The Brothers Don't

The military train was darker and less colorful than its civilian counterpart. It felt colder as well, but Shining Armor acknowledged that may have been from the nerves.

"My goodness gracious, Bricken Brack, you're shaking like a leaf!"

Zephyr's voice rang out uninhibited through the silence of the train car.

"I mean, I've seen this before—I am the Breeze after all— but there's no need to be shaking in your armor. I know it can be intimidating to sit next to me, but that's what was assigned, Brickster, and we gotta follow order, y'know?"

"Zephyr!" Shining Armor shouted from the front of the car. "Shut up."

Zephyr Breeze put up his hooves. "Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood, Capitano. My friend Brick'n'Mortar here seems a little frightened and I wanna do my part to calm him down, that's all."

"Leave Brick Pounder alone. You aren't helping." Shining Armor trotted to the seat they shared and looked Brick Pounder in the eye. "You have every reason to feel afraid, Pounder."

"I'm sorry, Sir," said the large tan stallion. "I'm trying to be brave."

"That's good, Soldier." Shining Armor patted him on the shoulder. "But don't feel like you're doing anything wrong. I'm nervous too. I get scared every time I make this journey."

Brick Pounder's light red irises shrunk. "Y-You do?" he asked.

Shining Armor nodded. "We will not send you into battle unprepared, Soldier," he said, "and I will be fighting alongside you. I can only promise you that."

He gave the stallion's shoulder another hardy pat, then glared at Zephyr. "Follow me, Zephyr," he said, marching to the back of the car and passing through the door to the next.

Zephyr swallowed and smoothed back his hair. "Is my bun tight?" he asked Brick Pounder, pointing to the back of his head.

Brick Pounder looked down.

Zephyr frowned. "Gee, thanks, comrade. You're a real team player." He hopped into the aisle and shuffled after Shining Armor.

The next car was smaller, darker, and empty. Shining watched Zephyr poke his long head through the doorway first.

"Boy, it's sure quiet up there," he said without entering. "Heheh... it'll be nice to have a little brotherly conversation."

Shining's eyes narrowed. "Brotherly? Zephyr, I am not your brother."

Zephyr squeezed through the door and shrugged. "Weeeell, technically no, but Fluttershy and all her friends are basically sisters, which make you and I kinda like—"

Shining stomped his hoof.

Zephyr froze, eyes wide. "Uhh... cousins?" He grinned.

"I wasn't supposed to come back with you lot," Shining said in a harsh whisper. He stepped closer to Zephyr. "My plan was to stay in Canterlot for at least a year and train new recruits. Stay out of the fight, prepare the next wave."

"But you decided to come with me because you wanted to spend more time together?" Zephyr said. His rigid body melted and he laughed at the ceiling. "Oh, thank Celestia! I thought you were gonna yell at me or something."

Shining Armor started yelling. "I came to protect the rest of your unit from you, Zephyr! I know who you are. I know what kinds of messes you make, like an unattended toddler! And I should know, I'm raising one!"

Zephyr cocked an eyebrow. "Why would you raise your toddler unattended?"

"Gaaaugh!" Shining leapt forward and stuck his face close to Zephyr's. "Listen to me, Breeze. Fluttershy is a sweet, kind, thoughtful mare and one of Twilight's best friends. You are a lazy, thoughtless, selfish colt entirely unfit for battle, but I am taking it upon myself to ensure you do not die out there, for Fluttershy's sake, not yours. Do you understand?"

Zephyr pulled a strained smile. "You're making me kinda uncomfortable, Shiny."

"Please, please, for the love of harmony itself," Shining Armor growled, "will you promise me to do everything in your power to stay out of the way and survive till the end of this war?"

"Sure thing, Shiny." Zephyr nodded. His bun bounced floppily.

Shining Armor sat on his haunches and rubbed his temples. "Okay. Good."