Castus took slow steady breaths as he stood before the door. He worried that maybe he should have worn his formal wear for this meeting, but Fluttershy had insisted his normal day clothes would work fine. Never the less, he had thrown in a jacket; mostly because it was freezing up here in the clouds but also because it was a informal, formal jacket.
Or at least that's what Rarity said when she had made it for him at his request.
"Castus, they won't know we are here if we don't knock." Fluttershy said, elbowing him in the side. In her hooves she held Moonlight and standing beside her mother, Azure looked up at him.
"Yeah come on slowpoke." Dash said, elbowing his other side, a bit rougher then Fluttershy.
Castus gulped, "I-I know dear. I just...what if they don't like me?"
"Ugh," Dash groaned, "Come on. What's not to like?"
Fluttershy smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek, "Now don't be silly. They will love you. They already know about you."
"Um, but is it okay for us to be here?" Azure asked.
Castus and Fluttershy looked down at their daughter. Rainbow Dash also looked at the Thestral confused.
"What do you mean Azure?" Fluttershy asked, "Don't you want to see grandpa and grandma?" Fluttershy frowned.
"N-No!" Azure stammered, "I mean, I just..."
Castus smiled, "You're worried about what they will think of you? Because you're and Moonlight are Thestrals?"
Azure blushed, looked down and nodded, "I'm sorry, I'm just...worried."
"Oh dear, there isn't anything to worry about." Fluttershy handed Moonlight to Castus, and knelt down to hug her older daughter, "Mom and dad will love you. I wrote them all about you and your sister, and they absolutely demanded that you come for lunch as well. They will love you, so put aside these worries."
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash kneeled down and patted the filly thestral she considered a niece on the back, "Their gonna love ya. I've known Mr. and Mrs. Shy almost as long as Fluttershy and I can tell you that they are gonna be excited to see you and little moony here. One hundred percent."
Azure smiled, and hugged her mom and Rainbow Dash. Dash blushed a bit, looked around, before returning the hug in kind.
"Heh," Castus chuckled, "With the two of us, we make a good pair of worried warts don't we?"
Azure smiled and giggled, "I guess so."
Fluttershy also giggled, "And I thought I was suppose to be the frightened one."
They all laughed, and Castus held Moonlight out, who eagerly knocked on the door.
"We're here! We're here!" Moonlight shouted with glee, before giggling.
"Heh, the kid could give Pinkie Pie a run for her bits in excited greetings." Rainbow Dash said with a smirk.
Not long after, the door opened and before the group stood two pegasi.
The first was a mare, whom Castus was sure was Fluttershy's mother. The mare looked good for her age, and she and Fluttershy shared an almost similar appearance in body type; though it was obvious that Mrs. Shy had the maturity of years that Fluttershy still had to acquire.
The stallion was no doubt Fluttershy's father, and for some reason Castus got the reminder of mint ice cream for some reason. Then again, Rainbow Dash sometimes had him thinking about skittles and Pinkie Pie cotton candy. He wonder if there were ponies out there that would remind him of coca cola.
"Fluttershy. Welcome." Mrs. Shy said, hugging her daughter.
"Come in everypony. Or, everyone I should say. Its so good to see you all." Mr. Shy said, as he stepped aside for everyone to enter.
"Mom, Dad," Fluttershy said, hugging both her parents, "It's so good to see you."
"And its good to see you sweetie." Mrs. Shy said, smiling softly.
"You must be Castus. We've read a lot about you from our daughters letters." Mr. Shy said to Castus, and offered his hoof out to him.
"It's nice to meet you Mr. Shy, and you as well Mrs. Shy." Castus said, shaking Mr. Shy's hoof.
"Oh, there isn't a need to be so formal Castus," Mr Shy said, "We're family now. So feel free to call us mom and dad."
Mrs. Shy nodded and offered Castus a friendly smile.
Castus smiled, and rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, readjusting Moonlight, "Thanks. Frankly, I'm glad that you two are taking this so well."
"Oh, we did have some doubts and worries when Fluttershy first told us about you. But we trust our daughter to make decesions for herself and trust she knew what she was doing. Besides, meeting you face to face I can see you have a gentle heart." Mrs. Shy said, giving Castus a hug.
"I agree," Mr. Shy said with a nod, "One shouldn't judge someone by race alone."
Castus felt warm inside, and felt all his previous worries fade away as he returned the hug.
Mrs. Shy soon ended the hug, and her eyes then locked onto Moonlight, who smiled, showing one of her little fangs.
"Hi Grandma!" Moonlight cheered.
"Ohhhh, you are simply adorable." Mrs. Shy cooed, taking the little Thestral and holding Moonlight up before hugging her to her chest.
Moonlight giggled, and wrapped her hooves around her grandma.
"Well, we're never getting her back." Castus whispered to Fluttershy. Fluttershy giggled.
"And who is this delightful little angel?" Mr. Shy asked, looking down at Azure, who clung to Castus' leg.
"Uh-um, I'm Azure Shadow." Azure said, stepping out with a gulp.
"Well, I think that's a lovely name. Won't you give a hug to your grandfather?" Mr. Shy asked, kneeling down and holding his hooves out.
Azure blinked, smiled softly and wrapped her hooves around her grandpa's neck, and he around her.
"Oh she is simply darling Fluttershy. They both are." Mr. Shy told his daughter.
Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you. They are the lights of my life."
"Say, how about later we show you girls the garden and my cloud collection." Mr. Shy asked Azure.
"Garden? I didn't know flowers grew on clouds." Azure said, surprised.
"Oh, it isn't easy. But with a little love and a tender hoof, a pony will always be rewarded." Mrs. Shy said, holding Moonlight in her hooves.
"Careful, or you might lose both of them." Rainbow whispered to Castus and Fluttershy.
The three chuckled quietly as they took off their coats and mounted them on the coat rack.
"Oh, we have food set up in the kitchen. I wasn't sure what to make for you Castus, but I hope you like it." Mrs. Shy said, as they all walked into the kitchen.
"Oh don't feel troubled on my account. If your cooking is anything like your daughter's, then I'll be fine." Castus said, taking a seat at the table. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sitting at his sides, with Azure sitting between Mr. Shy and Dash, with Mrs. Shy still holding Moonlight, who smiled contently as she snuggled up against her grandmother.
"It's so nice for you all to come up and have lunch with us. It's so good to see you all." Mrs. Shy started.
"I'm so glad you asked." Fluttershy said.
"And it was super awesome to invite me too," Rainbow Dash stated, "Things have been so busy with the Wonderbolts lately, its great to get a chance to relax someplace quiet."
"That's exactly what I intend to do now that I've retired," Mr. Shy said as he set a plate of food down, "In fact, I've convered the back house to showcase my cloud collection."
"I have my clouds," Mr. Shy said, a hint of pride at this, "Your mom has her flowers. You've got your animals. And your brother..."
Mr. Shy paused, and took a moment to think.
Castus noticed this pause, and felt a slight alarm going off.
"Zephyr Breeze," Mrs. Shy said, ending the silence, "has his...interests."
"Like what?" Azure asked, looking between her grand parents confused.
Mr. and Mrs. Shy looked uncertain how to answer, biting their lips. Even Fluttershy rubbed the back of her head in thought and embarrassment.
"Uh, dear," Castus asked Fluttershy, but was cut off by Rainbow Dash laughing.
"Heheh," Dash chuckled, as she spoke to Azure, "I'll say kid. One time, he thought that square shaped clouds were gonna be the next big thing." Dash laughed again.
Azure blinked, tilting her head confused, "Huh?"
"That sounds funny!" Moonlight giggled.
Mrs. Shy smiled before saying, "He's matured a lot since then."
"Actually," Mr. Shy slid beside his wife and placed his hoof on hers, "It's funny you bring Zephyr up."
Both parents looked toward their daughter with nervous smiles.
Fluttershy noticed the smiles, and as realization came on, "Oh no. Not again." Fluttershy facehoofed and rubbed her head with her hooves, feeling a headache coming on.
"Again? As in more then one time?" Castus asked, starting to get a sense of where this was going.
"Shush." Fluttershy hissed at him, taking Castus by surprise.
"It's just for a little while dear," Mrs. Shy said as she tried to ease her daughter's worries, "till he gets back on his hooves."
"Wait," Rainbow Dash started, herself starting to get what the Shy's were getting at, "You don't mean-"
Just then, the door leading into the kitchen burst open, and in stepped a tall, lanky stallion. He wore a tie-dye shirt, and shorts, and had a five o'clock shadow.
"Guess whose's home?!" The stallion cheered. This was without a doubt, Zephyr Breeze.
"That's right big sis, its your one and only little brother." Zephyr declared.
The groan from Fluttershy was all Castus needed to know that this day was going to get weird.
"Hi Flutter Butter. How's the bestest big sister ever?" Zephyr asked, hugging his sister.
Castus covered his mouth, fighting back a laugh.
"Flutter Butter?" He snickered at the adorable nickname.
Fluttershy gave him a sharp look, which only made Castus even more amused.
'Oh this is gonna be good.' He thought. He loved Fluttershy to death, but who couldn't resist the chance to get some embarrassing info on their spouse?
Zephyr ruffled his sister's mane, before heading over to his parents and hugging them around their necks.
"I'm just surprised. When you left, you said that mane therapy was your calling." Fluttershy said, as she fixed her mane.
'Mane therapy?' Castus thought, snickering under his hand. Sounded like a crazy word for hair stylist.
"Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny too when I heard it." Rainbow Dash whispered, and she and Castus started snickering until Fluttershy gave them both a glare that said, "Can it."
Zephyr went on about why he left Mane Therapy school, pulling out his test dummy with what Castus assumed was a style. Though it looked more like a raccoon's nest.
"Blegh." Rainbow Dash gagged, seeing the mane design.
"Well if it isn't Rainbow's-the-best-flier-that-ever was- Dash." Zephyr said, leaning in against Dash.
'No way.' Castus thought, biting his cheeks now to stop from bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, 'He isn't-He is!'
Castus watched as Zephyr flirted, or attempted to flirt, with Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"Zephyr has a bit of a crush on Rainbow Dash. Ever since he was a school colt." Fluttershy then gave a smug smirk at her friend on how the tables had so turned.
"-and know the whole, super awesome best flier bit is just to impress me." Zephyr said, making Dash gasp in surprise and look at him in shock.
Now Fluttershy and Castus were the ones biting back a chuckle, earning a glare from Rainbow Dash.
"And hey, who are these two?" Zephyr asked, finally noticing Moonlight and Azure.
"Oh, uh Zephyr, these are my daughters, Azure Shadow and Moonlight." Fluttershy said, introducing the girls.
"Um, h-hello Uncle Zephyr." Azure said, giving her eccentric uncle a wave and a shy smile.
"Hi!" Moonlight cheered, waving excitedly.
"Whoa, Fluttershy, you never told me you were a mom. So whose the lucky stallion?" Zephyr asked, looking around.
"That would be me." Castus said, finally composing himself, "though I can't say I'm a stallion."
Zephyr blinked, and looked at Castus in surprise, "Whoa! He talks."
"Yeah, I do." Castus deadpanned.
"Whoa, totally dig it. You must be one of those fancy new humans that are walking about? Well glad ta meet ya." Zehpyr said, gripping and shaking Castus hand.
"Like wise I guess. Names Castus."
"Well, good ta meet ya Cactus." Zephyr said, before releasing Castus hand and complaining on the lack of other ponies for his home coming.
Castus just stood there, mouth hanging open. Beside him, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash giggled, and even Azure giggled in kind.
'He did not?' Castus thought, shocked.
The giggles turned into a chuckle from Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, and now Castus leveled a glare at them. Though this only made them laugh more.
But finally, Fluttershy turned serious and as Zephyr moved into the living room and began to move the couch, she confronted her parents.
"Mom, Dad," She whispered, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
Mrs. Shy handed Moonlight over to Castus, yet he almost had to pry the little filly from her grandmother's hooves, before she finally let go and walked into the hall with her husband and daughter.
Moonlight giggled, grabbed some of her father's hair and held it up like spikes.
"Now daddy looks like a cactus." Moonlight then giggled.
"Bahahahahaa!" Rainbow Dash burst into laughter, head hitting the table as she held her sides.
'Nooooooo!' Castus thought in dismay, a look of pure defeat on his face. Not Moonlight too. Not his precious little girl!
For some reason, the lunch couldn't have ended soon enough. What had originally be an enjoyable evening, had turned into a near nightmare that had only ended when Zeph had gone upstairs to take his siesta as he put it.
Of course, it hadn't been so bad. Watching Zeph fail in his flirtations with an unamused, and unresponsive, Rainbow Dash was amusing. Castus was going to have plenty to tease her with when they hung out.
And of course, learning Zephs nickname for his sister was a real treat. He still giggled when he thought on it.
'Heh. Flutter Butter.' He thought, as he looked up from his book to check on Moonlight and Azure as the two played in the front lawn. They were playing a Thestral game that involved wearing a blind fold and using their echolocation to try and tag the other. Castus though worried they might hurt themselves, so he kept an eye on them just to be sure.
He especially worried when they started flying. He clung to the Wind, expecting at any moment he would have to respond by catching one or both of his daughters. But, they never crashed, and Castus just expected he was worrying over nothing as most parents did. Well, he was a parent so he could do this.
The three of them all waited for Fluttershy to return, who on the way home from her parents house, had gone back to stick up for her mother and father after running into Pinkie Pie and AJ and told them about the meeting with Zeph.
"Hey Castus."
Castus looked down the path from the cottage and saw Rainbow Dash walking up. The evening soon beginning its descent on the horizon.
"Hey Dash. What brings you over?" Castus asked.
"Auntie Dash!" Moonlight cheered, landing and removing her blindfold when she heard Rainbow Dash. She rushed over like a bullet and wrapped her aunt in a hug.
"Whoa! Heh, nice flying their kiddo." Dash said, ruffling Moonlight's mane, "And you too Azure. Keep it up and maybe you could be in the Wonderbolts."
Azure blushed, "Oh, thanks. But I'm not nearly as good as you Aunt Dashie."
Dash puffed her chest out and rubbed a hoof on her shirt, "Heh, well not many ponies are. I am pretty awesome."
"Yeah. Like during that time when you kicked that dragon?" Castus said, smirking.
Dash gasped, "Who told you that!?"
Castus could only chuckle.
Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled her eyes, "Anyway. I just came over to talk to Fluttershy and see how it went. Is she back yet?"
"No. But hopefully soon, it is getting late. Still it's her parents. Fluttershy might be more assertive now, but if her parents are anything like how she use to be it might be awhile." Castus said.
"Heh, tell me about it," Rainbow Dash chuckled as she sat down beside Castus and set Moonlight in her lap, "When I first met them, I had to strain my ears just to ear all three of them talk. But I have faith that Fluttershy will toughen them up."
"We will see." Castus said, pointing up to the sky. In the distance was Fluttershy, flying towards them.
Castus and Rainbow Dash listened as Fluttershy told them of her confronting her brother, and how she managed to convince her brother to move out of her parents.
"Ah babe," Castus said with pride as he wrapped his arms around Fluttershy and pulled her back against his chest, "I love it when you get assertive like that."
Fluttershy giggled, and pushed Castus back a bit, "I just told them what they needed to hear. I know I've had times where I needed the same thing."
"So, where's Zeph gonna go now?" Dash asked.
Fluttershy frowned, and rubbed her arm, "I'm not sure," She bit her lip, worried over her little brother now, "Oh, I hope I did the right thing."
"Are you kidding," Dash asked, "One hundred percent."
Castus rubbed Fluttershy's head and placed his against hers, "Rainbow Dash is right dear, you did the right thing. Your brother will be fine."
'After all,' Castus thought, 'What sort of idiot doesn't have a friend to stay with for a few days.'
"Hey, Si-I-is!" A very familiar voice sang.
'Oh god.' Castus thought.
And just like that, Zephyer Breeze burst through the back door.
"Your new roomie is here!"
Castus face palmed.
"Okay, maybe like seventy percent." Rainbow deadpanned.
Fluttershy looked from them to her brother and frowned.
"So, where's the little ones eh? I bet they'll be excited to see their favorite uncle again." Zeph said as he walked in, as if he was already welcomed.
"Their outside in the front playing." Castus said, before looking at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy sighed, before saying, "Zephyr, when mom and dad told you to find some place else to live, I don't think they meant here."
"Well," Zeph said, with a tone of victory, "It's not their house, so by definition it's someplace else." With that he dug into his bag and set a bunny shaped gnome beside Angel, who held his carrot defensively.
'Well, there's one rabbit I can tolerate.' Castus thought.
"Am I right Rainbows?" Zeph asked, leaning in against Dash before wrapping a hoof around her shoulders.
Castus snickered, okay that was still funny. He wondered how long Zeph had been hitting on Dash. Years probably. Dash gave him a quick glare that said, don't say a word.
"Stop ogling me and help settle this." Zeph went on, lifting his brows to Dash a few times.
Dash sighed, "You know what?" Her wings extended.
"I totally forgot that I proised to help Pinkie Pie sprinkle....something." Dash finished, before taking off like a bullet from a gun.
Zeph blinked as Dash left, before placing a hoof around Castus' shoulder.
"Well, I'm sure ya can understand Caspus," Zeph said, "We're family now. And we fellow wanderer's gotta stick together."
"I'm gonna go check on the girls." Castus said, before darting away from Zeph and toward Fluttershy.
"Good luck." He whispered to her.
"Don't worry. I'll sort this out." She whispered back.
Castus nodded, and then slipped past his wife to head out front.
Castus groaned in his head as he sat on his favorite chair, with Zephyr Breeze lounging on the arm of the chair and going on about something from Mane Therapy School.
When he had come back in with the girls, who were both covered in dirt, sticks and leaves. He had expected to see Zeph on his way out or at least staying for dinner.
But noooooo. Zeph would apparently be staying longer then that, as Fluttershy had whispered to him as she took the girls to help get them cleaned up for dinner.
'Just take it easy Castus. He is your wife's brother and he needs some help. Besides, its not like he won't be doing anything. He is suppose to get a job if he wants to stay.' Castus thought, remembering that part of Fluttershy's agreement to let Zeph stay.
Zeph would have a job if he wanted to stay here. And he would damn sure be paying rent.
Now if he could just stop him from rearranging the entire house....
Castus sighed, and pinched the bride of his nose. Thoughts of the future interactions with Zeph starting to come into play. Birthdays, Holidays, pop in visits, if he ever moved out of the cottage, no doubt requests for money. The list could go on. Castus felt his eye go from a twitch to a full on spasm as Zeph carried on about his problems with Mane Therapy School.
With a deep breath he held up his hand, "Zephyr...."
"...but those hacks clearly didn't see my real talent..."
"ZEPHYR!!!" Castus added more sharply, clearly biting back more he wanted to say.
"....uh, yes, Cassius?" The robin egg stallion foal queried, adding insult to injury by mispronouncing his name.
Again.
For the third time!!!!
"Would you excuse me for one minute?" Castus said with a gritted smile.
"Sure thing." Zeph shrugged, before planting himself on the couch and kicking his legs up.
Castus stood up and walked outside, the cool night air doing wonders to help ease the headache he now had.
But it wasn't enough, so drawing on the Wind he opened a Waygate and stepped through, out into a dry, barren desert where nothing was around.
Castus took a deep breath...
...and screamed.
The sound reverberated for miles, and even a lizard stopped to look in the direction of the sound, and lick its eyeball.
Castus smiled and chuckled, as he dug around the covers for the fleeing, giggling form underneath. He finally grabbed it and started tickling the sides through the covers.
"ahahah, Daddy that tickles!" Moonlight laughed as she finally popped out from under the covers and kicked and turned herself to get away from Castus' tickling fingers.
"Ahahaha, you can't get away from the tickle monster. Grrr." He made a comical growl, and grabbed one of Moonlight's foot hooves and tickled it.
Moonlight laughed even harder, kicking to get away, "Ahh, No more! Mercy! Mercy! Ahahahahaha!"
Castus laughed, and released his daughter who was panting for breath as she moved her head onto her pillow.
Castus smiled and placed the covers over her, "Now sleep well tonight okay. And no midnight snacking or playing this time. You got an early day tomorrow for school."
Moonlight smiled and nodded, "Okay. Good night daddy." She reached out for a hug, and Castus hugged her, receiving a kiss on the cheek. He kissed her on the head, before stepping back.
As bad as the dad had gone, with the introduction of an unwanted house guest, these girls made every night worth living. He slowly closed the door, leaving just a slight crack, before heading into Azure's room.
The older Thestral sat in her bed, reading a book. She looked up and smiled, setting the book down on her nightstand.
"All ready for school tomorrow?" He asked as he sat on the edge of her bed.
Azure frowned, "Umm...a little. Are you sure I can't do night classes?"
Castus sighed and patted his daughter's head, "I'm sorry dear. There aren't any other thestrals in Ponyville, so the school doesn't really have that service. But don't worry, you'll have fun. And make plenty of friends. Miss Cheerilee is a good mare, you'll love her."
Azure smiled, "Well...okay."
Castus smiled and leaned in to kiss Azure's forehead., "That's my little Night Guard." Azure blushed at her nickname, given to her when she had told her father of her dreams to join Luna's Night Guard one day. She even had a poster of them in her room.
"Sleep well okay." Castus said, tucking Azure in.
"Dad," Azure said, "Why is Uncle Zephyr staying with us?"
Castus frowned, "He...well....Zeph just needs a little help and your mother wants to help her little brother is all. He just needs...special attention. That's all."
Azure blinked, "Is he a bum?"
Castus blinked, and opened his mouth to say something, but the words were lost.
Finally he just said, "Uh...good night." And with that he walked out of the room, closing the door gently.
Down the hall from the girls room to the main cottage area, Castus could hear the sounds of furniture being moved and something falling and breaking.
"Lord almighty," Castus groaned, dragging his hands down his face, "Give me strength. Lord give me strength."
Fluttershy sighed as she brushed her mane, and jumped slightly as she felt a pair of hands slide onto her shoulders and start to knead them gentle.
"You're looking tense." Castus said, moving his fingers along the sore points of Fluttershy's shoulders, using the Wind to help him pinpoint where to apply pressure.
"A little. Mmmm," Fluttershy hummed in pleasure, "That feels good."
"It's about Zephyr right?" Castus asked.
Fluttershy sighed again, "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot of trouble."
Castus leaned in, kissing Fluttershy's cheek, "Hey, don't fret about it babe. He is your brother and so long as he gets a job....and maybe pay rent."
Fluttershy moved her head a bit, giving more areas for Castus to rub along her neck, "Let's start with the job first. I have a few ideas. Thank you for understanding though. Mmm, yes right there."
Castus smiled, kneeling down as he moved his hands down a bit lower towards her chest, and earning a gasp from Fluttershy.
"I only do it for you," Castus said, before licking Fluttershy's ear and whispering, "Flutter Butter.
Fluttershy then elbowed Castus in the gut, and Castus laughed as he stepped back. Fluttershy then turned to him, and Castus thought he might have caught a slight sight of Fluttershy's eyes turning red? No that was just a trick of the light, still Fluttershy walked toward Castus pressed a hoof against his chest; pushing him back towards the bed.
"You are the best. And for being so nice, how about a little," Fluttershy pushed Castus onto the bed, before crawling and straddling him; letting her nightgown slip down her shoulders and leaving the top half of her naked body exposed, caught gently in the cracks of moonlight that flowed into the room.
"How about, a little taste of my butter." Fluttershy finished.
Castus sucked in a breath, heart beating as his blood rushed all over his body. He cupped her face, letting her lean further onto him as his hand slid up the lower skirt of her night gown, tongues sliding out to meet each other as their lips closed on each other.
Then the door opened.
"Oh!" Fluttershy gasped, covering her chest as she threw the covers on over herself, only her face peeking out of a small hole.
Castus looked up, and leaning up and crossing his legs, glad that his pajama pants were still on. His first thought was to ignite the bone marrow of whoever was interrupting his special time with his wife, when he looked down and saw the sleepy forms of two thestral girls.
"Mmmm, can't sleep." Moonlight groaned, before yawning as she rubbed an eye with her hoof. She clutched her teddy bear in her hoof.
Azure also rubbed at her eyes, before looking up, "S-sorry. But we can't sleep. Uncle Zeph keeps moving things around downstairs."
The covers surrounding Fluttershy shifted a bit as she worked to recloth herself under the covers, and Castus sighed as he stood up and walked over to the girls. He listened, and sure enough he heard the sound of Zeph's....redesignment.
He looked down at the girls, who rubbed their eyes in exhaustion, then to Fluttershy who smiled softly, now reclothed again.
Castus smiled, and lifted the girls up in his arms.
"Sure. But we all go right to sleep." He said, but the girls were already leaning against him and back to sleep.
Castus smiled and walked carefully to the bed, setting Azure and Moonlight down between him and Fluttershy. Fluttershy slid close to Azure and wrapped a hoof around their elder daughter and nuzzled her.
"Sleep tight my little night angel." She whispered, before closing her eyes.
Castus slid himself into bed, and Moonlight wrapped a hoof around his arm and started to kneed on his forearm like a cat would often do. He smiled and used his other hand to pet her head before using the Wind to pull the covers over both of them.
Castus then closed his eyes, smiling as he felt Moonlight snuggle up closer, her little legs kicking a bit. Sleep slowly coming, and with a little weave of the wind, locking the door and setting up barrier to muffle any noises coming from downstairs. And two more to lock the girls room.
Hopefully Zeph would go to sleep soon, but if not he would at least be staying out of their rooms. He might be a guest, but some things were just not allowed. And room redesign was one of them.
The following morning, Fluttershy woke up early to drag a tired Zephyr Breeze to his first job offer. Castus stayed asleep a little longer, but eventually he had to wake up alongside the girls and get ready for the day.
Once he and the girls were cleaned and dressed, the first thing he did was walk the girls to school. In the years since the Ponyville school had grown, with some help from Twilight. Azure would join the Middle Classes, and Moonlight the Younger Classes. He even ran into the CMC, who had advanced to the Advanced classes and would soon graduate. Once the girls were in class, Castus then went to his own devices.
There was no meetings or tasks needed to be done by him. It was Prince Bluebloods turn in the fields. Manure day. Maybe Castus would pop over to watch.
He chuckled evilly.
"Yo, Castus. How's things with your new uh...guest."
Castus looked up and saw Rainbow Dash on a cloud above him.
"Uh, I'm adapting. Say, aren't you usually napping on your days off?" Castus asked.
Dash nodded, "Yeah, but Fluttershy wants my help in getting Zeph a job. If the other two don't pan out, I'm taking him down to Wonderbolt HQ for a job."
"Think he will be up for it?" Castus asked.
Dash grunted and rolled her eyes, "No idea. But it's so simple and easy, even a Diamond Dog could do it. And if he even tries to weasel out of it I'm gonna zap him with a storm cloud."
Castus smirked, "You sure do crack the whip."
Dash smirked, "Ya gotta do that with Zeph. Ever since he was a kid, he's been a hoofful."
"I noticed. He sure seems to like you." Castus said with a smirk.
Dash shivered, "Ugh, don't remind me. But he's done that since like the first day I met him. Somehow he thinks its destiny that we be together. I'm almost ready to just yell it in his face that I'm not interested, but I don't think even that would work. He can be rather mule headed."
"Oh," Dash gasped, "No offense."
Castus blinked and looked to his side to see a mule.
"None taken." The mule said, before walking off.
"You gonna help Zeph out as well?" Dash asked.
Castus shrugged, "Not many jobs I could offer him. And none in the empire that a pony would fit in right now. Things are still sort of tense between humans and ponies."
"Oh yeah. Well, it's probably best. He would probably mess up and end up getting in trouble." Dash said, laughing.
Castus laughed, "It probably take all my effort to keep him from the death penalty."
The two laughed, until the heard Fluttershy in the distance, glaring at her brother.
Dash sighed, "Looks like he failed Twilight's job. Geez." Dash facehoofed and shook her head.
"Good luck." Castus said, as Dash flew over.
Castus stood back, and walked over to Fluttershy after Zeph and Dash flew off The shape of Zeph trying to fly close next to Dash, who shot ahead or knocked him away each time.
"Any luck?" Castus asked.
"Nope." Fluttershy responded.
"Think this will work?" Castus asked.
Fluttershy sighed "I really hope so."
Castus smield and wrapped her in a hug, "Well, we can worry about it when it comes."
He then whispered, "You know...I did never get that Flutter Butter you promised me."
Fluttershy blushed and whispered, "Well...we have some time. But first we should clean the house. Zeph left a bit of a mess."
Castus smirked, and the two began walking back home.
The two expected they would have some time, after a quick cleaning, but not half way into cleaning the house, and fixing the furniture that Zeph moved, that said pony burst through the door with his mane and tail looking like he had been stricken by lightning.
'Damn. Dash doesn't make light threats.' Castus thought, smirking.
Still, it seemed that once again Zeph failed at another job.
Castus watched as his wife put her hoof down and kicked Zephyr out and Zeph walking out towards the woods.
'He won't last five minutes.' Castus thought, turning to see Rainbow Dash coming into view.
"Hey, did Zephyr come this way?" Dash demanded, looking around with a hard glare.
"Yeah. We just kicked him out. He went off into the woods." Castus said, as he let Dash in.
"Really?" Dash said surprised, looking at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy frowned, and nodded.
Dash frowned, "Aww, cheer up Fluttershy. I know it was hard, but you can't let Zephyr do to you what he did to your folks."
"Yeah. Sometimes needs to be left to drag themselves out of their own hole. It's the only way they will learn." Castus said.
"I guess so." Fluttershy sighed, still looking down.
Not soon after, a bird appeared and chirped to Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled and approached the bird, "Oh hello Constance."
The bird began chipring into Fluttershy's ear.
"What?" Fluttershy said, then her ears flattened, "Oh dear."
"Zeph?" Castus asked, checking the clock.
"Yes." Fluttershy nodded.
Dash sighed, "Well, I guess we better go get him."
It didn't take long to find Zephyr. With Constance the bird directing them, they soon found Zeph in a grove in the woods, in the process of sliding into madness only the Castaway could come close to.
They watched as Zeph tore his camp apart in a fit, and when his make shift tent collapsed on him, they all approached. With a knock on one of the leaves, Zeph's head popped out and he looked at them all in surprise.
"F-Fluttershy, hey!" Zeph said, "Uh, I was just cozying up in my sleeping bag."
Zeph patted the pile of leaves and sticks, "Such an exhausting day, you know."
"It's noon." Dash pointed out.
"You know me. Siesta!" Zeph said, as a stick fell on his head.
"In the middle of the Everfree Forest?" Castus pointed out.
Zeph looked at them all with a pitiful look, "Oh, I can't do this. I can't do anything."
Fluttershy sat beside her brother and patted his head, "Zephyr, you're smart and talented You could do anything if you just tried."
Zeph sighed, "And what if I give everything I have and I still fail. Honestly, I think it's best not to try at all."
"But then you won't ever do anything." Dash said.
"Yeah. If you fail, just get up and fail again and keep failing till you get something right. Otherwise, how can you say you lived." Castus said, crossing his arms.
Zeph sighed, "I don't expect any of you to understand."
He looked at Dash and Fluttershy, "You tow have saved Equestria at least a dozen times, and you-" He looked at Castus,"-You're a super powerful magic human from what I've heard. You're helping build a nation. When have any of you ever failed."
"I was worried I would fail every time I helped save Equestria," Fluttershy said, "Sometimes you have to do things, even if you might fail."
"And just because someone seems successfully, doesn't mean they haven't failed in the past. All our successes are often built on numerous failures. Even I've failed," Castus said, clenching a fist as images of falling cities, and humans turning feral. Of a body of a man whose memories now filled his head turning to stone as he watched all that he had loved and cared for, an empire he had sold himself to preserving and saving, falling and burning into rubble.
All by his own misguided hands.
"Sometimes," Castus finished, "in ways I can never forget."
Zeph looked at them, before saying, "But failing is the worst."
Fluttershy looked into her brother's eyes, "But quitting doesn't feel much better, does it?"
"No." Zeph said in agreement.
"So here's the deal," Fluttershy said as she stood up, "You can come back with me and Catus, but you have to do exactly what I say. No exceptions."
Zeph looked down, then said as he looked up at them, "I will literally do anything you ask me. if it means I don't have to stay here."
Castus, Fluttershy and Dash looked at each other and smiled.
It was a few days after, with Zeph finally gone and having successfully completed Mane Therapy school. he was living with his parents again, but he wasn't tearing their house apart to suit his own needs this time. And he was even offered a job at a Cloudsdale mane Styling agency. Fluttershy looked very happy when she spoke of it with Castus.
"Looks like your brother is finally going places." Castus said, smiling. He was glad to see a smile on his wife's face again.
"I know. I'm so proud of him," Fluttershy said, "And thank you for sticking by me and helping me sort Zephyr out."
Castus smiled as Fluttershy came over and wrapped him in a hug, "You know I would do anything for you Fluttershy. Besides, Zeph might be annoying, but he is family now. Family looks out for each other."
Fluttershy smiled, and pulled Castus into a kiss, which he eagerly returned. Castus stopped and then asked.
"So, do your parents really think that Dash is in love with Zephyr?" He asked, with a smirk.
Fluttershy giggled, "You're not going to try and use that to tease her are you?"
"Would I do that?" Castus said, smiling innocently.
Fluttershy smirked, and looked at Castus with half closed eyes, "Yes. I think you would."
Castus laughed, "Well, maybe a little." He then kissed Fluttershy again, pulling her into bed with him.