Zephyr-as-Gale woke up still feeling incredibly off due to her switched gender. I wonder if this is how mares always feel and if they're so used to it, it doesn't bother them.

She got up even earlier than usual to get wind duties out of the way before Rainbow came out to do weather. The prismatic Pegasus would definitely see through Gale's ruse especially if she saw the two pairs of wings and if she saw Gale doing weather, as well as never seeing 'Zephyr' anywhere in Cloudsdale yesterday.

I can only hope she's convinced by Scootaloo if she asks her where I am. I probably shouldn't throw her under the carriage like that, but... considering how she normally acts, that's a risk I want to avoid.

Returning home, Gale sees Scootaloo getting ready for school now that the weekend was over. Making a quick breakfast of pancakes, the only thing she knew how to make besides oatmeal, Gale saw Scootaloo off before heading towards Rarity's at her behest yesterday. While Gale knew she accepted that the gender change was a complete accident, there was still an uneasy even as she knocked.

"Just a minute~!" Rarity opened the door and smiled upon seeing Gale. "Ah, Zep-- *ahem* I mean, Gale! Come in, I'm so glad to see you've made it!"

"A-are you sure you're okay... with me like this?" Despite it being a song and dance from both yesterday and back after the foalnapping, Gale couldn't help but ask as she entered.

Rarity closes the door before letting out a knowing sigh. "Darling, I understand you didn't want this to happen and that you didn't want any of us to think negatively of you. But please give your friends some credibility, none of us will think any less of you because of a simple accident."

"I'm sorry, I still find it... difficult. I'm just not used to any of this that's happening to me as of late, not just this."

"Of course... the "friends" of your younger age would of tossed you aside and made you suffer for it. I've never had that happen to me, but I'd imagine letting something like that go would be difficult after suffering it all throughout foalhood." Gale droops her ears and nodded.

"Oh my gosh! I forgot my-- oh hi Zephyr!" Gale jumped two feet in the air before realizing it was just Sweetie Belle.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Sweetie Belle, did you forget your lunch again?"

"Sorry, I guess I was just in too big of a--"

Sweetie Belle was interrupted by Rarity holding out her lunch bag for her. "I understand, little sister. All I ask is that you remember what we agreed on at the spa."

"Yup! Until he turns back to normal, call Zephyr 'Gale Singer'. I can see why you called yourself that from what you sang yesterday. I can't believe I missed the message of that, but that's in the past. See you around!" With that, Sweetie runs out of the boutique in a hurry.

Rarity started giving Gale a confused stare. "You sang yesterday?" With a blush, the golden mare nods and told Rarity what she sung. "Ah, I suppose you heard of our falling-out. That's exactly what I realized when I saw what she drew and what flowers she got me."

"It... made me sad to hear she wanted to be sisterless, which is the reason why I sang that, I suppose."

Rarity sighs but gives her friend a smile. "Well, you're definitely right in that little song. If only I realized it before it was too late. Ah well, we've made up and it's in the past now." She suddenly felt the temptation to ask, "this might be sudden, but can I hear you sing?"

The request got a blanch in response. "Wait, what? I swear I'm not a good female singer!"

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Gale. While I don't approve of the genre you sing for, I can still vouch for your singing as a male and I doubt it's any different with a switched gender. Even if it's the little piece you sang yesterday, I would like to hear it."

Looking around nervously, like Gale was making sure no-pony else was listening, she finally relented and sang that piece. Rarity let out a soft hum of calmness. "You definitely would pass off as Fluttershy's twin sister if you were born a mare. Your singing voice is a bit deeper than hers, but soothing in it's own way."

"For some reason, hearing that I could pass as my sister's sister doesn't comfort me one bit..."

"You know that it confirms that you're related to her anyways. If both the blood test results and this incident hasn't convinced you, I don't know what will."

Gale lets out a small cough, recognizing that the visit got derailed. "Right... so, uh... why did you have me come here again?"

With a short gasp, Rarity remembered the reason. "Oh, yes! Remember when I said that being groomed at the spa is one way of knowing what a mare does in her life?"

That made Gale tilt her head in confusion. "That sounds more like a Fluttershy and you type of thing."

"That's besides the point. Why don't I show you another mare thing."

I have to wonder how many "mare things" there are, although I'm afraid to ask.

Rarity led Gale into the back room, much to her initial confusion, until the seamstress showed her a dress which made Gale's entire face burn in embarrassment when she realized what was implied. "Y-you mean w-wearing dresses?"

With a small smile, Rarity went through more dresses. "Don't be like that, Gale. If you're going to be a mare for a while longer, you might as well get the full experience."

Gale's face continued to burn for a little bit longer until she began realizing how nice all of the dresses that was being tried on felt. Worried that she was beginning to enjoy it too much, Gale informed Rarity and she said that it was only because well-designed dresses have that effect on most ponies. She also assured the gold mare that, while she knows that Gale be back to Zephyr, she wanted to find or make a dress that suited the female persona in case he happens to gender change again.

This went on for a while until Rarity decided that Gale had enough. "I wouldn't want to drown you in all of your choices now, would I?"

That got an eye roll as Gale got out of the final dress. "I think you already did."

This merely got a giggle out of her. "Don't worry about it too much, darling. I'm sure you'll be fine as soon as you're gender is back to normal."

I highly doubt it...

"Oh, yes. Perhaps you would like some more gold ribbons to cover up your secondaries?"

After a quick thought, Gale shook her head. "I... should be fine if I hurry enough and don't use them. I'm going straight home right away anyways."

Rarity pursed her lips in response, uncertain. "If... you say so, darling. Come to think, they are kind of hard to tell from your coat, so you should be fine."

With her plans for Zephyr's mare-form's dress, she bid Gale farewell before turning to her work. She started heading back to the house, trying to be as discreet about it as possible.

"Hey, you!" Gale froze as Rainbow's voice rang from above her. Before any reaction was made, Rainbow lands in front of Gale with a scrutinizing look. "You must be Gale Singer, am I right?"

"Y-yes I am. W-who are you?"

"The name's Rainbow Dash. I must ask this: You say you're Fluttershy's cousin, right?"

The way she worded that made alarms blare in Gale's mind. "Y-yes. I-I wanted to pay her and her family a surprise visit from Las Pegas, b-but she had left for an animal convention the day before I came."

Rainbow raises an eyebrow. "So I've heard. I'm Fluttershy's filly-hood friend, in case you didn't know."

"O-oh... really? I didn't know that."

She scoffs. "Now you do. Since you're here and all, why don't we go to my place to chat? Makes sense that you would want to get to know your cousins' best friend, right?"

I really don't like where this is going, but I can't say no for fear of invoking even more suspicion.

"A-alright. Lead the way." Rainbow gives Gale a look before the both of them took off.

Gale followed her in silence for a while until they come across the cloud house that was always seen during wind duties. When Rainbow started descending towards it, Gale finally realized that it was her house. She never told me this before...

As she approached the front door, Gale gazed at the beautiful design of the house and at how pretty the rainbows coming off of it looked. I never really stopped to admire it before, as I always focused on my work and never remembered to come back afterwards.

The interior was nothing different from the other cloud buildings outside of the fact that it looked like it was built more for a family, not one mare. No longer mesmerized by the house's exterior, Gale started to look around nervously. "I-is there anything in particular you wanted to talk to me about?"

Rainbow deliberately looked around aimlessly. "Oh, nothing much really... except for you perhaps."

"Oh, that's fine-- wait, what?"

There was suddenly two magenta eyes glaring into Gale's vision. "You don't think I haven't caught onto your tricks yet, you poser? You may have fooled Ponyville, but you can't fool ME!"

Gale yelped in fright as she skid away from the aggressive Pegasus, only for her to follow the scared pony the entire way. "I-I-I d-don't know w-what you m-mean!"

"Feigning ignorance, are you? Perhaps it should interest you to know that Fluttershy doesn't have and family in Las Pegas, nor does she have a cousin named Gale Singer."

The fact that Rainbow extensively knew Fluttershy's family made Gale's heart feel like it stopped, yet at the same time it was thumping madly in as Rainbow continued to stare Gale down onto the floor. "B-b-but I-I--"

"Give it up, I've already caught onto your tricks. Just tell me who, or what, you really are and maybe I'll ask Ponyville to go easy on you!"

The pressure... the intense glaring... the accusations...

The hatred directed at me...

Gale started to shudder pretty badly. "Okay, okay! Just... please stop!"

"Oh, going to finally confess?"

"F-f-fine, y-you caught me. I... I..."

"You what? Spit it out, or am I--"

"I'M ZEPHYR, OKAY?!" Gale burst before covering her head with hooves and waiting for the response.

Rainbow couldn't believe her ears as she huffed in disbelief. "You really are delusional, aren't you? There's no way you're Zephyr when you're a mare and he's a stallion."

"B-b-but I am! I-I swear to you I a-am! P-Pinkie promise!"

Now Rainbow was confused by this mare's insistence and pressed further. "Well... Zephyr is very different from most Pegasi. I don't see--" She gasps after Gale extended both pairs of wings she continued to cower behind her hooves.

It's all over... she hates me now, not only for my switched gender, but for also posing as a fake cous-- Gale gave a start when Rainbow suddenly picked her up in a hug. "W-why a-are you--"

"I'm so sorry, Zephyr, for doing that to you! If you had told me from the start, I wouldn't of scared you so badly like that."

"D-don't you hate m-me?"

Rainbow suddenly holds Gale at forelegs length with a tear-filled glare, one that spoke saddened frustration rather than hatred. "Stop thinking I'm going to hate you, you idiot! If anything, you should hate me for doing what I just did to you."

"B-but... don't you see m-me as a p-pervert for changing g-gender like this?"

"I don't care about that! I never wanted to hurt any of my friends like that... not ever again!"

Gale start hugging her back, now feeling guilty over causing Rainbow such distress over such deceitful attempts at keeping the gender change a secret. The both of them stayed like that until they calmed down. "I'm sorry I kept this a secret from you. It's just... I didn't know how you would take it and I didn't want to become Ponyville's laughing stock."

"It's fine. I suppose I would of made fun of you if you did come forward with it any sooner. The reason why I did what I did is because I thought you were some poser trying to take advantage of Scootaloo or something." Rainbow breaks the hug and gives Gale an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, I'm actually surprised most of Ponyville bought it. Applejack figured me out pretty early and Rarity found out after, although both of them took it rather easily."

"That's Applejack for you, although I do have to wonder how this happened, though." Gale tells her what happened at Twilight's place, causing Rainbow to shake her head. "So much for your "resistance" to magic. I knew Twilight was powerful, considering she lifted an Ursa Minor out of Ponyville, but dang."

The new information got a shocked look from Gale. "Wait, what? She seriously did that?" Rainbow nods with a small smirk. "Remind me never to get on her bad side."

"You and me both... on most occasions." The two sat there in silence for a bit longer. "Hey, uh... mind if I take you around town for a bit tonight, just to make it up to you? We can bring Scootaloo along as well."

"No-pony said anything needed to be made up, but I'll take you up on that."

Rainbow smiles. "Alright, meet up with me after the Squirt gets off of school."

When Scootaloo and Gale met up with Rainbow, Pinkie Pie invited the trio to a party and, since nopony could think of anything better, they decided to accept.

Upon arrival at Sugar Cube Corner, they found the rest of their friends, excluding Fluttershy, there as well. Twilight told Gale in a whisper that the potion for reverting changed genders needed to sit for a while before it would work, though It would be ready by the time the party ended.

Applejack and Rarity realized that Rainbow had found out about Zephyr's gender issue, though what surprised them was how Rainbow was handling it. Gale didn't tell them about their 'episode', thinking that Rainbow didn't need that kind of flack.

The guest of honor was a piano player from Canterlot, but when most of the ponies asked her to play for the party, she had qualms over playing without somepony to sing to her music. Most of the ponies sounded disappointed about it.

At least until Scootaloo started beaming at her 'cousin'. "Gale, perhaps you can sing to her music? I'd like to hear you sing a proper song."

This definitely got a nervous reaction out of her. "I-I don't think I'm up to the challenge."

Rainbow scoffed. "Come on, it should be a breeze for you. It would help you live up to the "Singer" part of your name anyways and I'm curious how it will sound."

Gale was about to retort when Rarity squeed. "That sounds like a wonderful idea! You should definitely do it, darling!"

"... Don't I get a say in this?"

"Well... you wouldn't want to disappoint the party now, would you?" Pinkie suddenly popped up in front of Gale with a smile, causing her to yelp in fright. "Besides, you did fine the last few times you've done it. What's one more song for the time being?"

I'm not even going to question how Pinkie knew it was me...

After a few more nearby ponies encouraged her, Gale let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll do it. I'm so easily pressured..."

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "You think you're easy to pressure, you should see Fluttershy on some days."

"Point taken."

Heading to the back where the light-violet mare was practicing her piano, Gale couldn't help but marvel at it. She hears somepony approaching and smiles. "Are you the one who's going to sing to my piano's music?"

"I wouldn't be back here if I wasn't."

She laughs. "Fair enough. I'll play something for you right now and see if you can't formulate any lyrics."

She starts playing again and, because of how beautiful it was, Gale started humming along with it. Thinking back to earlier today and how much I wavered in front a pony whom I should of trusted from the start, as well as what a potential 'bad future' would have been if Zephyr never got forgiveness, Gale thought up the perfect lyrics for what was playing. "I think I got something thought up."

"Already? Well, if you say so and got the confidence to back it up."

Gale shakes her head. "Truth be told, I've only sang lyrics I made up on the spot only once. It was... decent enough, but no promises about this one."

"I'll keep that in mind. My name is Lilac Keys."

"Gale Singer." Thinking for a bit and making the connection, she asks, "Do you know a stallion named Iron Keys?"

That made Lilac widen her eyes. "Yes, he's my older brother and he helps manage a band named--"

"Three Night's Grace? My cousin sings for that band, that's how I knew his name."

She nods. "Then when you see him next, tell him Iron won't be back in Ponyville for a while longer."

Ironic that I don't have to convey that message... unless I want to tell my other band-mates.

As Lilac brought out the piano to play for the crowd, Gale noticed her friends and 'cousin' giving her supportive gestures. She simply waved back at them and mentally braced herself for the song.

Feeling prepared, Gale signals Lilac to start. Once she got through the intro of the song, Gale started to sing:

Millions of flower petals fall
Scattering and coloring the town
However this time is at its end
As the wind had foretold it to us all

There's no need to worry anymore
The seasons always find a way to change
We knew that since the time that we...
Watched the moon in it's brilliance before

All the time constantly,
We shed these tears
And we do it again and again
We don't know how much it's worth,
Until it's gone away for good...

If I could have just one wish, I would...
Go back to who I was
Yesterday, and I'd say
My goodbyes to you...
If my feelings stay the same
And do not change or fade away,
Just meet me,
At our favorite cherry tree...

We made a promise on that sunny day,
So I made sure that it won't be lost
By tracing my hooves on the beams
Of the sunlight that chased the dark away

No moment is the same
As the one after it
You can't return to the past
I'll move on with life and then...
I won't hesitate again!

So that all my deepest prayers will reach you
Safely where you are
To this day,
I will sing this song again for you
If the answers that I'm looking for
Exist within the world,
Gently please,
Please just tell me that they do...

I'll move on with life and then...
And I won't hesitate again...

If I could have just one wish I would
Go back to who I was
Back in time, just to sing...
Once again to you...
If my feelings stay the same
And do not change or fade away,
Just meet me,
At our favorite cherry tree...

So that all my deepest prayers will reach you
Safely where you are
To this day...
I will sing this song again for you
If the answers that I'm looking for
Are right before my eyes
Gently please,
Please just tell me that they are...

And "reset" all the sadness in my heart...

As Lilac finished playing the song, many ponies in the building had found themselves with tears streaming down their faces. Rarity herself couldn't help but cry silently at the lyrics due to what she just went through with her sister, though she made sure to dry them before anypony found her blubbering ineloquently.

When Lilac brought the piano to rest, the entire bakery exploded into applause and cheering, much to Gale's embarrassment as she went back to her friends.

Applejack was the first to speak, "Boy, howdy. No matter what situation you're in, ya sure sing a good song."

Rarity hummed a bit. "I take back what I said earlier about you singing similarly to Fluttershy. The similarity is still there, but outside of one exception, Fluttershy usually sings more... up-beat tunes. Your singing drifts much closer to being lullabies." As if on cue, Scootaloo let out a yawn.

The praise did give Gale a small smile. "As long as it's pleasing to hear, at the very least."

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "You really need to have more confidence in yourself. Even Twilight would agree."

"Speaking of Twilight, where did she go?"

"Oh, she said something about 'checking up on a potion' or something along those lines," Pinkie happily explained. “Don't worry, she only left at the tail end of it and told me to tell you how soothing it sounded."

Gale nodded before looking outside and saw the sky painted in the colors of a sunset. "I suppose we can mingle a bit longer at the party. Don't really need to be anywhere desperately." Noticing Scootaloo with a slightly tired look on her face as she chatted with her friends, she adds, "At least until Scoots gets too tired."

Pinkie squeed. "Then what are you waiting for? There's a party to be had!"

It was dark out as Gale and Scootaloo left Sugar Cube Corner. The party was still going, but Gale decided to get Scootaloo home as soon as possible, though she was obstinate about coming with her 'cousin' to make sure Zecora's potion worked. She was able to keep up the facade of not being tired and insisted that she can walk just fine, but Gale could tell she would soon be dead on her hooves.

Sugar Cube Corner was a fair ways away from the library, so an eye was kept on her as the two started trekking through the less lit streets of Ponyville.

"Well, what's a fine young lass doing out this late at night?"

The sudden voice cause Gale to squeak in surprise as she whipped around to face where it came from. Suddenly, four pony outlines emerge from a nearby ally-way and, realizing that nothing good was going on, Gale instinctively pushed Scootaloo behind her with a wing as the two started backing away. "I-I don't know what you mean."

"Innocent too. Just the way I like it."

Both of them kept backing away from the stallions as they continued to slowly bear down on them. Gale hear Scootaloo whimper, which instantly put a scowl on her face. "I don't know what you want with me, but you're sorely mistaken if you think I'm just going to play along with your--"

"Ah ha ha, feisty as well. But we wouldn't want THAT, now would we?" That made Gale lose some of her bravado as they continued to bear down on the two, unfazed. "We've met others like you. We shouldn't have to tell you what might just happen should you... 'refuse' our company." Gale connected eyes with Scootaloo briefly, long enough to see her apparent fear. "Smart girl, you know exactly what I mean."

The burning enmity in her chest was getting hotter. "What power do you hold over me if my cousin is right next to me?"

It was too dark to see what the leader's coat color was, but his smile was all to visible. "The answer is very simple: come with us quietly to 'entertain' us and your cousin will be left alone. If you refuse... well, you're still coming with us, but not only is your stay more... permanent, the filly gets punished for it as well."

"WHAT?!"

Suddenly one of the other stallions spoke up, "Perhaps I could keep the filly?"

Another one yet to speak shook his head. "You always had a thing for fillies, didn't you?" Gale start gritting her teeth.

"Shut up, you two." The leader turns back to me. "So what's it going to be?"

"I refuse!"

He adopted a fake look of hurt. "Oh? But don't you care for your little cousin, whom you've only know for a short while and was practically a street rat until recently?" Gale gives him a smoldering glare as he shakes his head. "Now, know that I am a fairly understanding stallion. As such, I'll give you another chance to make the 'right' decision."

Closing her eyes before casting one last look at Scootaloo, Gale silently bid good-bye to any shred of stallion named Zephyr left in her. "Fine... I'll do it. But only if you let her go!"

He smiles even bigger. "That's a good girl. Always eager to please." Gale gave Scootaloo an apologetic look before walking over. As soon as I reached them, two of the stallions, Pegasi, immediately flanked her on both sides. Gale gave one last look at the filly, who had the look of pure hopelessness.

I'm sorry, little sister. I don't think I could of done this any other way... I failed you.

"Bring the filly as well."

No sooner did he utter those words, did the two stallions flanking Gale start pinning me down knowing that she would start struggling. "You told me you would leave her alone!"

"I lied. Not only would letting her go cause complications, you did refuse my first offer of coming quietly." Scootaloo let out a distressed cry as the other remaining stallion grabbed her. The leader smiles down at his 'prize' as Gale gives him a look of pure rage, the enmity threatening to tear her chest open. "Don't worry, we'll be sure to take good care of her as well. I'm sure it'll... be... fun."

The last thing Gale remembered was yellow covering her vision before being swallowed up by a hazy red veil.

They shouldn't of done that.

"...--Op, Zephyr! Please stop! PLEASE!"

Scootaloo's voice suddenly made Gale come to, only to find that she's sitting on one of the stallions from before with a broken and bloody face, clearly unconscious. After clamoring off, Gale slowly looked around and saw the three other stallions, all of them also unconscious with bloody faces and bodies.

All it took was one look at her bloody hooves to realize that she was the one who did it.

I... was the one who almost killed them.

"Oh... w-what... what have I done? What have I done?!" Gale collapsed on the cold cobblestone, sobbing into her hooves with the smell of blood invading her nose. She didn't hear anything from Scootaloo outside of panicked breathing.

"Hey, what happened here?" Thunderlane and Rumble, having heard the commotion after exiting Sugar Cube Corner, rapidly approaching the scene with shocked looks on their faces. He looked over the unconscious stallions before coming to Gale's side. "Are you alright?"

I whimper. "I... I almost... I almost..."

"Please calm down, Gale. What happened to these stallions?"

"They approached... threatened me... threatened her... almost... what have I done?"

Thunderlane looks back at the unconscious stallions with slight distaste before looking at Rumble, who was trying to comfort Scootaloo. "I need you to tell the authorities what happened here while I take--"

"Library... Twilight... please..."

"-- Her and Scootaloo to the library. Come straight back to me after you're done." Rumble nods and scampers off. Thunderlane puts Gale, still shaking with fear and regret, on his back before picking up Scootaloo and flying right to the library. He burst through the door with a loud bang.

Twilight looked down at the entrance in annoyance. "Try to keep the door on it's hinges pl--" She gasped when she saw who was there. "Dear Celestia, what happened?"

Thunderlane shook his head. "I found them like this in front of four beaten up and unconscious stallions. I think they threatened them, but Gale is too terrified to really say anything."

"I can't believe her doing it, but if she really... come upstairs and put them on the bed after cleaning her hooves."

As soon as Gale was on the bed with Scootaloo, she curled up against her side with a whimper. Seeing how Gale flinched and continued to shudder, Thunderlane put a hoof on her withers. "Gale, please calm down. You're among friends here, so please tell us what happened."

Scootaloo nuzzles me, finally prompting Gale to hesitantly start telling them what had conspired. Twilight had a shocked look once the situation was explained. "To think such shady characters were in Ponyville of all places. Then there's also--"

"Thunderlane, where are you?" Rumble's voice comes from the floor below.

"Up the stairs!"

Rumble's confused face soon made it's appearance. "When I showed them the ponies, they mentioned something about being part of a syndicate before telling me that a great deed has been done by rendering them capturable."

Thunderlane's face darkened. "I thought, and feared, as much. They were part of an unnamed criminal syndicate spanning Manehatten and Las Pegas." Seeing Twilight's confused look he added, "I know this because Rumble was almost foalnapped by some of it's members. I managed to find him in time and hold the members off until security arrived, but the memory still burns in my mind."

Twilight gaped at the revelation. "That doesn't explain why some of its members are in Ponyville."

"From what I've heard, most security and local militia caught on to their tricks and have been squashing out all resistance in those two cities. I'm willing to bet my wings that they decided to try their luck somewhere that lacked much law enforcement."

Gale whimpered a bit more. "T-that doesn't e-excuse my b-brutal violence..."

"That was actually a natural reaction." Everypony except for Rumble gave Thunderlane a confused look. "It's hard-wired in all three races, but Pegasi always tend to act violently whenever their kin, sibling, or child, is threatened. I suppose you were close enough to Scootaloo for it to trip off when she was in danger."

Twilight put a hoof up to her chin. "I've never heard or read about that."

"It's not very well documented, I know that much." Thunderlane gives Gale a pat. "So cheer up, Gale. Not only did you do Ponyville a favor, but what you did is completely normal."

"I still don't..."

He sighs. "Just try not to agonize over it too much. Anyways, I'd better get Rumble home, as it's starting to get late." Both him and Rumble wave good-bye before heading back downstairs.

Twilight sighs. "This is turning into quite the night..." She looks at Gale for a bit before realization dawned on her. "Oh right, the potion!" After teleporting twice, she holds out a bottle filled with a dark blue liquid in her magic. "Drink it before going to sleep and you should wake up as a stallion again."

"T-thank you... But don't you--"

"This again? Zephyr, you can't expect us to hate you every time you do something "wrong". Just believe in yourself and everything should fall in order."

Gale flinched a bit before nodding as Scootaloo let out a yawn. "You're right... but I still get plagued by doubts all of the time. Still, it's late to be agonizing over it and Scootaloo needs to sleep."

"Do not..." Was her tired response before yawning again.

Twilight shook her head. "Then you'd better get going. I need to report to Princess Celestia about this incident when Spike gets back. Don't worry, I'll keep you anonymous."

After saying their goodbyes, the siblings exit the library with Scootaloo on Gale's back. While she did get her sister in bed as soon as they got home and took the potion, sleep didn't come to Gale, knowing something else was wrong.

Rumble gave his older brother a quizzing look. "Why did you--"

"Why? Gale looked traumatized enough already and I didn't want to send her into a state of irreversible shock." Thunderlane sighs. "That doesn't mean I feel good about lying to her."

"When you saved me, you had a look of rage and determination."

"That's because us ponies fight harder when our kin is in danger. But no-pony ever escalated to brutal levels of violence, even in the most perilous of situations. What makes Gale so different?"

Author's Note

This is probably the most disorganized chapter I've written thus far. Between getting writers block and playing FFXIV, I've constantly put this off until now. Hopefully my writing didn't suffer because of it.

Also, the Piano Version of Okami's "Reset - Thank You Ver." used here belongs to

BriCie