The Brothers Don't

"Uhh, Shining?" Zephyr Breeze lifted a shivering hoof to point at the sky. "I-I-I think there's a bit more than a b-breeze headed our way."

Shining Armor had been staring at the snow they were marching through for close to an hour. At Zephyr's remark, he looked up and gaped at the swirling, black clouds dumping out ice and lightning in equal shares two mountaintops ahead of them.

"Guess that means we'll camp here for the night," Shining said.

Zephyr looked around. "Here? R-right here?"

Shining walked back to where Zephyr stood, pale and shivering. "Yes," he said, and re-focused his magic from his hooves to the space around them, creating a translucent pink dome that shielded them from the approaching storm. "Right here."

Zephyr smiled goofily. "Ooooh-ho-ho-ho, right. Shields are, like, your 'thing', aren't they? I forgot about that." He reached out and poked Shining's flank. "When did you know you were destiny's chosen protector, huh?"

Shining swatted his hoof away. "Please don't touch me," he said.

Zephyr sat on his haunches and wrapped his wings around his quaking frame. "Yeesh, sorry. I'm only asking how you got your Cutie Mark. It's a good one, you know. Evokes power and respect."

Shining glanced at the sparkling shield on his flanks. "Thanks," he said flatly. "I got it when Twilight was just a foal. Mom knocked something off the counter—I don't even remember what it was—and I had a magic shield over Twily's head before she ever knew what was coming." He smiled, but only just. "Appeared right then and there.

"So, hold up." Zephyr tightened his bun with his eyes closed. "Why is it that you get to call the Princess of Friendship 'Twily', but I can't call you 'Shiny'? Doesn't seem super fair, you know?"

Shining instantly scowled. "The difference is, Twilight and I are brother and sister. You are a weird stranger to me that I don't particularly like."

"Oh, Shining Armor, my feelings!" Zephyr crossed his hooves over his heart and looked up dramatically. "They're hurt, the way only you can hurt them!"

"Shut up." Shining rolled his eyes.

"Dang, it gets toasty in here quick, doesn't it?" Zephyr said. He undid his mane and let the melting snow in it drip onto the shield-floor under their hooves. "Are you doing this?"

"It's a simple heating spell infused with the shield," Shining said. "Should keep up comfortably while we rest. As soon as the storm passes, we need to keep moving." He glared. "You'd better hope everypony's unharmed."

"Oh, relax!" Zephyr said, flicking his hoof at the wrist. "You already threatened me once, no need to keep at it. I got the message. Besides, ponies are a resilient bunch, if you hadn't noticed. I'm sure your Team of Harmony is juuuust fine."