Every day I'm just surviving
Keep climbing the mountain
Even when I feel like dying
Keep climbing the mountain

Every time I think I'm over it
I wake up in the bottom of it all again
I'm still surviving, keep climbing
Keep climbing the mountain

"Hmm, not quite what I had in mind but then again I have no idea what your thought process for the song is."

Ms. Harshwhinny, who was in town to help judge a group of fillies to be flag carriers for the Equestria Games, dropped by Three Night's Grace's studio to listen to the incomplete song.

Zephyr, doing his best to understand that not everypony will like this kind of music, tried to explain. "The meaning is two-fold here. The darker side of the song is to acknowledge the suffering that the Crystal Ponies went through in the past, on top of the suffering a lot of ponies in general go through trying to reach their dreams. The second, lighter side is to tell the listeners to keep climbing that mountain, no matter how hard it is or how often you fall off. Because to give up is to throw away everything you worked for."

"Ah, I understand now. So it's not just for the Crystal Ponies or even the competitors, but for everypony so that they can continue to strive for greatness. Very well, continue with your work! If you have any questions, I'll be in town for some time." With that, Ms. Harshwhinny leaves the studio.

Electron let out the breath she was holding in. "I never thought this would be so nerve wracking. It's somehow worse than showing a new song to a whole audience at a concert!"

"Heh, y-you still got a long ways to go Electron!"

Burst gives Snare a flat look. "So sayeth the Pegasus who's quivering like a newborn." That got a round of laughs and a frustrated glare.

Zephyr calmed his laughter down, only to cough a few times. Strings gave his lead singer a worried look. "You getting sick, Zephyr?"

"Somehow I think it's more than that." As if to prove his point, wind suddenly burst from his body once and he stumbled. "For some reason, my magic's been doing that on occasion..."

Burst didn't know what to think. "Is it because you've been overusing your wind magic?"

"Maybe... I have been overusing a particular sect of my magic, so... perhaps it's a sign I need to take a break..."

Snare shook her head. "Worst thing is, we don't even know it that's just a part of Falconite magicology or not. It would be easier to diagnose if you were JUST a Pegasus, but..."

"Eh... I'm used to it at this point. The whole "Falconite instead of a Pegasus" thing, not these random bursts." Shaking his head, Zephyr looks at his lyrics for the song "The Mountain". "Going back to this, there's still some kinks to work out with the lyrics before I'm satisfied with them. How are things on your ends?"

Strings eyes his music sheet. "It's definitely an adjustment. Going to something a bit more upbeat after how many songs have been fairly dark takes some getting used to. And before you say anything, this was true of when Clear Octave was the lead singer too."

"Hm, I like it because it gets boring doing something similar to everything else for too long! Plus, it feels familiar to when Clear was here!" Snare does a quick drum solo before grinning. "Also, when are you going to write a song for your girlfriend? Seems high time for you, lovercolt!"

"G-give me time! I want to finish this first!" Zephyr quickly checks the time to spare himself further embarrassment. "Uhh, ohwouldyoulookatthetimegoddagopickupmysisterfromschoolkaythanksbye!" With that he dashes out the door, leaving behind a very amused band.

After calming himself back down, he heads to the school to pick up Scootaloo, only to realize that she wasn't there. Deciding to check their club house, he overheard them talking about their performance and how to showcase what makes Ponyville so great. When he knocked on the door, an excitable Scootaloo answered it. "Big bro! Done with your band for today? I heard you're making the official song for the Equestria Games as well!"

"That's right and I heard your school is getting tested on which group is going to carry the flag at the Games as well! I'm guessing you already have an idea?"

Sweetie Belle grins with determination. "Yup! Plus, it'll be a chance to throw everything Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon have been saying about us back into their faces!"

Zephyr scrunched his muzzle at the names, still unimpressed with them. "Just make sure you focus on what makes Ponyville a great place to be. Everything else is secondary, alright?"

"Don't worry, Zephyr! While it is still a work-in-progress, ah'm sure we'll wow the judges!" Applebloom had a confident air about her.

"Well, then I'll let you girls get to it. Sure some advice would make things easier, but being able to do something by yourselves always feels the best. Just... make sure you ask somepony if you REALLY do get stuck. No shame in asking for help if it's needed!"

"Thank, big bro! Just as a heads up, I'll be late for dinner so--"

Zephyr pats Scootaloo on the head. "It's fine, just don't come home too late, alright?" That got a big smile as the fillies went back to planning and practicing. They're doing their best, so I've got to do mine as well!

"And suddenly you're super motivated to finish this song?" Was Snare's sarcastic question to Zephyr the next day.

"What can I say? Seeing my little sister and her friends working super hard on a flag carrying routine gave me plenty of motivation as well."

Burst chuckles at that. "Nothing wrong with that. Just make sure you don't leave the rest of us too far behind!"

"We've managed to get a feel for how the song plays at least. All that's left is to perfect it." Strings gives his band a determined nod. "We're almost finished."

With a few more runs, the band was satisfied with where they wanted to be with the song. Electron was about to say something when a small knock at the door interrupted her. "Who could it be?"

It was Sweetie Belle at the door with a worried look. "I-is Zephyr here?"

"Sweetie Belle, what's wrong?" Zephyr immediately got a bad feeling from the visit.

"I-it's Scootaloo. Our flag-carrying routine was fine this morning, but after she was 'teased' over being unable to fly--"

The temperature in the room immediately rises as Zephyr's rage built up. "They wouldn't dare..."

"Zephyr, chill out!" Snare made sure to wing-slap some sense into her band mate. "I can help you with this, if only to keep you out of trouble. I know you care about your little sisters, but try to reel yourself in before you do something you'll regret!"

"Augh... alright, let's get going." Zephyr didn't want to argue because it would delay getting to Scootaloo.

As the three made their way to where the Cutie Mark Crusaders were practicing, they saw Scootaloo trying, and failing, to fly with her wings. Not long after, Rainbow Dash appeared with Applebloom in tow. "Squirt, what are you doing?!"

"Oh, just trying to fly for the new routine we got planned out."

Applebloom shook her head. "We didn't, you did after those two mocked you for being unable to fly!"

"What the-- Squirt, why would you do that to your friends? I get that being unable to fly is a sore spot for you, but you're so much MORE than that! Do you really think your friends WANT you torturing yourself over this?!"

"B-but... how can I be a Pegasus if I can't--"

Snare chose to interrupt next. "Kid, have you not seen yourself in the past? I've seen you towing construction materials in your scooter wagon. You know how much that stuff weighs?! Do you REALLY think that you're not capable as a Pegasus despite being able to haul that much across town with JUST your wings?" That made Scootaloo choke on her words as Snare gives her a grin. "Most adult Pegasi would struggle with that!"

Zephyr pulls his little sister in for a hug, cocooning her with his wings. "Scoots, you don't need to fly to prove how capable you are. You have your own special way of doing things that nopony else can. Trust in your friends faith in you and you will go far in life!"

Rainbow's reassurance, Snare's praise as an unrelated 3rd party, and Zephyr's comfort had stunned Scootaloo into silence. It helped that her big brother's cocooning hug always made her feel safe. "I... I'm sorry. Maybe I won't ever get to fly... but that's okay because I have my friends... and family!"

Snare crosses her forehooves while leering behind her. "Besides, what do a couple of stuck-up Earth Ponies know about being a Pegasus?"

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon quickly realized they were caught. Their terror reached critical mass when Zephyr started giving the two death glares over them bullying Scootaloo over her wings as they ran away in fright while Rainbow found it hard not to join her boyfriend with her own glower. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle even felt a bit scared of the Falconite despite not having done anything.

Rainbow Dash noticed the atmosphere and shook herself clear of animosity. "*Ahem* Anyways, good on you two for calling on us to help with this. And thank you, Snare, for the assist as well." Snare grins as the two high-wing each other.

"Right, now what about your routine?" Zephyr managed to calm himself down enough to let Scootaloo go. "Sweetie Belle mentioned something about it being fine this morning."

"Oh yeah... sorry, you two. Even though I was told in the past I might not fly until my late teens, I still thought I'd be able to somehow pull it off. Let's go back to what we had before!"

Applebloom cheered. "The Scootaloo we know an' love came back!" The three fillies group hug.

Snare chuckles at the scene. "Well... our band has a message for you after your "flag carrying competition" is done. Be sure to listen for it when it happens!"

Rainbow cleared her throat again, trying to get back into her professional attitude. "Alright, keep working at it! You still got a ways to go before the competition, so no slacking!"

When the day came for the flag-carrying competition, the Cutie Mark Crusaders managed to run away with 1st place. Their display even managed to overexcite Ms. Harshwhinny, leading to an amusing case of Rainbow Dash needing to remind her of being professional.

After she managed to recover, she was able to kick off the last part of the event. "I'd like to welcome the band Three Night's Grace as they play the song of this year's Equestria Games!"

The crowd cheered as all the focus turned to the stage on the opposite side of where the flag-carrying contest was judged. Zephyr grins as the lights turned onto his band. "Good to hear all of you out there today! This is for the Crystal Ponies and for everypony out there striving for greatness! As you listen to the song, remember: there's no greater failing than QUITTING!"

Every day I'm just surviving
Keep climbing the mountain
Even when I feel like dying
Keep climbing the mountain

Another night I'm barely holding on
One step away from being dead and gone
Am I alive to die another day
Is this life that I've been living
All that's meant for me?

Every day I'm just surviving
Keep climbing the mountain
Even when I feel like dying
Keep climbing the mountain

Every time I think I'm over it
I wake up in the bottom of it all again
I'm still surviving
Keep climbing, keep climbing
The mountain

The higher I go, the harder I fall
So I don't look down, I don't look back at all
And when I wish it all would turn to black
I try to see the light and push the darkness back

Every day I'm just surviving
Keep climbing the mountain
Even when I feel like dying
Keep climbing the mountain

Every time I think I'm over it
I wake up in the bottom of it all again
I'm still surviving
I keep climbing, keep climbing
The mountain

So if I'm numb, already too far gone
And if I feel a pulsing I can carry on
When I'm lost and want to fade away
I tell myself to live to die another day

Every day I'm just surviving
Keep climbing the mountain
Even when I feel like dying
Keep climbing the mountain

Every time I think I'm over it
I wake up in the bottom of it all again
I'm still aliving
Keep climbing, keep climbing
The mountain
The mountain

As the song faded, the stadium erupted into cheers as the band waves or salutes the crowds. Scootaloo could barely hold back her tears as she saw her big brother on center stage, which got a playful nudge from Applebloom. "Don' get too emotional there, Scootaloo!"

"I-I know that, but I can't help it! To think he started with 'I am Machine' and now here he is with a song about holding onto hope!"

Sweetie Belle giggled at that. "He really has come far as well. Didn't he disguise himself back then as well? Now he's facing these crowds head on! We can't fall behind either!"

While other things went on in the stadium, Three Night's Grace was meeting with Ms. Harshwhinny in the back. "That was a great showing! Can we expect a similar one once the Games start proper?"

"Hmm... while I want to say yes, we'll be sure to send you a recording of the song in the event something comes up that prevents us from appearing." Zephyr made that determination instead of Burst.

Strings gives the Falconite a weird look. "Why do you say--" he was cut off when wind suddenly burst from Zephyr's body again. "Never mind..."

"That is concerning... how frequently does that happen?" Ms. Harshwhinny, while not wanting to use a recording for the Games, had a feeling of the potential issues those bursts could imply.

"They're somewhat uncommon for now, thankfully. However, I also don't want to risk it happening mid-performance, so having a recording on hoof will help alleviate the issue somewhat."

Electron sighed. "You've been to the doctor, right? They couldn't find anything wrong?"

Zephyr shook his head sadly. "Nothing they could tell. Again, we don't know if it's just happening because I'm a Falconite or not."

"Well, expect the worst and hope for the best is all I can say." Burst nods at Snare. "We'll try to figure something out in the meantime, but hopefully we can solve the issue before then."

Author's Note

Okay admittedly I couldn't think of much else for this chapter, but I still wanted to include it.