With winter now finally wrapped up and cleaned away from the land the springtime sun now warmed the grassy lands surrounding inner Equestria. Which means it was time for sun and fun. Zhou was certainly enjoying himself as he made himself a large rockboarding pit just outside of the farm where the land was wide open. It was his little getaway from the work of the farm. He had completed his duties for the day which was planting the new seeds for the new year’s crops. And being an earthbender, that job isn’t too difficult.

“Wooohoooo! YEAH!”

He exclaimed as he came down from the sky after pulling a full 360 spin. He tore through and shredded the dirt like a master. He hasn’t done this in quite some time since he came to this world. As a kid, he did it all the time outside of the outer walls of his home city. But now that he had one just outside the farm, he couldn’t be happier. Little did he know that he had acquired an audience in his time of play. Applejack and Applebloom had been watching him for quite a bit. Both admired his abilities with how he could just glide along the dirt and rock like it was snow. Applejack finally called out to him, trying to get his attention.

“Hey, Z! I need ya to stop for uh moment and come talk to me! I got somethin’ that ya might like to hear!”

Zhou’s attention was caught by Applejack’s words. He comes to a stop and hops of the flat rock he was using and climbs his way to the top of the pit. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and smiles to both of them.

“What’s going on AJ?”

He asked as he reached down and ruffled Apple Bloom’s mane playfully. She giggled and pushed his hand away gently afterwards.

“Well, with everything so ahead of schedule. We have a bit of time off. So we figured we’d go to the water park they just opened up in Las Pegasus. Twilight wanted us to go along with her and the others.”

Zhou rubs his chin in thought and nods. He definitely liked the idea of some water-themed fun with his friends and family. Little did he think that it was going to be quite the trip. Especially with Rarity AND Applejack in the same place.

“Is Mac coming to? We can’t leave him out after all.”

“Well, we did offer to bring him along. But he said he was going to spend his off time with other plans. I wonder what they could be..”

Zhou knew exactly what Big Mac was going to do. As brothers usually talk about, he was going to go and spend time with a certain mare who taught at the Ponyville schoolhouse. Applejack saw that smirk on Zhou’s face as the thought came to him.

“You know what he is up to dontcha…?”

Zhou chuckled and placed a finger to his lips.

“That’s a secret between brothers only, AJ. So when do we leave?”

“Well, we leave later today actually. And we will be gone for four days. So ya better get to packin’. Our train leaves in a couple of hours.”

“Sounds like a good time. I will go and get my things packed up then.”

--Later That Afternoon--

Twilight and the others waited on the train station’s deck for the train to pull in. Each one of them wore something very springtime-y and rather attractive. Even the two fillies with them were dressed rather cutely. Poor Zhou was about to be outnumbered by mares and fillies. Hopefully, he could find some stallions to hang out with at the water park and get to know. While it is not such a bad thing to be surrounded by beautiful mares, it can get rather exhausting when two of them will be fighting for his attention.

“Oh, where are they? At this rate, they will miss the train!”

Exclaimed Twilight as she looks around for Zhou and the others. A slight look of worry on her face as her amethyst eyes search every spot she could see clearly. Rarity was also looking around as well. But not for Applejack. She was looking for the first glimpse of her earthbending knight. Her affections for the human had grown stronger ever since he stood up for her and protected her. Though none of her other friends really noticed, but her little sister knew all about it. Which only made her smile to herself.

“Oh I am sure they will get here in time. Zhou is usually pretty punctual.”

Said Fluttershy as she shifts on her hooves a bit. Even she was dressed rather boldly for somepony like her. Not that the stallions looking around had any issues with it.

“This is going to be so much fun! The beach, the pools, the water slides! I am so so excited about this!”

“Oooh me too! It’s gonna be funna fun fun!”

Pinkie and Rainbow said to each other as they bounced around the group. Soon enough, Zhou, Applejack, and Applebloom came into view with their bags. Though Zhou’s bag was an old military bag he had obtained through a yard sale, but it suited him just fine. Plus it had enough room for him to store his hook swords in. He couldn’t very well wear them on his person. But he always took them with him, vacation time or not.

“Ah, there you are, handsome! We were beginning to worry that you wouldn’t make it on time!”

“Hey ya’ll we made it!”

Said Applejack as she and her sister walked up to their friends, Rarity, however, made her way over to Zhou and pressed against him as she hugged him tightly, nuzzling into his chest as she looks up at him with half-lidded eyes.

“I am so glad you decided to come with us...wait till you see the swimsuit I have...I think you will really like it on me.”

She said as she looked up at his blushing face. She could see that he clearly didn’t mind that idea. And that he looked adorable as he shifted his gaze to the side. But then she noticed that he was wearing his usual attire and pouts softly.

“Oh darling, when will you ever find a change of clothes? You wear the same thing every day. Good thing I took the liberty of making you a pair of swimming trunks just in case~.”

She said as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of black swim shorts with slate gray stripes running down the sides. She offers them to him with a smile on her face and a sway of her tail. They looked pretty comfortable to be sure. He took them and slid them inside of his bag and smiled back to Rarity.

“Thank you for doing so. But it really wasn’t necessary. You already do so much for me.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble...especially for you.”

“Come on y'all. We need to get on the train and get going’!”

SHouted Applejack as she and the others got onto the train. Zhou hoisted his bag over his shoulder and takes Rarity’s as well since he was right there. He smiled at her again.

“Here, I will take this for you. It’s the least I could do.”

Rarity couldn’t help but blush and smile widely, letting out an adorable squee of happiness.

“Oh thank you very much. Such a gentle stallion!”

As they rode on the train, Zhou laid back on one of the seat and stared up at the ceiling in thought. This was going to be tricky. While he seems like he is oblivious to the feelings between him and AJ and Rarity, he knew exactly what was going on. He was going to have been very careful at this point. He hears hoofsteps approaching him, he opens his eyes to see Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo leaning over him with knowing smiles

“You just can’t decide can ya Z?”

Asked Apple Bloom with an arched brow. Sweetie and Scootaloo giggle and sit beside him. He sighs and sits up, crossing his legs in the process. He looks back to the mares then back to the fillies and sighs.

“They are both wonderful mares. But choosing one is just too difficult. I...I like them both. But to break the other one’s heart in choosing…”

“You know, you don’t have to choose one or the other. Having more than one marefriend isn’t uncommon.”

“I know that, Sweetie. But the who concept is still so foreign to me. After all, I came from a world where one female was all a male needed. I am going to need your help when we get to the resort we are staying at. Will you three aid me in this?”

“Of course!”

They all three said at the same time. Huddling close as they listen to Zhou’s idea.

--At The Resort--

Once everyone got their bags in on the cart and settled in, it was time to decide who is rooming with who. This where Zhou’s plan would take hold.

Alright, So it will be Me and Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy and-”

“Actually Twilight, I will be having Zhou staying with me tonight.”

Said Rarity as she walks up to his side and loops an arm around his. Though Applejack quickly objected to the idea. She immediately grabbed his other arm and pulled her in his direction with a glare.

“Now wait just a doggone minute. He is stayin’ with me and Applebloom. It’s only right since he is counted as family.”

They both give each other death glares before Zhou chuckled lightly and pulled himself free of both the mares. He walks over to the three fillies and pats them on the heads.

“Actually, the girls and I will be sharing a room. We figured it would be best. You and AJ can get much-needed relaxation time, and I will watch the girls for you all. Plus they thought it would be more fun to hang out with me.”

They all three nod and giggle, each of them hugging around Zhou’s waist.

“Yep, he is gonna take us to all the fun spots!”

Exclaimed Apple Bloom. The clerk at the desk smiled to Zhou and handed him his room key.

“Your penthouse suite key, sir.”

He reaches out and takes the key and bows his head, sliding the mare behind the counter a few extra bits. AJ and the others just stare at him with deer in the headlights eyes. Where in all of Equestria did he find the funds to afford a four day stay in a penthouse suite?! Turns out he had been working construction jobs on the side with his earthbending and being paid handsomely for it. He waves to the group as he and the girls walked off.

“We are going to go and get settled in our room. See you all soon!”

Once they were out of sight and upstairs, the four of them laughed lightly on their way to the room. The three fillies bouncing around in excitement as the plan was set into motion. Once they got to the door, Zhou opens it up with the card key. He lets them go in first and closes the door once he goes in. While they run around the luxurious room, he sets his bag beside the large couch and sits on it with a sigh of relief.

“Whew...we avoided that powder keg of a situation. Thanks again for doing this you three. You really helped me out.”

“Oh, no problem.Besides to tell you the truth...we kinda wanted to spend time with you anyways. Apple Bloom Tells us about you all the time and we never really got to hang out with you.”

Scootaloo said as she sat on the couch next to him, Apple Bloom sitting on the other side of him as well. Sweetie Made herself comfortable on the bed facing them.

“Well, we will be having to head to the resort’s restaurant here in an hour. So you girls do what you need to do to get ready. I am just gonna take a little nap right he-”

He leans his head back and begins snorting lightly. The three look at him in amazement at how he can just fall asleep like that.

“Wow...he even rival’s Dash’s ability to do that. Very cool!”

Scootaloo whispered in amazement.

“We will wake him up when we are ready. For now, let's go and get ready. I looked in the bathroom and the tub was huge!.”

With that, the fillies made their way into the bathroom and began washing up. Once in there, they began talking amongst themselves quietly so as to not wake Zhou.

“You know, Ah can see why Rarity and much big is really like him so much. He is handsome, kind and he doesn’t put any pressure on them but encourages them to become better ponies. And he is just...humble and easy going. Yet powerful with his abilities and strength. Ah, can’t help but feel like I’d fallen for him too.”

Said Applebloom as she blushes lightly. Sweetie reacting the same way as she confessed as well.

“I know what you mean. He is so nice to Rarity and helps her without any complaint or even asking anything in return. If anything. I think he deserves both of them. But he said that’s not how it worked in his world.”

“Well, you know what? We are gonna be with him for the next few days. And we should definitely help him out. Something tells me that he isn’t ready to make a choice yet. So we gotta do what we can for him. Are you girls with me?”

Asked Scootaloo as she puts her hand out, the others reach in and places their hands on top of one another and nod.

“We got this!”

Author's Note

Another chapter? What fresh hell is this?! :P

May the darkness grant you peace