Remind me why I'm here again?

Twilight had been along to invite Zephyr to watch the meteor showers the previous day. He wasn't one to really enjoy such outings, but between Twilight's pleading insistance and Zephyr not typically wanting to rock the boat anymore than he already has, he caved and accepted.

Guess I'm a pushover like that... at least my reward was an adorable moment from Twilight of all ponies.

Zephyr had arrived shortly after most of the other ponies had. When he saw that Fluttershy was there as well, he recoiled but said nothing. I genuinely don't hate the mare, I just wish I could solve these headaches so that I can stop blaming her...

When Zephyr looked at Rainbow Dash, she gives him a knowing smirk. Ever since the two apologized to each other, they had been quite the unstoppable team like Cloud Conduct predicted, working together very well. She still challenges Zephyr to races, but they had become a lot more friendly in context and Rainbow made sure to keep the contests out of sight from most of the townsponies out of courtesy for Zephyr. One thing he learned in a hurry was to never get between her and Applejack whenever they start competing challenges.

"... Yeah, I'm a sweet talker," came Spike's voice from lower down as him and Twilight crested the hill. The wagon Spike was pulling was very noticeable due to all the contents clinking together.

"And a number one assistant, right?" Was her response as she winks at him playfully.

Did she just... I doubt that was the intention but nothing I can't poke fun at.

As Twilight settled down, Spike went to unload the wagon. Zephyr had a small grin as he flew up beside her. "Flirting with your number one assistant, are we?" He whispered to her low enough so Spike couldn't hear.

She gave a squeak of surprise before blushing and smacking Zephyr on the shoulder, earning a laugh from him and Rainbow. Spike looks at us, confused. "What's up?"

"Nothing at all." Zephyr grins at him. "Long time, no see Spike. Haven't seen you since the first day I was here. We really need to hang out more."

He grins at me as he sets up the picnic with uncanny speed. "I have seen you flying above the town doing wind duties. No offense, but you kind of stick out against the sky."

Zephyr gives a flat look as Rainbow chuckles or giggles through the apple she was eating. "Yeah, green against a blue sky is kind of hard to miss. That's probably why you had a difficult time shaking everypony's attention after the big race." Zephyr rolled his eyes at that. "That being said, I wish I had a rad assistant like you, Twilight."

"Oh, I can be your assistant, Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo had apparently took a place beside her idol while Zephyr was busy embarrassing Twilight.

Rainbow grins mirthfully. "Oh yeah, Squirt? How about throwing this apple away?" She throws the core on the ground in such a way, she got an indignant look from Zephyr and Rarity.

Clearly nonplussed about it, Scootaloo salutes. "Yes ma'am!" She quickly picks up the core and dashes off.

Jeez, I knew she idolized Dash, but I never thought it was THAT much.

Rarity must of noticed the worried look on Zephyr's face because she said, "let the filly do what she wants, I'm sure she likes doing it. Besides, we need to thank Spike for this wonderful spread."

"Aw, It was nothing." Spike started eating the attention up. Zephyr simply rolled his eyes and sat to the side as to not be a disruption.

Wish I could handle attention like that.

Rarity said something and put a rather glamorous bow-tie on the Dragon.

A small sigh later, Zephyr looked up to see a streak across the sky. "The showers are starting, everypony!" That got their attention, as they all sat and watched the meteor showers.

I'll admit, they are very pretty. I'm sure it's fine to think or say that, I've already turned in all my stallion cards by this point to voice cracks and what-not.

After the showers ended, the mares turned their attention to the spread. The cookies were --

"Wow! These cookies are delish!"

-- Very popular, especially to Pinkie Pie.

"Speaking of, Spike, can you bring us some punch?"

Zephyr couldn't help but roll his eyes. "I'm sure you're just as capable of getting them yourself, Twilight." She glares at me and opens her mouth to retort, but gets cut off by a snore. Looking over, Everypony sees Spike sleeping in the punch bowl.

Immediately seeing an oppertunity, Zephyr grins and --

"And now the punch has been... 'spiked'!"

That earned Pinkie an indignant glare. "Oi! Don't steal my thunder!" The girls started laughing as Zephyr looked away with a pout. The group hung out for a bit longer before they decided to pack it in for the night.

The next day, after hearing from Rainbow Dash that Twilight wanted to show everypony something, Zephyr found all the mares already in front of the library. There was an owl perched on Twilight's back.

Twilight got a new pet?

"Oh, what a fantastical, fluffalicious feathery little friend!" Pinkie spouted off. Zephyr saw his chance at a counter-attack to what she did last night as she opened her mouth "I'm--"

"HOOked!" He finished for her.

"HEY!"

"Revenge has never been so satisfying!" Zephyr proclaimed loudly with a massive grin as the other mares laughed.

Applejack grinned. "Well 'owl' be darned, both you an' Pinky are a 'hoot', alright!" Now both Zephyr and Pinky Pie were on the floor laughing.

Fluttershy piped up as she tried to speak past her laughter. "Yes well, he is quite a charmer." Zephyr hear a grumble and looked to see an irritated Spike perched on a window-sill with a book. This put a dour mood on the stallion's laughter.

"Yes, and since he's such a star, I made him this." Zephyr looked back down to see Rarity attaching the SAME bow-tie she made for spike onto the owl.

"Whoa whoa whoa, Rarity." She gives him a quizzing look. "You're telling me that you're willing to give the same bow-tie you gave Spike, someone you've known for Celestia knows how long, to an owl that you've known for literal minutes?"

"His name is Owlowiscious." Twilight piped at me with irritation.

There was a delay before Zephyr gave her a look. "Owlo... why did you pick a tongue-twister for a name?"

"It's not a tongue-twister... is it?" Twilight gives her friends a pleading look, only for all of them to look away awkwardly. "I... I don't know, I just thought it was fitting!"

"Alright... well beyond that." Zephyr looks back at Rarity with a level look. "So, what gives there?"

"Why, I don't see anything wrong with giving Owlowiscious a present."

Logic...

Everypony heard a growl from Spike as he slammed the window shut from his re-entry into the library. Both Applejack and Zephyr level a glare at Rarity, who seemed rather oblivious to what she said.

"M-maybe Spike feels threatened over the fact that Owlowiscious might replace him."

At that moment, for the first time in a while, Zephyr loved Fluttershy for pointing out something that could be very well true. At the same time, there was a feeling of dread that began to settle in his stomach. This set-up... seems very familiar.

Twilight simply smiled. "That's crazy. There's no way he could be replaced."

"That quote is not really aspiring a lot of confidence in me, Twilight... especially since you only said it AFTER Spike already left." Yet another nail on the banner of dread...

She gives Zephyr a funny look. "What's that supposed to mean? I'll say it however many times I need to, he won't get replaced!"

"Ugh, never mind. I need to do some shopping, so if you'll excuse me." With that, Zephyr flew off to grind down the feeling of dread.

How dense can Twilight be? I just hope it's not as serious as Fluttershy and I think it is.

"... Sorry, all out of quills!"

"Huh?" Zephyr looks down to see Spike sitting in front of a door with Pinkie Pie at the entrance.

"Ugh, shoot." Spike said dejectedly. it was clear he was losing hope.

"Oi Spike, whats up?"

The Dragon gave a start as Zephyr landed next to him. Realizing who it was, he sighs. "Been trying to find a quill or at least a feather for Twilight when she found out her last one broke. Sadly I haven't found one yet."

Must be trying his best to keep his position as assistant. Celestia knows how fate loves to screw around with anyone that tries to find something important to the job.

"Does the feather have to be specific?"

Spike shook his head. "Not really. Any feather will do. At this point I'll even take a short chicken feather."

"Then I might be able to help." Zephyr suddenly lifted one of his wings and started looking at his feathers.

Spike was uncertain as to what he was doing. "Thanks for the offer, but what are you--"

*Pluck*

"Ow." Zephyr muffled through the feather he had just plucked between his lips.

"You didn't have to do that!" Spike exclaimed, holding his claws up. "I don't want to impose!"

Zephyr spat his feather at Spike with a 'poo' before saying, "Anything to help a friend in need, ay?"

Though he hesitated a bit, Spike gives a smile as he grabs the feather. "Thanks dude, I owe you one!"

Apparently both males forgot Pinkie was still there as she observed the whole exchange. Because of that she suddenly said to Zephyr, "wow, you certainly come far from being Mr. Secludy-pants who kept locking himself away from the world!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it means!" She dives back into the house. Both Zephyr and Spike shrugged at each other.

I don't even wanna know.

With a bit of a joke in mind Zephyr grins at Spike. "Well, when you give that to Twilight, tell her Zephyr Earthwing said 'YOU BETTER APPRECIATE IT'!" Spike recoiled from the sudden yell and Zephyr chuckled. "Just kidding. Tell her to make good use of it."

He lets out a sigh at not actually having to yell before saluting and running off.

I just hope nothing too drastic happens.

As Zephyr would find out later, it was never going to be that easy. Later on in the same day, he found Spike looking like he thought up an evil plan. Unfortunately for the Dragon, he looked the wrong way before dashing right into the Pegasus.

"Ow. Oh, uh... h-hey Zephyr. What brings you here?"

That got a raised eyebrow. "Oh, nothing. Other than wondering what you were thinking about back before you dashed into me."

He panicked. "I-it was nothing, I swear!"

"Lies are unbecoming of a Dragon of your age."

I should talk...

After a bit longer, Spike sighs in defeat. "Fine, I was thinking of a way to get that pesky owl in trouble as revenge for trying to replace me and setting me up."

"Setting you up?"

"Last night, before we got to the hill, I, uh... accidentally burned a book she wanted for the night." Zephyr had to bite down the urge to snort for whatever reason. "I told her I couldn't find it because I was afraid of how she would react, yet that owl ratted me out over it. I did fess up and tell her I accidentally burned it, but she reacted the way I feared she would react."

"Which was?"

"Telling me how disappointed she was in me and giving the cold shoulder." Spike shivered at the memory.

hm, I wonder if he is expected to have a perfect run of everything, leading to his fear of failure and being replaced.

"I hate to say this, Spike. You kind of shot yourself in the claw in regards to that. You should've admitted to burning the book by accident right when you did it. I would think she would forgive you for an accident." After further thought, Zephyr shook his head. "Then again, despite your stature as number one assistant, your rational thinking was overridden when panic settled in, also something a lot of foals tend to be victim to. That's why you lied, isn't it?"

Spike was surprised he was figured out by a 3rd party so quickly before he slumped his shoulders. "Yeah, all I thought about was all the trouble I would been in if I told her on the spot." He shakes his head, looking angry again. "That still doesn't mean I should be replaced by some owl she only met last night!"

Ah, so Fluttershy WAS right. Unfortunately this is starting to remind me more of--

"Every time I try and do a task for her, she only accepts Owlow... whatever his name is, and what he has done for her!"

"So... what WERE you planning to do?"

Spike smirked, hoping Zephyr would understand. "I was going to... 'borrow' a fake mouse and frame him for making a massive mess over tearing it apart!"

Red flags everywhere... this is the same...

"Essentially... sabotage in an attempt to defame, right?"

He nodded, rather proud of the plan. "That's about the jist of it. Foolproof, if I do say so my-"

"Wrong. It is a fool's errand." Zephyr shuddered out a sigh, bitter memories welling back up. "Spike, that's a very poor plan. Twilight could easily walk in on you setting it up, the end result leaving you both heartbroken..." When he gave Zephyr a confused yet scared look, the stallion shook his head. "Why don't you come to my place for a bit to cool down instead? It'll give Twilight some space to cool off as well."

Spike slumps a bit in defeat. He really couldn't argue back, not after Zephyr's tone told him it really was a bad idea. "Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for having me over." Zephyr kneeled down for Spike to climb on. Because Spike was the first Dragon he's ever given a lift, it was an interesting experience for the Pegasus.

The house wasn't too far from the pair's place of conversation. When they arrived, Zephyr offered Spike something to eat or drink and he simply took water. I'm getting lucky with all my guests wanting only water.

Seating himself on the couch near the back door as Spike took the offered chair, he spoke up, "I need to ask, why did you sound so adamant over my plan being poor and the both of us being heartbroken over it? It almost sounds--"

"-- Like I speak from experience? Yes..." Zephyr absentmindedly swirled the water in his own glass, ignoring the look of concern Spike had on his face. "Allow me to tell you a story that happened over ten years ago. Back before I got my cutie mark... back when I was young and stupid."

Zephyr took a drink before looking at Spike. He seemed settled in and ready to listen.

"Before my mother joined... no, created the band known today as Harmonecence, she was a drifting singer and harp player. There were plenty of bands who wanted temporary mare singers in some of their songs and they would often go to her. That's how she became so famous to begin with.

"She never explicitly showed it, but she did have have times of stress during that part of her career. She was happy to do what she was doing, but she was also very happy to have a son waiting for her every time she came home."

One of Zephyr's ears swiveled to face the back door when he thought he heard a bump come from it. Thinking it was his imagination, he ignored it.

"I was ignorant of the times of stress my mother went through, but she usually made it clear whenever work was on her mind. I tried my best to complete chores and tasks around the house, aiming not for allowance, but for recognition. I had very little, if any, loyal friends at that age, forcing me to seek attention and love from the only pony I saw almost every day.

"When she made the decision to start her own band, I was unaware of all the things that was expected of her as bandleader and singer. From the day the band officially launched, I noticed that all the attention and recognition I once got from her diminished greatly. Every time I asked her why, I never understood the answer she gave me, always keeping me in the dark.

"As it went on, the panic caused by my simple-minded need for attention from my mom had been rising. At first, I thought nothing of it, but it degraded me into thinking that what I was doing wasn't sufficient enough for her approval. I started going above and beyond what I previously did for her, much to her eventual chagrin and annoyance."

Zephyr suddenly chuckled, which incited a surprised look from Spike. "I would learn much later that she kind of liked it when I had my moments of laziness. Even though it would annoy her that I was too lazy to do one or two chores, she appreciated the normality it brought with it." This got a small smile out of him.

The positive mirth quickly dissipated when Zephyr let out a more depressed sigh. "It all eventually got to the point where she started snapping at me with mild irritation. I finally got attention, but it wasn't the kind I wanted. I wanted her to be happy with me, to be proud of everything I have done for her, not to be met with annoyance and displeasure.

"After a particularly big snap, I started blaming the band for her problems and her irritation. My thought process was 'if the band never came to be, my mom wouldn't be like this! she wouldn't be irritated at me for trying to help her. I wouldn't be vying for her attention so much'."

"Just like me with Owlowiscious..." Spike frowned. He began to see why Zephyr saw parallels to their situations.

"My blame turned to jealousy, and I made a plan to sabotage the band in such a way that she would no longer want to be with them. In my mind back then, it was flawless and would ensure me getting my mother's true attention back. Needless to say, it got her attention when she caught me midway through my execution."

Zephyr let out a shaky breath, fighting desperately to hold back tears. "I had... never seen my mother... so angry in my life. Before she snapped at me with irritation, sure, but she was never truly angry until then. The way she yelled at me... what she had said at that moment. It was then I became convinced of one thing.

"She didn't love me anymore... she didn't care about me anymore. Her band had replaced me and I had become nothing to her. I didn't matter anymore. She had stormed out, leaving me in the mess I created to try and get her back.

"After that... I ran away. No point in returning to a place... a home that you felt no longer accepted you. Now I'm just a colt, running while blinded by tears through Manehatten in the middle of a white winter. It didn't take long before I got lost amongst the countless alleyways that were spread out like a spider web waiting to trap it's prey. That night, I slept fitfully in the emptiest trash can I could find."

"W-why a trash can?" Zephyr could tell Spike was trying to hold back his own emotions... and slowly failing.

"I... certainly felt like trash that was callously thrown away. After all, trash is unwanted and undesired waste. Something nopony wants.

"For the next three days after that, I lived in the alleyways. Even if I found food that was half-way decent, I barely ate and nothing could fill the emptiness I felt. During the coldest day of winter, I tried to keep myself warm, but newspapers and scrap cloth couldn't save me from the unforgiving gusts of ice cold wind." Zephyr closed his eyes.

"So cold... so alone..."

"Because of my slim complex as a colt, it didn't even take two days for me to waste away into nothing but bones, fur and feathers. I started losing feeling in my entire body, which only reinforced the emptiness I felt. By the third day, I could barely muster the energy to move.

"It was that night that my mother found me. She had been sending search parties to look for me for the past two days I was gone. It was when the other band members convinced her to look for me herself, stating that if she still loved me, she would search for me with her heart.

"I had never seen her so angry until the day I ran away... and I had never seen her cry until right then." Zephyr finally let a tear fall down his face as he stared listlessly at the half-empty glass. "When she tearfully embraced me, the warmth I managed to feel from her was something I missed, something I never wanted to forget."

Zephyr shook his head. "Due to my self-negligence, I was almost lifeless when she found me. She rushed me as fast as she could to the nearest hospital to get me treated for third degree frostbite. The way the doctors and nurses called me a miracle, I can tell I almost didn't make it."

"Y-you almost died?" Spike was starting to sob a bit. Zephyr could have sworn he heard slight sobbing elsewhere.

"If it wasn't for my mom finding me when she did and holding me close as she rushed me to emergency, I would of died. After I was stabilized, she cried as she apologized to me, saying she never should of been so angry with me, for never giving a proper explanation as to why she acted like she did. She blamed herself for holding me at legs length, for ignoring all my attempts to make her happy.

"I think she broke down even more when I told her what I told Rainbow a few days ago: "shouldn't I be the one saying sorry?" I told her that I should've realized what she was going through, and that constantly vying for her attention only added to her stress. My jealousy towards her band members simply for trying to work with her was unjustified."

choking out a sigh, Zephyr continued to fight his tears back. "She was so afraid to leave my side in the hospital every time they closed. The other band members visited me during my stay and they were rather good-natured about my attempted sabotage. This relieved me, and they quickly became something akin to a second family to me.

"A few weeks later, I was cleared to leave the hospital under the condition that I stay inside until I could walk and regain feeling in my body. I couldn't walk for another week after, and feeling didn't return until a month later. I couldn't feel the warmth of my mom's body whenever she hugged me.

"I was so stupid back then... so naive... so... very... blind..." Zephyr couldn't hold back the tears anymore and started crying silently. Spike came over and hugged him, letting his own tears flow as well.

"Spike, please... promise to never put Twilight through what I put my mother through. She is akin to a big sister to you, and you're the only one who truly understands her. If something ever happened to you, I don't think she could bear it. It would destroy her."

After breaking the hug, Zephyr put his hooves on either side of Spikes face and looked him square in the tear-filled eyes. "Don't let miscommunication sever your bonds, or all you'll be left with is regret and emptiness. If it happens to the only ponies that care about you, you'll truly be left... with nothing."

"Y-yeah..." His eyes were red by the time Zephyr let his face go. Silence reigned between the two males.

Breaking the ice, Zephyr let out an almost sad laugh. "At least a few good things came out of it. Not only did my bond with my mom get stronger, I became more resistant to cold." While it was a bad way to break the tension, it was all he could think of.

Spike gives me an extremely pained smile. "I-I need to go... thanks for having me over and... thank you for stopping me."

"It's no problem. Make your amends while you still can." Spike takes his leave out the front door after Zephyr said that to him.

Another thump rang out from the back door. Drying his tears, Zephyr peeked outside. It was early nighttime, but the only thing that stood out to him was a wet spot in front of the door, like somepony had set a small rain cloud on that spot.

"I need to write a letter to my mom. I wonder how she's doing." As Zephyr went to get his writing supplies, he remembered that the first Harmonecence song she sang as a tribute to her colt, and it played in Zephyr's mind.

"After all... I'm her immortal."

Spike, Golden Oaks Library

Spike had just gotten back to the library, Zephyr's story weighing heavily on his mind. He had almost done something that could of broken his bond with Twilight, something that could of left him as a broken shell.

He couldn't bear it. He had to apologize more profoundly and be more clear about his problems, about his insecurities.

When he started climbing the stairs up to the bedroom, he started hearing sniffling. Switching from desperation to fearing for Twilight, he rushed into the room to see Twilight with swollen eyes, like she had been crying.

"Twilight! What's wrong? Did somepony--"

Spike barely got those words out before she tackled him. "Oh Spike! I'm so, so sorry!" She cried out almost hysterically. Tears she thought had long dried began flowing anew.

When Spike didn't go back to the library, Twilight panicked with Owlowiscious. Oddly, the first pony she thought to ask for help from was Zephyr, thinking that what he said earlier in the day had relevance.

Before she could knock, She heard Spike speaking with him and he said something about having experience with something "similar" to Spikes situation. When he started telling the story, she decided to listen to it through the back door, knowing full well eavesdropping was not something that would be appreciated.

It tore her apart, hearing what Zephyr went through with his mom, Harpsong. All of the connections she made with the story. In her mind, she practically ran through what it would of been like if she was Harpsong and Spike was Zephyr. Her ignorance of Spike's jealousy crashed down on her far harder than the anvil and piano she got hit with a while back ever could.

"So you heard the story too huh?" Spike's voice was pained rather than disappointed.

"I was so blind to your jealousy, expecting you to just accept my decision. I did everything without properly explaining it to you, and even spoke too harshly to you over the book without considering your fears. I'm sorry, Spike! I'm so... so... sorry..."

Spike sighed, trying to be strong for Twilight. "I need to apologize as well. I should've told you about the book, but my pride and fear prevented me. I should've been straightforward about my jealousy instead of trying to outperform beyond what I can." He looks up at her. "Can you... forgive me?"

"If you can forgive me." They both embrace again.

Spike broke the hug and turned to the owl. "And Owlowiscious? I'm sorry for being condescending towards you. I knew you had good intentions, but I never acknowledged them." Spike held out a claw. "Partners?" The owl flew down with a soft 'hoo' and extended a wing for him to shake.

While they did that, Twilight started on a letter, wanting to write it herself rather than make Spike do it.

Dear Princess Celestia:

I've learned something very important today, not just about friendship, but about family as well. Becoming jealous over something without telling another about it will get you nowhere.

At the same time, being ignorant of another's jealousy over your decisions without consulting them is devastating as well. If such miscommunication is to continue, both parties will do things they will regret, and both will forever be left with a feeling of sorrow and emptiness.

Communication is key in any relationship, whether it's between friends, lovers, or even close family. For without it, the bonds you worked hard to build up will eventually shatter. I have learned to value such communication and bonds between my friends, especially the one between me and my number one assistant.

Your Faithful Student;

Twilight Sparkle

"Hey Spike, can you send a letter for me?" She could tell he had become tired from all the emotion. As soon as he sent off the letter, he fell asleep, inciting a smile out of her as she put him in his bed.

"I think I'll turn in early tonight as well. Owlowiscious, You take a break as well. See you tomorrow night." With that she climbed up into her bed and fell asleep. Owlowiscious let out a soft 'hoo' of thanks towards Zephyr's residence before starting his vigil over his new home.

Princess Celestia, Canterlot Castle

Celestia found the letter sent to her by her Faithful Student before she turned in for the night. The message brought back painful memories of her sister's bottled up jealousy towards her and her own ignorance of it.

"I am glad she has learned this lesson when she did. After all, nopony should have to go through that kind of pain...

"Nopony... should go through what me and my sister went through..."

Author's Note

Sorry for no updates for a while, so an extra long chapter for you. I intended to make this as emotionally charged as I could during the second leg. While I haven't been through something like that personally, my own family was fractured by many bouts of miscommunication.

And I will admit... I cried while writing this...

A-anyways, tell me how I did.

My immortal Is owned and copyrighted by Evanescence, Broken Hearts was made by Michael Ortega. I own nothing.