Her Whispers

by TheAtomicBomb

Chapter 5: Guess who's home? Guess who's leaving?

After the incident, the young mare seated at her bedroom's vanity mirror had been 'temporarily.' relocated out of Cloudsdale onto the ground below due to her inability to fly. Despite the pitying glances thrown her way continuously, Fluttershy was okay. Now she could walk around without the fear that the clouds would part beneath her hooves and let her fall. She picked up her brush that rested on her lap and started to detangle her mane. Sitting on the edge of her queen size bed that nested against the wall she was able to see her reflection in the vanity mirror that sat across from her. She watched the brush slide through her mane; It's soft bristles massaging her scalp; she closed her eyes. Relishing the sensation. Peace and quiet.

She jumped as her bedroom door banged open "GUESS WHO'S HOOOOOOME!?" Zephyr Breeze bellowed announcing his arrival. He then smiled shyly, when he saw his sister, without clothes and mane tangled in a brush that dangled in front of her face with her hooves over her pounding heart "Oops." he muttered walking in and gently freed her rosy locks from the brush. "Sorry flutter butter" He cooed " I didn't mean to scare you." he put the brush back on the vanity and pulled a comb from his pocket instead. They fell into a comfortable silence as the comb's teeth eased through his younger sisters hair until it was as smooth as butter.

He reached for a box of hairpins on the vanity's dresser top but was stopped by a pale yellow hoof on his turquoise one. He looked up into the mirror and smiled at his sister through the reflection.

In the past few years of Fluttershy's silence, she had been able to get her point across without the need of words, and her brother had learnt to understand. "I know you don't like wearing your hair up, but I also know your in no mood to argue with mother."

He watched his sister's face squish into an adorable pout. He squished her face more between his hooves and kneaded away at her cheeks. Leaning down to rest his chin on her shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at her through the mirror with a cocky grin plastered on his face. "Right?"

He didn't expect a verbal answer. But he also didn't expect her to squish his face back and forced them to make funny faces at their reflections. He let out a hearty laugh and felt Fluttershy's shoulders shake in her muted giggles. "I swear, no matter how many years pass you two are still my cute little foals." The siblings turned to the soft voice coming from the door.

"Hi, mum!"

"You mean hello mother" Lady Shy sighed, causing Zephyr to release a small chuckle. He knew how much his mother hated slang, as an 'old-fashioned pony. The three of them pulled each other into a warm hug.

"Well since your both here! I can get your gifts!" Mother and daughter gave a small smile and shook their heads in disbelief as Zephyr raced through the door.

"I worry about him and his spending habits. But I'm happy to see you smiling sweetie." The polite statement made Fluttershy hide behind her mane bashfully. "Here sweetie, let me help you put your hair up." Fluttershy knew better than to argue. With the last pin in place, Zephyr re-entered the room with a servant carrying a plethora of brightly coloured boxes on his back, varying in size. All beautifully wrapped. He trudged behind the young master under the weight of it all towards the two mares.

"I just know you girls are going to love them!" He punctuated his statement with a flourish startling the serving Pegasus to drop a few parcels. "Oops...Sorry"

"Yes, still a little foal." She and Fluttershy went to help the overworked pony, who excused himself after picking up and stacking the boxes. Catching a glimpse of fabric in one of the boxes that had opened in the fall, Mrs Shy exclaimed "Oh! Are the rest of these clothes, Zephyr?"

The colt turned to his mother and smiled. "That's right. I met a young mare in Canterlot and-"

"A young mare!?" His mother interrupted beaming at her son.

"Calm down mum, Rarity and I are just friends."

"Oh?" A hopeful smile plastered across their mother's face, unnerving the young stallion.

"Yes." He said assertively "Strictly platonic."

"Oh," Her mother said again in a slightly disappointed tone.

Zephyr shot his sister a worried look. She gave a reassuring smile and a twirl of her hoof, motioning him to continue. "Um- anyway, Rarity is really into fashion and a very generous pony, so when I asked her to help me find gifts for you two, she was more than willing to comply. She was able to find the latest fashions for the best prices."

"She sounds lovely. I just have to meet her; perhaps she could help me update my wardrobe."

"I am sure she will be more than happy to."

"Oh my! what's all this?" Mr shy fluttered into the room over the pile of gifts, with a file tucked beneath his arm.

"Hello, love. Zephyr is home and bought a few gifts with him." Lady shy explained showing one of the dresses that had fallen out of the boxes. Fluttershy trotted over to her brother and kissed him on the cheek as thanks.

"How... generous of you, son." Baron Shy said carefully. Ever since the incident, their father-son relationship had grown more delicate. It always felt the two stallions were tiptoeing around each other. "And amazing timing, as always."

"What do you mean dear?" Mrs shy inquired.

"Ah, yes. I have good news for you Fluttershy" Her father walked towards her stroking the snoring rabbit in her arms. He looked up into her eyes. "As you know after Blueblood, we wanted you to take a break from society. But now I think it has been long enough, and the princesses have offered to host your return.

"Oh, Love! That's amazing!" With the parents smiling at each other, the nervous look shared between their children remained unseen.

"And there's more. There have been several offers for your hoof in marriage via the princesses themselves!" Mr Shy grinned proudly.

"No!" The ponies looked to Zephyr, shocked by his sudden outburst. "You always do this"

"Oh dear..." Mrs Shy went to stand next to her daughter. Out of the readying argument.

"Don't raise your voice, Zephyr."

"I bloody well will raise my voice! Especially because Fluttershy can't! You're not going to force my sister into marriage just because it suits you."

"It is not Like that, Zephyr! We have had this argument before!" Mr Shy shouted, finally losing his calm demeanour.

"OOOoooooh riiight" the younger stallion sang sarcastically. "I forgot this is all business to you right? Selling your daughter off like your stock."

"Celestia help me, Zephyr I-"

"Sounds like she already has! What was the offer this time? Land? Money? or maybe-"

Feeling her daughter shrink away from the raised voices, Lady Shy stomped her hoof on the hard marble flooring that echoed throughout the bare room. "Both of you stop this! Your scaring Fluttershy!" The Ponies went silent and settled their passionate stares onto the cowering mare.

"I'm sorry Fluttershy. But the decision has already been made. Besides, surely you realised that this would happen one day?" Mr Shy pleaded only to feel his heart break at the sight of his daughter shift further back to hide behind his wife and give a small nod. "Your mother and I won't be around forever; I know that Blueblood was a mistake. But you'll have a say in things this time. Okay, pumpkin?" He tried to reason with her but seeing the tears starting to form in his little girl's eyes he felt a numbing pain in his chest. Looking around the small room he saw the boxes stacked on the bed. He winced, feeling as though he had ruined yet another happy moment. "This is obviously a lot for you to digest all at once so your mother and I will leave you to think about it.

As quickly as they had stepped in Mr and Mrs Shy exited the room leaving Fluttershy to race into her brothers arms for comfort.

Author's Note:

Okay. I actually rushed this chapter a little. I wasn't able to sleep. So I decided to write type.

Thank you again for reading. Sorry that this chapter is so legnthy. If your not into it, I'll come back and narrow things down.

I hope your enjoying the story so far though. (Orignally angel was meant to appear in this chapter but I decided against it)

As always I really do appriciate feedback and comments.