On The Wings of Wind

"You're getting better! Not quite to the level of a full audience, of course, but one step at a time!"

Zephyr had been helping Fluttershy with her stage fright ever since Rarity brought her concerns about it to him. As a pony who also once had stage fright due to past trauma on top of being a sibling, the fashionista figured Zephyr was in the best position to help her work it out. While progress was slow, Fluttershy wanted to do her best in response to her big brother's encouragement.

Fluttershy lets out a sigh. "I-it'll take me some time b-before I can face a p-proper audience. How was Burst?"

"Doing his best for his new girlfriend. Still can't believe Big Mac lost that turkey call competition, but I guess he got unlucky in Pinkie getting an interest in it."

That got a giggle. "Right, and Burst had to fill in for him in the Pony Tones. Even I was surprised at how deep his voice can get."

"Right? It made me wonder if I should let him lead a few songs..." Zephyr noted his teacup suddenly floating upside-down without the liquid spilling. "Oh hi, Discord."

"Sheesh, normally you're more surprised." Discord appears with a huff.

Zephyr gives him a wry smile. "Word to the wise, attempting to surprise somepony drinking amethyst tea usually results in failure. If you're wondering why we're drinking it, it's to help Shy calm down after a spot of 'performance training'." Discord raised an eyebrow at that. "Been up to much? Haven't seen you since the two of us took care of you after you got spat on by a Tatzlwurm."

"Oh, yeah. That WOULD have been written about, but there were no ideas for it." Discord clears his throat at the confused looks, which caused a nearby tree to flail a bit. "Putting that aside, Celestia has been visiting me whenever she has downtime. Apparently she does enjoy my chaos every once in a while if it's downscaled and not tormenting her little ponies."

Fluttershy thought about it. "I guess all those long years of bureaucracy really got to her?"

"Who knows? All I can say is that I'm hoping for a future of 'legally-sanctioned chaos' if she enjoys it enough."

That got a snort of laughter from Zephyr. "Of course you'd be looking for an excuse to cause chaos. Still not to the point where you can blow off steam screwing with criminals-- Shy stop looking at me like that..." Fluttershy had given her brother a flat, disapproving look.

Discord chuckles at the exchange. "Not yet."

"Big bro! You got-- oh hi, Discord." Scootaloo had just entered the cottage with a letter. Out of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she was the only one getting used to Discord due to him visiting her brother every once and a while. "Anyways, you got turbo mail!"

"Turbo, huh? What's going on this time?" Zephyr ripped into the letter and read it, only to suddenly look shocked.

Fluttershy was now nervous. "W-what does it say?"

"Mom recently gave birth according to this!" That shocked the rest of the room. "I don't know when this was sent, but she's probably still in the Manehattan Central Hospital!"

Scootaloo jumped up in excitement. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go grab Rainbow Dash and--"

"Rainbow's at the Wonderbolt Academy right now and, as much as I want her with, I don't want to interrupt her. Everypony else is busy as well, so it'll just be us going."

Having a good amount of respect for Harpsong, Discord grins. "I can easily whisk you three there! Let me know how it--"

"Oh no, bucko. You're coming WITH us!" That shocked the Spirit of Chaos. "You're basically a family friend at this point, so I'm sure mom wouldn't mind!"

Fluttershy looks at Discord with pleading eyes. "Will you come with us?"

"Oh... fine! If only for the chaos that comes from a new life being born." The siblings beam at him as he snaps his fingers and whisks them all to the hospital Harpsong is at.

When they entered the receptionist was shocked at Discord's presence, but tried to remain professional. "May I help you?"

"I was informed that our mom, Harpsong, had recently delivered her baby?" Discord was a bit miffed at being regarded as a 'sibling', but left it alone for now.

"Ah! Actually she delivered about six hours ago. If the doctor and nurses allow, you can visit her now!" That got looks of joy as the group headed down the hall they were directed to.

When they arrived at the ward Harpsong was in, the nurse was surprised at the sudden turnout. "She's stable now and just very tired. You're free to go in if you don't make too much noise."

As the four of them quietly entered they saw Medishy was there already, Harpsong with her eyes closed, and a bundle in her front legs. Scootaloo immediately became worried. "Mom..?"

"Hm? Scootaloo, you're here with everypony else?" The tired mother opens her eyes with a small smile. "And even Discord is along for the ride."

"M-mom, are you alright?" Fluttershy wanted to ask just to make sure.

"Truthfully, I never knew this whole thing would be so tiring or painful. But... it was worth it in the end." Harpsong turns the bundle in her legs to reveal a baby with a light-orange coat, light-green mane, and turquoise eyes. "Here's your new baby brother, Squall Windstorm!"

Now that her mother was confirmed alright, Scootaloo beamed at the baby. "My new baby brother!"

"Reach out for him, Scootaloo." The filly did so, not knowing why she was told to. Squall reached a tiny hoof out and met hers with a small smile. "Not even a whole day being born and I can tell he'll be a real sweetheart." Scootaloo buzzed her wings in sheer happiness.

"Discord, why don't you say hi?" Zephyr nudged the Draconequus forward.

"Ugh, if I have to. I doubt he'll be receptive of me, but if you insist." Discord approaches the two on the bed and reaches his paw-hand out to the baby.

Squall did his best to wrap his hoof around Discord's digit with a giggle, which cause a look of shock to pass his features. Fluttershy smiles at her friend. "See? He likes you too!"

"I..." For the first time since he realized he valued Fluttershy's friendship, Discord was speechless.

"Apologies, but let's avoid overwhelming the newborn for now. Both Squall and Harpsong need their rest." The nurse had come back and wanted to kick everyone present out.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Harpsong reassured her children as she closed her eyes again.

As the five of them left the building and Medishy had to return to the school, Discord looked like he was about to cry. Fluttershy quickly noticed. "Discord, what's wrong?"

"I... I never knew just how happy I could feel over something so... small. All my life, I considered ponies nothing but playthings who could never understand me. Yet seeing that baby in your mother's legs grasp my paw like that... tiny... fragile... yet so precious. I never knew... I never knew..."

"Oh Discord..." Fluttershy puts a hoof onto his paw with a smile. "It's just one of the small things that makes life worth living for us!"

"I see... well!" Discord managed to get over that mood and switched back to happy. "Can't wait to grill Celestia over the bird and the bees now! Ah, but before I bring you all back to Ponyville." With a snap of his fingers, a picture of a smiling Squall found itself into Zephyr's wing-grip. "Just a little something I copied from my memories! Right, off you go!"

With another flash, the sibling trio found themselves back in Fluttershy's cottage. Scootaloo looked a little dizzy. "I'll never get used to that..."

"Me neither." Zephyr shook himself to get rid of the nausea. "Well, do you want to tell all our friends the good news?"

Fluttershy clapped her hooves together. "Let's show Rarity first! Perhaps her and Burst getting together so soon before might be a blessing for them!"

"Not... sure how that figures, but okay."

As it turned out, Rarity was on a date with Burst when they told them the news. Rarity especially loved seeing Squall for the first time, mentioning that it reminded her of when they celebrated the Cakes bringing their twins into the world. Zephyr got curious about something. "How are you two getting on?"

Burst smiles. "I think we're doing fine. Rarity's an amazing young lady, which makes me wonder why she fell for a Unicorn like me."

That earned a swat from Rarity. "You already wondered about that!"

"Hehe I know that, I'm just teasing. Can't I tease my girlfriend at least a little bit?"

That got a few laughs, even from Rarity. "You've been helping me a lot in the Boutique as well. I hope you aren't running yourself--"

"Not at all. Seeing you smile is all the reward I could ask for, and I'm not teasing when I say that." Rarity blushed a bit, but smiled brightly.

Fluttershy couldn't help but notice something. "You've been looking prettier recently, Rarity!"

"And Burst has been looking better as well. Must be love, huh?" Zephyr added as the two Unicorns laughed at that.

Pinkie was ecstatic to hear the baby was born safely and wanted to throw a party if Harpsong ever visits with him. The Cakes congratulated them and Mr. Cake mentioned that, since Medishy already had experience raising two foals from birth, Harpsong will have solid support raising her first biological one. Despite their young age, Pumpkin and Pound could feel the energy and were happy too.

Applejack, while congratulating them, mentioned something interesting. "Turns out mah' relatives in Manehattan were super grateful to yer' mother for looking after Babs at school. They made her and her husband honorary Apples as well! Ah' swear, with Pinkie Pie joinin' us, no family will ever outmatch us in size!"

"So if anything happens, our mother can count on the Apple Family for support?" Was Zephyr's question as Scootaloo told Applebloom and Sweetie Belle about her new baby brother. The fillies were all excited.

"Eeyup! We might even invite y'all to an Apple Family Reunion! While most of us are Earth Ponies, we're open to Unicorns and Pegasi joinin' us!" The farmer suddenly got an idea. "Maybe the Windstorms can be our Pegasus family branch. Just need a Unicorn branch and we'll represent not just Ponyville but all Equestria!"

Fluttershy squees as she hugs Applejack. "Thank you! Remember that you can call on us if you need help with anything as well!"

Twilight was the last pony they visited and she was happy as well. "Ooh, I remember when the Cake's introduced their foals! Actually, speaking of Harpsong, I received an invitation from Windstorm Elementary to teach a seminar!"

That surprised the siblings, with Scootaloo having the biggest reaction. "You're already teaching us, Twilight! Well... in a manner of speaking..."

"Hm? This is news to me." Zephyr raised an eyebrow at those words. "Maybe I'll have to drop in on one of your teaching sessions just to see how you're doing."

"Big bro, please! I can take care of myself... sometimes!" That got a giggle from Twilight and Fluttershy.

Zephyr chuckled as well. "I know, I'm just teasing. Thanks for looking after Scoots, Twilight." That got a smile from the Alicorn.

"Hey, Twilight, I'm-- oh you got a lot of visitors today!" Rainbow Dash just showed up at the entrance and gave the family a small grin. "What's the occasion?"

"Mom's foal was born today!" That got a cheer from the Pegasus as Zephyr showed the picture. "His name's Squall Windstorm!"

"Heh, guess your mom stuck with the wind-name theme? Makes sense for the "Windstorm" family." Rainbow began pondering something.

Fluttershy looks at her foalhood friend curiously. "I thought you were at the Academy for another week?"

"Oh, right I'm here because of that. They had to cancel Academy drills due to strange, wind-based phenomena randomly popping up around that area and Rainbow Falls. Nothing too serious yet, but the Wonderbolts wanted to stay on the side of caution for now until it either dies down or they figure out why it's happening. I came to Twilight since she's the Alicorn of Magic and maybe she can see if it's magic-based or not."

"I swear I did nothing!" Zephyr said that, only to suddenly fall over because a particularly bad burst of wind magic erupted from his body. "Yeah, I say I'm innocent and THAT happens..."

Rainbow quickly shook her head. "They already know it's not related to you. All the wind is white or grey in color, not any shade of green that would tie it to being your magic."

"I'll look into it myself after my seminar at Harpsong's school. I'll know for certain if it's magic based or not." Twilight made that assertion. "Ah, perhaps I should get ready for it!"

"Aw... guess our "Twilight Time" sessions will be put on hold, huh?" Scootaloo, despite her tone earlier, looked disappointed.

"If you fillies get up bright and early, we can squeeze one more in before I leave!" Twilight dangled that in front of the filly, who took the bait and rushed off to inform her friends.

"Wow, Twilight, you just wanted to get them to wake up sooner in the morning." Came Rainbow Dash's snark.

"Tardiness is unbecoming of fillies their age!" Was Twilight's response, earning a few laughs.

Zephyr shook his head. "Well, whenever mom feels comfortable traveling with Squall, I'm sure she'll bring him along to visit. A picture may speak a thousand words, but nothing beats a real-life meeting." Rainbow and Twilight nod at that, looking forward to it.