Despite admitting that it's embarrassing for her as a 'cool' mare to admit as such, Rainbow wanted to tell her friends that she and Zephyr were in a relationship now. She didn't want to keep it hidden from them, feeling it would be a betrayal of trust to do so. Zephyr, while telling her she was entitled to her secrets, was happy for her when she remained resolute and suck by her as moral support.

While reactions varied, they were all positive. Rarity was the most gleeful about it as she congratulated the two, though she then admitted she saw between the lines for both of them and was thankful they didn't drag it out for too long. It made Zephyr feel dumb for not realizing his feelings sooner, but Rainbow put a quick stop to that thought process.

Applejack had a surprising one where she told Rainbow "ya' won the contest of who would find a special somepony first". Zephyr inquired to Rainbow about it after, but she was just as confused before chalking it up to how the two compete on a lot of things.

The two already knew Pinkie Pie knew due to what had happened, but the party pony was vague about what happened with that mare from Zephyr's past. Instead, she distracted the two with the prospect of a party celebrating their new relationship, something the lovebirds only conceded to if it stayed between their close friends.

In a similar vein, Fluttershy also already knew due to her seeing Zephyr sleeping on Rainbow, much to the supreme embarrassment of the two. "I-I was really worried about you two, honestly. With Zephyr thinking nopony would take him and Rainbow never once giving a thought to it..."

"Me as well, Fluttershy?" Rainbow didn't realize her foalhood friend had been worrying after her about that. "Well, you don't have to worry anymore!"

Zephyr nodded. "Yeah, now it's our turn to worry about you in that regard." That got a blush from Fluttershy as Rainbow gave her a knowing smile.

Twilight had the most subdued reaction, though she gave Rainbow a curious look. "What about your dream of becoming a Wonderbolt? I know there's nothing against their members having relationships outside of the team, but..."

"That was part of the reason why I was hesitant, but I realized that I have no idea how long it'll be before I really do become one. By the time I do, Zephyr's feelings might've faded and it was painful to think about."

Zephyr nuzzles Rainbow reassuringly, which got a smile out of Twilight. "Look at is this way. I can help you practice since one of Harpsong's relatives was a Wonderbolt. I know some training regimes he used during his time." That got a wide grin out of Rainbow.

"Then that's perfect!" There was a moment of silence before Twilight looks at one of her books with frustration. "This book isn't useful at all! I was hoping I could be more supportive of a newly formed couple, but I've never had to until now. *Sigh* What would she do here?"

Deciding to leave Twilight to her devices, the Pegasi left the library. That was when Zephyr had a thought. "I know you've met my parents already, especially my dad since you're foalhood friends with Shy, but did you want to reintroduce yourself as my girlfriend?"

"M-maybe save the meetings with the parents for a later day. Besides... ah it's nothing."

Zephyr was confused as to what Rainbow was going to say, but left it alone. "Well... want me to help you practice more? Sorry if it isn't exactly a glamorous 'date' idea, but I'm still new it it all..."

"Hehe, yeah same here. Honestly, practicing together and racing together sounds fine with me for 'dates' though I'm not above the occasional trip to Sugar Cube Corner!" That got a smile out of her boyfriend as the two launched themselves to Ponyville's outskirts.

Despite such a massive event happening in Zephyr and Rainbow's lives, the days went by without much change, though not for lack of trying to take advantage of it. The couple made sure their friends were still a part of their lives as much as possible, which got showcased during one of Pinkie's musical numbers about how much she likes making ponies smile.

One day, during one of his forays into the Ponyville markets, Zephyr bought some asparagus when he had an idea for dinner. As he was continued to peruse, he heard a commotion at the asparagus stall and grew curious. Rounding the corner, he saw Fluttershy on the ground, with Pinkie tapping her forehead. "That, right there! That's the problem!"

"What are you three doing?" The three mares saw Zephyr approach with a concerned look. "Shy, are you okay?"

"She's not really." Rarity answered for her. "We're, ah... beginning to see Fluttershy here has a push-over problem..."

"Ah..." Zephyr didn't know how to respond to that so he decided to inquire about something else. "Were you needing asparagus?"

"It's one of Fluttershy's shopping items, yes." Pinkie huffed a bit. "But she keeps getting pushed away by other customers and-- why do I get the feeling I said something dangerous?"

Now Zephyr had a dark look on his face. Fluttershy did her best to calm him down. "I-it's okay, big brother! I'm fine, see?"

Rarity decided to nip that in the bud right away. "Zephyr dear, I understand you're very protective of your sister. But... not only are you cutting off any avenue of growth for her, you can't be expected to help her every time she experiences trouble."

That statement made Zephyr wince as a needle pierced his heart. "I... I know that, but I can't help myself. I've been gone from her life for 16 years, I feel like I need to be there for her to make up for lost time."

"Oop, and there goes the last bundle..." Pinkie watched as the stallion who nabbed it walked away.

Now Zephyr was beginning to wonder if he messed up. Shaking his head, he grabs the bundle he got earlier and puts it into Fluttershy's saddle bag. "You'll need it more than I will, Shy."

"O-oh, I couldn't possibly--"

"It's fine! A big brother has to look out for his younger siblings, right?"

Rarity had a nervous smile. "You're still rather sweet to her. Perhaps a bit... too sweet. Might have to go get my teeth checked for cavities later..."

"Zephy, You don't need to feel obligated to help your sisters over every little thing, okay?" Pinkie was now worried about two members of the same family. "I mean, try to keep it within reason!"

Rarity managed to recover a bit. "Besides, I wanted to teach Fluttershy one way to exude confidence! Watch and learn!"

With those words, Rarity managed to charm the stallion that got the last bundle of asparagus from the stand. Once she was successful and the stallion was wandering away, she gives the bundle to Zephyr, who took it apprehensively. "That... seems pretty advanced when it comes to confidence... at least you paid him back." Seduction has never looked so ominous to me before this day...

"It's all in the presentation, darling! Now, since we're helping Fluttershy with her shopping, what else do you need?"

"Oh, I still need tomatoes!"

When Fluttershy went to buy the tomatoes, the pony managing the stall over-aggressively told her it was 2 bits for 3, not 1. Rarity heard Zephyr growl and held the brother back. "Patience, darling. Besides, Pinkie knows how to handle ponies like that." All Zephyr could do was bite his lip.

He stopped in short order when Pinkie got into an aggressive back-and-forth with the mare, only to be surprised when he realized Pinkie completely confused her. The pink mare helped Fluttershy get away with only paying one bit. "See? Asserting yourself can be fun!"

"You know, I just realized I saw two sides of the same coin today." Everypony looks at Zephyr. "Rarity's dazzling with brilliance, Pinkie's baffling with bull-crap."

"As much as I don't approve of the word-choice, I suppose that's one way to look at it."

Fluttershy giggled a bit, but went back to an uncertain look. "I-I don't think I can p-pull those off the same ways..."

"You never know unless you try!" Pinkie giggled a bit. "Perhaps another day--"

"I want that cherry!" Fluttershy suddenly zipped up to a stall with a single cherry. For some reason the stallion at the stall looked unimpressed.

When he noticed that Fluttershy wanted the cherry, he kept upping the price. Zephyr immediately grew aggressive and tried to jump in, only to slam into the ground when Pinkie grabbed him by the tail trying to stop him from making things worse. That stunned him for the rest of the exchange.

By the time he recovered, Fluttershy had failed to get the cherry and was walking away dejectedly. He glares at Pinkie. "And just WHY did you stop me?!"

"You would have made it worse, Zephy! We didn't like it either, but if we got involved it would have ruined Fluttershy's chances of building anything herself!"

"That doesn't excuse letting her go through that! That doesn't... excuse..." He finally realized why Pinkie and Rarity were trying to tell him earlier. Even if the situation turned out bad like it did, him getting involved would have ruined any chance of her actually building any confidence. He looks at his forehooves and primary wingtips with tears building in his eyes while Pinkie and Rarity began to feel awful about the whole thing. "Am I really... holding her back..?"

Zephyr ended up posing the same question to Rainbow when he was up meeting with her. She could tell he was down. "You feel responsible for her acting like a doormat by constantly trying to help her?" After a weak nod, she lays down beside him with a sad sigh. "I'm just as responsible for that..."

"Rainbow, you don't have to--"

"I'm not." She knew what he was going to say. "Growing up, Fluttershy was always timid and scared. Because of that, I always tried to exude the confidence of two ponies so that I could help her whenever I could. But... now that this whole thing was brought up..."

"... You also feel responsible for it." Zephyr nuzzles her affectionately. "If nothing else, I'll be eternally grateful for you always being there for her, Rainbow. It means the world to me." That got a soft smile. "Still... how can we teach 'confidence'? Rarity and Pinkie tried, but I feel like they put Shy into a sink-or-swim situation. At the same time, I'm not the most confident pony either unless my protective instincts are active..."

"And I'm too confident to the point I'd do more harm than good. Plus, I would have no idea on how to teach it to somepony..." The two were brought out of their musings by a goat bleat. Looking down, there was a grey goat with a basket of brochures in his mouth, which reminded Rainbow of something. "Oh yeah, a Minotaur by the name of Iron Will is in town with a seminar on assertive-- wait could this be?!"

Realizing where Rainbow was going, Zephyr nodded. "If we can't teach or help her, then let's direct her to somepony, or rather someONE, who can!" Flying down, Zephyr smiles at the goat. "Excuse me, sir, may I have one of those? I know somepony would would benefit greatly from one of your seminars!"

The goat had a surprised look before nodding gratefully and handing Zephyr a brochure. Rainbow flew down not long after and looked at it. "No doubt about it. Now we need to pass it on to Fluttershy somehow. We... could put it in her mailbox and hope she checks it if we make enough noise."

"I know why you don't want to give it directly to her and I feel you. I'll do it. I know I'm once again being overbearing--"

"None of that. I'll never blame you for trying to be a good big brother to Fluttershy and Squirt. But like you already realized, sometimes you've got to step back and let them grow on their own." Rainbow pats Zephyr on the back with a smile. "Besides, I know you'll be on hoof if anything bad happens because of this. Hopefully all goes well!"

"I hope so too, Rainbow."

The next day, Zephyr was flying over Ponyville after a quick work-out session with Rainbow. She suggested it to help the both of them gain and maintain their physical strength should it be needed. While she conceded that weights will be needed for it to be more effective, it was a good start to know the motions.

The entire time, both before and after, Zephyr couldn't get Fluttershy's situation out of his head. He wanted so desperately to go to her place and check up on her and make sure she was doing fine. But as hard as it was for him, he did his best to resist. I... I hate to feel this way, but Shy doesn't need me constantly checking up on her whenever I'm worried.

He was brought out of his stupor when a shout rang out from a distance. When Zephyr arrived, he caught a glimpse of a taxi carriage going off like a shot as he landed by Pinkie Pie and Rarity. "What's... going on?"

"New Fluttershy happened." Was all Pinkie got out, somewhat shaken.

"Wait what? What happened with Shy?" When he was given the rundown, Zephyr had a concerned look. "She wouldn't go that far... would she?"

Rarity gave a nervous look down the road. "We didn't think so either at first, but she took Pinkie's laughing a bit too personally and drenched her in punch. Then she, rather violently, ejected a pony when they took the taxi carriage before her."

"S-she did that?!" Zephyr couldn't believe it, but he also knew full well his friends wouldn't lie about something like that.

"Yup. Old Pinkie Pie isn't so sure about 'new' Fluttershy..."

Zephyr was about to take off after the carriage, but caught himself from doing so which made him trip and fall. The got a shriek of fright from Rarity. "Zephyr?! Are you quite alright."

"N-no... I'm not..." The two mares saw Zephyr was blue in the face like he was forcing something. "But... I can't... I have to let her work it out..."

"Zephy? What do you-- wait, are you taking our advice from yesterday?!"

"I understand it isn't the time or place, but... I need to let her grow away from my over-protectiveness. If I go now I'll end up back at square one, right back to being overbearing!"

Pinkie looked unsure. "Feels like today's the day of extremes... we got 'new' Fluttershy being over-assertive and we got 'new' Zephy trying too hard to hold himself back."

"I can at least appreciate Zephyr trying to hold himself back for the sake of his sister but the timing was awful." Rarity shook her head. "At the same time, I think you're causing yourself a lot of distress doing it all at once. Trying to isolate yourself from her won't help much either."

Zephyr did his best to re-regulate his breathing. "Sorry... but like I said, if I interfere now I won't be doing either of us any favors at the moment. But... what if push comes to shove?"

"We'll be with you if it comes to that, darling." Rarity puts a comforting hoof on Zephyr's shoulder. "But at the moment... maybe we should visit her to make sure she isn't going too wild. If you want to follow at a distance for now to see how it pans out, you can."

After he nods, Zephyr follows the two mares as they all went towards Fluttershy's house. They arrived just in time to see her fling a poor stallion into a hay bale, with his camera hitting the nearby bell tower. Rarity and Pinkie confronted Fluttershy, trying to bring her back to the ground.

It was going poorly. Zephyr could tell the two mares were reaching their breaking point, yet he felt like he was stuck in his current mindset of needing to separate himself from his sister. To keep himself from being too--

Wait... I really am doing this wrong? Yes I need to give her room to grow, but why did I convince myself wholesale that a complete severing was needed? Was that situation yesterday so bad for me I felt the need to over-correct like Rarity implied? If it's true, I need to get involved and fast!

Rarity and Pinkie were beginning to tear up as 'new' Fluttershy hyper-aggressively bore down on them.

Ack, but if I go like I am now, I'll end up either crying as well or just as enraged as--

"You don't have to be mad at all. Do you remember back when you were younger, whenever you did something bad?"

Or... like mom said, maybe I don't need to be enraged at all...

"All these ponies in Ponyville are trying to tell 'new' Fluttershy how to live her life--"

"Is that so? I would like to hear all about it." The mares look over at Zephyr, who landed with a neutral face.

In her over-assertive mania, Fluttershy scoffed. "Oh great, 'big brother' is here to tell me what to do as well?"

"That depends on how cooperative you're feeling. Now then, Shy, would you please come over here? I would like to have a little chat with you." His tone was neutral as he tapped a spot with his hoof. Rarity and Pinkie stopped crying and started backing away slowly from the stallion. They couldn't tell how, but he was somehow feeling even more dangerous than 'new' Fluttershy at the moment.

'New' Fluttershy didn't get the memo. "SEE?! You're here telling me what to do! Well I'll have you know--"

"I'm asking you nicely, Fluttershy. Sit down, and we can talk this out like adults. I do not want to ask you a third time." Zephyr kept tapping the same spot with his hoof with a steady rhythm. Pinkie didn't dare speak up with how oppressive the atmosphere was.

"Aargh, you're annoying me! NOPONY ORDERS ME AROUND!" Rarity cried out in shock when Fluttershy tried to attack Zephyr.

He was having none of it. He grabbed one of her forehooves and dragged her forward so that he was right in her face, eye-to-eye. "Don't. Play. This. Game." His still-neutral tone and level glare finally stunned Fluttershy as she sat down. "There, was that so hard? Now then, can you tell me what you did wrong?"

Some of 'new' Fluttershy reasserted herself. "What I did wrong? All I was doing was proving I'm no longer a pushover! I did nothing wrong!"

"Wrong answer." Zephyr's glare deepened a bit and it was then that everypony, including Fluttershy, realized what was in the air.

Disappointment.

Severe Disappointment.

All of Fluttershy's assertiveness started getting devoured alive by the atmosphere of the situation as she started to crack. "I... I was being a mean pony..?"

"Good girl, you acknowledged what you did wrong." Zephyr lessened his glare. "Now then, care to tell me why what you were doing was wrong?"

"I-I was trying to be assertive, that I didn't want anypony to push me around anymore, yet I... I..." The weight of everything she had been doing since the seminar crashed down on her like a tidal wave as tears began to build up. "I... I was being a monster..."

Zephyr let out a sigh, easing off the disappointment more. "You took your assertiveness too far, Shy. There's nothing wrong with wanting to stand up for yourself, but you can't go too far with it or you'll be the one walking all over others. Regardless, what will you do now?"

Fluttershy, feeling utterly self-loathing, bowed her head. "I... will reflect on everything I've done today..."

"Hm... some self-reflection is always good. But be sure to apologize once you feel ready to do so. That is all, you are free to go."

Fluttershy slowly walked back home, clearly regretting everything she has done. Once she was gone Zephyr suddenly fell over, looking like he was suffocating, causing Pinkie and Rarity to rush over. "Zephy!"

"Did... did I... go to far..?" He was able to suppress it during his chat, but the moment Fluttershy went home, he couldn't breathe and it felt like his heart was ripping itself apart. "I... I don't feel so good..."

"Please, darling! Look at us!" Zephyr looks up at the two mares. "You... handled that whole thing with far more poise than Pinkie or I did. It hurts, but it needed to be done because who knows when Fluttershy would wake up to what she had become."

"But... I destroyed her emotionally! I did something no older sibling should--"

Pinkie rapidly shook her head. "Behind that disappointed attitude, I could feel how much you cared with your actions! You were able to go through with it all the way BECAUSE you love her! You were disappointed in her because you wanted her to be better than that!"

"There's more to loving somepony than lolipops and rainbows. Sometimes, the best way to prove it is to show your loved one just how badly they messed up. To be firm and tell them what they did was wrong!" Rarity smiled. "Pinkie and I couldn't do it because we don't love Fluttershy the way you do. It had to be somepony who loved her enough to set her straight the way you did."

Zephyr looked down at his hooves. He knew they were right and that the pain he was feeling from putting his sister through that was proof he still truly cared. Stabilizing his breathing, he nods. "Even when I had convinced myself I should've kept my distance, I knew deep down that it wasn't the correct path either. I just... need to learn what the proper balance is..."

"Now you're getting it!" Pinkie looks in the direction Fluttershy went with worry. "But... what should we do about Fluttershy? I don't need my pinkie sense to feel something bad is going to happen."

Rarity sighed as she shook her head. "Let's give her some space to reflect as intended. If we don't see her after enough time has passed, we will check on her and make sure she's okay. And before you say anything, Zephyr, you should come as well since, now you got your disappointment out of your system, you can properly explain your reasoning."

"Al... alright."

Unfortunately Pinkie's premonition came true. When the three went to check on Fluttershy after an extended absence, they found her cottage all boarded up. Overcome with worry, Rarity knocks on the door. "Fluttershy? Are you in there?"

"It's Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Zephy!"

"No! Go away! Nasty Fluttershy is still around! A-and big brother is still m-mad!"

That broke Zephyr's heart as he rushed into the boarded door. "I'm not mad, Shy! I never was! If anything, I was SAD to see you like that! So please..!"

"All the more reason! I-I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have! That is why I will never leave this house again!"

"Dear, we've all said things we regret! You just received some bad advice from that Iron Will character."

"By that logic, I'm the ultimate guilty party here!"

Pinkie looks at Zephyr in surprise. "Zephy, don't put the blame on yourself again!"

"I'm not because it's true! I was the one who delivered Iron Will's brochure to Fluttershy." Everypony was surprised by the confession. "I wanted to help without being overbearing like I usually am and yet... this is how it ended! That's why... if this truly is the final outcome... I hate myself for doing it..!" Zephyr started bashing his head into the boards, self-loathing in his eyes.

Pinkie quickly dragged the brother away from the door before clearing her throat. "Look at it this way! There are other ways to assert yourself besides being super aggressive!"

Rarity nodded. "There's no harm in standing up for yourself as long as you aren't being nasty about it!"

"It's too late! Whenever I try to assert myself, I just become a complete monster! Look no further than when I tried to assault my own brother who was trying to help me!" Those words broke Zephyr out of his self-loathing a bit.

"Oh sweetie... you're not a monster, or else Zephyr wouldn't have reached you!"

Pinkie noticed who was approaching. "No, but he is!"

There, on the bridge leading up to Fluttershy's house, was Iron Will the Minotaur. "Iron Will is my name, training ponies is my game!"

The three ponies were confused as to who Iron Will was posing to before Rarity spoke up. "That's a... charming catchphrase."

"Your friend Fluttershy LOVED Iron Will's catchphrases! Word on the street is that she takes no guff from nopony! So, Iron Will is here to collect Iron Will's fee!"

"HOLD IT!" Zephyr flies in front of Iron Will, unwilling to let the Minotaur close. "My sister is currently dealing with some stuff. Can't you hold off for a bit longer?"

"Wait, you're her brother?" Iron Will heard an aid bleat behind him and he knew what he said. "Wasn't it you who delivered that brochure to her? Now you want to go back on what you wanted her to do? ARE YOU IMPLYING YOU NEVER ACTUALLY WANTED HER TO IMPROVE?!"

"Ack!" Zephyr dropped to the ground and held his head in pain. Despite his intentions, Iron Will was right in a way. It was by Zephyr's actions that everypony was suffering the way they were today. That was on top of Zephyr's desire to see his sister grow without his overbearingness getting in her way.

Yet for all his good intentions, everything bad that had had happened was his fault and everything he could think to counter Iron Will's statement got shot down in his own mind. "I... no, you're right. I was the one who started her on that dark path. I... no longer have the right... to stop you..."

To his credit, Iron Will was surprised at the Pegasus. He was expecting the brother to put up more of a fight, but it wasn't his assertiveness that convinced Zephyr. It was the war in his head that cause him to back down, something the Minotaur recognized and respected by politely stepping around the distraught stallion. "Ah... we'll have a chat a bit later. For now, the payment comes first!"

Despite Rarity and Pinkie Pie's own attempts, Iron Will reached Fluttershy's door and knocked after ripping the boards off. After a brief speech, he demanded she pay up. "Hmm... no!"

That stunned everybody present before Iron Will got aggressive. "Ooh Iron Will would hate to be you! Because Iron Will will rain down a world of hurt UNLESS IRON WILL GETS HIS MONEY!"

Completely unperturbed, Fluttershy got around him. "You yourself stated that your workshop has a 100% satisfaction guaranteed or it's free." She turns back to Iron Will with the level glare she recently learned from her brother. "Well I'm not satisfied!"

"H-HOW ARE YOU NOT SATISFIED?! EVERYPONY HAS ALWAYS BEEN SATISFIED WITH MY WORK!"

"Well, I guess I'm the first. More than that, I'm displeased with my results! As such I refuse to pay, simple as can be." Both Pinkie and Rarity had stunned looks while Zephyr looked over at his sister. Despite himself, he was beginning to feel incredibly proud of her over how she's handling herself at this moment.

After a quick huddle with his goat aids to discuss something, Iron Will dropped the intimidation tactics and went with a more diplomatic approach. "Are, uh... you sure you aren't satisfied? Like, even if you're just a little bit satisfied, I'm sure we could cut a deal?"

"Sorry, but no means no! Not after I nearly ruined bonds I cherished the most because of this!"

Realizing where Fluttershy was coming from, Iron Will conceded. "No means no, huh? I godda remember that one, but now I know why you aren't satisfied." He clears his throat. "Very well, your debt is null and void. But I think there's a certain brother you need to see."

Zephyr barely registered what Iron Will said before Fluttershy full-on tackled him. "Big brother!"

"Oh, Shy..." He wraps both his forehooves and his primary wings around his shivering sister. "I'm sorry... I've been trying to separate myself from you because I thought I was interfering too much in your life. But all it did was drive you further into a corner and--"

"That wasn't you, it was me!" Fluttershy looks tearfully at him. "I-I understood why you were so disappointed in me! That's why I tried my best to hide myself away! I didn't want to disappoint you anymore!"

"But you're not disappointing me anymore! I'm proud that you managed to stand up for yourself without resorting to the aggression you showed before!" Zephyr presses his head against Fluttershy's. "And... I also understand that I went too far myself."

"You didn't go too far..."

A throat was cleared, interrupting the two. Iron Will was looking at the siblings curiously. "Right, I don't want to interrupt sibling bonding time, but I need to ask about your reaction earlier. You gave up too easily despite your brotherly instincts. Was it because..?"

"I was trying not to be overbearing in my sister's life as to let her grow as a pony. I've... yet to strike a good balance."

"Ah that's why! If you want the balance, here's my take as a fellow older sibling: Never take absence as the best way to 'separate' yourself from your younger siblings! You can be physically present next to them and still not interfere in their life or problems until you deem it absolutely necessary!"

The revelation that Iron Will was an older brother as well shocked everypony. Rarity spoke up, "I... never took you to be the family type!"

"Hah, guess my front works well, then! Actually..." Iron will grabs a notepad from his shopping basket and puts on a pair of glasses as he starts scribbling. "New ideas... 'No means no' and 'How to temper one's overbearing presence'. While I'm doing this, any final thoughts on the day?"

Zephyr had one thing come to mind. "I suppose the word of the day is 'moderation'."

"Perfect! That ties into why Fluttershy was dissatisfied! I can make up for this loss down the road!" Iron Will puts everything back.

Pinkie noticed Fluttershy was still clinging to Zephyr. "Uh, Fluttershy? You might wanna let go of Zephy soon."

"No!"

Zephyr scrunched his muzzle at that. "I still got a long ways to go with not spoiling my sister all the time..." That got a round of laughs from everyone present.

Dear Princess Celestia;

Sometimes it can be hard for a shy pony like me to stand up for myself, and when I first tried it, I didn't like the pony I became. But I've learned that standing up for yourself isn't the same as changing who you are. Now I know how to put my hoof down without being unpleasant or mean.

Fluttershy

---

Dear Princess Celestia;

When it comes to many things, it can be difficult as an older sibling or friend to let your younger peers handle themselves due to an overbearing attitude. But neither should you cut them out entirely in a vain attempt to let them grow. I've learned that you should always be there for those you care about, but let them try handle their own difficulties before you try and help.

Zephyr

Author's Note

Midway through writing this one, I got the brilliant idea of having Zephyr learn his own lesson about being overbearing as a big brother. I felt it would help tie into Fluttershy's eventual lesson about not being over-assertive, though the execution might be awkward.

Also, yes I'm one of those writer that portrays Iron Will more positively. He strikes me as someone who puts up an aggressive front, but is more sensitive deep down when it counts.