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Shynon Snippets

By Hearthsong
Created: 2026-01-02 21:27:36
Updated: 2026-01-11 14:48:50
Expiry: Never
anonapplejackfluttershyocsaferainbow dashocsposey shyzephyr breezemr. shyshy familyshy family anonhoopsdumb-bellscoreoc poniesoc pony

  1. 1.
    I'm probably just going to add on to this one Paste instead of chaptering it out like I did with the Timberwolf Study - there's no storyline here, just little drabbles as I think them up. (Also there's not going to be any incest so don't get your hopes up)
  2. 2.
    Parts will be marked with Seasons to give an idea of at what point of canon (and character development) the characters are set in, and ages. Pre-Show stuff will be marked Season 0.
  3. 3.
     
  4. 4.
    Part 1: Season 0 (Fluttershy - Age 12, Gale/Anon - Age 8)
  5. 5.
    >Your mane is pink, your demeanor is quiet, and your loudest scream registered at 10 decibels, (You) must be Fluttershy!
  6. 6.
    >Throwing yourself (read: daintily resting upon) your couch, you can't stop the gentle snort that passes for extreme frustration to escape out your snout
  7. 7.
    >It happened
  8. 8.
    >Again
  9. 9.
    >The local Hayburger chain completely ignored that you asked for no pickles on your order
  10. 10.
    >You're not sure if it's just a Cloudsdale thing or if the chain's pickles are all just uniformly that unpleasant level of sour
  11. 11.
    >But there they were, three sickly green slices of defiance on top of your hay patty
  12. 12.
    >Staring up at you, daring you to do something about it
  13. 13.
    >And like clockwork you just started whining
  14. 14.
    >You wanted so badly to get out of the booth but you were already trembling from anxiety
  15. 15.
    >Just before you could feel your vision get hazy with tears a hoof reached over across to rest on your foreleg
  16. 16.
    >And you looked up to see that smile
  17. 17.
    >Sympathetic, gentle
  18. 18.
    >Never judging or pitying
  19. 19.
    >And in a way the tender nature of it burned
  20. 20.
    >Your littlest brother, Gale Incognito
  21. 21.
    >Though lately he was insisting on going by "Anon"
  22. 22.
    >You had asked him once why
  23. 23.
    >He said something along the lines of the only nickname he could think of for 'Gale' was 'Gay', and that he was just going to go with something he was already familiar with
  24. 24.
    >You've never heard anyone call him Anon before he brought it up
  25. 25.
    >Regardless
  26. 26.
    >Your babiest of brothers took your tray from you and took it back to the counter
  27. 27.
    >Explained forthright that you didn't want pickles
  28. 28.
    >No stuttering, no raising his voice to complain
  29. 29.
    >Just the easiest clarification in the world
  30. 30.
    >He made it look so easy!
  31. 31.
    >And when he got back to your booth he even waited for your corrected food to come back before he even started on his just so you didn't have to just sit there and watch him eat
  32. 32.
    >But what really rankled you was when the food finally came back
  33. 33.
    >And the server complimented him on being such a good, doting older brother
  34. 34.
    >And he just gave that gentle laugh and corrected her
  35. 35.
    >He didn't mean anything malicious by it
  36. 36.
    >You aren't so sure about the server though
  37. 37.
    >Not to be pedantic but Anon is half your height...
  38. 38.
    >But you swear you saw the server side-eye you pityingly as she went back to the kitchen
  39. 39.
    >You wish you were as brave as your little baby brother...
  40. 40.
     
  41. 41.
     
  42. 42.
    >Your coat is green, your mane is black, and you are full of hay tendies
  43. 43.
    >Surely, you must be Gale "Anon" Incognito
  44. 44.
    >And man, you're pretty sure Hayburger had to have accidentally ordered like twice as many pickles or something this year from their supplier
  45. 45.
    >They're always adding them even when they're not asked
  46. 46.
     
  47. 47.
     
  48. 48.
    Not so confident in this next bit, but that last exchange has been on my mind all day
  49. 49.
     
  50. 50.
    Part 2: Season 0 (Zephyr Breeze - Age 11, Gale/Anon - Age 8)
  51. 51.
    >You're lanky as hell, and you have the finest marebun in Cloudsdale - that's right, you gotta be Zephyr Breeze, future malewife to Rainbow Dash
  52. 52.
    >And right now you're putting the finishing touches on your little bro's style
  53. 53.
    >Gale - or Anon, as he's going by lately has always been a pretty chill pony
  54. 54.
    >And that even extends to his mane, it doesn't resist the comb, it follows your hooves directions
  55. 55.
    >Nothing bothers it, much like the colt it's attached to
  56. 56.
    >His green eyes are shut, but you can tell by the swivel of his ears that he's listening to your every word
  57. 57.
    >It's a skill you haven't mastered, personally, you do love talking about yourself
  58. 58.
    "I gotta admit I was kinda annoyed at you always wanting me to style your mane Anon, but maybe there's something to this - Rainbow Dash could totally use the Zeph Effect on her scraggly mane, y'feel me?"
  59. 59.
    >Anon opens one of his eyes at that, staring at you with a look that manages to both be totally placid yet look directly into your soul at the same time
  60. 60.
    >You're not sure where he picked that up, no one in the family can manage that kind of balance
  61. 61.
    >"What is it you like about her so much anyway, Zephyr?"
  62. 62.
    >Right to the point, Anon rarely beat around the bush
  63. 63.
    "Well, y'know..."
  64. 64.
    >You fidget as you start to put away your combs
  65. 65.
    "She rules, y'know? She's always winning races, and she doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, and..."
  66. 66.
    >Anon hums, considering
  67. 67.
    >"But what about her really strikes you as someone you want to be with? Can you imagine actually sitting at home, having a conversation with her about things you like?"
  68. 68.
    >The thought of that dries up your throat a bit
  69. 69.
    >What do you and Rainbow have in common, really?
  70. 70.
    >You're both Pegasi, you both care for Fluttershy and Gale, you... like apples?
  71. 71.
    >While you enjoy a private little panic attack, Anon takes a few steps away towards the window
  72. 72.
    >"You know what I think?"
  73. 73.
    >A breeze blows through the sculpted hole in the cloud wall of your bedroom, partially ruining your work as it dramatically makes its' way through your little brother's dark mane
  74. 74.
    >"I think, more than obsessing over trying to make people like you, you should try to live a life that makes you happy before anything else. What do you like to do, big brother?"
  75. 75.
    >A lightning bolt jolts down your spine as twin flashes of light go off in your bedroom
  76. 76.
    >Just like that, your little brother's cutie mark appeared
  77. 77.
    >A bold, black question mark standing amidst a stiff breeze
  78. 78.
    >"Well, would you look at that."
  79. 79.
    >A similar mark sits on your frame, though your gale buffets a lazy feather
  80. 80.
     
  81. 81.
     
  82. 82.
    >Your flank's recently tattoo'd, you got a nice olive green coat, and your half-hour of getting your mane teased has been wasted by you standing too close to an open window - that's gotta be Gale "Anon" Incognito in the pilot's chair
  83. 83.
    >And you completely forgot that your big brother's cutie mark didn't actually have anything to do with manestyling, despite that being his future profession
  84. 84.
    >Part of you wonders how he got it originally, but you're plenty happy to have been a part of it this time around
  85. 85.
    >Hopefully he'll take your words to heart
  86. 86.
    >God knows you have no idea what you're going to spend your life doing in Horse World
  87. 87.
    >Mom and Dad would probably appreciate only having to deal with one NEET crashing on the cloud couch
  88. 88.
     
  89. 89.
    Part 3: Season 7 ( Fluttershy - Age 26, Gale/Anon - Age 22 )
  90. 90.
    >Another lovely day has graced Ponyville
  91. 91.
    >And with it a chance for a picnic with some of your best friends
  92. 92.
    >Today was a lovely little get-together with just Rainbow Dash and Applejack
  93. 93.
    >Rarity unfortunately had a large order she was nearing the deadline on, Pinkie Pie was foalsitting, and Twilight was running an experiment with Starlight
  94. 94.
    >Say, with all those names listed, logically that must mean (You) are Fluttershy! Well spotted.
  95. 95.
    >As you enjoy a rose salad a bit of news you received earlier jolts to the forefront of your mind
  96. 96.
    "Oh, Rainbow. I received a letter earlier today, I thought you'd like to know that my brother is going to be passing through town soon."
  97. 97.
    >Rainbow pauses mid-drink to pull a face that has nothing to do with the lemonade she was enjoying
  98. 98.
    >"Eesh, thanks for the heads up Flutters, I'll skip town for a few days."
  99. 99.
    >You tittered
  100. 100.
    >Even if Zephyr had gotten a bit less transfixed on Rainbow enough to approach other mares, he still had a soft-spot for her she wasn't thrilled with
  101. 101.
    "Oh, no, it's not Zephyr. It's Anon! I haven't seen him in a bit, with all his traveling, you know."
  102. 102.
    >Rainbow's expression shifts quickly from reluctance to an easy smile
  103. 103.
    >She and Anon didn't interact much - being several years younger than her and yourself made her not very interested in hanging out with your babiest of brothers
  104. 104.
    >But they definitely got along better than she did with Zephyr
  105. 105.
    >"Oh, cool! I'll stick around, then."
  106. 106.
    >You both share a smile before Applejack clears their throat to enter the conversation
  107. 107.
    >You and Rainbow both stare over at her, who's hitting you with that raised brow of hers
  108. 108.
    >"So does that about do it for the Shy family, then?"
  109. 109.
    >At your puzzled expression, she clarifies
  110. 110.
    >"Ah mean, is that the rest of yer kin, Fluttershy?"
  111. 111.
    "Oh! Yes, Anon - Gale Incognito, Anon is just his nickname - is my youngest brother, mother and father were done after three... why do you sound annoyed, Applejack?"
  112. 112.
    >"Well it's jes'... it's kinda odd t'me how some of us are holding family members in reserve."
  113. 113.
    "What do you mean?"
  114. 114.
    >"I mean, Twilight never even talked about her brother until she got that wedding invitation, when Pinkie told her Cutie Mark story she didn't even mention Maud -- and I swear I heard her bring up a previously unmentioned brother awhile back -- and I've known you for years and I never even knew you had a brother, much less two!"
  115. 115.
    >Come to think of it that did kind of keep happening, didn't it?
  116. 116.
    "Well... I can't speak for Twilight or Pinkie, but Zephyr and Anon just never really came up in conversation."
  117. 117.
    >Rainbow Dash piped up at that. "Yeah, They're way different than Fluttershy - they don't really have anything to do with animals and all that."
  118. 118.
    >Applejack huffed. "Ah'm just sayin', when ah introduced y'all to the family, ah didn't make Big Mac hide in the shed just to blindside y'all with him later!"
  119. 119.
    >You managed to repress a shudder
  120. 120.
    >When Applejack introduced you her family, it was in the midst of another Family Reunion
  121. 121.
    >It took hours to get through all the Crisps and Deliciouses and the Dessert Names
  122. 122.
    >You sometimes still have nightmares of the fit Angel threw when you got back several hours later and gave him dinner late
  123. 123.
    >That's in the past though
  124. 124.
    >If Anon does really swing by Ponyville you do hope the girls like him
  125. 125.
    >Zephyr certainly made an... impression, but Anon always had a way with strangers that even as social as meeting the girls and becoming an Element forced you to become, you still don't think you could do things as fluidly as he does
  126. 126.
    >Hopefully he's been treating himself well
  127. 127.
     
  128. 128.
    Part 4: Season 0 (Gale/Anon - Age 10)
  129. 129.
    >Your mane is perfectly swirled, your moustache is combed, you must be...
  130. 130.
    >Yeah, it's okay. Most folks don't know your first name, either
  131. 131.
    >They just call (You) "Mr. Shy" to try and sound respectful about it
  132. 132.
    >That's not going to get you down today, though
  133. 133.
    >It's Career Day!
  134. 134.
    >Taking your foal to the Weather Factory was always a joy
  135. 135.
    >Fluttershy was interested in the process but you could tell that the world of weather assembly wasn't for her
  136. 136.
    >Zephyr, well... he mainly just complained the whole time about how the safety helmet mussed up his mane
  137. 137.
    >But you got a good feeling about Gale - or Anon
  138. 138.
    >Your youngest has always been very interested in the Weather process
  139. 139.
    >Even if he initially had some odd ideas that sounded more at home in the Everfree Forest down on the ground to you
  140. 140.
    >He always listened to your explanations with such polite attention
  141. 141.
    >And that was just with you droning on!
  142. 142.
    >Now you'll have the actual equipment to show him!
  143. 143.
    >Nothing can ruin this day for you
  144. 144.
    >A broad smile (for a Shy family member at any rate) blossoms across your face as you greet your son (along with a few more of his classmates who also have family at the Factory) before guiding them all to the initial starting point of the tour
  145. 145.
    >And it's there that something dedicated to souring the occasion rears its' ugly head
  146. 146.
    >All three of them, in fact
  147. 147.
    >You're not sure how you didn't realize, given that their kids are damn near exactly spitting images of their fathers
  148. 148.
    >But the trio of rude stallions will be joining you on your tour today
  149. 149.
    >Poi, Kettlebell, and Tally
  150. 150.
    >Honestly you weren't even sure what they did around the factory
  151. 151.
    >Beyond give you a hard time whenever they saw you
  152. 152.
    >And like clockwork, the second Poi brushes his mane out of his eyes and spots you with the kids
  153. 153.
    >"Well well, about time"
  154. 154.
    >It took you no less than four minutes to wrangle the kids, but sure
  155. 155.
    >"Hoops, my boy- Dumb-Bell, Score, always great to see you kids. And is that Gale? Heard good things about you, colt."
  156. 156.
    >You start to swell with some pride at that, trust your little Anon to get along with nearly everyone
  157. 157.
    >"Say, how about we ditch Mr. Shy here and just run this tour with just us? We know this place like the back of our hooves, better than him, easy."
  158. 158.
    >And that pride dies down real quick, because of course they can't say one nice thing without putting somepony else down
  159. 159.
    >If they know the factory bettter than you it's because they spend their time lollygagging instead of doing their jobs
  160. 160.
    >Your boy Gale perks up an eyebrow at that, however
  161. 161.
    >Without more than a second to consider he responds,
  162. 162.
    >"No thanks. You can split the party if you want, but there's nopony I'd rather learn about the Weather Factory from than my old man. He's the best."
  163. 163.
    >Pride is back on
  164. 164.
    >The ruffians are displeased but they're not about to start arguing with a colt
  165. 165.
    >And being able to have a whole day of one-on-one with your son, showing him all the processes and how the machinery in the Factory works is just the best shift you've had all year
  166. 166.
    >You love your boy
  167. 167.
     
  168. 168.
     
  169. 169.
    >You got on the cutest little hard hat, your brain is full of weather facts, and your dad is pretty cool - it must be Gale "Anon" Incognito at the helm
  170. 170.
    >And that was really fucking weird man
  171. 171.
    >That stallion propositioning you to go hang out with his cronies and kids
  172. 172.
    >Right in front of your dad and everything
  173. 173.
    >You were surprised he didn't pull some candy and wave it around
  174. 174.
    >Those kids are kind of pricks and you're not at all a fan of how they treat your big sister
  175. 175.
    >But hopefully they aren't getting molested at home or something
  176. 176.
    >Either way, the weather in this world is fucking nuts
  177. 177.
    >You weren't sure if your dad was dumbing down the process or something to make it understandable to your presumably tiny baby horse mind
  178. 178.
    >But it really does work like he described
  179. 179.
    >Maybe you'll join him in the factory when you're older
  180. 180.
     
  181. 181.
    Part 5: Season 0 (Gale/Anon - Age 3)
  182. 182.
    >With a well kept burnt maroon mane and a pair of glasses slightly askew on your muzzle, (You) must be Posey Shy tonight.
  183. 183.
    >Situated in your garden, though you're finding your spirit not quite to the task of matching their bright, vibrant colors
  184. 184.
    >You love Cloudsdale, of course
  185. 185.
    >You were born here, and you're confident you'll spend your entire life here
  186. 186.
    >But the monotony of ivory white pillars and the soft blue-tinted white of clouds needs some breaking up sometimes
  187. 187.
    >Gardening in the sky wasn't a task for casual enthusiasts
  188. 188.
    >Getting planters that wouldn't just sink and fall to the ground below was pricy
  189. 189.
    >Being above the clouds made getting the flowers sun was a surprising challenge
  190. 190.
    >Along with all the other, normal trials of keeping them alive
  191. 191.
    >Other Pegasi don't get it
  192. 192.
    >Some even look down on it
  193. 193.
    >Despite how close the tribes were in the modern day there was some certain things seen as "stuff for other Ponies"
  194. 194.
    >And your hobby was very much in that category
  195. 195.
    >"Earth Pony stuff"
  196. 196.
    >They didn't mind enjoying a good bouqet or the humble daisy sandwich
  197. 197.
    >But a 'proper Pegasus' should just buy their flowers from a store that got shipments from the surface
  198. 198.
    >You'd never trade the toil of this work for some store-bought roses
  199. 199.
    >The difference was like night and day
  200. 200.
    >And anyone who tried the results of your labor were sure to agree
  201. 201.
    >But that didn't stop others from murmuring snide remarks where they thought you couldn't hear
  202. 202.
    >You swear you heard one of the mares at the market call you a "Ground Pounder"
  203. 203.
    >Though you couldn't prove it, beyond the awful smirk on their face when you made eye contact
  204. 204.
    >That left you here with your seedlings, trying to get your spirits up
  205. 205.
    >Fortunately, you weren't alone
  206. 206.
    >Though honestly you had forgotten that for a moment
  207. 207.
    >The sound of plastic scraping against wood startled you, alerting you to company
  208. 208.
    >Your husband was at work, Fluttershy and Zephyr were at school, so that left...
  209. 209.
    >Your little Incognito
  210. 210.
    >Freshly turned three just yesterday, but already so mature
  211. 211.
    >Not quite ready for Junior Speedster's Flight Camp just yet, though with how coordinated he usually was you were sure he'd do well
  212. 212.
    >You were confused at the sound of him bumping into anything, but when you turned to face him
  213. 213.
    >Ah
  214. 214.
    >Your precious baby colt, smart as a whip, had somehow managed to affix the watering can's handle around his snout
  215. 215.
    >Flapping his little wings in the air like a hummingbird, but unable to actually see
  216. 216.
    "Oh, Gale..."
  217. 217.
    >At the sound of your voice, the colt tilts his head
  218. 218.
    >And the water spills out of the can, right on your roses
  219. 219.
    >And the cloud floor a bit, but that's fine
  220. 220.
    >It'll just absorb it
  221. 221.
    >More than anything the absurd sight finally gets a little titter out of you
  222. 222.
    >Before erupting into a quiet outburst of giggles
  223. 223.
    "Silly colt. Let mommy show you how to use that..."
  224. 224.
    >Any thoughts about rude mares are quickly brushed to the side as you spend a lovely afternoon with your youngest son in the garden
  225. 225.
     
  226. 226.
     
  227. 227.
     
  228. 228.
    >Your mane has some errant flowers in it, and all the watering's left it a bit soaked, but there's love in your heart and a spring in your trot
  229. 229.
    >That's Gale "Anon" Incognito for sure
  230. 230.
    >Your grasp on Equuish is still a bit lacking
  231. 231.
    >So sometimes you gotta make yourself look a bit the fool
  232. 232.
    >But shit, seeing your mom go from despondent to laughing like that
  233. 233.
    >You'll gladly look like the biggest idiot in Equestria if you can see that smile, easy
  234. 234.
     
  235. 235.
    Part 6: Season 4 (Fluttershy - Age 22, Gale/Anon - Age 18)
  236. 236.
    >You've been standing outside the Manehattan theater for some time now - clutching your knitted cap like a lifeline, while the scarf around your throat feels like it's choking you, even though you know it's incredibly loose
  237. 237.
    >With those clothes and the vise around your heart, (You) must be playing the role of Neigh Sayer tonight
  238. 238.
    >Hinny of The Hills has basically taken over the theater for rest of the month, but the world of plays is always moving forward, and there's plenty of audition announcements up
  239. 239.
    >The Producemares, Hamilhorse, The Pillowpony, just to name a few
  240. 240.
    >This is the fourth time this week you've found yourself eyeing the sign-up sheets, but every time you lift a hoof to write down your own name you feel yourself trembling
  241. 241.
    >What if you flub your lines?
  242. 242.
    >What if you don't get any parts?
  243. 243.
    >You don't know if you can take that kind of disappointment again so soon
  244. 244.
    >As you start to turn away and retreat once more you're startled to find another pony next to you
  245. 245.
    >A Pegasus, with an olive green coat and a long, black mane and tail
  246. 246.
    >Dressed in a white coat bearing a symbol you're unfamiliar with that obscures his Cutie Mark, bearing a hard hat, with a clipboard tucked away in his folded wings
  247. 247.
    >He placidly stares at the listings before making eye contact with you
  248. 248.
    >"Looks like they're really pulling out all the stops to try and dethrone Hinny of the Hills, huh? I haven't seen some of these in circulation in years."
  249. 249.
    >That is true, you can't remember the last time The Producemares was ran, much less The Pillowpony
  250. 250.
    "It's definitely a wide spread, in terms of genres and content. I was thinking of trying out for a few roles, but..."
  251. 251.
    >The Pegasi's passive stare doesn't shift as you trail off
  252. 252.
    >There's a bit of a silence there before he seems to pick up that you're not going to elaborate without prompting
  253. 253.
    >"What's stopping you?"
  254. 254.
    >So, he does
  255. 255.
    >Honestly, you weren't expecting a stranger to bother asking, especially in a town like this
  256. 256.
    >Being caught off guard like that is enough to get you to be forthright where you usually wouldn't be
  257. 257.
    "I just... I'm afraid. Of not being good enough, of failing. I've tried so many jobs before, and they always see me getting kicked out on my flank. If the result is going to be the same I don't know why I should bother trying anymore..."
  258. 258.
    >The grapes depicted your flank weren't sweet
  259. 259.
    >They were very much sour
  260. 260.
    >That sort of bitterness followed you like a cloud
  261. 261.
    >The Pegasus considers your response for a moment, before reaching out and scribbling his name on the sign-up sheet for The Producemares
  262. 262.
    >"There's a lot of things I'm afraid of too, I think that's natural. The unknown invites fear simply because we don't know how to approach it. The dark of night houses monsters we can't perceive. I've never been big on ice skating, personally."
  263. 263.
    >He turns to face you fully
  264. 264.
    >"But I think what I fear the most, is the idea of looking back on my life and knowing I let that fear stop me from engaging in the things I wanted to try. Even if I fail at something, I'm content with having put myself out there. I may get burned here and there, but I'd rather have a few scars than a pristine hide and a big list of unfulfilled dreams."
  265. 265.
    >Having your worldview dismissed so casually and refuted in the same breath has you gaping like a fish
  266. 266.
    >Fuck, he's not wrong
  267. 267.
    >What's a little fire in the face of potential success?
  268. 268.
    >As you scramble over your hooves to sign up for every play on offer, the Pegasus takes a few steps back
  269. 269.
    >"Good luck with those auditions, friend. I gotta get back to work. Manehattan's got a pretty big storm slated for next week and the home office wants us inspecting the infrastructure of the city to make sure it can 'weather' it. Bit of Rainbow Factory humor for you there."
  270. 270.
    >Without waiting for a response he takes off into the sky in a spray of olive feathers and an unshakeable confidence
  271. 271.
    >Watching him fly off deeper into the city almost makes you miss a beautiful ivory coated, purple coiffed Unicorn trotting across the street with five other mares, belting out a Heart Song that seems to be some sort of ode to the city
  272. 272.
    >A smile slips across your face
  273. 273.
    >Manehattan really is the best
  274. 274.
     
  275. 275.
    Part 7: Season 0.5 (Fluttershy - Age 19, Gale/Anon - Age 15)
  276. 276.
    >With a great pink mane and the dewiest eyes this side of the Canterlot Mountain range, there's no one (You) could be other than Fluttershy
  277. 277.
    >And honestly
  278. 278.
    >You don't remember ever being this stressed
  279. 279.
    >It's been about a month since you moved out of Cloudsdale
  280. 280.
    >You'd been looking forward to this for years, ever since that fateful day at Summer Flight Camp
  281. 281.
    >As much as you adored all the new little critter friends you made that day, you were still a yearling and couldn't leave home just yet
  282. 282.
    >That didn't stop you from dreaming
  283. 283.
    >Saving your bits from any part time job that would have you
  284. 284.
    >...So much time spent working the counter at Hayburger...
  285. 285.
    >You still have nightmares sometimes about it
  286. 286.
    >But it was all worth it!
  287. 287.
    >You found your home in Ponyville
  288. 288.
    >The location couldn't be more perfect
  289. 289.
    >Being so far out from the rest of the town ensured the property cost was low and the likelihood of running into neighbors was slim
  290. 290.
    >The cottage you picked out was apparently formerly property of an Equestrian Ranger that wanted to keep an eye on the Everfree
  291. 291.
    >Much like you, though for differing reasons
  292. 292.
    >It didn't take you too long to introduce yourself to the local animal population
  293. 293.
    >A delightful array of birds that showed some interest in making music with you
  294. 294.
    >Many of the bunnies you remember meeting had grown their families extensively - though there was one odd loner that seemed paradoxically interested and dismissive of you at the same time
  295. 295.
    >Even a very polite juvenile bear that very kindly didn't make any moves against your other new friends!
  296. 296.
    >Every last one of them was a delight, and they had so much to say
  297. 297.
    >The novelty of being able to actually have a conversation with a Pony ensured you were quite the novelty to them
  298. 298.
    >Even moreso when you invited them into your new home to enjoy it with you
  299. 299.
    >But as much as you delighted in your new home
  300. 300.
    >Problems didn't wait too long to rear their ugly heads
  301. 301.
    >The mundane things like getting the animals to behave and not try to eat each other were, if you were being honest, significantly easier to deal with than you were expecting
  302. 302.
    >A simple clearing of your throat and a firm stare were enough to get the predators behaving, to your shock
  303. 303.
    >Not that you were going to complain
  304. 304.
    >But the house itself was the real issue
  305. 305.
    >Having lived in Cloudsdale your whole life, you were used to cloud architecture
  306. 306.
    >Soft and pliable, easily manipulated if you wanted to try rearranging things
  307. 307.
    >In contrast wood and plaster is so... dense and unyielding
  308. 308.
    >And trying to reshape it is obviously out of the question
  309. 309.
    >It's clear any efforts to alter the structure requires a lot of work
  310. 310.
    >Skills that honestly you never really considered before leaving the proverbial nest
  311. 311.
    >There's also the nature of being at ground level in general
  312. 312.
    >The temperature is completely different from what you were used to up in the sky
  313. 313.
    >And the leafy roof, while charming, leaves (heh) a bit to be desired in terms of insulation
  314. 314.
    >Warm to the point of stuffiness during the day
  315. 315.
    >Cold and chilly when the night fell
  316. 316.
    >No comfortable in-between
  317. 317.
    >You had no idea how you were going to deal with this issue
  318. 318.
    >The idea of going into town to try and find a carpenter was terrifying
  319. 319.
    >The idea of a complete stranger in your home...
  320. 320.
    >You could feel the tremors in your hooves already
  321. 321.
    >Stupid
  322. 322.
    >Only you could rush into something like this without a plan
  323. 323.
    >Klutzershy
  324. 324.
    >Just as you were on the verge of tears a noise took you out of your self-recrimination
  325. 325.
    >Something you weren't used to hearing just yet
  326. 326.
    >A knocking at your front door
  327. 327.
    >As you went to meet the visitor you privately wondered if it was that pink mare again
  328. 328.
    >Harry had tried to be polite and get the door for you, though in doing so seemed to give her quite the fright
  329. 329.
    >So much so that she bounded off
  330. 330.
    >You never did find out what she wanted
  331. 331.
    >But no, behind your front door was no mare
  332. 332.
    >But a familiar pegasus
  333. 333.
    >With an olive coat, a black mane and tail that nearly matched your own hair's volume
  334. 334.
    >And... bearing a cake balanced on his back
  335. 335.
    >Gale Incognito
  336. 336.
    >His easy smile drops at the sight of you
  337. 337.
    >With the tears pooling in your eyes still that wasn't surprising
  338. 338.
    >Not nearly as much as his sudden appearance
  339. 339.
    >"I brought cake. Can I come inside?"
  340. 340.
    >Over the strawberry shortcake you shared your stress with your youngest brother
  341. 341.
    >Even if he hadn't plied you with one of your favorite flavors, he always had that way of getting a Pony to open up
  342. 342.
    "... Even though I love all my animal friends, I just feel so uncomfortable here! Maybe I left home too soon. Maybe I should go back..."
  343. 343.
    >Anon doesn't say anything for a few moments, taking a long draft of the tea you made to go with the cake
  344. 344.
    >His green eyes flick around the cottage, taking it all in
  345. 345.
    >Considering
  346. 346.
    >"You know, mom told me a story once about dad when they moved into the house they bought after getting married. It was the first time he actually owned property instead of renting a cloudpartment."
  347. 347.
    >You sit up a bit straighter. You don't really remember if you've heard this story, yourself
  348. 348.
    >"He was so sure he knew what he was doing, since he was already a pretty big deal down at the Rainbow Factory. No one can catch lightning in a bottle like our old man, y'know."
  349. 349.
    >You didn't know. That tour of the Factory felt like a lifetime ago. You found the whole thing interesting, but it didn't call to you like it did Gale and dad
  350. 350.
    >"Anyway. So, mom wants to expand the living room, right? Dad obliges of course, and he struts right up to the outermost wall, ready to extend it out... and he puts so much force behind the push that he bursts right through the wall and the ground. It took him about 100 feet of falling before he remembered he had wings."
  351. 351.
    >You gasp, and despite the imagery, you can't help but giggle quietly. Obviously dad was fine, so it felt okay
  352. 352.
    >"The point is... sometimes, you rush into things without really considering it. And that's okay. Dad flew back up, rented a book on cloud architecture, and soon enough we had a living room big enough to drown in every Hearth's Warming doodad and knick-knack mom could get her hooves on."
  353. 353.
    >Anon smiles at you at that, reaching over to pat your hoof like he always did when trying to comfort you
  354. 354.
    >And of course, succeeding
  355. 355.
    >"So, I doubt a book on cloud architecture is going to do us much good here, but I bet something on carpentry won't steer us wrong. What do you say?"
  356. 356.
    >Taking a moment to brush the tears from your eyes, you nod
  357. 357.
    >And so begins a whirlwind afternoon of going into town for knowledge and supplies - a daunting task if you didn't have your brother by your side, but you manage
  358. 358.
    >You even manage to make some acquiantences
  359. 359.
    >A charming Unicorn fashionista who generously lets you have some of her bolts of fabric to decorate with once you explain your project
  360. 360.
    >A kindly Earth Pony farmer who lets you borrow her farm's tools for the day
  361. 361.
    >You even run into that pink mare from before, who seems to pick up on your vibe and kindly welcomes you to town, along with a blanket invitation to any of her future parties
  362. 362.
    >You're not so sure if you'll take her up on that, but it was kind of her
  363. 363.
    >Learning how to take care of your home is less of a whirlwind than going through town, but still very informative
  364. 364.
    >Learning about the existence of wall studs and their purpose explains why your shelves keep falling off the walls
  365. 365.
    >Learning about insulation and how to install it to keep your house a much more bearable middle ground temperature
  366. 366.
    >And through it all Anon is there to assist with the work
  367. 367.
    >Never complaining when you give him the wrong kind of wrench
  368. 368.
    >Or when you forget a step in the assembly plans for your furniture
  369. 369.
    >Truly, legendary levels of patience
  370. 370.
    >Before long though, you find yourself in the doorway again
  371. 371.
    >The sun is on its' way to rest, the evening sky a beautiful burnt sienna
  372. 372.
    >Gale offers you a gentle nuzzle before stepping all the way out on the porch, before he pauses to turn and face you
  373. 373.
    >"I know you doubt yourself often, Fluttershy. But I know you can make this place work. You've got more determination in your heart than you give yourself credit for."
  374. 374.
    >A warmth settles in your chest as you share a fond smile with your babiest of brothers
  375. 375.
    "Thank you, Gale. I guess I just needed a bit of a reminder. Dreams worth chasing require effort and set of hooves ready to work, right?"
  376. 376.
    >"That's right. But you never have to go it alone. If you ever need help, well... I'm a letter away. Don't forget that."
  377. 377.
    >And with that, your babiest of brothers launched right into a spiral from the ground, off into the evening sky
  378. 378.
    >You knew he meant it, he'd come running if you called
  379. 379.
    >But you still wanted to make him proud and do your best before you did
  380. 380.
     
  381. 381.
    Part 8: Season 6 (Zephyr Breeze - Age 25, Gale/Anon - Age 22)
  382. 382.
    >Your coat is an ugly rich pistachio, your mane is an incompetently designed rat's nest, and all in all you're just a big fucking stupid idiot
  383. 383.
    >Correct, (You) ARE Zephyr Breeze
  384. 384.
    >And you just barely failed to pass the final exam for your Mane Therapy course
  385. 385.
    >You don't know how you managed to mix up the methods for keratin and protein treatment
  386. 386.
    >But that tracks, because again, you're a moron
  387. 387.
    >Slumped on the steps of the beauty school you watched other, more successful ponies trot on by, discussing celebration plans, commiserating over the difficulties they faced, and just plain making merry for the course to finally be over
  388. 388.
    >None of them even looked back to register you
  389. 389.
    >Why would they? None of them failed like you did
  390. 390.
    >You grit your teeth, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over your eyelids
  391. 391.
    >That wasn't going to be a winning battle, though
  392. 392.
    >As you sank deeper into a tight bundle on the grass, you barely even registered the sound of flapping wings and the soft crunch of hooves landing in grass directly next to you
  393. 393.
    >You didn't want to acknowledge that anyone had come to pity you, as much as you wished they would
  394. 394.
    >So when the mystery pony spoke up, you jolted as you recognized their voice
  395. 395.
    >"I'm going to take an educated guess here and presume things didn't go well in there, brother?"
  396. 396.
    >Your head pulls out of the shame bundle you'd curled up in
  397. 397.
    >Staring up into the concerned face of your baby brother
  398. 398.
    >Gale "Anon" Incognito
  399. 399.
    "Anon... what are you doing here, baby bro?"
  400. 400.
    >As happy as you were that somepony cared enough to check up on you... you weren't sure if you were keen on being seen like this by a family member just yet
  401. 401.
    >Too late for that, though
  402. 402.
    >Your younger brother reached out to press a hoof gently on your chest tuft
  403. 403.
    >"I came when I heard your heart call."
  404. 404.
    >What
  405. 405.
    "What?"
  406. 406.
    >"Nah, just kidding. The Rainbow Factory wanted somepony to come out and inspect the resevoir levels around here. It's about time for our yearly donation of water to the Factory so we can start making snowflakes, y'know. I knew today was your exam so I volunteered to be able to swing by."
  407. 407.
    >Just like your little bro to line up his job with an excuse to visit family
  408. 408.
    >He took to the Inspector Role like a fish to water, though he was away from home for months at a time now
  409. 409.
    >Anon still wasn't done with his assignment if his absence was anything to go by
  410. 410.
    >And he still took time to check up on you
  411. 411.
    >Wiping at your eyes you did your best to give your brother a smile as he settled down and sat next to you
  412. 412.
    "I appreciate that, baby bro... even if I would've prefer a cute mare to check up on me while I'm like this, instead."
  413. 413.
    >"Sorry you had to get a downgrade. Do you want to talk about it?"
  414. 414.
    >You hesitated for a moment there, shifting from a tight ball to a less shameful pony loaf
  415. 415.
    >Part of you didn't want to talk about it, but...
  416. 416.
    >That was quashed by your need to share this pain
  417. 417.
    >This wasn't the first time you'd failed at one of your attempts at a career
  418. 418.
    >Cloud architect, singer, stuntpony...
  419. 419.
    >Though to be honest, this was the first time you really tried
  420. 420.
    >You loved manestyling
  421. 421.
    >You had been teasing out your brother's mane when you had gotten your Cutie Mark, after all
  422. 422.
    >The feather flowing in the breeze didn't really seem to have anything to do with the profession
  423. 423.
    >But you enjoyed it enough to keep it up as you grew older
  424. 424.
    >And after all those flashy jobs didn't pan out you felt it was time to try and make a serious go at it
  425. 425.
    >Only to crash and burn
  426. 426.
    >Your brow set as you glared at the grass under you, unable to keep the bitter tone out of your voice
  427. 427.
    "I really tried, y'know? This wasn't a fad or anything like that, this time. I felt like this was the career for me, and I just... missed the mark. And that makes it even more frustrating than if I had just completely bombed it."
  428. 428.
    >Anon merely listened to you for a time as you let it all out
  429. 429.
    >He was always patient when somepony got into it like this
  430. 430.
    >When you finally finished, panting quietly from nerves, he put a hand on your withers, causing you to pull your gaze from the grass to his face
  431. 431.
    >"It sounds like you psyched yourself out. Sometimes, when we prepare for something so important, after so many setbacks, it's easy to freeze. And, it can be easy to want to wallow in that feeling of failure... and there's a merit to that, really."
  432. 432.
    >You stared at your brother in surprise
  433. 433.
    >That didn't sound like his kind of advice at all
  434. 434.
    >"Yeah, I know. There are people who will say it's best to move forward, to brush past that sadness and move on to the next attempt. But there's value in that feeling. Find the source of that ache and inspect it, because that's where you'll find the flaw in your effort. Grieve... but don't live in that grief. Don't wallow. Trudge through the muck at a decent pace."
  435. 435.
    >Anon looked away from you then, to thoughtfully stare up at the evening sky, admiring the mixture of purple and orange
  436. 436.
    >"I've never been afraid of setbacks. Not really. Failure stings, but I've always seen it as an opportunity to do even better the next time. You barely failed? That just means you have a chance to really ace the exam next time."
  437. 437.
    >Gale caught your eye and offered you a broad grin
  438. 438.
    >"And I know you can. So don't be ashamed to be upset. Meet that feeling, but don't go overboard indulging in it. Go home. Fix your armor... and do better, like YOU know you can."
  439. 439.
    >Through your tears you managed to match his grin with a smaller one of your own, rising to stand with your brother as he got to his hooves, wings already unfolding to get ready to take flight
  440. 440.
    "Thanks, baby bro. Have fun grilling the mayor about his water supply... and don't be such a stranger, huh? Mom misses you when you're gone longer than a week."
  441. 441.
    >Gale smiled sheepishly at that
  442. 442.
    >"I'll do my best, but... apologize for me if I don't make it home soon."
  443. 443.
    >And with that he launched back into the sky, off to work
  444. 444.
    >Your own wings flared as you got ready to make the journey back to Cloudsdale
  445. 445.
    >Embrace the pain, but don't go overboard...
  446. 446.
    >You could do that
  447. 447.
    >Surely
  448. 448.
     
  449. 449.
     
  450. 450.
    >With a spring in your step and a freshly cowed mayor trembling in your wake, (You) gotta be Gale Incognito
  451. 451.
    >You don't know what that civil servant was up to
  452. 452.
    >But you did hope that he stressed the importance of his weather team to make the proper requisitions for rain clouds
  453. 453.
    >As it was even if they could manage the necessary 800 Wingpower to get their offerings to Cloudsdale
  454. 454.
    >Their resevoirs were so pitiful the Factory probably wouldn't even notice if they had a full 100% delivery
  455. 455.
    >Your thoughts were also pulled towards your big brother
  456. 456.
    >Crashing the canon was never really your thing, but you did hope his time licking his wounds wouldn't be so drastic as it was in the show
  457. 457.
    >You loved your family, and the idea of one of them in wallowing in misery and fearing putting themselves out there caused you distress
  458. 458.
    > ... If only your inspection tour didn't include half a dozen more villages, you might have gone ahead and joined him on the way back
  459. 459.
    >You were confident your sister and parents would help him out of his funk though
  460. 460.
    >Just hopefully without him trying to camp out in the Everfree this time

Timberwolf Study, Part One

by Hearthsong

Kingnon Snippet

by Hearthsong

Timberwolf Study, Part Two

by Hearthsong

Timberwolf Study, Part Three

by Hearthsong

Timberwolf Study, Part Four

by Hearthsong