//------------------------------// // New Digs // Story: Pony Tails // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Up in Cloudsdale, Fluttershy came to her family home to help provide support in a moment that was long in coming: Her little brother, Zephyr Breeze, was finally leaving home... for good this time. After graduating from mane therapy training, he had gotten a job at a local manedressing salon, and over time, had earned enough to afford an apartment of his own. "So... I guess this is it." Zephyr declared. "Time for this Breeze to blow over new pastures..." "We're so proud of you, Zephyr." Mr Shy smiled. "My little colt, all grown up..." Mrs Shy sniffed, as she hugged her son. "Thanks, guys." Zephyr grinned. "It's a real big step, huh? Going out into the world, alone, and staying there this time." "You can do it, Zephyr." Fluttershy said supportively. "I believe in you." "You always have." Zephyr smiled. "And I'm not about to let you down, sis." "I know you won't." Fluttershy nodded proudly. "Well, here I go." Zephyr sighed, turning towards the open door. "Out into the big wide world, starting a life from scratch. Just me, and my new, empty apartment..." "I could come with you, if you like." Fluttershy offered. "I could help you get settled in." "You'd do that for me, Flutter Butter?" Zephyr asked. "What are big sisters for?" Fluttershy beamed. "Well, if you insist." Zephyr shrugged, trying to hide how touched he was by the gesture. "Let's go, then." "I'm right behind you." Fluttershy nodded. "Good luck, Zephyr!" Mr Shy called, as loudly as his naturally soft voice would allow. "Visit us soon!" Mrs Shy added. "I will!" Zephyr waved. "Not too soon, I hope?" Fluttershy frowned. "Of course." Zephyr nodded. "Trust me, sis. My freeloading days are over." "I know." Fluttershy smiled. "But there's no harm in making sure..." Zephyr lead Fluttershy to the heart of Cloudsdale, and inside an average-looking apartment building. On the fourth floor, they reached Zephyr's apartment, and entered it. "Here we are." Zephyr declared. "My new digs." The place was mostly empty, save for a table, a chair, and an oven, with a small bed in the bedroom. "It's... very nice." Fluttershy declared. "A little on the sparse side, though." "I can fix that." Zephyr smiled,walking over to the table and putting his favorite picture of himself on it. "There. Feels more like home already." "Of course it does." Fluttershy rolled her eyes. Another picture joins Zephyr's portrait: a photo the whole family, the four of them standing together, Zephyr's hooves around his mother and sister. Zephyr stared at the second picture, a melancholy look on his face. "...Zephyr?" Fluttershy asked. "Are you okay?" "...Honestly, I'm a little scared, Flutters." Zephyr admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I'm up for this. But what if I just can't hack living on my own?" "I'm sure you'll do great here." Fluttershy encouraged him. "But this isn't like a job." Zephyr frowned. "It's a whole new start. It's not that I don't think I can live on my own. It's that I'm not sure if I can be alone." "You won't be alone." Fluttershy told him. "You have plenty of neighbours." "But no family." Zephyr sighed. "I really love you guys. I could always count on you to be there for me." "And we always will." Fluttershy smiled. "We just... won't be around all the time." "That's the part I don't like." Zephyr admitted. "I know I've been apart from you guys before, but this just feels... different. Like you're further away from me than you ever were before." "I know how you feel, Zephyr." Fluttershy declared. "You do?" Zephyr asked. "Of course." Fluttershy nodded. "When I left home, I was scared, too. I moved into this little cottage, so far from my family. Even with all my little animal friends, I still felt lonely sometimes. And it wasn't easy for me to make friends with new ponies. Some days, I felt like I had to just go back home, to the loving embrace of my family." "Boy, tell me about it." Zephyr sighed. "But things changed." Fluttershy admitted. "Over time, I felt more comfortable in Ponyville. And I made some of the best friends I could ever ask for." "Like Rainbow Dash, huh?" Zephyr smirked. "That's one magnificent mare." "What I'm trying to say is, you should stick with it." Fluttershy urged. "Give it some time. I'm sure you'll feel right at home before long. And make some wonderful new friends." "Easier said than done." Zephyr shrugged. "I know it's hard to believe, given my good looks, charm, and natural charisma, but making friends hasn't always been easy for me." "I know it can be hard, making new friends." Fluttershy said sympathetically. "And it didn't help, being so shy. But I made a lot of friends over the years. And as confident and outgoing as you are, I'm sure you'll have no problem." "Thanks, sis." Zephyr beamed. "Think you got time to stick around for lunch?" "Of course." Fluttershy smiled. "Terrific." Zephyr grinned. After getting the mother of all pep talks from Rainbow and Fluttershy a while back, Zephyr had taken upon himself to learn a little more about this and that. One of these matters was cooking; His mother had taught him a few simple recipes. He cooked up one of those recipes: wheatballs and hay fries. "Et voila." He smirked, passing a plate to Fluttershy. "Chef Zeph's speciality of the house. Bon appetit." Fluttershy eagerly dug in. It wasn't exactly the best meal she'd ever had, but it was decent enough. "Mmm, that was delicious." She announced upon finishing the final morsel. "You're really getting good at this." "Hey, some of the credit should go to mom." Zephyr said, in a rare moment of modesty. "She's the one who taught me, after all." "I'm just glad you're becoming so self-sufficient." Fluttershy declared. "I'm so proud of you, Zephyr." "Me too." Zephyr beamed. "Of course, being self-sufficient has its downsides... washing the dirty plates, for instance." "It could be worse: You could have two dozen animal bowls to wash." Fluttershy joked. "Point taken." Zephyr grinned. "Besides, I think I can handle a couple of dirty dishes." "I know you can." Fluttershy agreed. "...Well, I should probably head back now. You wouldn't believe the mischief some of my critters can get up to." "I think I can." Zephyr snarked, aware of Angel Bunny's rambunctiousness. He hugged Fluttershy tightly. "See ya, sis. ...You'll drop by again soon, right?" "Of course." Fluttershy nodded. "And who knows? By the time I do, you might already have a whole bunch of friends." "Sure I will." Zephyr nodded, showing more confidence than he actually had. Fluttershy gave Zephyr an encouraging smile as she departed the apartment. "That's me." Zephyr sighed. "Mr popularity..." Over the next few hours, Zephyr unpacked his things, took a shower, and even washed the dirty plates (more due to boredom than anything else). 'So much for the rockin' bachelor life.' Zephyr frowned. 'Totally overrated, if you ask me. ...Maybe I should start talking to Wigford again...' Moments later, Zephyr heard a knock at the door. He answered it to find an indigo Pegasus stallion with a blue mane, orange eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a tall cloud structure. "Hey, there." The stallion smiled. "You're the new guy, aren't you?" "That's right." Zephyr nodded. "Just moved in." "About time." The stallion smiled. "I live right across from you." He pointed at the door nearby. "That empty apartment's been driving me nuts. Glad somepony's finally living there." "Uh, thanks." Zephyr smiled. "The name's Zephyr Breeze." "Sky High." The stallion grinned. "Welcome to the neighbourhood." "Didn't know there was a welcome wagon." Zephyr declared. "Still, thanks for saying 'hi'." "My pleasure." Sky High smiled. "Hey, Sky!" A middle-aged mare with a light brown coat, black mane, blue eyes and a Cutie Mark of a thundercloud walked by. "Don't tell me you finally got a neighbor?" "I would, but it'd be a total fib." Sky High joked. "Storm Front, meet Zephyr Breeze." "Hello there, ma'am." Zephyr nodded. "A pleasure." Storm Front smiled. "Welcome to Cloud Heights. That's quite a fancy mane you've got there, by the way." "Why thank you." Zephyr smirked. "I actually do mane therapy for a living." "You don't say?" Storm Front smiled. "Maybe I can book an appointment some time? This old mane's been needing something lately..." "Nothing a little Zephyr magic can't cure." Zephyr declared. "Drop by the salon any time. I'll squeeze in." "That's very kind of you." Storm Front grinned. "Well, you've been kind to me." Zephyr pointed out. "I know I'm just the new guy here-" "Nonsense." Storm Front chuckled. "You're a part of our little community." "That's right." Sky High nodded. "We stick together, look out for each other. Kind of like family, y'know?" "That's awful good of you to say." Zephyr smiled. "If you need anything, just let us know." Storm Front smiled. "In fact, I should tell the others, so we can throw a little welcome party for you." "Aw, thanks." Zephyr grinned. "Never thought a stranger would go to all this trouble for me." "It's no trouble at all." Storm Front beamed. "You're one of us now." As Storm Front walked away, Sky High made to return to his own apartment. "I'd love to stay and chat more, but I've got a cake in the oven." He told Zephyr. "Good to meet you, neighbor." "You too, Sky." Zephyr grinned. "Feel free to drop by any time." "You know it!" Sky smiled. After Sky returned to his apartment, Zephyr closed the door to his. 'Well, how about that...' He thought. Over the rest of the day, Zephyr received more visits from his new neighbors, all welcoming him to the building. By the time night fell, Zephyr felt as if he had met over half of the building's inhabitants. 'Guess Fluttershy was right... again.' He thought as he climbed into bed. 'I've literally got new friends knocking on my door.' He allowed himself a smug smirk. 'And why not? I am a very likeable guy.' He switched off the bedroom light. 'Guess living here won't be so lonely after all...' And with that, Zephyr drifted off into peaceful slumber. His new beginning was turning out better than he ever could have imagined. His sparse, lightly-furnished apartment was really starting to feel like home to him. But he still held thoughts of his old home and his family close to heart. And why not? There were so many good memories to be had there. Memories of the good times with his caring parents, and his supportive big sister, who had urged him to put aside his fears and try his best at whatever he did. Zephyr was well aware of how proud his big sister had to be of him right now. And he knew Fluttershy wasn't the only one proud of him; Their parents were too. And he would do his best to keep making them proud from then on, by building a life of his own.