It was late afternoon when Zephyr was cleared from the hospital. Despite everything he went through, all he had were minor bruises from the chains, some minor blood and feather loss, and a case of malnutrition. The medical staff did want to keep him in longer but due to Zephyr's insistence that he's absolutely fine, they let him go early though not without various warnings to "take it easy".

Because of his lightweight structure from malnutrition, Zephyr easily got knocked over when a certain group of three fillies tackled him to the ground. Scootaloo in particular had landed on his stomach and started pounding on Zephyr's chest in frustration. "Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot! Why would you say such things? Why did you keep everything to yourself? Why?!" Her pounding got slower and weaker as she started sobbing.

Zephyr let out a weak sigh as he caught one of Scootaloo's hooves in his. "Because I’m weak. I understand if you three hate me for avoiding you like that, but..."

"I told you to stop saying that!" Fluttershy gave Zephyr a frustrated, yet saddened look.

Applebloom whimpered. "But... why didn't ya tell us anything?"

That got a grimace as Zephyr looked away, partially in shame. "If I did tell you, you would of hated me anyways."

Sweetie Belle shot a worried look. "No we wouldn't! We could of helped you find a way to make up to our sisters for it!"

"You say that because you listened to that tape-player. Think about it for a second. How would any of you have felt, before hearing that, if you knew I wronged your older sisters and their friends?" The fillies looked at each other.

Scootaloo thought about it for a moment before sighing. "I... suppose you're right in a way." She glares at Zephyr. "I still thought I told you not to do that ever again. This time, I want you to outright Pinkie Promise not to do it ever again!"

That demand caused Zephyr to shoot a confused look at Fluttershy. "Pinkie Promise?"

"I COMPLETELY forgot to tell you all about that!" Zephyr looked over and saw Pinkie facehoofing. "I guess you weren't around for it, but Twilight made a bunch during Fluttershy's brief stint as a model. it goes, 'Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye'." she went through the motions before looking back at Zephyr expectantly.

"C-cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my-- ow." poking himself in the eye, Zephyr tried to mimic the motions.

The fillies giggle as Pinkie shakes her head in amusement. "Twilight did that exact same thing, so I'll let it slide. Everypony's first time doing the recital is different! Just remember, breaking a pinkie promise is the fastest way to lose a friend--" She zips up beside Zephyr with a menacing look. "-- FOREVER!"

So this is what true fear is... "I-I get it, even though I was pretty sure I already lost everypony as friends."

"That's besides the point." She suddenly dashes off, leaving the entire group confused.

Shaking his head as the fillies got off, Zephyr stood up and stretched his wings with a wince. "I suppose I should go see Cloud Conduct over my situation. I'm pretty sure I'm no longer the wind manager, but..."

Fluttershy gives her big brother a worried look. "Are you sure you're fit enough to fly to Cloudsdale? You only just got out of the hospital."

"I should be fine, the feathers I'm missing aren't that important to my flight and I feel rested enough." Fluttershy didn't looked convinced but gave an affectionate nuzzle anyways.

Scootaloo was about to gag when Applebloom cut in. "Hey, I've seen Applejack doing that to Big Mac whenever she's worried about him."

Sweetie Belle deadpanned. "The nuzzle from a worried little sister to her older brother? Wait, could that mean..?"

Fluttershy and Zephyr look at each other before nodding at the fillies. "We've only just recently found out but yeah, Fluttershy's my sister."

This caused Sweetie Belle and Applebloom to squeal with delight while Scootaloo deadpans. "And here I thought you two suddenly became lovey-dovey with each other."

"Wha-- I assure you that is NOT the case." Zephyr's outburst got a giggle out of Fluttershy.

"There's the stallion I've been waiting for!"

looking up to see who spoke, Zephyr saw Rainbow Dash flying right above the group with a glare. On instinct, he crouched in fear, prompting Fluttershy gave the rainbow-maned Pegasus a glare of her own. "Rainbow, give him a break. I thought you--"

Huh, Fluttershy gets more assertive when she's worried about Zephyr now."I'm not mad at him for THAT, not anymore anyways." She narrows her eyes at me. "I'm mad for a completely different reason. You, mister, have been holding out on me this whole time!"

Seeing the looks of confusion the fillies and Zephyr bore, she rolls her eyes and jabs his side. One yelp of surprise later, all four of Zephyr's wings spread much to the surprise of the crusaders, Scootaloo especially. "I... uh... I can explain!"

"No need, Harpsong filled in the rest of the picture on why you hid your second pair and, truthfully, you had every reason to. That still doesn't change the fact that I want a rematch, except you're using all FOUR wings this time."

This surprised Zephyr immensely. As somepony who prided herself on her flying capabilities as a normal Pegasus, he thought Rainbow would hate a 'cheating freak' like him. "Y-you don't mind...?"

Rainbow rolls her eyes again. "Harpsong asked the same thing, and Pinkie answered for all of us: you're you no matter what you look like. I'm just... more irritated at you for holding back on me despite you always giving me flack for holding back."

"B-but what about the rest of the town?"

It was clear she didn't think that far ahead, but she changed to a more confident smirk. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but I'm positive you don't need to worry about it. In the meantime, I want you to get back up to speed with BOTH pairs, then we'll have our rematch. Until then, see you around town." With that, she flies off.

"That... is... AWESOME!" Zephyr gave Scootaloo a surprised look when she shouted like that. "Er... not as awesome as Rainbow Dash, but you essentially have double the wing-power you originally let on."

"Are you girls... fine with this?"

Applebloom gives me a questioning look. "Will it change yer personality if they aren't hidden?"

After Zephyr shook his head, Sweetie Belle smiles at him. "Then you have no need to worry."

To finally be wrong about how some ponies would treat him was throwing Zephyr off, though he did his best to adapt. "Well, I need to head over to Cloudsdale to get something straightened out. If I can, I'll play with you three tomorrow after school." The trio nods and run off.

"You are very kind to those three, aren't you?" Zephyr looks at Fluttershy with a small nod and she shakes her head. "But I'm coming with you to Cloudsdale. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you on the way there."

Day one of having a little sister and she's already trying to look out for me as best she can...

All Zephyr knew he could do was shrug and spread his primary wings in preparation to fly. After training himself to fly with only one pair after all these years, he realized that the muscle memory for his secondary pair was no longer there. Making a mental note of it, he took off with Fluttershy following close behind.

It had become apparent that word travels fast from Ponyville to Cloudsdale. Cloud Conduct had heard about Zephyr's situation, and she already had a replacement called in. Seeing as that he still needed to recover, she wouldn't cancel the replacement in order for him to rest. It included temporarily giving up his house, but he understood.

Zephyr inquired about the state of his employment contract and Cloud mentioned that, while the first one was voided by this point, she was more than willing to draft up a new one. The key difference in this one is that the pay that gets reduced from his salary goes towards paying the house off. Once Zephyr pays it off in full through work, he will have both full ownership and a full salary.

Fluttershy had thought of everything, including the fact that Zephyr wouldn't be able to go back home just yet. She had his house key from the get-go and had already moved all of his personal stuff into her house.

Before the siblings took off for Ponyville, she tugged at Zephyr's wing to get his attention. "W-would you like to see... dad?"

Oh no... I almost forgot... again.

"What about mom... I mean... my biological mom."

She slumped on the ground with a sad look. "She... passed away ten years ago." Despite only remembering three years with her, this devastated Zephyr.

After a brief silence, Zephyr let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Then let's go see... dad."

It's going to be weird having a dad... and so awkward.

When the two landed in front of the cloud house, Zephyr went to knock but hesitated and looked back at Fluttershy. She gave him an encouraging nudge and that prompted him to knock.

There was silence for a bit before a soft-male voice called out, "Wh-who is it?"

Fluttershy spoke up, "It's me dad."

"Flutters?" The door opened and Zephyr sees a teal stallion with cloud-like hair that was white with a tint of pink. "What's going on sweetie--" He stopped dead when he saw Zephyr with a look of pure shock. "It... can't be..."

Not knowing what to say, Zephyr smiled nervously. "Hi... dad..."

Next thing he knew, Zephyr was being squeezed... well it felt like Medishy was trying to squeeze him, like he was afraid his son would disappear again. "I-I thought we lost you... sixteen years ago. I can't believe it... you're alive!"

"I must of caused you, mom, and Fluttershy a lot of grief. I'm sorry..."

He breaks the hug to look at Zephyr. "W-well... after you disappeared, your mom and I were... scared to let little Fluttershy out of our sight as we lamented your apparent death. Poor Fluttershy took it the hardest in a way because she lost her memories of her early fillyhood from the pure shock of losing you."

Zephyr gave a surprised look before turning and nuzzling his sister, who hummed at the contact. "I... I'm sorry about that. I wish I could see mom..."

"She held fast to the belief that you were still alive, even on her deathbed. Her instincts as a mother were always spot on, even though I sometimes had doubts." Medishy shakes his head. "I'm willing to bet she's happy in the next world just knowing you returned to the both of us."

Zephyr nodded before hugging his father again. "In truth... somepony in Manehatten took me in as her own son when I myself lost my memories. If not for her, I probably wouldn't be here."

That got a smile from the tired father. "Is that so? I would like to meet her and give her my eternal thanks. Would you like to come in and see your old room?"

"Sure." He leads the siblings into the house. Outside of the cloud materials, it was similar to a middle-class house in Manehatten like the one Harpsong lived in.

When Zephyr stepped into the room Medishy said was his from sixteen years ago, something washed over him and just stared.

Fluttershy quickly noticed the somewhat dreamy look. "Big brother, what's wrong?"

"... Nostalgia... unchanged..."

It looked like the room you'd expect a three year old colt to have plus a layer of dust.

Medishy spoke up then, "Your mother kept your room tidy until her death. It was one of the ways she showed knowing you were still alive."

All Zephyr could do was simply nod as he let the memories he had once lost wash over him. After scanning the room, he took notice of a Wonderbolt poster and chuckled. "Guess I did want to become a Wonderbolt at one point. Spitfire will have a fit if she finds that out."

Fluttershy gives Zephyr a surprised look. "You know the captain of the Wonderbolts?" after a nod, she giggles into her hoof. "Rainbow would have your head if she knew."

"That sounds like her." Zephyr turns to his dad. "I think we should head back to Ponyville. It was great seeing you for the first time in... well, ever."

Making sure he hugs his son one more time, Medishy smiles, looking a bit younger now. "Don't be a stranger, son. It feels so... surreal to be saying that now, but in a good way." That statement got a round of chuckles. The sun was starting to set when they exited the house, so the siblings flew straight to Fluttershy's cottage.

By the time they reached it, it was night-time. Upon entering, the rabbit Zephyr saw before gives him a scrutinizing look before looking at Fluttershy in confusion with the rest of the animals, clearly seeing a connection but unsure what kind. "Don't worry, Angel. He's my brother and he’s just staying with us for a few nights."

Angel gives Zephyr a surprised look before nodding with a smile. He chattered something to the other animals, who nodded before returning to their resting places.

As Fluttershy prepared dinner, Zephyr decided to look through his belongings quickly. The wind harp was still there and--

Oh no, why didn't I notice that cake stain on my suit before?! After a small sigh and a mental note to visit Rarity tomorrow, even though Zephyr still felt like he didn't deserve anything done for him, he tucked the suit away for now.

"Dinner's ready!" Putting his harp on the floor beside the couch, Zephyr headed to the dining room. Fluttershy had made a simple salad, but it was enough to get a grumble out of her brother's stomach, making her giggle. "Somepony hungry?"

"I... actually haven't eaten in a few days."

That got a gasp of worry out of her. "No wonder you look famished. Eat as much as you can, you're going to need it." Zephyr nodded, knowing she wouldn't let him have it any other way. Despite the initial awkwardness, the siblings managed to talk about what happened in their lives ever since separation, including how they got our cutie marks.

While Zephyr felt like she missed something, he decided not to prod since he figured she was entitled to some secrets. "So that's why Pinkie said "you're special to us." that day..."

Fluttershy nods. "Yeah, that Rainboom eventually brought us together as friends. It was just the six of us originally, but then you came around."

"And then I messed up the whole composition."

That statement earned Zephyr a jab to the shoulder. "Stop being down on yourself, you're not to blame for that."

I beg to differ.

The two continued talking into the night, even when Zephyr started helping her with her duties to the animals, until it was time for bed. Fluttershy told him about the spare bedroom during dinner, so Zephyr started heading there when he noticed his sister following him into the room. "What's the matter, Shy?"

She stutters a bit at me using her nickname from sixteen years ago before recomposing herself enough to talk. "I-is it okay if you... sleep with me tonight?"

Remembering back when they were foals, Fluttershy would always crawl into Zephyr's bed whenever she was scared or lonely. It was considered fine back then, yet things have drastically changed. "Aren't we a bit too old for that now?"

"I-I know but... I just want..." She didn't finish as she gives Zephyr a worried look.

She's afraid I'll disappear on her again.

"I guess I could... only for you though, Shy." She gives Zephyr a soft smile as he follows her into her bedroom, which looked fairly simple all things considered.

It wasn't long after Zephyr crawled into the bed when she started snuggling up beside him. For the extra comfort of his little sister, he draped two wings over her, causing her to hum with joy as she started falling asleep. Her fur tickled Zephyr's secondary wing, but he didn't care as sleep beckoned him to the dream world.

Fluttershy cracked open an eye a bit later and saw Zephyr sound asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief as he was relaxed from everything that has happened.

She wanted to sleep with Zephyr not only because she was afraid of letting him out of sight with how he’s been acting, but also because she wanted to reconnect more with him.

Fluttershy remembered when she was a filly and when thunderstorms or nightmares scared her. At first, she always crawled into her parent’s bed, but both of them were too deep of sleepers to really provide much comfort to her.

One night she accidentally stumbled into Zephyr’s room, much to his surprise. When he saw how scared Fluttershy was, despite being scared of the thunder himself, he offered her room in his bed for the night. He did his best to comfort her, despite his own fears.

Tonight though, she wanted to be there for him.

“I love you… big brother.”

Author's Note

While this chapter didn't change much, I want to make note that, thanks to later episodes officially showing what Fluttershy's parents looked like, I decided to respect the canon of her father's appearance, though I still took a liberty with his full name. As for her canon mom and brother, you'll see what I did with them later down the line... if I ever make it that far