a talon, a lion’s paw, a dragon’s tail....”
Sunshine nodded. “I’ve seen the dirtbag.” She said, scowling at the thought.
Zephyr frowned, “Discord is his name. He loves to cause chaos. Somehow, he was let out of his stone prison, hoping he could be reformed. Sadly, he had other plans. There was a spell he cast on the entire population of Equestria, just because he could. This spell banished every pony, donkey, mule, Buffalo, and dragons to Earth as “Humans.” Somehow, the humans have been earning their Cutie Marks on their 25th Birthday.”
Sunshine nodded in understanding. “Yeah. It was surreal to go through all the changes. Luckily, I had a great job and best friend to help me out with it all.” She said. A honking sound came from below them. “That’s him now.”
Zephyr smiled, “I would like to come with you, if it’s okay with you. I had to go through my changes alone. The wings, though, were really cool! It’s just that....I met this nice stallion named Lightning Storm, and he went through the same changes. He said we used to date back in the day.” She blushed a bit at the next part she wanted to mention to Sunshine. “Then, he kissed me, twice. It felt really....nice.”
Sunshine smiled. “That’s great! You got to see your friends and family again. Now then, let’s go say hi to my pal.” She said, and flew down to the white van filled with weather monitoring and recording equipment.
Zephyr flew down, following Sunshine, smiling as the two mares continued the journey together. “Just like old times, huh?” Zephyr said, continuing to keep up with her fellow Pegasi.
Sunshine nodded before turning to the human at the driver’s seat. “Zephyr, this is my storm chasing partner Mark. Mark, this is an old friend, Zephyr.” She introduced them.
Zephyr extends a hoof towards the human, Mark. “Pleased to meet you.” She looked over at Sunshine and back at Mark, “You know about Pegasi, right? We have wings and manage the weather back where we came from. It’s part of our job description.”
Mark nodded before shaking Zephyr’s hoof. “Good to meet you too.” He said, and turned to Sunshine. “By the way, you missed the tornado smashing through a house down the road. It was intense. I recorded the whole thing. What were you doing up in the Bear’s Cage anyway?” He asked.
Sunshine pointed at Zephyr. “She wandered in there, and I had to get her out before she got herself killed.” She explained. Turning to the gray Pegasus, she asked, “What were you doing in there anyway? Were you trying to stop that thing?”
Zephyr sheepishly nodded, “Yes, yes, I was going to stop the tornado. I was worried about my sister and my friends, whom I had just recently discovered had become colorful equines from a magical land where we Pegasi are in charge of the weather. I’m still getting used to my new body, wings, and emotions.” She explained to Sunshine.
Both Sunshine and Mark deadpanned at her. “You just attempted to stop an EF3 tornado on your own as a test of your body? If you really cared about your friends and family, you would have hidden with them.” Mark said.
Zephyr looked like she was about to cry at that moment. “I’m such a featherbrain! The weather on this Earth isn’t like it is in Equestria.” She sighs, “Equestria is the homeworld where Sunshine and I are from. There are three tribes of equine-like beings known as “ponies” who live and work, and most importantly, we somehow manage to get along quite well.” She attempted to explain to Mark about their predicament.
Mark nodded. “Yeah, I know. It’s just that you should be more careful from now on.” He said. “You need a ride to your friends?”
Zephyr nods, flapping her wings, “Judging from the way my wings are a mess now, I’d say, sure, why not. That if you don’t mind riding with two Pegasi.” She waited for Mark to allow her access to his vehicle.
Mark got out of the van and opened the back door. “Hop in.” He said. Sunshine jumped in and motioned for Zephyr to do the same.
Zephyr hovered and flew into the van, next to Sunshine, giving her a side hug. “Okay, Mark, take us to my sister and my friends.” She points a hoof towards the way Mark would be going. “You know where my friends took shelter at, right?”
Mark shut the door and climbed back into the driver’s seat. “Yeah, they shouldn’t be too hard to find.” He said, and started driving in that direction. “Let me know if I passed it.”
Zephyr scans the area from her seat next to Sunshine. Her stomach begins to growl. “Uh, yeah, I’m really hungry, and I think my friends would be too. Maybe we can all talk over dinner! I am sure we have a lot to catch up on, Sunshine and I.” She then added as an afterthought... “As well as my dear sister and that adorable filly we found. Her name is Cherry Cloud.”
Sunshine smiled. “I would like to meet with your friends and sister. I’m sure we would have much to talk about.” She said. The van hit a pothole and Sunshine practically bounced and hit her head on the ceiling. “Ow, watch it!” She scolded Mark.
Mark looked back. “Well soooorry boss lady. Maybe next time you should drive if you’re not happy with mine.” He said mockingly. “Oh that’s right. You can’t.” He stuck his tongue out childishly, which Sunshine returned.
Zephyr chuckled, “So, Sunshine....who were you before you became you?” She wondered about the curse and how it must have been for some pony to live as a human without knowing if their pony friends and family were okay.
Sunshine thought for a moment. “I was a storm chaser. Well, technically I still am. I started out in Kansas with Mark there. We drove around and studied, chased, and recorded storms for about five years now. He was quite supportive of me when I started changing. What sucked was I couldn’t follow him into Walmart anymore.” She said with a small laugh.
Zephyr laughed a bit, then stopped, “I don’t quite get the joke.” She then sighs, “I got fired from my job as a weather reporter when I started changing. My mane and turquoise eyes gave me away, as well as my Cutie Mark....and that dream I had, it was all too real.”
Sunshine frowned. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I wish I was with you when Discord did his weird thingy that sent us here.” She said.
Zephyr nods, “Yeah, I was going to send you an invitation to my birthday party. I really wish it would have ended better. You know, all the fun party games and food.” Her stomach continued to rumble. “Yeah, I guess I have to eat salads and vegetables now. The sight or smell of meat products makes me nauseous.”
Mark scoffed. “You think you have it bad? Sunshine is forcing me to go vegetarian as well. It’s been forever since I’ve gotten a good McDonald’s.” He said.
Zephyr nods, “Well, why don’t you go ahead and get something to eat for yourself, and Sunshine and I will have some salads and whatever ponies eat. They do serve salads and apple slices at McDonald’s, right?”
Sunshine frowned and shook her head. “The smell of anything from that horrid place makes me want to barf all over. It’s revolting.” She said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of food they have.”
Zephyr nods, “So, no McDonald’s for us ponies then. What else is there we can eat without making us ill?”
Mark threw a plastic Walmart bag behind him. “There are some fruits and vegetables in there. I also got a mini fridge up here.” He said.
Zephyr nods and rummaged through the mini fridge. “This will do nicely. Sunshine, would you care to join me for dinner?”
Sunshine nodded. “I would love to.” She said, grabbing an apple.
Zephyr takes two drinks from the fridge, “Do Ponies drink soda? I mean, they have sarsaparilla in the show.” She then takes some fruit and a salad, along with a sarsaparilla. “You want anything to eat, Mark?”
Mark shook his head. “I just ate. Oh, we just passed what looked like a pony. Was it one of your friends?” He asked.
Zephyr squinted at the shape of the pony, “Yes! That’s one of them....not sure if is it Autumn or not. She has orange fur with red trim, an orange mane and tail, and a tree with a falling fall leaf Cutie Mark.” She looks over at Mark...”You know about these Marks on our flanks, right?”
Mark nodded and turned around the van. “They represent your talents.” He said as they made their way back to the pony. “Yep, that is a lot of orange.” He got out and opened the door for them.
Zephyr flew out the open door, complete with extra food for all her pony friends, “Autumn! I have returned and brought an old friend!” She hugged her sister and showed her the food she brought. “Can you share this with Cherry Cloud and Lightning Storm please? There are plenty of apples, carrots, lettuce, and celery stalks. I even brought some drinks for every pony!”
Sunshine jumped out of the van. “Hi there. I’m Sunshine.” She greeted the orange pony.
Zephyr smiled as she handed an apple to Cherry Cloud. “Cherry Cloud, here’s a delicious apple for you. It’ll make you big and strong so you can fly like us.” She smiled as the little filly munched on her apple.
Zephyr explained to Sunshine and Mark, “The poor dear was on a cloud; blown off course and my sister and I saved her. We’ve decided to take her in and build a makeshift shelter. Since we are Pegasi, why don’t we build us a permanent cloud house. All of us can live in it!”
Sunshine nodded. “That sounds like a great idea!” She said, then turned to Mark. “Mark, I’m afraid this is where we part ways.” She reached into the van and pulled out her bags.
Mark nodded. “It looks like it. I’ve got a job, and you’ve got all these friends. I’ve gotta head back to Kansas for my family reunion. I’m gonna tell them all about the good times we shared.” He got got back in his van. “See ya around for the next big storm.” He drove off.
Zephyr looked up to the sky, and saw many possibilities for clouds to be used for the cloud house. “So, we should think of some designs for this house. There will be plenty of room for us to live there. Then there is the matter of jobs and money, as well as food.”
Sunshine nodded. “I have some money with me. It’s not much, but it’s enough for a few days.” She said. “Then there is the food Mark gave us. It’s a start.”
Zephyr flew up to the cloud and began to study it, to see what kind of house to make of it. “How big of a house do we need for everypony to live here?”
Sunshine flew up with Zephyr. “Maybe four bedrooms. A nice cumulus congestus would fit nicely for everypony.” She said.
Zephyr nods, “Good eye, Sunshine! Let’s start laying the foundation...uhm, we are making this house a mobile house, right? It goes where we take it to?”
Sunshine nodded. “That way we don’t have to completely settle in one spot. Besides, there is no nearby Walmart. They are the most trustworthy places to shop.” She said, with a short laugh.
Zephyr began to mold the cloud Sunshine indicated into the correct shape, hoping it would meet the needs of the Pegasi that would soon call it home. “So, what about living arrangements? Who’s got what room?”
Sunshine helped her with the molding. “You and your colt friend can sleep in one room. The others will get their own rooms.” She said.
Zephyr thought about the kiss she shared with Lightning Storm, and blushed, “I’m not sure if I am ready to share a room with some pony I haven’t got to know much about. He has a younger sister whose wings were destroyed. Lightning Storm’s a little sensitive about it.”
Sunshine nodded. “I understand. Those two can share a room then. You can share a room with your sister, and the rest can have their own rooms. How about that?” She suggested.
Zephyr nods, “Yeah, that will be better. You are welcome to hang out with my sister and I whenever you want. You know, for flying, meal time, or just to talk.” She sighs, “Sunshine, you remember that weather reporter who got dismissed a while back and disappeared?”
Sunshine nodded. “How do you think we tracked that last storm down? A lot of people disappeared recently due to the changes.” She said.
Zephyr lowered her head as she finished her work on the cloud house. The columns out front were reminiscent of the Greek style and also reminded her of Cloudsdale. “I was the weather reporter who disappeared a while back. I was once known as William Weston. I am sorry about all this.” She then added, “But I decided to take the name of the Pegasi from my dream. I’m your fellow Pegasi, Zephyr.”
Sunshine smiled. “I figured as much when you brought it up. Being a storm chaser, the only person I had to worry about was Mark. I think I got the better end of the stick here. I have first-hand experience in stormy weather. Now that I’m a pony again, It’s first-hoof though. I feel like this is my true form and the human was just a suit that I wore for so long I forgot who I was.” She said.
Zephyr gave her old friend a friendly hug, “Finally, some pony who knows about all this! For the longest time, I had forgotten all about Ponyville, Canterlot, and Equestria. My sister, who I didn’t know I had, showed up one day while I was out on patrol and I actually felt her presence within my heart. We are twins, you see.”
She then smiles, “Well, Sunshine, we are officially back in business. We have a new house to call home. Want to inspect the inside before we invite our Pegasi friends in?”
Sunshine nodded. “Yeah, that’s for the best.” She said. “You go in first.”
Zephyr opened the door to the new house that she and her friend Sunshine built. The whole interior of the building was made of the cloud bank Sunshine selected for the stability. “Very nice architecture, Sunshine. Very Cloudsdale-esque.” She whistled a happy tune as she explored the rest of the house.
Sunshine laughed. “I know. You should have seen the first time I tried to bring a cloud in the van. Mark was not happy.” She said.
Zephyr came out of the kitchen, munching on an apple, holding a sarsaparilla, drinking it with a straw. “Yeah, that would have been something!” She laughed as she continued to eat her snack.
“Oh, I put all the drinks and food in the fridge. If you get hungry or thirsty again, we have plenty for every pony. I suggest make a grocery list in case we need to make a food run.” Zephyr added as she sipped her drink.
Sunshine nodded. “Right. Oh, and to answer a previous question, we can drink soda.” She said.
Zephyr sipped her drink, and munched on her apple happily. “Thanks for saving my rump back there, Sunshine. I’m glad we get to be roommates. Maybe I can get a weather job, It will be like old times.”
Sunshine patted her on the back. “It always feels good to save some pony else’s flank. I guess it’s that little stroke to the ego.” She said. “Anyway, you all could learn a thing or two about weather. For your first lesson, never tackle a tornado alone.” She grinned.
Zephyr thought about Sunshine and her knowledge of weather patterns, “Hay, how would you like to teach us all how to understand the weather better?” She then thought for a moment before adding, “If everypony else is up for it. We can call a Pegasi house meeting once we have every pony here. Go over some ground rules, and help the younger Pegasi out. Cherry Cloud’s really shy, but once she starts to like some pony and trust them, she’s pretty nice.”
Sunshine nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” She said, smiling.
Zephyr then opens the front door to the cloud house. “Attention Pegasi ponies! You are invited to stay up here in this new home at One Cloud Lane!”
She turns to Sunshine. “If any pony asks, that’s the address of this place; One Cloud Lane.”
Sunshine laughed. “We just made a new street. This is legit.” She said. “Well, better not keep them waiting.”
Meanwhile, a certain Pegasus heard Zephyr’s call to come to One Cloud Lane. He took off towards the direction of where he thought the shelter would be.
“Where is that darn cloud house? I KNOW I’m not going crazy...” A jet black pegasus pony flew in the direction he felt closest to that cloud-place. He scanned the sky as he flew with his mind racing, making sure to blow the hair of his mane out of his eye so he could keep his eyes on his objective.. He asked a million questions to himself, all of which could not be currently answered. At least, he spotted his objective. The floating cloud house swayed ever so gently in the breeze, only meters away. This pegasus pony, too ecstatic and distracted, forgot about one of the simple rules for flying: He forgot to slow down.
He looked up at the last second, just to see as he flew right past what looked like the front door of the house. The pegasus pulled around, a bit too fast, and ended up in a wall of the cloud home’s kitchen, with his head in a cabinet.
Zephyr was walking back to the kitchen, and asked Sunshine if she wanted anything to eat or drink. Figuring that her friend was too preoccupied with getting Cherry Cloud settled in or talking with her sister, Autumn Breeze, she went into the kitchen and opened the first cabinet. There was a Pegasus stallion’s head stuck in the cloud wall!
Zephyr staggered back, her wings unfurled, “What the Hay? Who are you, and why are you stuck in our cabinet?” The startled Pegasus mare had light grey fur with a light-blue green mane and tail, along with turquoise eyes. Her Cutie Mark depicted the gentle west wind, and it was of the same color as her mane.
“...I-Uh...I was just....’dropping by’?” The male Pegasus awkwardly smiled, unable to say much more.
Zephyr chuckled, “My name is Zephyr, and I live here with my sister, Autumn Breeze, my best friend, Sunshine, and a little filly named Cherry Cloud. Do you need help? If I help you get out of your predicament, you are welcome to stay. We’ll have to set some ground rules though.” She began to think of ways to pull the male Pegasus out of the cloud wall.
“Well...I can get out of this wall, sure, but as for staying here...I-I guess I could, if that’s really okay with you. Now, give me a moment...” The pony’s head was the only thing that went through the wall, so he tried to use the rest of his body to pull himself out, eventually failing. “Y-yeah, no, I need some help getting out of here...”
Zephyr nods, and goes over to Sunshine, “Uhm, Sunshine, we have some good news! A new friend has decided to drop by...the bad news is, he is in need of assistance in the kitchen.”
Zephyr heads outside to check this stallion out.
“So, what’s your name and what’s your story?” The grey furred Pegasus asked while hovering near the newest visitor to One Cloud Lane, trying to evaluate how in the wide world of Equestria would she be able to extract the Pegasus from his entrapment.
“I would tell you my full name, but it’s too long...Most call me Faint Abril Darkness, or just Faint. I...was in...I was in Princess Luna’s personal...personal guard, last I remember...” His tail flicked and swished frantically as he continued to try and get himself out.
Zephyr nods, now putting a name with a muzzle. “So, Mister Faint, You need any help? We can get you some food, and room and board here. Just remember, you are the only Stallion here. The rest of our little group are mares, and we have one Pegasus filly.”
“I...see...It sounds...good. Fun, even.” Faint goes quiet, still trying to pull himself out.
Zephyr looks over to see if her sister or Sunshine would be able to help Faint out of his predicament. “Would you like something to eat while my roommate arrives, Mr. Faint? I figure we can help extract you from this problem. Then we can figure out what to do about living arrangements.”
“Uh...I’m not hungry, thanks...I’m just so embarrassed by this. I mean, this hasn't ever-I mean, It hasn't happened in a while. Oh, and please, don’t call me ‘Mister Faint’. Faint is fine enough, if you don’t mind.”
Zephyr looks over at Faint and attempts to pull him from the cloud house from the outside. “Okay, we are going to pull you out on three. Ready?”
“Uh...Sure, sure.” Faint braces his self.
Zephyr begins to pull on Faint’s back hooves, attempting to extract him from the cloud house. “After this, I would recommend you use the cloud elevator and the front door from now on. I’ll get you a room, then we will need to schedule a meeting with you to find out what we can do to help you fly better.”
“Sounds great. Lead the way...and thank you, again.” Faint smiled and motioned for Zephyr to show the path, metaphorically.
After the hole was patched up, Zephyr lead Faint to the living room. “This is the living room. We usually hang out and talk about current events and enjoy every pony’s company.” She then continues the tour, finishing up at the bedrooms.
“Okay, you can build a bedroom for yourself here. Just need to check up on the little filly and see how she’s holding up. Welcome to One Cloud Lane, Faint!” Zephyr extended a hoof to shake with her new friend.
Faint hesitantly shook hooves with Zephyr and nodded, “Alright, thanks again. I’ll...see you later.”
Zephyr went into the kitchen to get a snack from the refrigerator while Faint started working on his bedroom. She hoped to get in contact with the other ponies who showed up and see if they would be interested in her and Sunshine’s proposed training camp. If there were any Pegasi in this new group of humans-turned-ponies, she would be there to welcome any pony in need, regardless of their species, like Axel, the Earth pony she and her sister Autumn met a while back.
. While Zephyr was preparing a snack in the kitchen, she heard a noise coming from the front entrance of the house. Upon investigating the noise, the light grey pegasus perked her ears toward the sound, “Hello? Any pony there?” She called out, looking around the front porch.
What Zephyr saw was a person in the middle of their transformation into a pony. The creature who came up to the front porch was crawling on their knees. The pony hybrid had a light blue mane that was tied into a ponytail, with a matching tail that swished around in tune with his or her emotional state. The ears on the hybrid also resembled that of pony ears.
“Help me! Please!” The hybrid exclaimed. “I don’t know what is happening to me!” The hybrid had a Cutie Mark on his outer thighs that resembled four white bolts surrounded by two circles.
Zephyr hovers over the prone hybrid, looking down upon him. “Calm down, friend! What’s your name? I’m Zephyr and this is my house...well, I’m kinda sharing this place with several other ponies, so, I guess that means we are living together.” She sees the Cutie Mark, and motions the hybrid inside the house.
“A Cutie Mark....something tells me this person is going through the same problems as my friends and I.” The light grey Pegasus whispered to herself.
She then turned her attention to her guest. “Come inside, and talk with me...I have food and drink!” The light grey Pegasus said.
-----Louis’s POV-----
I look up at the grey Pegasus as I try to stand up, but I am feeling too sick as well as dizzy from the transformation that is taking place inside my body. I try to follow you, but I collapse every single time I move or take a step.
“”Um, I hate to be a bother miss, um, what did you say your name was again?”The young man said, struggling to make it to his feet as he made his way into the house made of clouds. Remarkably, the cloud floor supported his weight.
Zephyr smiled at the young human/pony hybrid...It would appear that the young man had not seen or heard of a Pegasus or any other pony species before.
”I’m Zephyr, and as you can see, I am a Pegasus! A winged equine from the magical land of Equestria! What’s your name, and looks like you may have a bit of Pegasi in you!” She clapped her front hooves at the thought of another Pegasi living with them.
“Pegasus? T-that’s what I’m t-turning into?” “I’m Louis, by the way...” The young man stammered as he collapsed on a nearby couch, made of clouds just like the rest of the furniture.
Zephyr nodded, “Yeah, how are you able to sit on the cloud couch or stand on the cloud floor?. Pegasi can manipulate clouds, as well as shape them into anything we want. We can even design you a bedroom with a bed so you can rest. I’ll get you some food.”
“R-really? Y-you can d-do that e-even me?” As I couldn’t believe that pegasus could do that. This Pegasus, as she calls herself, seems very nice and well-mannered,
Zephyr nods, “Of course! After all, you are part pony. Nice ears, mane, and tail, by the way. Oh, that mark on your legs? That’s a Cutie Mark. We all have Cutie Marks, unless you are a foal or a younger pony that doesn’t know about their special talents.”
I blushed a little at the remark “ T-thanks I-I guess? “ As I didn’t know that I was getting complimented by this pegasus I just met. Then, the question about the strange marks on my legs came to my brain. I figured since the attending Pegasus, Zephyr was available, she would know more about these marks.
“Cutie Mark? W-what’s a cutie mark?” I asked first, wanting to know everything Icould about these Cutie Marks she’s talking about.
Zephyr frowned, “You don’t know about Cutie Marks? Well, Louis, a Cutie Mark appears on the flank of a pony when they discover their special talent. My Cutie Mark,” She turns to show her light blue green west wind Cutie Mark,”appeared around May 1, around my birthday. By the end of the week, I ended up as a female Pegasus, or as we ponies call, a mare. The male ponies are called colts or stallions. Young female ponies are called fillies.” She hovered over to Louis. “Of course, my Cutie Mark story goes even further back than May 1. I’ll get you something to eat, and we can talk about anything else. Diet, pony-isms, and other stuff.”
I listened to everything that Zephyr told me about cutie marks, as well as how they represent a pony’s special talent. I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I was amazed at how she got hers from just predicting the weather around her birthday.
I got up and tried to stand again this time not losing my balance and offered my hoo err- hand out to shake with as a smile formed on my face, “I’d love to hear more about these cutie marks, as well as over something to eat too, “ I said as my stomach growled, which I blushed at when that happened
“Hehe, sorry about that.” I said sheepishly.
Zephyr nods, “Don’t worry, every pony gets hungry! That’s why we try to keep the refrigerator stocked with delicious foods. There are no meat products here, by the way, since we are herbivores.”
*I gasp as I tried to get the wax out of my ears. I asked her to repeat that last part again “Um I’m sorry, but could you repeat that last part again? As I don’t think I quite heard you...”
Zephyr sighs, “As ponies, we don’t eat meat products. Just oats, fruits, and vegetables. Since you are part pony, with your ears and tail, certain foods will not taste right to you, while others like this salad here, is very delicious!” She pulled out a salad from the fridge and looked around, “What would you like to eat?”
“sighs” I thought that’s what you said *as I started to fall to my haunches on the floor as I couldn’t believe that this transformation I’m going through is not only making me into a pony, but it’s also making me a non-meat lover now too. I tried to hold back the tears but couldn’t, as I was going to miss eating meat!
Zephyr sighs, “My sister Autumn is here, and if you want, she can offer her advice on this. I’m sorry, Louis. Looks like you’ll be joining the herd eventually. Don’t worry, unlike me, you aren’t going to be alone during your transition. By the way, do you know what pony has that Cutie Mark you’re sporting on your legs?“ Zephyr looks around to see if her sister was going to make an appearance.
Louis thought about the question until he lowered his head and shakes it. ”No, I don’t! I-I don’t even know how I got this,” he points to his mark on his legs,”mark?”
Zephyr wonders what she could do or say to help her beleaguered friend through his situation.
“I think if you can talk to other ponies in this house, you’ll understand. I went through the same thing as you at the beginning of the month. I was a weather reporter, and I ended up with the Cutie Mark you see on my flank on my birthday. Somehow, I began to remember a life different from the life I was living as a human. I thought I was alone, until my sister showed up in my life. I couldn’t be more happier! We even saved a younger Pegasus filly! It was really awesome!”
I pondered the thought for a minute or two, as I had a choice to make; either find out why I was put here on the spot, as well as find out what my cutie mark means, or keep wondering why I don’t know why I’m here and just do nothing. I finally stand up after thinking, a weak smile on my face, as I hugged the grey pegasus and cried into her mane saying,
“Thank you, and I’d love to stay here with you all and find out more about why I’m here, as well as why I’m turning into a pony!” I continued to hug the Pegasus warmly, as I felt like that somehow I could trust these ponies.
Zephyr smiled and allowed Louis to hug her whispering into his pony ear, “Hey, it’s okay, Louis. You are not alone. I’m here, and my sister should be around. We are twins, you see. She’s more of a fall pony, while I am a summer type. That’s how we ended up getting our Cutie Marks.”
“I-I didn't know that you two were that close to one another..” I wondered what my life as a pony would look like if I had a sibling like a sister or a brother that was always there for me.
Autumn slowly came out of the hall and into the kitchen, seeing Louis and Zephyr were already there. She stopped and looked at the man with ears of a pony and a tail. “Uhm...Hi?” she said, looking at him and smiled. As she soon looked over to her sister, “How did the storm go?” She asked her sister as her wings were folded neatly to her side. As she then looked back at the man with a warm smile.
Zephyr stopped hugging Louis and waved a hoof to her sister, “Hi, sis! Louis, this is my sister, Autumn! She sports a brown coat and orange mane and check out her Cutie Mark!”
Zephyr then addressed the issue with the storm. "I guess Sunshine told you how I tried to take on an E-F-3 tornado by myself, huh?" She said sheepishly. "I'll tell you later, but first, we have a guest!" She gestured to Louis.
“Um hi... M-my name is Louis a-and I’m a pony too, well.”.. As I looked at myself before continuing* well about half a pony to be exact. Nice to meet you, Autumn!”
As I extended my hand that was now starting to form into a single toe-like shape. I started to feel some pain in my body, as the changes were starting again this time with me growing in some hooves. I winced in pain as I tried to stay calm but was having trouble.
Zephyr looked to her sister and back to Louis, “He’s changing into a pony, Autumn! He has a Cutie Mark already! Can we help him?” She said with alarm in her voice.
“Nice to meet you, Lou...” She stopped as she went to take his hand as it started to change She shivered lightly, remembering the time she made the same change herself. She was alone when it happened. He was lucky to have them around. “I didn't notice the Cutie mark but I don’t see why we can’t help him... Though I am not sure what fully how to help him during the change.” She lightly said to her sister as she looked at Louis, and moved close to him and nuzzle into him, “Just relax; the pain will not last very long once the change is complete.” She said to Louis as she nuzzled into him more. It was the only thing she could think of to try to help comfort him through pain of the change.
I felt Autumn nuzzle me as the pain in my body was getting worse as I felt like i was going to pass out at any given moment as I tried to stay strong through the pain. “I-it h-hurts I...I...I... H-help me!” I didn't want to be in pain, but what could I do?
I felt my hands and feet finish morphing into hooves as I then felt something forming onto my sides. I felt a set of stubs forming on my the sides of my midsection as the stubs started to form into wings, then my eyes were turning into a shade of magenta! As the transformation was almost done, I felt dizzy and collapsed. Darkness took over my body as I blacked out.
Zephyr landed near Louis as his changes were nearing completion. Blue fur began to cover the new Pegasus as the changes progressed. “Louis? Hay, you okay?” She sighs, “Now what? We have a new Pegasus needing our attention here, Autumn.” She began to rub her front hoof in a caring fashion over the body of the new Pegasus. “The question is, is Louis here going to be a stallion or a mare?”
I stir a little as I rub what used to be my hand, but is now a hoof to my forehead, “Y-yeah I’m okay, I-I think?” Just then, I notice a change in my voice as I try to speak again, but a little more forcefully.
“W-why do I sound like a-a female?” As I wasn't supposed to be a female at all.... The new female Pegasus thought to herself.
Zephyr looked up as the new Pegasus woke up slowly, “Autumn, look! Louis is getting up...but Louis does not look like Louis anymore!” Zephyr pointed a hoof towards the new blue furred Pegasus mare on the ground.
“Ugh, what the hay happened to me?” *As I recollected my surroundings as my vision came into view as the first thing I see is my friend Zephyr a smile on her face as I smile warmly back at her* “H-hey Zephyr! Fancy meeting you here I-" just then I stop in the middle of my sentence as i realize that my voice sounds different. As I gasp at what my voice has become higher pitched.
” W-why does my voice sound different as if...if...if... *As I stammered while trying to finish, but couldn't as I started to cry putting my head into my hooves.
Autumn smiled at Louis that was not really a Louis anymore. As she slowly moved to his/her side... she was confused on what to really call the mare before her. As she started to cry. “Hush now, dear one...” She said lightly as she moved to Louis’s side and nuzzled him again, “I know things can be a little fuzzy and confusing...Just relax, and everything will be fine.” She added as her voice was soft-spoken, much like a mother speaking to a scared filly or colt. She gently placed an arm around him and pulled Louis into her. She almost felt drawn to him; maybe it was the fact that he was in distress that brought out her loving and caring side.
I continued to cry as I felt Autumn nuzzle me, as she tried her best to calm me down. As I felt her shush me as well as care for me, it kinda reminds me of when my mother did the same exact thing when I was a foal. I hugged her and cried into her mane, drenching it with my tears.
Zephyr went to get something to eat for the three of them. “We were just going to get something to eat in the kitchen when she transformed into a Pegasus. Maybe we can come up with a name for her, unless she has one in mind. I just don’t want Sunshine or Cherry Cloud to be asking a bunch of questions about our new housemate.”
The newly minted blue Pegasus mare stopped crying to dry her tears, her magenta eyes looking up at Autumn and Zephyr. “I think I’m going to be okay...I mean, this is all new to me. I have wings now and hooves!” She began to spread her wings out to show Autumn her new wingspan.
Autumn felt her mane getting wet from the new Pegasus’s tears as she sighed lightly. She pulled away from Autumn to dry her tears. “That a girl..” She said with a smile. She moved away a little bit as she watched her new friend spread out her new wings, “They are so lovely.” She said lightly with a smile.
The new Pegasus mare smiles, and folds her wings back into place, attempting to stand on her four hooves shakily, “I guess walking on all fours will take some time to get used to. And, as for a name...I would like to be called...Solar Bolt, if you don’t mind.” The name seemed so familiar to her, but from where?
Zephyr smiles, “Well, Solar Bolt, I got you some food. I heard you may be hungry after coming all the way here and changing in front of us. You know we only have fruits and vegetables here right?”
Solar Bolt flaps her wings experimentally, then tried to hover towards the table to eat. “Yeah, you told me earlier, Zephyr. So, what can we eat that won’t make us sick?”
Autumn smiled at her as she tried to get her self to the table, “Fruits and vegetables, that is a good start.” She giggled lightly looking at her. “It nice to meet you Solar Bolt.” She said lightly to her.
Solar Bolt, formerly Louis, smiled, “Likewise, Autumn. Zephyr has been telling me about these Cutie Marks. What about your Cutie Mark. Does it have to do something about fall?” She noticed Autumn’s Cutie Mark had a barren tree and a falling fall leaf motif.
Zephyr sits next to Solar Bolt, and smiles, “So, Solar Bolt, we are going to get a room set up for you. And, we are planning to start to work with the other Pegasi who have shown up, looking for help. One of these stallions, Faint by name, claimed he was one of Princess Luna’s royal guards in his former pony life. I got him working on his room as we speak.”